April 12, 2010
Dear Ken: Our house plus most of our neighbors have hail damage. The first roofer that showed up wanted to know how much the insurance company gave us, so they could give a bid accordingly. What do you think of this practice? Verna
I think it stinks! You have a separate contract with your insurance company that is no one's business but yours. Whether or not you put in a claim, have ever been paid or plan to pay cash out-of-pocket is irrelevant to the bidding process. I would avoid this first company like the plague. It sounds like it's one of those out of state "storm chasers" that swoop in, throw on a roof and move along to the next disaster. Some of them, in fact, will pay a big fee to "borrow" the name and license of a small local company for respectability's sake.
Tell the next firm to take their best shot, because you'll be accepting estimates from two or three other companies looking for the best price. Tell them that you'll be paying with a check once you're satisfied and after the city has signed off the on the permit.
Check with a wholesale roofing company for their recommendation. They'll have the names of several companies that are financially stable, reliable roofing outfits that will be around after the fact, in case you need some follow-up assistance.
Dear Ken: I have that flex pipe on the end of my downspouts. A couple of them are plugged up. How can I get them open again? Bill
Unlike sewer lines, these pipes seldom get a foreign object stuck part way down inside. Instead, the trouble usually lies at the far end of the extension. They get overlooked and over time end up with grass growing into the opening, or sometimes they get covered up with dirt and rocks. So, unhook the flex pipe from the downspouts and then run a hose at full force into the house end of the pipe. Look for a wet area to gradually appear somewhere down the slope away from the house. Uncover the opening and mark it with a landscape flag so you'll be able to check it often.
Some landscapers will intentionally bury the end of these pipes under a rocky area, thinking that the water from the gutters and downspouts will gradually percolate into the ground. Not a good idea. Our summer storms produce large volumes of water rather quickly, so the gutters and downspouts need to be wide open to handle their maximum design capacity. If the downspout pipe end is buried, then the water backs up and so the gutters overflow, letting water seep under the foundation. That can cause all sorts of structural problems if the underlying soil gets wet enough. Bottom line: keep track of your downspout pipes to make sure they stay wide open year round!
Dear Ken: I have an old rotating disk type of humidifier. It gets slimy and I have to clean it once a month. It's a pain. Should I replace it? Bob
These older style humidifiers-with their little standing reservoirs-are a health risk. You said "slimy", and that means bacteria is sitting inside the unit. That contamination gets into the air stream inside your furnace, and then you and the family end up inhaling this polluted air every time the humidifier runs.
Modern humidifiers, on the other hand, are self-cleaning. They simply dribble hot water down and across a mesh screen. There is no standing water supply to get contaminated, so there is no place for germs to hide. One brand I like is AprilAire. You should be able to get one installed for around $350, complete.
Remember that the humidifier only runs when furnace fan is spinning, so ask about a special humidistat control that will override the heat cycle. That way, you get humidification when you need it, regardless of the inside temperature.
