1. On the Air - Listen to Us Anytime, Anywhere
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Rumbling Water Heater
3. Short Cuts - Strip Tease
4. Fun Fact - Winter Use for Your Ceiling Fan
5. Dot Common Sense - Burn Baby, Burn!
6. On the Wire - Fireplace & Woodstove Safety

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ASK TOM & LESLIE

This week's question comes to us from Barb in Queensbury, New York. She says, "I just had my oil hot water heater serviced and even though the service tech was very good I still need some verification that the heater is okay. When it turns on after we shower, the tank makes a boiling sound, like it's getting too hot. The tech said the boiling sound was okay, but I have my doubts. Is this normal?"

Barb, a big congrats on getting the servicing done early, because far too many people wait too long. No matter if your home is heated by oil, gas or propane -- all fossil fuel burn dirty and the appliances that run on them need to be tuned up just like your car. The rumbling sound a water heater makes is very often caused by expansion and contraction of the steel as the water heats up. Typically it's nothing to worry about, as long as all of the other components are working safely. A good service call should have included cleaning the burner, checking the venting to make sure all of the gases are leaving the house, checking the "stack temperature", which measures how much of that expensive heating oil you're sending up the chimney, and checking the pressure relief valve which assures that the water heater can never develop too much pressure. If these things were done, you should be good for the winter.

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GOT A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR MONEY PIT?

1. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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.

So you're raring to repaint outside woodwork, but have several layers of old paint to deal with first? It's no problem to strip that paint without getting caught in the cold. Stripping old paint from woodwork gives best start for a smooth finish. But strippers are caustic and smelly right? Wrong! New water-based strippers are much easier to work with and effective. After applying, cover the area you're working on with plastic sheeting. This prevents the stripper from evaporating too quickly and helps do a better job removing the paint.

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FUN FACT

Are you using your ceiling fan in the winter months? There is a spin on why you should. 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.

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DOT COMMON SENSE

In the market for a wood stove? Join the club! It appears the current energy crunch is going to look a lot like the one in the '70s - with a huge surge in sales of wood stoves. If you are one of the many Americans considering this economical heat source, there are a few tips to keep in mind when purchasing a wood stove. We got the following advice from the folks at Quadra-Fire, provider of the cleanest burning wood stoves in the world as ranked by the EPA:

Determine the Location. Ideally, wood stoves should be installed in a room where homeowners spend the most time, as well as in one that is open to other rooms so the heat can spread. Once a homeowner decides where to place the wood stove, they should work with a dealer to determine the appropriate size firebox to heat the space. Factors to consider include geographic location, climate, square footage of the room or rooms, ceiling height and the number and size of windows. It is better to buy a slightly smaller stove and burn it hotter than to install one that is too big and therefore requires you to choke the air supply to stay comfortable. Choking the air supply emits more pollution. Homeowners should keep in mind that some wood stoves can heat an entire house; others work best as zone heaters for the most-used areas.

Find a Full Hearth Solution Tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL has been testing products for public safety for more than a century. Their standards are essential to ensuring safety, reducing costs and improving quality. Make sure your wood stove is tested to UL standards. Stains and lacquers should be heat-resistant. This ensures that they will not melt or bubble from the heat. A hearth system with a UL listing means that every component-from the firebox to venting system to termination cap-is a perfect fit and is 100% compatible. In addition, homeowners should make sure the buy a wood stove that meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards and is certified as a low-emission appliance. For example, Quadra-Fire offers the Quadra-Burn system on its wood stoves. This technology burns and re-burns gases and smoke up to four times providing clean, fuel-efficient heating with wood. And because it is non-catalytic, the system does not degrade in performance over time. In fact, for the past 16 years, the EPA has rated Quadra-Fire wood stoves as the cleanest burning in the world.

Customize to Meet Personal Preferences. Once a homeowner has settled on a wood stove, they should consider the accessories that will customize it to meet their design and lifestyle needs. For example, adding a blower to the unit will decrease the amount of time it takes for the room air to be warmed and make the stove more efficient. A labor saving Ash Removal System is a great option for those seeking greater convenience. It features an ashtray that slides out for easy cleaning. Some wood stoves are available with a fire screen, allowing homeowners to open the wood stove doors to create a more classic fireplace experience.

For more great information, visit www.QuadraFire.com.

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ON THE WIRE

With sky-high heating costs predicted, those of you lucky enough to own a fireplace or woodstove are likely counting on those heat sources to help cut costs. Now is the time to get your fireplace or woodstove ready for winter use. Many homeowners assume that as long as the chimney is standing it must be working correctly. That is simply not true. The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends an annual inspection of your fireplace and chimney. A qualified chimney sweep can determine whether the chimney needs cleaning or repair. A dirty chimney can be dangerous. Soot in the venting system could catch fire, and the chimney is not designed to withstand high temperatures. A chimney can also deteriorate and not perform properly if animals, leaves or branches have entered the flue. The biggest mistake homeowners make is burning trash (like pizza boxes, Christmas trees or wrapping paper) in their fireplace. Your fireplace is not an incinerator. Especially large fires should be avoided.

When using your woodstove, keep all flammable household items-drapes, furniture, newspapers, and books-far away. Start fires only with clean newspaper and dry kindling. Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter, or a propane torch. Do not burn wet or green (unseasoned) logs. Do not use logs made from wax and sawdust in your wood stove or fireplace insert - they are made for open-hearth fireplaces. If you use manufactured logs, choose those made from 100 percent compressed sawdust. Build small, hot fires. A smoldering fire is not a safe or efficient fire. Keep the doors of your wood stove closed unless loading or stoking the live fire. Regularly remove ashes from your wood stove into a metal container with a cover. Store the container of ashes outdoors on a cement or brick slab (not on a wood deck or near wood). Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Homeowners can find a qualified chimney sweep by visiting www.CSIA.org. A sweep should be able to provide a photo ID with a CSIA certified Chimney Sweep credential. Quality sweeps can provide you with photographs of defective parts of the chimney, even if it's the interior, so you know they are making a legitimate recommendation.

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Copyright 2005 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.