Now’s the time to seal up your home’s insulation

We are officially into the fall season now, and it won’t be long at all until Old Man Winter comes your way! Let’s get those cracks and gaps around our homes caulked and sealed up before that first freeze.

Start off by walking around the exterior of your home to find the places where you need to add caulk. Make a list and take some measurements. Then you will know what to buy and how much of it you will need for each area.

Check areas where different building materials meet, like siding and brick. Usually caulk is best for filling and sealing up these gaps.

Check sites where utilities come into the house, like gas and water. Even a small gap can let cold air or a small critter in. Expanding foam is going to be your best bet for larger gaps like these. If any foam comes out, you can trim it off with a utility knife.

Windows and doors need to be properly weather stripped, as you may need to open and close them and not seal them up permanently. This can be harder and more costly to install. Peel-and-stick foam can be used, but it might not last for a long time. If you can afford it and have the time to do it, a better-quality weather stripping would be worth it. Storm windows are another option.

Fireplaces and vents have dampers, which should be closed tightly. The damper on a fireplace has a lever that must be closed manually. If it doesn’t seal properly, you can add a gasket or install a top-sealing damper. Most vent fans have a damper that opens when the exhaust fan is running. Just make sure they open and close properly. Replace them if they don’t.

Put foam insulating gaskets into light switches and wall outlets on outside walls.

Doing these things is fairly simple and will pay off in lower utility bills and more comfort.

