September 11, 2021
Dear Ken: I have a 3 year old refrigerator, but lately the ice cubes don’t taste right. What can I do? Tiffany
This is one of those “use it or lose” situations. If you don’t run fresh ice through the system, then the cubes will start to take on the flavor of whatever is in the refrigerator—think leftover shrimp scampi. Plus, they just get stale and nasty with age anyway, as the chemicals in the original water do their thing. Every few months, I dump all the accumulated ice cubes into the sink. In addition to getting a fresh batch, it allows me to clean out the frosty chunks that may be impacting the dispenser and the inner mechanisms of the icemaker.
By the way, how does the water from the dispenser side taste? If it, too, is stale, you might consider an in-line charcoal filter system to sweeten up the incoming liquid (you attach it to the water line behind the fridge). They are pretty cheap, and usually last 4 to 6 months before you have to put in a new cartridge.
PS: Remember: no plastic icemaker lines allowed—use copper (my choice) or a steel braided hose.
Dear Ken: What do you think of solar-powered attic vent fans? Marty
They’re a little pricey, but are the only way to go if you have a cathedral ceiling which creates an attic space too cramped to crawl into—maybe only 18 to 24 inches—and even that’s filled up part way with insulation batts. The solar powered fan is installed on the topside of the roof and immediately starts purging hot air accumulated at the peak of the attic and replaces it with cooler outdoor air pulled through those little soffit vents behind the gutters.
Check with the manufacturer’s recommendations, but if allowed, I would cover them with black plastic in the winter, so the passive solar heat gain is retained in the attic.
How much? You’ll pay less each if you order several, but expect a price tag of about $300 per.
Dear Ken: I have a cat issue. They come into my yard to do their business. How can I get them out of here? Or at least discourage them. Barb
You can buy a cat/dog repellant spray at pet stores, garden stores or on-line. Also, red pepper sprays and moth balls can work. Trouble is, you have to keep renewing them every once or twice a month. If your feline neighbors go in a specific area every time, scatter dried pine cones around, so they can’t find a smooth place to walk and squat.
Another option: There are many versions of motion detector alarms available. They’re battery-powered and are mounted on a post you simply poke intro the ground. When they sense animal movement they emit a loud ultrasonic squeal that cats find irksome.
Finally, I found a charming anecdote on line by a woman who finally found a use for one of those stupid singing fish toys that belt out Limbo Rock or some other ditty when their little motion detector is activated. She camouflaged one in the garden, and when the cat came by, the fish began howling and twitching, and she says the animal went straight up into the air, ran from the yard and was never seen again!
Dear Ken: I live in an old house. I don’t want to chop a hole in the siding or the roof, so how can I vent the new bath fan into the attic? DO we worry about mold issues up there? Les
The moist air from this fan needs to go somewhere. If it simply blasts into the attic space, yes it may eventually produce mold. You need to aim the end of the tube directly at one of the attic vents (my preference for this, by the way, is one of those gable vents in the end of the house). That way, you’ll avoid building up high humidity in the attic. Don’t forget to create a flat spot in the tube by bending it just above the bathroom ceiling. Why? As moisture condenses in the cold pipe, it will remain in the little “trap” you’ve created—eventually evaporating-- instead of dripping through the ceiling.
This point-it-at-a-vent arrangement was allowed for years, but I need to tell you that now the building codes require it to exhaust directly outdoors. I’ll leave it up to you to decide which way to go.
Dear Ken: I need to replace my rain gutters, what would be best recommended for replacement, vinyl or metal or something else? I will be doing the work. Brad
If you want to this yourself, you can buy steel gutters, either pre-painted or with a galvanized finish, or colored vinyl, in 10-foot sections you join together. But personally, I wouldn’t do it. You’ll have innumerable seams all around the house, and each one represents a potential leak.
To avoid all that extra maintenance, I think you should choose aluminum. The company will bring a machine to your house and extrude custom lengths of gutter to fit along each edge of the roof. That way, the only seams will be in the corners and at the end of each section. Choose 5-inch—the most popular style for asphalt shingled roofs. If you have tile, then 6-inch. And insist on primary aluminum—not recycled—because it’s stronger and more reliable. There are 20+ colors available, and since they are baked on at the factory, they are maintenance-free.
Finally, since virtually anyone can buy an extrusion machine and bolt it to a pickup truck, check homeowner references for the company you’re considering.
