Cool weather means time to check furnace

In some parts of the country, winter is just around the corner. It's a good time to check your furnace and make sure it's ready for another heating season. Here are some things you should do or have a professional take care of for you.

If your system uses a filter, make sure it is cleaned or replaced regularly. This is very important and can make a big difference in the efficiency and comfort of your family.

Turn off the breaker to the system and open up the access panel or the side to take a look at the blower fan. Use your vacuum to clean the inside of the unit. Check the belt if one is used on the fan, and replace it if it is cracking or worn.

If your system has a firebox, this can be cleaned with a vacuum. A brush also can be used to really loosen dirt and grime.

Lubricate bearings and other parts as required by your system. If you are unsure of your system requirements, check with the manufacturer.

Inspect the flue, and make sure it is properly vented if your system uses one.

Make sure your thermostat is working properly. Thermostats with moving parts can be carefully cleaned. If you suspect yours might not be functioning properly, go ahead and replace it. The newer set-back thermostats are really great and can save you money by regulating the settings according to your living patterns. Replace back-up batteries if needed.

If you suspect a problem, have a professional check the system and make repairs early on to avoid a last-minute rush.

Skinless paint

Opening up an older can of paint and finding a skin over the top is not a good thing. It happens a lot and can be hard to remove, and it wastes a lot of paint, too. It happens after the can is sealed and air is left in the can, but getting the air out is impossible. One way to avoid the skin forming is to place a small piece of plastic wrap over the paint before closing the can. Just cut a small piece of clear plastic wrap and set it down right on top of the paint, pressing it all the way to the edges of the can before closing the lid. When you open the can later on, you can pull the plastic wrap out of the way and, hopefully, there will be no skin to deal with. It's an old painter's trick that still works today.

Squeezing grout

Grout is very important, and it's usually easy to install with a float. But sometimes, especially when doing repairs, it would be better if you could get it in exactly the right spot without making a huge mess on surrounding tiles. If you can find the mortar you need in a caulking tube, great. But if not, you can improvise one. Just use a mustard bottle or some other plastic squeeze bottle. Put the grout into the bottle and squeeze it right into the joint. You will avoid having to wipe down the tiles or rocks with a float and sponge later. It works great for mosaics and rocks, too.

Super hints

• Add a cordless or wireless phone to your shop or garage. It just might come in handy one of these days when you are alone and need to answer the phone or have an accident and need some help.

• If you are making a picnic table or replacing the old wood on yours, why not try the newer synthetic lumber made for decks? It might cost a little more, but it will never rot, split or warp -- and no more splinters!

• Have you ever wished that you had a blackboard in your workshop? Well, you can apply one easily to any surface by using blackboard paint. It is available in both a spray paint and in a can, and comes in green and black so you can use the one that you like for your shop. It would be a great thing for a kid's room or recreation room, and it really works!

Q. I plan to install a new outlet on my back porch. I know I want to use the covered kind in order to protect it from the weather, but do I need to use the GFCI type? I've never installed one of these and don't know how difficult it is. What do you suggest?

C.M.

A. You should use the GFCI type. It's safer for you and anyone else in the area should you have a problem with excess moisture. Just covering the outlet won't protect you from being shocked. Most local codes require it for safety reasons anyway, so just plan to use this type. All have easy-to-follow directions for installation, and if you can install a regular outlet in the area, you can certainly install one of these. Follow your local code, and you'll be fine.

Q. Our back porch was painted many years ago, and most of the paint has peeled or worn off. How can I get the rest of it off so I can clean it and paint it again?

J.R.

A. If you are sure you want to remove the rest, try a paint-and-varnish remover. If it's stuck on the surface really well, I would just leave it and paint over it. Use a primer made for concrete, and you will have less peeling later. Use a paint for outdoor concrete, perhaps an epoxy, for the longest-lasting finish.

Q. I have a noise that is traveling through my whole house that seems to be coming from my plumbing pipes. It seems to happen when my outside water hose is turned off and on. What can I do to stop it?

