Author: By Ken Moon Special to The Gazette

Dear Ken: What can I do about floors that are starting to squeak? Trouble is, the area underneath is finished. – Bill Answer: That makes it a lot harder. Of course, if the area is carpeted, you can simply flop the carpet back and use some 2½-inch deck screws to cinch the floor boards down…

Dear Ken: This last snowstorm piled up some snow in our attic. We had several inches for a stretch of about 6 feet from the north gable vent. How can we prevent this from happening again? Andy Answer: I’ve got a couple of suggestions. First, cut down on the cross ventilation. The wind blowing through…

Dear Ken: How do you know if a garage door is warped? We seem to get cold air around it. – E.J. Answer: The best indicator is daylight seeping in at the sides or across the top and bottom edges. These gaps are where dirt, snow and cold air leak into the garage. If these…

Dear Ken: Several years ago, you highlighted steps toward a healthy lawn. Could you repeat those? – Mary Answer: Sure. It’s important to sprinkle at least twice on a given watering day. That allows water to soak in slowly and ensures a deeper, healthier root system. Water early in the morning just before sunrise and…

Dear Ken: We are shopping for new windows. The triple- pane people say that’s the only way to go. The double-pane folks say the opposite – that triple panes are overkill. Please give us your opinion. – Michael Answer: I agree with the double-pane contingent. Triple-pane windows can be helpful where there is an extra…

Dear readers: If you have a garage refrigerator, you might have noticed that it won’t keep frozen food hard enough this time of year. Most manufacturers say refrigerators should be in environments no cooler than 55 degrees. When the temperature drops below about 50 degrees, the thermostat doesn’t cycle on very much and the compressor…

Dear readers: If you haven’t already, don’t forget to winterize exterior watering systems. Remove hoses from spigots – even if they are labeled “freeze proof” – or they might ice up and split this winter. If you have a finished basement, one forever solution is to cut a hole – say, 4 inches by 10…

Dear readers: Have you checked your crawl space lately? I hope there isn’t a surprise waiting. With the recent rain, many have discovered unwanted moisture in the crawl space. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find standing water. Eliminating this moisture is difficult because crawl spaces are poorly ventilated – usually only three or four…

Dear Ken: I have a 40-year-old, ranch-style home. The radon level in the basement bedroom is 7.8. How can I mitigate this? – Ed Answer: Mitigation can get complicated, so you need to leave it up to the experts. It depends a great deal on your foundation’s configuration and how much of your basement is…

Dear Ken: You mentioned on the radio not to add anything to a septic system. We’ve done it monthly for years. Why not continue? – Charles Answer: I assume you’re talking about adding bacterial enzymes. I wouldn’t do it because you’re risking damage to the leach field. If you shock the system with one of…