March 14, 2011
Dear Ken: Our gas meter is tilted quite a bit. Should I call a plumber or my furnace guy to fix it? Steve
Call the gas company first. Believe me, their first priority is keeping their customers safe. This problem is usually associated with newer homes. The soil settles around the gas pipe from the street, dragging it down and twisting the meter. We're getting smarter about this, however: in many jurisdictions a steel bracket is required to bolt the meter to the foundation.
In your case, there is a small risk the rotating meter could loosen up an inside connection that could then leak. Your gas supplier will be glad to come out and take a look. If they can repair it by simply adding another short piece of pipe or a union on their portion of the connection to the meter (street side), they won't charge you.
Dear Ken: I have a 1977 house. The two ceiling fans in the bathrooms are driving me nuts with their volume. They sound terrible, and no amount of WD-40 helps. Can you? Tarah
They're just worn out. They've put in a lifetime's worth of service and now just need to be retired with dignity. The motor and attached fan blades in these so-called builder grade bathroom fans are usually easy to replace with a generic after-market equivalent. There are a couple of screws to loosen, and a plug to pull out of its receptacle, after which the motor will just slide out. Take it to a local hardware store for a new one. The sizes are fairly universal for the major brands, so you should be able to match it up. If not, you could go to the manufacturer's Web site for help.
In the unlikely event that you can't get an exact copy, a handyman can pull the entire old frame out of the opening and then install an entirely new model. It's a little messy (you'll have spilled attic insulation to deal with) but it can be done from the bathroom side.
If you have to buy a new fan, look for the "sones" rating. That's a laboratory measurement of the relative noise level between brands; the lower numbers are quieter.
Dear Ken : I live around the corner from the main TV station antenna-there's a mountain in the way. My signals are bad. What can I do? Dave
Since TV signals are now digital-not analog-line-of-site to the station's antenna is more vital than ever. Analog broadcasting is more forgiving (think of it as a sort of wave traveling through the air). It can bend a little around obstacles and can still stay connected, even though the signal varies in strength. Digital signals-a steady burst of one's and zeros, if you will-are much more finicky. The digital stream is either there or it isn't!
Contact a local audio/video company-the folks that install stereo, phone, and computer wiring and equipment. They may have a larger antenna you could mount higher up in the house to get a better signal Otherwise, you'll have to get a cable or dish signal for reliable watching.
Dear Ken: Is there any benefit to adding insulation to my vaulted ceiling? How can it be done? What about the rest of the attic? Al
Vaulted ceilings can usually be accessed through the main (flat) attic. Using a hose extension pipe, the installer can usually reach most of the area. There is a diminishing return part to this, though. If you add too much new insulation to a tight vaulted area-where the ceiling is relatively close to the roof boards-you'll block whatever ventilation is up there. That will lead to higher cooling costs and a shorter roof life. Let the insulation company decide whether or not that tradeoff is worth it.
For the rest of the attic, the recommendation is for about 14" to 16" of blown material, for an R-value of around 50. This is a no-brainer; the upgrade is relatively inexpensive, and it will pay for itself in just a couple of heating seasons.
