October 19, 2009

     Dear Ken: I have a sewer gas odor in the basement only in the evenings, in cooler weather and also on windy days. Can you help? Francis

     First, make sure all the drains are OK and are sealed. Run water into them once a week-or pour 1-1/2 pints of mineral oil in as a more or less permanent seal. This would include the floor drain, shower or tub and the lavatory. Also, check the washing machine. Older plumbing pipes can be overwhelmed by the high-flow-rate output from new washing machines; the trap evacuates, letting in sewer gas. To check this, temporarily seal the washer hose with duct tape as it enters the drain.
     You can also check on the roof. Sometimes those vent pipes aren't high enough to let the wind carry away the fumes. They can also get plugged with dried waste products, so have a sewer cleaning company take a look. You didn't say whether or not you have a septic system. They are more likely to produce odor problems than city sewers. You can buy odor filter caps for the vent pipes on the Web. For starters, check out www.sweetair.com .

     Dear Ken: We are at 10,000 feet. I have a wood entry door that's in tough shape. Which would be the best type to replace it, fiberglass or steel. Dick
     High elevation or not, I really like the fiberglass product. It is very stable, doesn't warp or twist and seems to take temperature extremes with ease. If yours is a south-facing entry, with year-round sun, I would probably avoid installing a storm door in front of the new fiberglass unit. Why? Heat from the sun becomes trapped in that space between the doors; the high density foam in the new door will not let it escape into the house very readily. So, the temperature soars in that space, and that can seriously deteriorate the finish and shorten the life of the door.
     Otherwise, I'd recommend painting-not staining-your new door. Prime it first with KILZ, then apply a high quality exterior latex (2 coats each).

     Dear Ken: We have white cabinets with some sort of plastic or acrylic finish. We are having a heck of a time repainting them. We can't get anything to stick. Any ideas?  Terri
     This is one for your local name brand paint store. Take a drawer out and show it to the experts. Generally, the selection of the right primer is the key to recoating these surfaces. But, if your cabinets are covered with some sort of plastic laminate or melamine, they may not be paintable at all.

Dear Ken: We are going to put in a pet door for our cats. How can we keep out the "other critters"? Bill
I would put in two cat doors: one into the garage and one from it to the house. Wild animals might check out the garage, but may be reluctant to proceed through the next door. My experience has shown me that the real worry here is other domesticated cats. The tend to follow their new-found friends almost anywhere. Of course, you'll want to use that slide-in barrier at night to keep your felines in as well as others out.
Finally, if you do cut a hole in your house/garage wall, you'll necessarily be violating the "firewall" requirements of the building code. There is extra-thick drywall on the garage side that helps keep fire at bay until the firefighters arrive. Generally, "no holes allowed" is the rule here.

Dear Ken: Is it too late to apply concrete caulk outdoors to my driveway? Mary
Not at all. Wait for a warmish day-when the highs will be 60 degrees+. Apply the material in the early morning, after sun-up, so it will have time to cure before the cool evening air arrives. I prefer the liquid, pour-out material. It is extremely easy to use, is self-leveling and holds up well because of its on-going flexibility.