January 4, 2010

            Dear Ken:   I have icicles on the north side gutters.  Is this the same as ice dams?  If so, what can I do?          Dave

            Icicles usually means that water is leaking behind the gutters, next to the fascia board.  That may indicate that the shingles were cut too short.   When the weather warms up, you should install strips of metal drip flashing under the shingles to kick water into the gutters.

            I'm getting more an more inquiries like this because of our unusually long stretch of cold temperatures.  Ice can form along roof edges and slowly back up under the shingles as the daily freeze/thaw cycles come and go.  If that's the case at your house, install some heat tape along the drip edge in a zigzag pattern.  You can leave it up there year round, since it only comes on when the temperature get below about 37°.   Cold attics tend to discourage ice dam formation, so make sure there's enough insulation up there and that the space is well ventilated.

            Speaking of freezing...

            Dear Ken:  my pipes along the north wall in the ½ bath and laundry keep freezing.  Isn't it against the code to put pipes on the outside wall?         Bonnie

            Not necessarily, but pipes on exterior walls need extra protection.  They should be put on the HOUSE SIDE of the insulation.  Additionally, all cracks, gaps and holes should be well-sealed with expanding foam.  I'll bet there's a gap or two at your house;  go outside and fill the space between the bottom of the siding and the foundation with some foam or pink insulation jammed in with a screwdriver.

            Another idea is to provide some warm room air into the pipes' spaces.  Cut a hole in the sheetrock, say 4 x 10, behind the washer, toilet and lavatory-as close to the floor as possible.  Then cover it with a white metal grille you can buy in the hardware store, somewhere near the furnace filters.  The grille makes the hole unobtrusive, while it lets a little warm room air waft into that space.

            Dear Ken:  My contactor is ripping out my 25 years old cabinets.  I hate to throw them away.  Any ideas on recycling them?                Lisa

                    You have a great opportunity here to create some really neat garage storage.  The wall units can be hung from any wall to store paint, adhesives, nails, power tools and on and on.  The lower, base units can be used for similar storage plus extra work bench space.  Use some ¾-inch plywood cut to fit, and then apply paint or stain.  Apply a small wood strip to the fronts of your new "countertop" to prevent splinters.

            As for the leftovers, set them out on the curb on a weekend afternoon and stick on a big sign with the word "FREE".  They'll be gone in 15 minutes.

            Dear Ken:  I have a 1950's house with the old 2-prong non-grounded plugs.  I would like to make a computer setup in the basement, but how can I do it without the right plugs?         Larry

             You'll have to "chase" a ground.  That will require you to run a bare copper wire-say 14 gauge--to a clamp on the nearest cold water pipe.   Connect the other end to the green screw on the plug, and you're in business.  It's not as ideal as running the wire back to the panel, but it's good enough for now.  Don't forget to  protect your equipment with a surge protector.

            Many folks with houses built in the 50's and 60's have the 2-prong plugs, but the wire is run through conduit.  That steel pipe makes a fairly good ground, so you can install a new plug and run a short wire from that same green screw and clip it on to the metal box.