Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2016 i Family Handyman

High-end sinks with low prices I was at the International Builders’ Show in Vegas last winter and came across the Mr. Sinks & Faucets booth. What caught my eye was the massive selection of vessel and conventional vanity sinks made from every material imaginable. And I couldn’t believe how inexpensive they were. There was a glass vessel sink for less than $30 and a large rectangular solid granite unit for $219. The company, MR Direct International, has a huge selection of frugally priced kitchen sinks and faucets as well. The reps explained that the low prices were the result of having no stores or middlemen, just a giant warehouse in Toledo, OH. So if you’re nosing around for a faucet or sink, check out the collection at mrdirectint.com or call…

Bathrooms never have enough storage or shelf space. Finding a home for all your blow dryers, curling irons, toilet paper, and cans, soaps and bottles can be a challenge. Once you’ve filled your vanity, how do you squeeze more storage into a small bath? And what about your knickknacks? Here are two simple projects to help you get the space you need. PROJECT 1: INSTALL GLASS SHELVES Most bathrooms have one area you can count on for additional storage, and that’s over the toilet. Open glass shelving is a great way to display decorative bathroom bottles or knickknacks. There are zillions of glass shelving systems on the market. Follow the directions that come with the system for the installation, but read on for help anchoring the shelves to the wall…

1 AIR FILTER A badly clogged air filter can cause the furnace to overheat and shut off, so replace it if it’s dirty. It can be hard to tell with some filters, so consider installing an air filter gauge that lets you know when it’s time to replace the filter (see p. 37). 2 POWER Make sure the power is on! The power switch for your furnace looks like a regular light switch and can get bumped and turned off accidentally. If the switch is off, just flip it back on. 3 THERMOSTAT Be sure your thermostat is set to “heat” and at a temperature higher than the temperature inside the house. 4 GAS LINE SHUTOFF Check the ball valve on the pipe that supplies gas to your furnace and…

PAINT-BUCKET BOMB I was painting some windows high above my deck and needed to hang a paint bucket from my ladder. I’d fashioned a hook from some aluminum wire the day before to hold my tool bucket, so I figured that would do. As I was painting, the hook came unbent, sending the bucket plummeting and the paint exploding all over the deck below. The deck was in need of sprucing up, but this wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind. Stan Dickerson Do you miss Wordless Workshop? To see ingenious DIY solutions —in classic cartoon form—go to familyhandyman.com and search for “wordless.” Blower-bag bungle I was house-sitting for friends who have several huge trees in their yard, and I decided to take on the leaf cleanup. My dad’s new…

WHAT IT TAKES Time: 1 to 2 hours per rollout—but you’ll pick up speed with each one! Cost: $30 per rollout Tools: Circular saw, drill and a hammer— but a miter saw, table saw and an 18-gauge nailer will make it easier. If you’re tired of getting down on all fours and rooting through dark, jumbled base cabinets to find what you need, this project is for you. Rollouts make it easy to organize and access everything from your pantry items and cookware in the kitchen to the power tools and finish cans in your shop. I’ve built many rollouts for my house and workshop, and believe me, the conventional way of building rollouts is tricky, time-consuming and frustrating. With the easier method shown here, you can build the rollouts on…

GET $100 FOR YOUR HANDY HINT! SEE P. 4 FOR DETAILS. Leaf bag stiffener The problem with paper leaf bags is that when they’re empty, they collapse just as you start to put leaves in them. You can buy those fancy cardboard and plastic bag stiffeners, but why bother? I just roll the tops of the bags inward. This holds the top wide open while I dump in the leaves and other lawn debris. Greg Reinhard Measuring cup hang-up Free up drawer space by hanging measuring cups inside a kitchen cabinet. Position and mount a wood strip so that the cups will hang between the shelves and allow the door to close completely. Mount a second strip for your measuring spoons, then screw in cup hooks on both strips. Veronica…

1 CHECK THE COLD-AIR RETURNS If you have some rooms that are warmer or colder than others, the problem might be a blocked air return. They’re usually located in the floor or low on an interior wall (see photo). When blocked, cold room air can’t “return” to the furnace to be reheated. 2 ADJUST THE DAMPERS Check dampers to make sure they’re not restricting airflow to the rooms that need it. Some need to be adjusted differently for winter and summer. You’ll usually find them near the supply-air plenum on the large ducts that feed the rooms in your house. MEET THE EXPERT Mark Johnson is president of Superior Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Inc. in Anoka, MN. He’s been installing HVAC systems for 36 years and contributed to this…

