Weekly Columns

Both current and archived weekly newspaper columns. The date of the column and a teaser of the column appears below. Click on the date to see the entire column.

November 17, 2008

Dear Readers:  The neighbor of a friend of mine had a crisis last week that I must share with you.  Theirs is a 70's era home recently outfitted with energy efficient vinyl windows.  They used their fireplace one evening while the kids were sleeping upstairs.  They had a new carbon monoxide detector and it soon alarmed;  in the meantime, they had developed headaches and other symptoms they recognized as carbon monoxide poisoning.

November 10, 2008

Bill has a whole house humidifier:  I have an AprilAire brand .  Could I have some tips about going from summer to winter and back again?

November 3, 2008

John has a mess on his hands:  I spilled hot pink candle wax on a painted and plastered wall.  I've tried heat, but it won't come off.  Any other ideas?

October 27, 2008

Dear Readers:  We discussed whole house humidification a few weeks ago, and I pointed out that you only get moisture from the humidifier when the furnace fan is running.  So, to get the highest relative humidity in the house , you need the fan on 24/7.  That can add somewhat to your electric bill and the noise level in the house.  But there is another alternative:  a t

October 20, 2008

Ernie is getting ready to winterize: I have roof turbines for ventilation. Should I cover them this winter? Or leave them alone?

October 13, 2008

Doug has a humidifier:   Now that we are starting to close up the house as the cold weather comes, what is the best setting for our whole house humidifier?
Try for around 40%.  That will be pretty hard to achieve in our dry climate, since the moisture leaks out of the house every time you open a door or window.  In fact, the only way you're probably going  to get anywhere near that level is if you turn the furnace fan on 24/7-since that's the only time the humidifier is actually operating.

October 6, 2008

Gini wants to use compact fluorescents:  If a light fixture says "60 watts maximum" does that apply to the new bulbs, too?

September 29, 2008

Mark has a dancing washer:  Its' a front-loading, stackable unit that literally moves a foot or so across the floor while it's spinning.  How can we keep it in its place?

September 22, 2008

Dave wonders about "green" insulation:  What do you think of denim insulation versus regular?

September 15, 2008

Dear Readers:  To cover or not to cover:  That's the question I get asked this time of year by folks who have central air conditioning.   Should you shroud that outdoor condensing unit?   I like the idea, since it's so easy and inexpensive.   Admittedly, these units are coated with weatherproof enamel paint and have self draining holes to get rid of melting snow and rain.   But they will look prettier longer and probably last a few more years in service if they are protected form harsh winter conditions.  You can buy an inexpensive plastic cover, complete wit