May 25, 2009
Penny's leaving town: Could you give me some tips about how to leave the house while I'm away for a couple of months.
It's pretty much the same routine we talk about for winter vacations, expect we don't have the burden of protecting the plumbing from freeze-ups. It is a good idea, though to configure the plumbing fixtures so sewer gas doesn't get inside. The best way, of course, is to have a friend or neighbor come once a week to flush the toilets and to run some water into each sink.
If that's not your plan, I would advise the following: close all the pop-up stoppers in the bathroom lavatories and the kitchen sink. Turn the water off to each toilet, then flush. Scoop out the remaining water in the bowl with a cup and big sponge, then stuff a couple of plastic grocery bags in the opening; turn off the water heater, including the pilot; finally, lift up that little lever over the icemaker bin.
If you have a sprinkler system, make sure that whoever maintains your yard has access to the clock-timer so adjustments can be made, based on weather conditions.
Security is paramount: Unplug the garage door opener; buy random ON-OFF timers for several lamps, so it appears that someone is home; keep the blinds and drapes open, so neighbors and the police can see inside; also, set a radio or two to a 24-hour talk station and turn them up fairly loud.
Betty's plumbing has indigestion: The drains in one bathroom seem to gurgle for awhile after I use them. Is this something I have to live with?
Probably not. This phenomenon is more common in older houses because we used smaller pipe diameters in those days, and may not have installed as many vent pipes to the roof as we do now. The answer is usually to have a professional come and clean out the drains with a rotating cable and blade machine. Many times, though, in a situation like yours, the culprit isn't in the basement pipes as you would expect, but up high in one of those roof vent pipes. Waste products can get stuck in there, starving the system of outside air, and that can produce the sound you describe. So, make sure they get up on the roof to inspect the upper reaches of your system.
Manny is unhappy with his new home: It was a foreclosure that was rehabbed, including new carpet. But there is still a "dog" smell inside. Do you think it's on the wall surfaces?
I don't think so. Pet odors aren't electrostatic, like smoke particles, so they tend to originate where they were first deposited. I'll bet the owner forgot to seal urine stains on the wood (or concrete) floors before they recarpeted. I know this sounds gross, but the best way to check is to kneel down and use your nose to verify that the odor is seeping through the carpet and pad. If so, you'll have to unhook it from its tack strip, roll it back and then treat the stains. Use a mild soap and solution containing a deodorizer like Woolite's Oxy Clean to scrub the spots. Let them dry, and then apply a couple of coats of our good old friend, KILZ. That sequence should neutralize and seal the stains sop they don't leak through the carpet. Do this right away before the odors contaminate the pad permanently.
Linda also has odor problems: There is a funny smell in the laundry room, like maybe sewer gas is coming up. How can we get rid of it?
It's usually a floor drain. Whether the laundry is located in the basement or on the 2nd floor, there is almost always a floor drain hanging around to carry away any leaks which develop. You may have to get on your hands and knees with a flashlight to peek under the washer and dryer until you locate it. You should dump a pitcher of watering it weekly to keep the trap sealed--which keeps out the sewer gas. One other idea is to pour a bottle of mineral oil into the drain. It will sit there and not evaporate, but if water tries to get down, it will push the lighter oil out of the way.
