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April 2, 2008

Not been getting much company lately?  Maybe your doorbell is on the fritz...

The best approach is to start with the button, it’s the cheapest and easiest thing to replace.  Next, try replacing the chime inside the house.  Still not working?

It’s probably in the wiring, inside the wall or somewhere along its run.  That being the case, the repair can get a little trickier, you can trace the wires and repair where necessary or you can run new wires. 

Better yet just buy a door knocker or a wireless door chime and be done with it.

April 16, 2008

Is your deck looking a little worse for the wear and tear after the winter?

A little effort can go a long way in putting a little life back into it...

First things first, if you don’t own a pressure washer, rent one and power wash the deck.  Wait a few days to let it dry.  Then apply a sealer or stain.  If you are using stain, the endgrain of the wood is more porous than the flat portion.  As a result it absorbs more stain and ends up darker than the rest of your wood.  A coat of varnish mixed with three parts mineral spirits will partially seal the end grain of your project so that the stain will match the smooth edges of the board.

April 30, 2008

Painting to hide water stains...

Try using a brand such as Kilz Stain Blocker.  The stuff really stinks so stir in a spoonful of vanilla extract into the can of primer sealer paint to help cut the odor.

Don’t take a hot shower for granted...
 
Routine upkeep on your water heater is a good idea. Drain several gallons from your water heater twice a year. This will get rid of sediment and increase its efficiency. (If your water heater is more than a few years old and you have never drained it, I would wait until a new one is installed to start this practice – sediment may actually be filling in small pin holes in the bottom of the tank.)

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