Tag Archives: Maintenance

• 

  What is a whole house fan

  Posted on October 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  There are two types I’ve come across… On hot summer nights my good friends have an interesting solution to cooling their house. Windows are kept open but their secret weapon is engaged when they flip a switch near their bed. A large fan turns on, metal louvers installed in their hallway ceiling open, and air […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Wide Clearance Required

  Posted on September 20, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  There are a few areas that require wide clearance for proper and safe operation. Be sure your electrical panel is kept accessible and clear of all storage. As a rule of thumb I recommend a 3′ by 3′ by 3′ by 3′ space in front, beside, above and below the panel. I had one inspection […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Here comes the rain (and) fall – 3 things to do

  Posted on September 19, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  There a few things you can take care of to prepare your house for the impending wet season. Replace your furnace filter. If it is a washable, hose it out and air dry it before replacing it in the furnace. If it is disposable, take a look at the measurements and buy a replacement at […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Transform that nasty tub!

  Posted on February 20, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Okay, you’ve cleaned your tub and shower with the best cleaning solutions available. Yet the blackish, brownish bead around the perimeter persists. It looks dirty even after a thorough cleaning. You have to turn off the lights and use candles to relax when in the bathroom. So what are you to do? It is time to […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  Another of my favorite handy products

  Posted on November 29, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  The weeks and days leading up to Thanksgiving were a blur of house projects as we prepared to host dinner with my family. My children and wife joined me in the effort to clean, paint, finish the moulding project (started 4 years ago!), re-finish the front door, and several other stalled projects. The challenge I faced was getting […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  More creative home repairs

  Posted on November 16, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  I appreciate the Do-It-Yourselfer! After all, I am one of them. However, there is a time when it is time to call in someone more knowledgeable to do the job. After a recent home inspection, I’m looking for that creative contractor who demonstrated his/her ability to think outside of the box and fix problems in a […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  They’ll go out on a limb for your house

  Posted on August 22, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  I’ve talked a lot about rodents recently. While they are not structurally destructive they give home owners the willies more than anything else! We love to plant vegetation around our houses to beautify our yards. New construction rarely has this problem because everything planted is immature. After about ten years trees have grown tall, vines have […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  How small can mice go?

  Posted on August 8, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  The only pets I had as a child were gerbils. These are those creatures that are best in a cage or plastic tube and terrifying if scurrying under the kitchen fridge. I remember coming home from a short vacation to discover with my parents the gerbil cage was empty. Both of them were gone. Somehow we managed to recover […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  For removal please cut drywall here

  Posted on July 25, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  How’s your memory? I’ve got a pretty good memory on some things and my wife will tell you I have a terrible memory where it really counts! For all of you who want to make it a little easier for your self in the future I want to encourage you to label things! My favorite […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...
• 

  When you find an ant in your house

  Posted on May 16, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  We have a lot of aunts who visit our house and I can say honestly that they are not a problem. We love Jenny, Becky, Bethesda, Katy, Aunty Julie and Aunt Natty to name a few. What about “ant” problems? First, truth be told, ants are not infringing on our territory we have built our homes […]

  No Comments. Continue Reading...