Label those cords to make repairs easierThere you are, under your desk, preparing to unplug the printer so you can take it in to be serviced. Unfortunately, there are seven other devices plugged into your surge protector, and if you unplug the wrong thing, you could shut down the wrong device. It#146;s smart to take the time to mark these devices on the cord by the plug so that you will know what#146;s what when you find yourself in this situation. You can use masking tape and a pen to do it. It#146;s a super smart thing to do and will keep you from creating problems during the process of fixing another issue.Update your dresser and create extra storage with basketsWe love the idea of removing the drawers from an old dresser and replacing them with baskets for storage. It#146;s a new look that is really popular. One thought we had was that you could then use those drawers for more storage under a bed. You could put small wheels on the bottom of the drawers and then slide them right under your bed. Think of all of the extra storage this could create. Super hintsŸ Hanging shoe organizers are fantastic for organizing hardware, tools, cans of spray paint, gardening supplies, crafts, sewing supplies, spices, cleaning supplies and tons of other things.Ÿ One thing that really dates a house are the metal finishes on towel rods, doorknobs and other things like that. You can paint these finishes with new paints that look like brushed nickel or dark brass. You even can do chandeliers. Just check your paint store for these special metal finishes. Your home will look like it#146;s just been renovated.Ÿ Batt insulation is easier to install than loose fill, and, in many cases, it#146;s the only kind you can use on vertical services. To cut it to fit into specific areas, place a scrap of wood along the cutting line and press it down, then cut through it with a sharp utility knife.Q. We have a standard fireplace that has a black metal surround. We would really like to know if there is would be a way to paint it? If so, what type of paint should we use?A. You need to find a high-temperature paint. This would be the same paint you would use on a barbecue grill. Your color choices might be limited, so you may decide not to do it just based on that. If you do decide to paint, just mask off the surrounding area and go for it. Good luck!Q. I bought a set of horseshoes at a garage sale and I can#146;t wait to show them off at our family reunion. Do you know the proper way to set them up?A. It#146;s been a while since we#146;ve played that game. The only rule we know is that the stakes are supposed to be placed 40 feet apart. We did find a website that you can go to to find out everything else you need to know, including the rules and scoring guidelines. Go to www.horseshoepitching.com. If you#146;re as #147;good#148; as we are, you also might need a helmet!Q. I finally pulled off most of the old caulk on my bathtub and shower in the kids#146; bathroom. What I need to know now is, What is the best caulk to go back in with? Do you have any other tips or tricks for helping it look good and last longer than the last time I did it? Care to share?A. Hopefully you are doing this BEFORE moisture has created additional problems. Make sure the area you work on is clean and dry. Choose a caulk that is specifically made for bathrooms. It will contain extra protection from mold and mildew, and may even have antimicrobial protection, too. Fill up the tub with water to weigh it down. Then you can put your bathing suit on and climb in to the do the caulking. Use an ice cube to smooth the caulk out with less mess. You even can mask off the areas to caulk so you don#146;t go over the lines too much. Make sure you don#146;t get it wet until it has had plenty of time to cure, which might be 24 to 48 hours. Just read the package directions. Good luck!Reader tipsŸ I used to smoke, and kept a bucket of sand on my workbench for the butts. I started using it for screwdrivers and found it to be the perfect way to store them. All of my screwdrivers have the size and type noted on the handle, so I can easily grab the one I need when I#146;m working on a project. Well, maybe some good came out of that stupid chapter in my life!Ÿ I have older glass sliding shower doors in all of my bathrooms. They still work great and are much better than shower curtains, in my opinion. I gave them an upgrade by adding plastic dividers made for windows. These are supposed to make plain glass windows into divided window panes. I just cut them to fit my shower doors and glued them in place. They really look neat, and I get a lot of very positive comments on them.Ÿ I#146;m not sure where it came from, but we ended up with a spare tension rod. It was a fairly small one, so I finally placed it inside the linen closet, where we keep a lot of our cleaning supplies. I positioned it between two shelves and use it to store spray bottles of cleaners. The spray triggers fit on the rod, and it#146;s easy to retrieve what you need. Plus, it doesn#146;t take up any shelf space.Ÿ I love the new guttering that I installed. It was easy to work with, and it looks really nice. The only problem I had was fitting the pieces together. I ended up using some liquid dishwashing soap to make it easier to slide the pieces together. It worked so well and made it much easier, so I thought I would pass the information on to you. Maybe it will help someone else who#146;s in the same boat! Thanks for all you do to help others.Ÿ I#146;m a single mom and am learning all about home repairs in my new home. I#146;ve noticed that my home center has classes just about every weekend, so I started going to them. It#146;s a lot of fun, and I#146;ve learned so much. I have done some repairs and will start tiling my backsplash next month. I can#146;t wait. I love the classes and would recommend them to anyone else who wants to learn how to make repairs and renovate.ShoptalkŸ Vinegar is one of those everyday household products that we all have in our homes. It has tons of uses there, as well as in the shop and even outdoors. It#146;s really inexpensive and can save you money, in many cases. We have put together a list of some of our favorite, tried-and-true uses for the stuff. You also can get this information, as well as a lot of other interesting tips, on our website at www.thesuperhandyman.com. We hope to hear from you soon. Have a super day!Ÿ Barrel Bolt Locks, which are sliding bolt locks, can be used on just about any door, anywhere. They work great and have proved to be secure for many years. In fact, they#146;re one of the oldest locking systems ever used. One of the few problems that we hear about is how to deal with a shifted door or frame. AjustLock has reinvented this type of lock so that it can overcome this problem. They come in a variety of sizes and finishes to match your existing hardware. They have AjustLocks for doors, windows, gates and even cabinets, and at a really good price. You can find out more, including a brief instructional video, on the website at www.ajustlock.com.Ÿ If you#146;ve ever wanted to take a woodworking class, then you know they are few and far between. Well, now you can take an online workshop through Taunton Press. These are the same people who put out Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding magazines, as well as some super books. Currently they are offering #147;Getting the Most From Your Bandsaw,#148; with Roland Johnson. The 80-minute video course covers everything from buying a bandsaw to choosing and changing blades, improving performance and lots of tips and techniques to get first-rate results. Classes coming soon include #147;Getting the Most from Your Jointer and Planer,#148; #147;Installing and Casing Doors#148; and #147;Finishing Furniture With Shellac and Varnish.#148; To find out more about these classes, go to www.tauntonworkshops.com.Ÿ Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells#146; website at thesuperhandyman.com.© 2013, Cowles Syndicate Inc.