Columns

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


March 6, 2021 Column

     Dear Ken: I have a granite kitchen top. How can I remove scum and scale around the faucets--and do I need a special sealer for my countertops? Jerri

     You should use granite-specific products, like a good neutral stone cleaner and a plastic scraper. Remember that granite is a natural material and so is much more delicate and vulnerable to harsh chemicals and stains than you might assume. So you should avoid most household cleaning products for routine maintenance....

February 27, 2021

Dear Readers: Snow can be an insidious mischief-maker this time of year and cause all kinds of distressing issues if not kept at bay. Let’s review some ways to ward off intrusion:

February 20, 2021

     Dear readers: Got ice dams and icicles in your life? Usually these troubles are confined to the roof edges and gutters along the more northerly exposures. The cause of these buildups is always the same: constant melt/freeze/thaw cycles caused by an overly warm attic or the effects of the midday sun.

February 13, 2021

Dear Ken: We had a carbon monoxide leak newer furnace. The detector didn’t alarm, but our old windows leaked so much air that we are OK. I checked the fine print and the manufacturer says you should replace them every 5 years or so. Ours was older. Can you help me spread the word? Kathy

 

February 6, 2021

     Dear Ken: I want new windows, but it’s so confusing.  I have a wide range of bids with all sorts of bells and whistles. Can you help me sort through this? Gene

     It sounds like you’re in “apples and watermelons” mode; it’s hard to compare dissimilar proposals, isn’t it? So, I recommend that with each vendor, you specify a set of good, basic vinyl windows with low-e glass only. Avoid expensive add-ons, like argon gas and triple...

January 30, 2021

     Dear Ken: I know you should put the carbon monoxide detector somewhere upstairs, but why not in the furnace room, too? Daniel    

January 23, 2021

     Dear Ken: I have a crawl space. When the furnace comes on, there is a blast of cold air through the ducts. Is that OK? Karen

     It happens in all houses. When the furnace starts up it has to push that dead air out of the duct system first. Most of us have ducts that run through “normal” living spaces; crawl spaces, though, are unique. The air is usually twenty degrees or so below room temperature. So, it might be a good idea to insulate the ducts with a rigid...

January 16, 2021

     Dear Ken: We had a new furnace installed, and you can hear the blower all over the house. Is this normal? Jill

     New furnaces are noisier than older ones built earlier than the 1990’s. That’s because there’s an extra motor to kick out the fumes, plus thinner metal is required for greater energy efficiency. Make sure there is a rubber isolation collar somewhere above the furnace which connects it to the main ducting system. Look for a band of leathery-...

January 9, 2021

     Dear Ken: I have turbine vents on the roof: Should I cover them in the winter? It may help you to know that I have those gable vents in the side walls, too. Paul

     It’s a good idea to wrap all the turbines with a plastic garbage bag and secure them, with a bungee cord. Also, cover the most north-facing gable vent with a fiberglass furnace filter to keep wind-driven snow out of the attic—but leave the others alone; you must allow some attic ventilation year-...

January 2, 2021

     Dear Ken: We set our thermostat to 67 degrees in the day and 60 at night. Are we saving money?  Also, it takes about 1 ½ hours to get it back up to 67 in the morning. Is that too long? Sam  

     You definitely are saving heating dollars. I like your temperature spread; a six or seven degree setback at night is about right. If you lower the temperature much more than that, it takes too long to reheat everything. Most modern homes lose about that much...