Replacing with GFCI receptacle easy to do

Outdoor electrical outlets or receptacles in your bathrooms or kitchen should be GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protected. This type of circuit will prevent accidental death from electrical shocks by shutting off the current to that circuit in case of a problem. If your home doesn't have these, you can install them yourself. They currently are required in most municipalities in newer homes.

There are several types; the receptacles are the most common. There is one type that can be installed in place of the standard circuit breaker and there is also a portable type, but these are not nearly as practical or reliable. The receptacle is not that hard to install and would be easy to test, which is something you should do monthly.

To replace an existing receptacle with a GFCI receptacle, start by cutting the power to the circuit in which you want to install the GFCI replacement receptacle. This outlet should be in a place where it is visible and easy to test. It should not be on the same circuit as an appliance that should always stay on, like a refrigerator, is connected to. Expose the box by removing the cover place. If the box is too small, you can replace it with a larger one. These GFCI switches are a little larger, and you don't want to overcrowd the box.

Remove the old outlet receptacle and follow the directions included in the package for the new receptacle. They will vary, should the outlet be at the end of the run or in the middle somewhere.

Use wire nuts, wrapped with electrical tape, for the best connections and turn the current back on to the outlet and test it.

If the outlet is outdoors, it should be covered to protect it from the weather, or the circuit might trip a lot.

Control painting mess

Painting doesn't have to be a PAIN. But cleaning up the mess afterward sure can be. Why not do what you can in order to keep things from getting out of hand and also save time on cleanup? One super-easy thing you can do to save time on cleanup is to set your paint tray down inside a cardboard box. Check your local grocery store for a rectangular box that is just a little larger than your paint tray. Cut the sides down to only a couple of inches. Hopefully, you won't be sloppy enough to fill it up! Any drips over the side of the tray will fall into the box and won't get on your dropcloth.

Secure wire

Whether you are running speaker wire, phone wire or some other small wire or cable, a quick way to do it is to use a staple gun to secure it to the wall. The only thing you need to worry about is stapling through the wire, and this can be a problem unless you are very careful. One thing you can do to prevent this is to secure a "stand-off" to the bottom of the stapler in order to keep it from installing the staple flush with the surface. This could be something as simple as a popsicle stick or two. Place the sticks behind the place where the staple exits so they won't interfere with the function of the stapler. Since the stapler won't sit on the surface, it won't crimp the wire. Simple but sound.

Super hints

• If you've got a squeaky floor covered with carpet, you can quiet it with just a nail or two. Locate the exact point where it squeaks, and drive a finishing nail right through the carpet and into the subfloor to silence the squeak.

• Make sure when you seal up the house for the winter that you don't seal over the attic or foundation vents. These areas need to be left open to provide ventilation that will carry excess moisture away.

• If you want a border on your wall that's a little different, try using joint compound. Place a plastic stencil, normally used with paints, on the wall, and paint over it with joint compound. Before it dries, lift the stencil off the wall, and you will be left with a three-dimensional design you can paint over.

Q. I store my pool chemicals in my garage, and my neighbor told me it was bad for my car and tools. What's the deal?

C.M.

A. Some pool chemicals are very caustic, and if the fumes, which tend to escape from the containers, build up in your garage, they can damage the surface of certain metals. Make sure they are kept in a dry, ventilated place.

Q. We have an exposed brick wall in our kitchen, and I would like to paint it a light green color. We've cleaned it, but there is a white, powdery substance on the wall that we can't seem to remove. Can you advise us as to what to use for this?

L.G.

A. What you are probably seeing is a mineral called efflorescence, which comes from the bricks. This usually is caused by moisture, so make sure there is no leak or moisture problem behind or under the wall. TSP (trisodium phosphate) is used to clean it and will work well. Check your paint store for it, and just follow the package directions. Use a good-quality primer/sealer first, and then apply your top coat. Good luck.

Q. We use our old well to irrigate the lawn, and the iron in the water has caused rust spots on the driveway and front walk. I'm sure there is a way to clean this off, but I've not found it yet. Can you suggest a product I can try?

A. G.

A. Oxalic acid will remove the rust. It can be found in a variety of cleaning products, such as deck wash. Check with your hardware dealer or home center. A power washer also might work on some areas. When you get the rust off, use a water sealer on the concrete to prevent this from happening again. Re-apply annually.

Q. We have painted the bathroom and replaced the sink and toilet but are still stuck with a green bathtub. Is there any way to paint the bathtub rather than ripping out the walls and floor to remove it?

J.S.

A. There are companies that will paint or resurface it for you. You can try doing it yourself too. Use epoxy paint made for appliances. One is called Klenk's Tub and Sink Epoxy. Read and follow the package directions carefully, and you can get long-lasting results.

Reader tips

• When I have finished cleaning my paint brushes, I coat them with hair gel. I know it sounds weird, but when it dries, the bristles become stiff and they can't be ruined by being pushed in a crowded drawer or bucket. If you've ever had this happen, you know it's almost impossible to get the bends out later. Before you use the stiff paint brushes, just wash the hair gel out, and you are ready to go.

V.N.

• Our sump pump just sits on the floor of the sub-basement and comes on when it needs to. I hate when it gets clogged, because it's not easy to get to and is a hassle to clean out. I have devised a super filter system that prevents a lot of the clogs. It's a bait bucket minus the outside bucket. The inner bucket is the perfect size and has holes all over the sides that allow only water in. It works great, it doesn't look that bad and it is tough enough to last for a while.

K.B.

• We installed new track lights in our home office and moved the old ones out to the garage. What a great idea! They are perfect, and since they are adjustable, we pointed them at exactly the right spots to highlight the workbench, storage closet and car doors. Since they are installed in place of the overhead light fixture, they were easy to put up, too.

T.F.

• I read in your column about putting balloons out to scare your dog away from a place where he shouldn't dig, but I have a better idea. My dogs were always digging in the middle of the yard and the balloons wouldn't have worked there, so I tried putting some of their poop where they were digging. I did it once, and they never went back to that hole again.

S.D.

• I mounted the old towel rack from the bathroom in the garage for some storage. I thought it might be a good place to hang some stuff, but I found it even better for storing pipe. I just slid the pipe down behind the bar, and it stays flat up against the wall. It's a great way to store it. It would be good for other long materials, too.

M.T.

Shop talk

• First Alert's Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray has a discharge time up to four times longer than standard fire extinguishers. It works on paper, fabric, wood, cooking oil and electrical fires, making it perfect for every homeowner. The compact, lightweight canister is easy to operate, and the biodegradable formula is easy to wipe away when used. To learn more or to find a local dealer, visit its Web site, www.firstalert.com.

• The Dremel Rotary Tool is adding some super accessories to its line. The new accessories include a diamond wheel, carbide wood-cutting wheel and a thin-cut wheel; all utilize the EZLOCK mandrel system, which makes switching bits super easy. The diamond wheel can make a clean cut through ceramic flooring -- including tiles -- with little dust and great precision. The carbide wood-cutting wheel cuts up to two times faster than previous Dremel cutting and shaping wheels with a one-half inch depth of cut -- perfect for all sorts of hobbies. And the thin-cut wheel is designed to eliminate breakage and give you extremely accurate cuts at only 30/1,000 of an inch thick. Dremel Rotary Tools have been around for a long time and have an excellent reputation. The new accessories are out this month and will be available where Dremel products are sold. For more information, visit its Web site at www.dremel.com.

© 2007, Cowles Syndicate Inc.