On the Wire - Treats, Not Tricks
Halloween trick-or-treaters are cute in their costumes, but the tricks they can leave behind are anything but. There’s nothing quite like waking up to find toilet paper cascading from your trees, eggs dripping down your windows, your jack-o-lantern smashed on your sidewalk, and your mailbox and garbage cans dented, dinged and deposited down the street. Halloween cleanups rank as one of the more unpleasant chores of home ownership. Here are some tips to help speed clean-ups from neighborhood goblins:
• EGGS AWAY - Eggs can damage painted surfaces and wood siding, so tackle this first. Use a solution of ammonia and water to scrub doors, windows, trim work and siding. Ammonia will help neutralize the acid in the eggs.
• TP ON TREES - Use a long-handled branch trimmer to pull toilet paper down from your trees. A garden hose can be used to wash down the remnants.
• SMASHED PUMPKINS - Pumpkin, while terrific in pie, isn’t so good for your sidewalks, creating a slick, slippery mess. Clean up the large pieces, then hose off with a detergent such as Pine Sol.
• CRUSHED CANS - You may be able to hammer your garbage cans and mailbox back into shape, or this might be time to consider new ones. Plastic garbage cans on wheels are more durable and easier to manage. Plastic mailboxes resist denting, while a brick housing for your mailbox provides additional protection for all but the most aggressive goblins.
You don’t have to lie in wait for trouble to begin. Taking a few precautionary steps can put the tricksters’ right out of business before the damage is done. Leave floodlights and interior lights on bright settings on Halloween to discourage mischief-makers. If it looks like you’re home, you’re less likely to be a target. Consider motion lights that light up when people get near the home. This can alert you when egg throwers are approaching your house, and help keep you safe all year long. Store garbage cans inside to prevent damage. Make sure cars, bikes and other objects are indoors, as well. When the majority of trick-or-treaters are done, bring your jack-o-lantern inside to thwart late-night vandals. Create a looped tape of scary sounds to play on an outdoor boom box and frighten off unwanted guests. If pranksters were brave, they wouldn’t be throwing eggs in the dark.
Finally, hold a Halloween party of your own, in your front yard. The treats may stop the tricks before they begin.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Gas vs. Electric Heat
This week’s question comes to us from Phillip: “I have to replace my natural gas water heater but am concerned about the cost of the fuel. Should I replace with another gas heater or electric?”
In the 10 years we’ve been answering home improvement questions on the radio, we’ve never had anyone ask if electricity would actually be cheaper than gas! However, since Hurricane Katrina interrupted gas production and costs temporarily shot up, the question has come up many times. The answer was the same then, as it is now: natural gas is the best way to go. According to recent Energy Information Administration data, the cost of natural gas on a per BTU basis is less than half the cost of electricity:
- Natural Gas = $13.40 per million BTU
- Oil = $17.45 per million BTU
- Propane = $21.46 per million BTU
- Electric = $30.19 per million BTU
If you want to save energy on your gas water heating costs, there are two options. First, add an insulating blanket to your gas water heater. These are cheap and easy to install. Just be careful not to cover the vent pipe on top, or the burner compartment. Secondly, consider a tankless water heater. Although more expensive to buy and install, they are highly efficient because they only heat water as you need it. For those that have electric water heaters, installing a 240 volt timer is also a good option. In most cases, water only needs to be heated for a few hours in the morning and a few in the evening. Water will stay warm in between and as long as you don’t need it for bathing or laundry, there is no point heating water that won’t be used.
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Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
- Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
- Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.
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On the Air - Clear the Air Sweepstakes
OCTOBER IS INDOOR AIR QUALITY MONTH, AND YOU COULD WIN AN APRILAIRE MODEL 5000 ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER, WITH PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION!
If seasons are changing where you live, you're heading back indoors for the next several months. But WHO...and WHAT else is sneaking-in-the-door behind you? As we've tightened-up our homes to make them more energy efficient, we've made it harder for them to 'breathe.' The unintended consequence is uninvited guests, who can't leave. Dust mites, bacteria, viruses, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores get trapped indoors with you for the winter. According to the EPA, indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air! If you've got a forced-air heating system, we can help. It's a $1000 value, and it could be yours! Deadline to enter is October 31, 2006. There’s no purchase necessary. Read complete contest rules on the entry page at www.moneypit.com.
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Dot Common Sense - Cleaning Up Natural Stone
Natural stone floors and counters look great, but maintaining their beauty takes a little caution and some preparation. Cleaning a natural stone surface with the wrong product can actually remove its natural beauty. You can actually shorten the stone’s life or alter its color, by using the wrong chemicals and tools. Both water-based and solvent-based cleaners are available. But, the hardness and absorbency of the stone will determine which type should be used. So choose carefully, and be sure to test an inconspicuous area first, you roll up your sleeves to tackle the entire job. You can find all sorts of cleaning tips – from A to Z – at www.moneypit.com.
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Fun Fact - At Your Disposal
Okay – you’ve fished the spoon out of the garbage disposal, but now the disposal won’t turn on. Don’t grind your teeth yet, you can save a $75 service call with one simple step. When your disposal jams it often automatically shuts off, and may not re-start by using the wall switch. Many homeowners don’t know there’s a reset button, located at the bottom of the unit. After safely removing any foreign objects from the disposal, one touch of a button could save you a big repair bill.
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Short Cuts - Fan Fare
Are you using your ceiling fan in the winter months? You should. Your ceiling fan can actually help keep you WARM. During the winter, set your ceiling fan to turn clockwise to move risen warm air, down into your room. When the weather heats up, set the fan to turn counter-clockwise for a cooling breeze.
To avoid the most common cause of high heating bills – cold air infiltration – seal up the obvious places and a few spaces you didn’t think of… like your outlets and switches. Wall openings around outlets and switches that are on outside walls can let a blast of cold air into your house. Home centers and electrical supply houses sell special gaskets which keep drafts to a minimum. To install them, remove the outlet or light-switch covers. The gaskets, which have openings to fit over the outlet or switches, are then placed between the device and the metal cover plate. Be sure you turn the electricity off before installing gaskets to avoid electric shocks.
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Copyright 2006 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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