10 easy ways to go green

April 17, 2008

No matter where I turn, I'm overwhelmed by "green." The other day I came across what a manufacturer assured me was a "greener" brand of toothpaste. (This did not appeal to me.)

Recent columns

• HOME WORK: Consider the sources of that inside leak

  April 10, 2008

  My wife and I have lived in our Colonial for 38 years. Just recently, we encountered water leaking into the ceiling of our den closet on the main floor. The water then enters the room from two places in the den ceiling. Then we discovered that the water enters the ceiling from the bathroom. This room is on the second floor above the den area. We installed a new roof about 17 years ago. Because of ice damming, the venting of the attic was improved, insulation was increased and a large attic fan was installed. A year before these improvements, we also had central air installed. This unit is in the attic area, above the bathroom/den. At the end of the year, the gutters were cleaned. We have tried to hire a roofing specialist to find the leaks, but they are too busy, do not return calls or do not perform this type of work. What do you suggest?

• Don’t just worry -- help protect your kids

  April 3, 2008

  We worry so much about our children, regardless of their ages.

• Putting AS SEEN ON TV products to the test

  March 27, 2008

  The television was tuned to one of the 750 stations we have, and Jack LaLanne was hawking his Power Juicer on a painfully annoying infomercial. Yep, the same Jack LaLanne whose exercise show I watched on a black-and-white Zenith nearly 45 years ago when I got home from morning kindergarten classes. He was annoying then, because I wanted to watch cartoons. He is annoying now, because I'd rather watch cartoons.

• What's happened to the missing socks?

  October 4, 2007

  Two socks enter the washer. Two socks exit the dryer.

• The most popular driveways

  April 26, 2007

  When John and Lynda Helenek renovated their 10-year-old Lake Grove Colonial almost a year ago, the last thing on their minds was their driveway.

• Building a dream

  August 10, 2006

  Almost 45 years ago, Jeff Hallock was a kid riding his bike past a creaky old house on South Jamesport Avenue, thinking the same spooky thoughts his friends were thinking. "To all of us kids, it was a haunted house," Hallock says of the 19th century Jamesport mansion. "When we got older, in high school, we'd sneak in on Halloween nights, just for something to do."

• A weekend in Jamesport

  August 10, 2006

  Almost 45 years ago, Jeff Hallock was a kid riding his bike past a creaky old house on South Jamesport Avenue, thinking the same spooky thoughts his friends were thinking. "To all of us kids, it was a haunted house," Hallock says of the 19th century Jamesport mansion. "When we got older, in high school, we'd sneak in on Halloween nights, just for something to do."

• Correcting a sticky finish

  July 27, 2006

  About 10 years ago, I finished the top of a wood table with Varathane. Within the past year or so, the finish has become "soft," and in spots, it has developed a stickiness. Everything, such as dishes, cups and paper, sticks to the table. Even my hands. Is there anything I can do to remove this stickiness without refinishing the entire tabletop?

• Finding a small mower to replace old faithful

  July 27, 2006

  I have enjoyed the use of an 18-inch, rear-bag, gas-powered lawn mower for 24 years. The machine, like the owner, has become tired. As a senior with a small yard, I have searched long and hard to either rebuild my mower or find another 18-inch mower. The new 21- or 22-inch models are too heavy and too large for my property. An electric model with a cord is not an option because of the layout of my property. Any ideas?

• Which way is your fan fanning?

  July 27, 2006

  There is a switch on my kitchen ceiling fan that goes up and down. Which position should it be in for the summer?

• 10 most wanted home products

  February 9, 2006

  New technology can make a splash. Like the Swash toilet seat. Or the Jentle Jet laundry sink.

• And the top 10 are ...

  February 9, 2006

  1. AUTOMATED LIGHTING CONTROL

• Nonprofit turning houses into homes

  December 29, 2005

  Michelle Wacker was 28, single and looking to buy her first home.

