We’re always rambling on about what we know about cleaning, organizing, decorating, gardening, home repair, and more at The Home Know-It-All. But we’d be remiss not to acknowledge that you, dear readers, are know-it-alls in your own right. That’s why today instead of hearing what I know, you’re going to get a dose of advice from your fellow readers.
Here’s a random collection of reader tips and tricks to get your week started out right:
[Know-It-All Note: The Home Know-It-All does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any of the pointers or products listed here.]
Here’s a random collection of reader tips and tricks to get your week started out right:
- If a leaky sink originates from the plumbing beneath the sink or the faucet, you can likely tackle repairs depending on the severity of a problem. — JB Plumbing
- For compression bathroom faucets, if you find a water leak that is from the faucet handle you will need to make the packing nut tighter. The other option is that you will need to actually replace the packing part of the faucet. — Plumber Sydney
[Know-It-All Note: Check out this post to figure out whether you should repair or replace bath fixtures.] - I started using a Fur-Zoff to remove pet hair. It works great on all fabrics. It's a green product as well! It only costs $9.99 and lasts forever. — Kelly
[Know-It-All Note: Learn more about pet hair removal here.] - Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly, and inexpensively seal and insulate air leaks in your home:
Attic Stairs. Add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.
Whole-House Fans and AC Returns. Add a whole house fan cover. Installed from the attic side, the whole house fan cover is invisible. Cover the fan to reduce heating and air-conditioning loss, remove it when use of the fan is desired.
Fireplaces. Add a fireplace draftstopper. A fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.
Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts. Add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted air infiltration, and keep out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape. — Mark Tyrol
[Know-It-All Note: Get more pointers for battling drafts here.] - If you are serious about saving water, want a toilet that really works and is affordable, I would highly recommend a Caroma Dual Flush toilet. Caroma toilets offer a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. All of Caroma’s toilets are on the list of WaterSense labeled HET’s and also qualify for several rebate programs. — Andrea Paulinelli
[Know-It-All Note: Looking for more ways to save energy and water? Try these cool green tools.] - I recommend shredding all direct mail credit card offers. An ID thief can easily submit the application and get a credit card in your name. — Morgan
[Know-It-All Note: Find a personal paper shredder using our recommendations.] - I had the same experience with CFLs not working in my suspended kitchen light fixture. Initially only the center CFL would work. I found that the problem was the screw-in bases of the CFLs are ever so slightly shorter than the incandescent bulbs. It just did not make sense that there was anything major wrong with the fixture or wiring. I tested the thesis by screwing in a plug adapter into to socket of the kitchen fixture and plugging in a small lamp with a CFL that I knew worked, and the bulb worked. So I added a small amount of solder to the base of the CFLs, put them in the fixture and all three bulbs worked. Another fix is to slightly pry up the center contact in the socket. —John
[Know-It-All Note: Learn more about solving CFL problems in this post.]
[Know-It-All Note: The Home Know-It-All does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any of the pointers or products listed here.]
How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.
These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause heat to pour out and the cold outside air to rush in -- costing you higher heating bills.
Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. Most homeowners are well aware of the benefits caulk and weatherstripping provide to minimize heat loss and cold drafts.
But what can you do about the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.
Attic Stairs
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add an attic stair cover. An attic stair cover provides an air seal, reducing the air leaks. Add the desired amount of insulation over the cover to restore the insulation removed from the ceiling.
Whole House Fans and AC Returns
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a whole house fan cover. Installed from the attic side, the whole house fan cover is invisible. Cover the fan to reduce heating and air-conditioning loss, remove it when use of the fan is desired.
Fireplaces
A recent study showed that for many consumers, their heating bills may be more than $500 higher per winter due to the air leakage and wasted energy caused by fireplaces.
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a fireplace draftstopper. Available from Battic Door, a company known for their energy conservation products, a fireplace draftstopper is an inflatable pillow that seals the damper, eliminating any air leaks. The pillow is removed whenever the fireplace is used, then reinserted after.
Clothes Dryer Exhaust Ducts
An easy, low-cost solution to this problem is to add a dryer vent seal. This will reduce unwanted air infiltration, and keep out pests, bees and rodents as well. The vent will remain closed unless the dryer is in use. When the dryer is in use, a floating shuttle rises to allow warm air, lint and moisture to escape.
If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan, an AC return, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, you can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.
Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover, an attic access door, and is the U.S. distributor of the fireplace draftstopper. To learn more visit www.batticdoor.com
Posted by: Battic Door Energy Conservation Products www.batticdoor.com | March 21, 2009 at 09:00 PM