Weekly Columns

Both current and archived weekly newspaper columns. The date of the column and a teaser of the column appears below. Click on the date to see the entire column.

May 30, 2020

     Dear Ken: A plumber said I could install a hot water return loop to get hot water quicker in the master bathroom. What do you think? Jim

     Many new home builders install an extra line to the farthest sinks and run it into the bottom of the hot water tank. The heated water then flows continuously around the loop by conven­tion (hot water rises, cold falls). That way, you’ll have almost instant hot water first thing in the morning. Since plumbing is very labor...

May 23, 2020

       As we await the inevitable summer rains, here are my annual reminders about fine-tuning the drainage elements around your house. Really, there's nothing that's cheaper and easier to take care of but---when ignored---can cause such havoc to the house, than water troubles.  

     Remember that most of the soil in our region has a clay component to it, which when it gets wet can swell, causing movement in the foundation and floor slabs. Besides...

May 16, 2020

     Dear readers:

     Homebuilders are fond of saying, “Not only will the concrete crack, but we GUARANTEE it will crack!"  Concrete surfaces around your house are (1) subject to year-round weathering from snow, ice, water and our strong sun, (2) stiff and brittle and (3) structurally lightweight---that is, by themselves they're easy to “push around".  So, it's no wonder they crack, heave, break down and wear out. So, let's examine...

May 9, 2020

    Dear Ken: We've got an older Fiberglass shower base that's worn out, is hard to clean and stains easily. Can we paint it with something? Fran

     First, apply some Easy Off Oven Cleaner (the low odor type in the blue can). Let it sit for an hour or so and then scrub it off with a stiff brush; rinse and repeat till it’s clean. That may be enough.

May 2, 2020

     Dear Ken: My Mom lives in a townhome. The neighboring teenagers play loud music through speakers on that wall. Is there any way to quiet the noise? Sarah

     What she's probably hearing is more likely transmitted vibrations through the floor and wall systems, rather than air­borne sound waves. Suggest that the neighbors move the speakers a couple inches from the wall and set them on thick pads of foam rubber.

     She can...

April 25, 2020

     Dear Ken: Every year I have water trouble in my crawl space. Please advise on how to evaluate the cause. Is a perimeter drain helpful? Alan

     That crawl spaces are closer to the surface means they're easier to fix than basements. So look for surface water prob­lems: downspouts too close to the house or dirt sloped into---rather than away from---the house. Extend those spouts at least 6 feet away with 3-inch flex pipe and add or rearrange the dirt to slope...

April 18, 2020

     Dear Ken: When is a safe date for turning on my sprinkler system? John

     A hard date rule of thumb that seems to work year after year is to wait until Mother's Day. Before that, there is always a risk of a sudden freeze up. That's why I recommend that you have a quick on/quick off setup for your sprinklers. Now would be a good time to have a plumber or landscape company install a drain valve at each end of the system--at the zone valve box and at the main...

April 11, 2020

     Dear Ken: I have a two year old home. When my furnace shuts down, we get a very loud sound--like a vent slamming shut. Can this be fixed or quieted? Sandra

     It sounds like one of the main ducts is flexing too much. When the blower shuts off, the air inside the metal duct is suddenly depressurized, and as it collapses slightly, you can get that "drum head" metallic sound. There may not be enough metal straps holding the ductwork to the wood floor joists, or...

April 4, 2020

     Dear Ken: I have a ceiling fan with four bulbs. When a light blew out, I tried to remove it, but the socket turned with it. The bulb is too small to grip inside the tulip globe, and I can't slide the globe off without unscrewing the bulb. Any ideas? Sam   

March 28, 2020

     Dear Ken: My friend has a dimmer that is hot when the lights are on. Is that OK?                Dave  

     All dimmers produce heat when they're energized--especially at lower settings (lights low). Warm is OK, too hot to touch is not. Sometimes the dimmer is overloaded. Add up the total wattage of the light bulbs, then make sure the dimmer max rating is no more than 80% of that value...