• Scotch tape has stuck around for 75 years

  September 22, 2005

  Be honest. We take that wonderful household item, transparent tape, for granted. Who thinks twice about using it to repair a torn page in a book or to stick their child's prized school paper on the fridge?

• Wrap up cankerworm and defoliation problems

  July 21, 2005

  For most of May and the first half of June, they dropped in like unannounced houseguests, ruining virtually every outdoor activity. Many of my neighbors were forced into the middle of the street for their evening walks because these invaders had overtaken the low-hanging branches of trees that line the sidewalks.

• Underground news: beware life span of oil tanks

  June 16, 2005

  What would you do if your underground oil tank sprang a leak? One response is certain - dig into your pockets.

• 'Draft dodger' cuts to the chase

  December 16, 2004

  I reached into the drawer for the tools of my trade -- drywall saw, utility knife, pry bar and hammer. She shuddered. This was going to be dirty and ugly. I looked into her ocean-blue eyes. "Are you sure about this? "I want my fireplace, she said, her voice desperate. "At all costs.

• Home, sweet concrete home

  May 13, 2004

  One of the most intriguing exhibits at the International Builders' Show in January was called the New American Home.

• Are all thermostats created equal?

  May 6, 2004

  Q. I have oil heat, one zone, with a Honeywell rotary dial thermostat. I want to change the thermostat to a digital type. Are all thermostats compatible? What should I look for in installing a new thermostat? -- J.D., Syosset

• On track for a touch of tin tile designs

  May 6, 2004

  Q. I own a new co-op in Queens. I would like to put tin tiles in the kitchen as a wall covering. Originally, I wanted stainless steel, like a restaurant, but everyone has told me it is cost prohibitive. Through the Internet, I discovered that tin might be an option. But I can't find anywhere to purchase the tiles. And who installs them? Help. -- Ellen J. Rogers, Bayside

• Finding a cap for a metal chimney

  May 6, 2004

  Q. We have a metal chimney that is used for venting the boiler. A chimney cap was added several years ago, and we were told it was stainless steel. However, it has rusted and made a mess of our new roof. I have been looking for a new cap, but the local home centers seem to have caps only for brick chimneys. Can you suggest anywhere else I can look for this cap? It measures about 18 inches, square. -- Ken Capel, Middle Island

• Drench Warfare Down Below

  February 19, 2004

  No sooner did I step through the doorway of the tool rental department at The Home Depot in South Setauket than the man behind the counter said: "If you're looking for submersible pumps, we're all out."

• Drench Warfare Down Below

  February 19, 2004

  No sooner did I step through the doorway of the tool rental department at The Home Depot in South Setauket than the man behind the counter said: "If you're looking for submersible pumps, we're all out."

• Foam Is Where the Art Is

  October 23, 2003

  Until recently, my only experience with architectural millwork had been with crown moldings. But after installing a ceiling medallion and a wall niche made from polyurethane foam, I'm hooked.

• Tools That Get the Job Done in Style

  October 16, 2003

  When it comes to do-it-yourself home repairs, Barbara Kavovit says she knows exactly what a woman wants.

• Reviews of more AS SEEN ON TV products

  May 15, 2003

  Tucked high in our kitchen cupboard is a collection of gadgets my family rarely uses, from dicers to ratcheting tools to ravioli folders. We even have the blooming onion machine.

• Gutter Repair

  August 23, 2001

  THE NEXT TIME your house springs a leak, look up. Specifically, look to the gutter system that's designed to put a roof's water runoff where it belongs - away from the foundation. If your gutters are sagging, leaking and in all-around terrible shape, it's probably time to replace them.

• Preventing Creosote Chimney Fires

  October 26, 2000

  Q. WE USE A wood-burning stove and our problem is a buildup of creosote in our brick chimney. The stove is cleaned often, every 2 to 3 weeks, but the buildup of creosote in the chimney creates sparks and this starts a fire in the chimney. We bought a commercial cleaner to spray on the wood. It is supposed to help retard the creosote buildup. Do you have any other suggestions? -Monika Ristau, Kings Park