Tag: do it yourself
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Around the House: Water line insurance likely not needed
Dear Ken: I got a flyer in the mail that offered to sell me water line insurance for that line that goes out to the street for about $65 a year. Do you think this is a good deal? — Hannah Answer: Not really. The chance of a water line causing problems is slim. It’s…
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Around the House: Time to give your lawn some attention
I hope you kept up with your winter watering when conditions were dry. These here-today- gone-tomorrow snowstorms are fine, but we have had fairly minimal soil percolation. You can tell how your landscape is doing by probing with a simple moisture meter or by poking into the topsoil with your finger. Anyway, this is the…
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Around the House: Take these steps with carbon monoxide detectors. It could save your life.
Dear Ken: I know you should put the carbon monoxide detector somewhere upstairs, but why not in the furnace room too? — Daniel Answer: It can’t hurt, but the primary aim is protecting the family. The biggest concern is carbon monoxide coming from the heating vents in the living area. People are most vulnerable to…
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Around the House: Furnace starts up with a blast of cold air
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 Answer: 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…
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Lighting trends: Pull the plug on dated light fixtures ― part 1
“Eeeek!” My husband heard my scream from two rooms away. “What’s wrong?” he asked, finding me in the dining room, where I had locked my eyes on the ceiling. “A huge tarantula is hanging over our table!” He rolled his eyes. “I am well aware you want new light fixtures,” he droned, then went back…
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Lighting trends: Pull the plug on dated light fixtures
“Eeeek!” My husband heard my scream from two rooms away. “What’s wrong?” he asked, finding me in the dining room, where I had locked my eyes on the ceiling. “A huge tarantula is hanging over our table!” He rolled his eyes. “I am well aware you want new light fixtures,” he droned, then went back…
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Around the House: Help, our new furnace needs a silencer
Dear Ken: We had a furnace installed and you can hear the blower all over the house. Is this normal? — Jill Answer: New furnaces are noisier. That’s because there’s an extra motor to kick out fumes plus thinner metal is required for greater energy efficiency. Make sure there is a rubber isolation collar somewhere…
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Around the house: Save money by turning down thermostat at night
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save 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 Answer: You…
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Around the house: Save money by turning down thermostat at night
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 Answer: You definitely are saving heating dollars. I like your temperature spread;…
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Around the house: Older microwaves could be leaking radiation so take these steps to ensure safety
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Dear Ken: How do I know whether my microwave is safe? — John Answer: The hinges, doors and seals on older microwaves can loosen over time, allowing radiation to leak around the edges. If your model is newer — say, 15 years or younger —…