Swamp Cooler Smoking?
I got an email asking about why a swamp cooler would be smoking. Obviously, that is very concerning, and I would suggest you stop using the cooler until you can determine if there is a problem and what it may be. There aren’t many things in the cooler that would smoke. Certainly the motor, pump […]
Shower Door Hits on Bottom Frame
A shower door has closing problems just like any door. Sometimes they don’t close very well, whether from abuse or time. Swinging shower doors will occasionally need to be adjusted. Open the shower door and lift it upward slightly. See if you can determine if there is any “play” in the door and if so, […]
What is a Water Heater Draft Hood?
A water heater draft hood plays an important role in the operation of a gas-fired water heater, as well as maintaining a safe environment for the homes occupants. The hood sits on legs at the top of the water heater where the combustion gases exit the tank. It connects to the vent that carries the […]
Plumbing Straps Secure Piping to Walls
I had a friend call asking for advice on a plumbing issue. He was relocating a washing machine and he needed to secure the piping to a masonry wall. The easiest way is to use pipe straps or hangers. These are small clamp-like mechanisms that come in various sizes to match the diameter of the […]
Drawer Front Fell Off Cabinet Drawer
A cabinet drawer suffers lots of abuse. People slam drawers and little kids pull up on them. Occasionally, a drawer front will come off. Fixing it is easy. Drawer fronts are attached from the inside of the drawer. Some are screwed in, some are stapled, and some are glued. For the repair, I would plan […]
How Often do I replace Swamp Cooler Aspen Pads?
If you use a swamp cooler, you are probably happy with the lower electrical bills. As I’ve said before, swamp coolers are simple machines, but you can’t just plug them in and forget about them. They will need occasional maintenance. So when do you know it’s time to replace the cooler pads? Well, that isn’t […]
One Cabinet Door is Higher than the Other
Having one cabinet door higher or lower than the others looks very strange. It is either that the hinges need to be adjusted, or maybe that the doors weren’t installed correctly in the first place. If you are lucky, you will have the adjustable European hinges. These hinges are not seen until you open the […]
Poor Water Plumbing Pressure in Bathroom
I frequently get calls that there is poor water plumbing pressure in a bathroom, or another specific area of the house. Most homeowners believe that there must be a blockage in a water line, but in my experience, it is a matter of several causes occurring simultaneously. \ The key here is to isolate the […]
Fire Door Hinges No Longer Self-Closing
Most modern self-closing hinges have an adjustable mechanism inside that you simply turn to increase the tension and closing power. If you push down on the mechanism, it releases all tension. Use the appropriate sized allen wrench and turn the mechanism to increase the tension, which will close the door. It may be that the […]
Kitchen Sink Leaks when Dishwasher Runs
If your sink leaks when your dishwasher runs, I wouldn’t blame the dishwasher. The leak could be coming from several possible locations. Most likely the leak is happening when the dishwasher drains, and so start looking closely at the drain line forward. It may be a split in the drain line, but the best way […]