A concrete driveway is expensive, but it will last for decades if it’s properly installed. Good finishing techniques will make a slab look great for a while, but proper ground prep will keep it looking that way over its lifetime. We spent a day on the job with a longtime concrete pro (they don’t like to be called cementheads). He gave us some great tips on how to prepare a site for a pour. He couldn’t stress enough that the most important steps for cement slab installation are done before the cement truck arrives. MEET THE EXPERT Glenn Anderson is the owner/operator of Above Quality in Prior Lake, MN. He’s been finishing slabs, laying block and stacking stone for 25 years. A good base is everything! Concrete will crack and…

Every time we show how to connect wires by screwing a twist-on connector onto straight conductors, we get mail from electricians telling us we’re doing it wrong. They insist that the only proper way is to twist the conductors and insulated portions before installing the connector. We contacted product expert Cassie Donnelly at IDEAL Industries Inc., the leading manufacturer of twist-on wire connectors. Cassie explained that IDEAL’s twist-on connectors contain square-wire springs that create threads, draw the conductors into the connector, and enable the twisting needed to make a secure mechanical connection. Although twisting the wires before applying the connector is often standard practice in the industry, it’s unnecessary and can double the amount of work. Cassie also pointed out that the key to making a secure connection with either…

MORE ROLLOUT DESIGNS! Go to familyhandyman.com and search for “rollouts.”…

Furnaces might seem complicated, but the basics are surprisingly easy to understand. Once you know them, you’ll be able to avoid breakdowns and solve simple problems yourself. Plus, you’ll understand what the heck a repair technician is saying, make smarter decisions and avoid rip-offs. That can add up to huge savings over the life of your furnace. Anatomy of a conventional furnace SUPPLY-AIR PLENUM The supply-air plenum is a large sheet metal box on top of the furnace. It distributes warmed (or cooled) air to the ducts. COOLING COIL If you have central air conditioning, a cooling coil cools air on its way up the supply-air plenum. Copper tubing connects the cooling coil to the compressor unit outside your home (that’s the big box with the fan in it). HEAT…

1 WINTERIZE YOUR PRESSURE WASHER… Or ice might destroy it I once owned an electric pressure washer. I refer to it in the past tense because a few years ago, I left it in the garage over the winter without draining the pump. The water froze and expanded, and when I fired up the washer the following spring, water sprayed from every part of the machine except the end of the wand. I should have disconnected the hoses and sprayed in a pump antifreeze/lubricant like Pump Saver from Briggs & Stratton. That forces the water out and replaces it with antifreeze and lube. Pump antifreeze/lubrication is available at home centers for about $10. Mark Petersen, Associate Editor 2 DISCONNECT GARDEN HOSES… Or risk major water damage A garden hose that’s…

Caution: Test for lead Old trim may have layers of paint. Test for lead in the paint before you remove the trim, and if you discover it, follow lead-safe practices when you remove the trim. For instructions on testing and how to deal with lead paint safely, go to familyhandyman.com and search for “lead paint.” 1 Slice the paint first This tip applies mainly to painted trim. It’s common for moldings to be stuck to the wall, or for adjacent pieces of trim to be stuck together, either from caulk or years of built-up paint. If you don’t slice through the caulk or paint, the trim will be harder to remove, but more important, the wall or trim may get damaged. Use a sharp blade in a utility knife to…

Almost half of all homeowners in the United States have dropped their hardwired telephone service and rely on cellular service only. That saves money every month and might be a smart move for you. But there’s more to it than money. We talked to tech experts and with homeowners who have cut their landlines and have lots of regrets. So before you cut the cord, consider these possible drawbacks: 1 UNRELIABILITY. If you’re frustrated by problems like dropped calls, you might become even more frustrated when you no longer have a hardwired alternative line at home. 2 SPOTTY RECEPTION. Next time you’re on your cell phone, walk through your entire house. If you get poor reception in some areas and still want to drop your landline, consider installing a cell…