1. On the Air - Listen to Us Anytime, Anywhere
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Bubbling Toilet
3. Short Cuts - Know Your Plumbing
4. Fun Fact - A Clean Kitchen
5. Dot Common Sense - Weatherize Your Home
6. On the Wire - Change Clocks, Check Batteries

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ASK TOM & LESLIE

This week's question comes to us from Richard. He says, "My toilet makes a bubbling sound! We have lived in our townhouse since it was built in 2000. For the past 6 months we have heard a bubbling noise from the first floor toilet. It occurs occasionally throughout the day. We have one other toilet in the house on the second floor but it does not make that same noise, in fact no other plumbing fixture makes this noise. I had a plumber come out to look at it and after charging us 90$ for the visit and 20$ for a new flapper, he said he felt it had to do with the venting. I have also noticed that whenever we do laundry the bubbling occurs."

Richard, that plumber owes you your money back as far as we're concerned! Everything you are describing is caused by a venting problem. There is not enough air in your plumbing system. Repair will involve installing an additional vent at a strategic point in waste pipe system. This vent will let enough air so that your plumbing system won't be gasping for air through your toilet. One additional word of advice, hire a different plumber this time!

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Your plumbing system has many different valves. But knowing where the most important is can potentially save you thousands of dollars. The main water valve controls the flow of all water into your home and must work properly to prevent damage. First, find the valve. It's usually located on the lowest level of your home near the street. Test the valve to see if it turns off - there shouldn't be any leaks or running water even if a faucet is turned on. Create a large tag and label it with the words "main valve" and hang it from the valve handle and make sure all household members can find it before a flood occurs.

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FUN FACT

Your stove's vent hood is there for every cooking adventure, but doesn't get much credit. It helps keep your kitchen clean, so show your appreciation by keeping it in tip-top shape. The filter in your stove vent hood needs regular attention. Clean standard filters with a degreasing solution, followed by warm, soapy water, or put it in the top rack of your dishwasher. In units that use activated charcoal filters, replace those filters on a regular basis.

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DOT COMMON SENSE

This Sunday October 30th is National Weatherization Day. The Department of Energy is taking special steps this year to help Americans learn why it's important to weather proof your home and exactly what you need to do. Home heating prices are expected to be very costly this year, as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which damaged oil refineries on the Gulf Coast. Here are some tips from the Energy Department:

• Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable.
• Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• Keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Get more info on what you can do to cut your energy costs dramatically, at www.EnergySavers.gov.

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ON THE WIRE

Most of us know the refrain, "Change Your Clocks, Check Your Batteries". This ingenious campaign started more than a decade ago, and is geared to help remind us to check that all household safety devices are running properly and change batteries to make sure they continue to run. But a recent survey for The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, found that nearly half of Americans who turned back the clock to end daylight-saving time last year, did not use this reminder date to check home safety devices around their homes. Three-quarters of those asked didn't even know when Daylight Savings Time ended.

Sunday, October 30 is the date to remember, when millions of Americans will set their clocks back one hour. And if you are not using this reminder as an opportunity to check safety devices around your home, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. It is crucial that battery-operated home safety devices, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, are checked regularly. The Home Depot advises homeowners to check the expiration date on any batteries currently in use as well as replacement batteries. For maximum performance, batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place. The Home Depot also advises homeowners to be prepared in the event of a power outage or emergency by keeping battery-operated devices such as flashlights, portable TVs and radios, security alarms, cell phones and pagers on-hand and in working order. For more information, visit The Home Depot's website.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, smoke detectors are the single most important way to prevent death in residential fires, since they provide an early warning signal and allow residents the chance to escape. An additional layer of protection is an interconnected system. The Kidde Wireless System enables any home to have an interconnected smoke alarm system. An interconnected system provides more warning in more places, giving families more time to escape a fire. Studies show that on average you have less than three minutes from the time you hear a smoke alarm to escape. The sooner you hear the alarm, the more time you have to get out safely. More than 84 million American homes don't have interconnected smoke alarms, mainly because they were built before fire codes mandated them. To add an interconnected system to an existing home requires extensive labor and home improvement costs. The Kidde Wireless System is a lower cost alternative for homeowners who want the earlier warning of an interconnected system without having to rewire their homes. It's simple to install and includes three components: a wireless battery-powered smoke alarm, an AC-powered smoke alarm and a wireless SmokeSounder. These components work together to enable homeowners to customize their family's fire protection system based on their individual needs. If you already have interconnected smoke alarms, but want more protection, The Kidde Wireless System is great. The Kidde Wireless System can help families expand their current system into rooms that are now under-protected. Also, the system is great for families with children, older adults or others who may need additional warning.

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Copyright 2005 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.