N.B.

A. There is probably some sort of restriction that is in that outside faucet. Shut off the water and take the faucet apart. Clean the inside of the faucet and replace the washers inside the faucet. That should solve the problem.

Q. My dining-room wall is light-colored, and I want to try to lighten up the fireplace too. Right now, it is painted a dark black like most others. Is there some kind of paint that I can use to paint it white or beige?

H.M.

A. Check your paint store for high-temperature paint. I would think that the same paint that one can use on a barbecue grill could be used on your fireplace. The only problem is that most of these colors are dark or bright as well. See if your paint dealer has something you can use in stock or if he or she can order it.

Reader tips

• I have a tip that I learned by experience -- not a good experience. Don't stack your firewood next to your house unless you want termites to come in. I didn't even think about it, but the wood I had delivered last year was stacked right next to the back door. The spot was convenient and out of the elements. Well, the termites liked it too, and they started coming into the wall throughout the summer. I found them last week and will have to take some siding off the house in that area and do some spraying. I just wanted to pass on my experience and maybe save someone else from having to go through the same thing.

G.T.

• I have always kept a bucket of sand on my workbench to put my cigarettes out in. I quit smoking several years ago, but I kept the bucket on my workbench. It's a great place to keep my screwdrivers. They are always clean and ready when I need them. I like it better than keeping them in a drawer.

C.M.

• I saw that the area behind the radiator in my dining room was clogged with dust. I never go in that room, and the dust was really bad. I tried vacuuming but couldn't get all the dust out, so I used my dust mop. I wet it a little to grab the dust, and sure enough, it did just that. I also have used this method to clean under my refrigerator and stove. It's very easy to do and works beautifully.

P.S.

• Our steps were plain and ugly, so we painted them a nice blue to match the trim on our house. I think they really look great and the concrete paint should last a long time, even in our cold climate. One thing we did while painting was to add some sand on the surface before the paint dried. This was our way of making them safer when they get wet or icy. I hope it works, because you hardly notice it, and it was inexpensive and easy to do.

L.T.

• I put stick-on reflectors on our boat trailer. The trailer is black and hard to see at night. I was told by a neighbor that it should have come with reflectors on it, but it didn't. The peel-and-stick type were inexpensive and easy to add. It really is much easier to see now, and I feel much safer pulling through intersections at night with my boat on the back. I had a couple of extra ones, so I added them to the garage light switch and door-opener button. This makes them much easier to spot, even when the lights are out.

M.N.

Shop talk

• Kwik Seal Kitchen and Bath Caulk is now made with Microban. It neutralizes bacterial and fungal growth automatically, which means it will stay clean longer and be healthier for you and your family. It is also formulated with Kwik Dry technology, allowing it to be exposed to water after only three hours -- a huge time-saver compared with conventional kitchen and bath caulk. Kwik Seal has superior adhesion and flexibility to give you a long-lasting, watertight seal that won't shrink or crack, and it's paintable. The low-odor, low-VOC content is more pleasant, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee. It's perfect for countertops, tiles, bath and kitchen fixtures and can be used on glass, porcelain, plastic, metal, cultured marble and many other surfaces. Look for Kwik Seal 3.0 Advanced Caulk with Kwik Dry for Kitchens and Baths wherever DAP products are sold. If you would like additional information, visit the Web site at www.dap.com.

• If you've got a big project or remodel to do, check out the FatMax Xtreme FuBar Utility Bar. It's a four-in-one tool for prying, splinting, board-bending and striking. The one-piece forged steel bar is super-tough and the innovative two-tiered jaws are perfect for grabbing lumber. The beveled nail slot makes pulling nails easy, and the textured grip is both helpful and comfortable, even when you are sweating. It's perfect for a host of really tough, destructive jobs that other tools can't handle. Look for it at your hardware store or home center or online at www.stanleytools.com.

© 2007, Cowles Syndicate Inc.