Looking to save money on energy costs? Add more insulation.

We are all trying to save on energy costs around our homes these days. There are lots of things to consider when choosing solutions. If your budget is tight and you are an average do-it-yourselfer, consider doing some of the work yourself and saving some money that way.

Adding more insulation to your attic is a good idea. In most cases, we usually don't have enough. Loose-fill or blown-in insulation is easy to do and pays for itself in a short amount of time.

Go up into your attic and measure the square footage of the space. Then see the depth and type of existing insulation that you will be adding to. Before the fun begins, seal around spaces between the attic living space with caulk or expanding foam insulation. Also, seal yourself up, too. Wear long sleeves, eye and lung protection, and gloves.

Make sure you install baffles at soffit vents to prevent them from being blocked by your handiwork. Also keep insulation away from older can lights, because heat can build up in the housing if it gets covered. Keep insulation from getting too close to flues, chimneys and exhaust fans.

If you have existing insulation that has a plastic or paper cover over it, you will need to make slits in this with a sharp utility knife. This keeps moisture from the home from building up in the lower layers of insulation. You can rent a blower machine from your insulation dealer. If you buy enough bags of insulation, they might let you use it for free.

You will need to have a friend help you with the installation - one person in the attic spraying the insulation and the other down below, loading the insulation into the blower. It's best to start at the end farthest away from the attic access. As you work, the person loading the blower machine can pull excess hose out of your way between bags. Done right, you should start saving money on cooling costs right away.

Raise the bar

Want less mess? Some people keep string, wire, tape and other similar items in one place. But if that place is a box, then you probably have a mess in there most of the time. How about using a bathroom towel bar to store these items on? If you mount one of these bars on your shop wall, your stuff will be handy when you need it. Before hanging the bar, place string, twine, wire and other items that come on a roll onto it. Then you can pull out and cut off just what you need, and best of all, no more tangles!

Walk the plank

Sometimes you feel like you need a walkway, and sometimes you don't. Well, we have some plans to make a simple, portable walkway to help you get across the mud, dirt, puddles or whatever else is getting in your way. The planks are made of 1-inch-square lumber, cut to the walkway width you prefer. Drill holes through from front to back near the ends of each piece. Then slide each piece onto a pair of nylon or heavy-duty ropes, one on either side of the planks. Tie knots on the ends of each rope after all planks are threaded on. You can tie knots between each plank if you wish. Roll it out when you need a walkway, and roll it back up again to store.

Super hints

• A small paint roller on the end of an extender can be used to clean under the fridge or behind the stove to remove dust. Add a squirt of Endust to pick up even more.

• A lighter with no fluid in it might not light a candle, but it sure can create a spark to light your propane torch. Save a long-handled disposable lighter to use on your next plumbing repair.

• I love to paint, but the prep work is not something I look forward to. I usually get some help to remove the furniture from the room. And when you have a ceiling fixture that can't be removed, it's best to cover it with a large trash bag to keep from getting paint on it. This works well and does save you some time.

Q. I think it's smart to run your air-conditioner blower all the time, but my brother says it's not a good idea. Which one of us is right?

A. You both might be. If you live in a humid part of the country or your home is humid, then it might be smarter to turn it off and give the coils a chance to remove the excess humidity for you. But if you live in an arid part of the country, then the constant movement of air throughout the home can be more comfortable. We do both here in Texas. We let the air conditioner remove the humidity (allowing the blower to shut off), and we use ceiling fans to keep the air moving around the house to cool it.

Q. We have a blacktop driveway. It's old, but we had it retopped last fall. Now we need to have it sealed, and would like to do so before summer gets here. Is it too soon? What is the best sealer?

A. It's a great time to seal it. Just make sure it's very clean before doing so. There are several brands, and all work about the same. Just find one that is in your budget and is easy to apply. Read and follow all label directions, and you should get great results. Good luck!

Q. I have a tile backsplash in the kitchen and bar that was painted. The paint has lasted a long time but is starting to peel. What do I need to do to strip it off and restore the tiles?

A. Many times, when a tile surface is painted, it needs to be sanded or roughed up in order for the paint to adhere to the surface. If that is the case, then you may have to repaint the tiles when you get the old paint off. You can use a paint stripper to remove the old paint. You might not be able to get the paint out of the grout, and also may have to remove the grout and replace it.

Reader tips

• Our house has roll-up shades throughout. I've learned how to fix them when they lose their tension and won't roll up anymore. Just remove the end that is stationary from the holder and leave the other end intact. Roll the shade down a few turns to tighten the inner spring. When you put the stationary end back, you will hold the spring in place. Now you can roll it up again and it will stay.

• Our flagstone patio has been just great. We spend a lot of time outside enjoying it. I have noticed mildew starting to grow, though. I cleaned the rocks to get rid of the stains, but wanted to see if I could prevent it from coming back. I applied a water seal to the rock surface. It looks nice and does repel the water. I haven't noticed any mildew either, and normally, it has started to grow by this time of year. I guess the water seal worked. I will apply a fresh coat every year.

• I bought new drapes, but the old curtain rods were much thinner than the pockets on the new drapes. They didn't look very good on these thin rods. I went to my storage shed and found some leftover pipe insulation tubes. I brought these inside and slipped the rods into them. Then I put the drapes back on. It looks great! The wide rods made the new drapes pucker a little, and this gave me the rounded look. Saved me a bundle on new curtain rods, too!

• I do a lot of woodworking projects, and I have several patterns that I like to use over and over again. To keep these in good shape, I had them printed on plastic laminate, then I cut them out. The laminate is strong and doesn't wear out. I store them where they are flat and protected, and I have been using them for years now. I even have made some notes in marker on the templates.

• We had a hailstorm that did quite a bit of damage to the cedar siding on the front of our house. The guys came out to replace the damaged sections, but I realized it would look strange, since the new wood was a lighter color than the older siding. I had them remove some siding from the side of the house and use those planks on the front of the house, and put the new ones around on the side. Nobody sees the different-colored siding on the side, and the front looks just as nice as ever.

Shop talk

• Bolt Locks is now offering a new system that features an automobile-style cylinder that allows you to use your car or truck key to unlock its locks. You can use your own key to program the lock, and Bolt is making this available on many of its locks for toolboxes, trailer hitches, storage sheds, gates and even padlocks. Bolt Locks are highly resistant to corrosion and nearly impossible to pick. To find out more about the One-Key Lock Technology, go to www.boltlock.com.

• If you are in the market for a recessed fan light for your home, check out the Broan-NuTone models featuring SensAire technology. This high-efficiency fan moves 70 cubic feet per minute with half the noise of standard exhaust fans, but the best part is the humidity-sensing switch that automatically turns it on and off when you need it. You no longer have to be responsible for remembering to turn it on. It's the perfect solution for humid bathrooms, and will reduce the common problems associated with them. The Energy Star fan costs only $1 a year to operate. To find out more, visit www.Broan.com or www.NuTone.com.

• Excess humidity can be a real problem in some areas, especially during the summer months. If your home is sealed up tightly and is energy efficient, then you might even have created this problem. Excess humidity can cause mold and mildew problems. Mildew not only is smelly and ugly, it also can ruin walls, carpeting and just about any surface it gets on. Learn how to rid your home of this problem once and for all. We've put together a pamphlet called "Mildew Around Your House," and it is full of tips on how to get rid of mildew and how to keep it from coming back.

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

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.