August 2, 2010

            Dear Ken:  We recently purchased a new dishwasher.  We got rid of the old one because it was leaving a powdery film on the glasses.  Now this one does the same thing.   Have you heard of this?      Tina

            I have.  Try adjusting the amount of detergent.  Use a little less than you've used in the past.  Also, switch to a liquid instead of powder, and run the faucet at the kitchen sink so that hot water is available right away.   How about your button settings?  Choose "Heated Wash and Rinse " if that's an option.  That will turn on the electric drying element in mid-cycle to give the water a temperature boost.

            If these steps don't help, it may be the water.  It's always helpful to know how hard your local water supply is.  You can get a testing kit at the hardware store, fill up the little container and send it in to a lab.  Anything above seven grains is considered hard.  Check the soap manufacturer's web site for some helpful suggestions about the amount of soap to use with marginal water conditions and recommendations for a good rinse agent.  Here's one to start:   www.cascadeclean.com 

            Dear Ken:   I live in a 4-year old house.  I can't plug my vacuum into the master bedroom outlets.  Every time I do, the breaker blows.  If I use the bath plugs, it runs fine.  What do you think is going on?   Dianne

            It may be an ARC fault breaker-or AFCI.   These have been required for several years in the bedroom circuits of new homes.  They react to arcing-like a frayed cord that gets stepped on, or, in your case, the sparking brushes of your vacuum cleaner motor.  The theory is that they prevent house fires that occur when people use cords as permanent wiring.  But just like their cousins-the early GFCI breakers, required starting about 1976 for outlets in "wet" areas-they can be a pain until the technology gets perfected.   Try plugging the vacuum into the outlets of another bedroom.  If it works OK, then you know the breaker serving your master bedroom is faulty.  Replace it and you'll probably be fine.

            Now let me give you the good news:  beginning next year, all  circuits in a new home will be required to have  AFCI protection.  How about that?  Not only is the technology problematic, it may add up to $1000 to the cost of a new home!

            Dear Ken:   I have a 12 year old stucco house.  I need a few minor patches and have been told that I should spend $4000 on an elastomeric sealant.  What do you think?       John

            If your stucco is in otherwise good shape-no sloughing of the surface or excessive cracking-I would simply touch up the damaged areas.  Most times, that requires only a dollop of a good, acrylic house paint.  That's why I always recommend that you take a chunk of your stucco to the paint store for a color-laser-match;  choose a flat finish paint so you don't create a "shiner".    If there is a small gouge, you can mix up a stucco patching powder--like Quikrete-- and apply it with a putty knife.  Let it rest for several days while you keep it damp, then paint . 

            Stucco is a natural material applied over a framed wall that sometimes twists and bows as the lumber dries out;  so some cracking is inevitable.  Cracks that are narrower than the edge of a nickel should probably be left alone-otherwise you call attention to them with a repair.