Keeping your home toasty during the wintertime

Windows and doors are part of every home, but also are the most likely sources of heat loss during the winter. We can't do without windows, but you can help cut down on the heat loss through them. Upgrading them will work for sure but can be quite costly. So here are a few things you can do that will help without breaking the bank.

There are some easy ways to locate the leaks if you aren't sure where you need to work. Thermal heat sensors are available at your home center for not too much money. Or you can use the old method of stationing one person inside the house and one outside, at the window. The one inside should have a hairdryer, blowing around the edges of the window, while the one outside tries to "feel" where the gaps are.

Even small gaps can make a big difference, so check inside the house and outside for leaks around the window frames. Caulk will fill in these gaps quickly, even on the smallest budget.

Weatherstripping also can be helpful. This could be placed where the sash fits at the sill. Some windows might also benefit from weatherstripping placed where the two sashes fit together, midway in the window frame.

Another way to make a leaky window more efficient is to add another layer to the opening. This could be something as simple as a sheet of plastic stapled in place over the window, either inside or out. They actually make some pretty neat shrink-to-fit kits for your windows. These fit over a window, and with the use of a hairdryer, will become almost invisible over an existing window. Check your hardware store for one to fit each window in your home.

Insulated drapes or shades will help cut down on the cold transfer as well. You might check around to see if you can add insulated liners to your existing drapes.

Try some of these fixes on your exterior doors and help them become more energy efficient!

Junction boxes are a bright idea for storage

I'm definitely not an electrician, but I've replaced a few outlets and minor things like that. Over time, I have collected a few junction boxes of various sizes and types. A good thing you can do with these is install them on a pegboard wall - or any wall, for that matter. Placed with the open side facing upward, you can use them to hold tools, hardware and many other things. They are lightweight and have installation holes ready for use. Some even come with screws, and they are inexpensive should you want to buy them.

Removing stubborn nuts from bolts

Removing a nut from a bolt can be done several different ways. A wrench is a good choice. I usually grab my ratchet set for the extra power. But a nut that has worn corners, either from abuse or just regular wear and tear, is going to be tough to remove with any tool. What you really need is a second nut, the same size, threaded onto the bolt, right up next to the damaged one. With this setup, you can grab both of them together and try to remove them. The second nut will be easier to hold on to, and this may allow you to remove them both at once.

Super hints

• When you have a clogged drain, there are several ways to bust it. There's the plunger, a plumbing snake and your shop vacuum. Yes, you can sometimes remove a clog with your shop vacuum!

• If you are constantly repairing drywall corners in heavy-traffic areas around your home, you are a prime candidate for corner protectors. They come in a variety of colors or clear, and easily can be tacked right onto the wall to keep corners from being damaged.

Q. Our spa is adjacent to the wooden pool deck. I see a lot of white stains on the wood that look like they must somehow be coming from the overspray from the spa. Is there some way to prevent this white stain from happening? How do we clean it?

A. Sand the areas that are affected by the white stain. You can apply a matching stain to correct the appearance. If you use a penetrating stain, then you will be done. If not, you should apply a sealer to the wood. This is going to be a constant battle, so apply a coat of new sealer annually.

Q. I was thrilled to find a local tile importer and bought enough tiles for my sunroom. These are from Mexico and are handmade. They look great but are not sealed. What must I do to prepare them to look good and last a long time in our sunroom?

A. It's going to be best if you seal them before placing them on the subfloor. Use a penetrating sealer and just follow the package directions. This will protect them and bring out the color. If you can apply a second coat, it should last longer. Keep in mind that you may have to apply another sealer to the surface every few years to keep it protected.

Q. I got a steal of a deal from one of my neighbors on his old grill when he got a new one. He just wanted to get rid of the old one. I brought it home and started cleaning it. I would never tell him, but it was a total mess. After all the cleaning, I found several things that needed to be replaced, including the igniter. Now what? Is there a way to fix these things easily on a budget?

A. Congratulations! You've probably already done the hard stuff if it was really that dirty. See if you can get online and look up the manufacturer. Hopefully you can then get a manual and order replacement parts. A lot of grill parts are universal, so check your hardware store or home center, too. Other online sources also can be used. Once you get it all fixed up, buy a good cover for it so it will stay in good shape. Have fun!

Reader tips

• I found some great lamps for my family room at a thrift store. I thought they would look great, but the color was all wrong. I went to my paint store and bought the right color and just painted them. They do look perfect, and I'm sure I saved a bundle buying at a thrift store and then painting them to match. It was a lot of fun!

• I finally decided to replace my old ladder. It was starting to get a little wobbly, and I was afraid I would fall off it. The new one is so much better. They have made a lot of improvements, like storage holes on the top step to keep tools stored so they won't fall off. It also is much more stable, and weighs less. If you haven't checked out the new ones, do so. You might decide to replace yours, even if it is still in pretty good shape.

• My office is more of a craft room these days. I took most of my old books to a resale store and bought some storage bins to hold more of my craft stuff. I went back to the resale store and asked them for some old, damaged books at a big discount. I took the books to a friend and had her cut the spines off the books, then glued them to the storage bins to make it look like a row of books. The room looks neat and has tons more storage.

• When the seasons change, so does my decor. I'm not rich, but I will remove the grass mat rug and replace it with a fall-colored, softer rug. I also replaced the bright pillows with some warmer-colored pillows. I add a throw blanket and some candles. These are simple things you can do, like me, on a budget, to give your home a warmer look for the fall season.

• I found the carpet protector that you had talked about a while back. It was the perfect way to protect our carpets when the painters came in to do the ceilings. They already knew about it and had a roll of their own to use. I was amazed to see how they used it, and wanted to share this with you and your readers. They slid the roll onto a paint roller and extension pole, and rolled it out onto the carpet with the roller. It was super fast this way. Cool, huh?

• I like to shop at flea markets and resale shops. I ran across a salvage store that sells old doors, windows, trim and things like that out of old houses. Look in your community and see if you have one of these stores. They are a lot of fun to look through, and you never know what kind of treasures you will find.

Shoptalk

• HO HO HO! Would you like to make a nifty Christmas gift for the home? Wind chimes add a touch of music to your deck or patio. We've got plans for a set of wind chimes made from electrical conduit (pipe), which is easy to cut and not very expensive. The other parts are available at your favorite hardware place, or you may have them left over from another project. They also are available at www.thesuperhandyman.com, so come on by!

• You need to see the Paint Handy to completely understand how it works. It's a really innovative paint tool that completely eliminates spills while you are painting with a brush or small roller. It's a flat basic tray that holds a good amount of paint. It has a protective shield over the top that allows you to carry your paint supply, even upside down, up a ladder while working. You have to see it to believe it, so go to www.painthandy.com and watch the video for yourself.

• You've probably seen to a dentist who uses BluLight LED Technology to cure a special gel mending material. Well, this amazing technology and gel now are available to the public, and can be used for tons of stuff around the house and shop. It is great for filling and sealing cracks and holes in almost any material, sealing seams and even for splicing electrical repairs. To find out exactly how it works and the many DIY uses, go to www.blufixx.com. It's available right now at leading home improvement centers.

• Write to Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit online at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2015, Cowles Syndicate Inc.