Ease summer cooling bills with these tips

Cooling a home in the summertime can be a very expensive proposition. Central air conditioning is one choice, but unless you have a new high-efficiency model, it can get pretty expensive.

Here are some options you might explore. Maybe they will at least allow you to cut back on your cooling bills, if not eliminate them.

Ceiling fans cost a fraction of the price to run compared with an air-conditioner unit, and can do a great job of cooling you down on those hot days. Make sure they are pushing the air down into the room, as opposed to pulling it up to the ceiling, as some are designed to do in the wintertime.

Box fans also can work well to keep you cool. Place one in an open window to pull air into the room. Place another one on an opposing window to pull the air back out. If you have a two-story home, place the incoming fan downstairs and the exhaust fan upstairs, and you will have an effect similar to what you would have with a whole-house or attic fan. Special fans are now made just for windows that allow you to keep the window better secured and sealed while the fan is in place. Check your hardware store for its selections.

In some situations, a room air conditioner can be another less-costly cooling option. Some models fit into a window, while others can be installed directly through a wall. These don't take up much space, and work quite efficiently.

Free-standing air conditioners also are available now. Since they are fairly new on the market, they usually are pretty efficient and do a good job.

Obviously, keeping drapes and blinds closed, choosing cooler clothes and drinking cool beverages will help, too.

If you can employ some of these options for a week or two longer than you have in the past, you might be able to save a bundle. You might try to see how much money you can save in one summer, and see if that doesn't make you feel even better about your choices. These suggestions call for a little courage and may not be for the faint of heart, and certainly are not recommended for folks who have health issues. Stay cool, man!

On the fence

Hanging tools and hardware on a shop wall is a super idea, and most folks have at least one area in their garage devoted to this type of storage. Mostly we see pegboard panels being used, but there are some alternatives around. If you really want to get creative, you can use a section of wire fencing for your storage panel. Buy a prefab section, or use some heavy-duty wire fencing that you have leftover from your own yard. Attach it securely to a shop wall and use hooks, cable ties and bungees to hold all sorts of things on it. You probably can hang all of your garden tools in one spot, or use this area for sporting goods. Whatever you use will give you more floor space, and we all could use more of that!

Fire in the coal

There's an art to starting charcoal in a grill. It starts and gets ready faster if you make a little pile in the center of the grill. We use a large, five-pound coffee can. We cut out both ends and poke a few holes around the bottom edge and set it in the bottom of the grill. Fill it with charcoal, then light it. The coals get ready much faster this way, and you can lift off the can with oven mitts or tongs. Just be careful, because it gets really hot. You even can make a little handle from an old metal coat hanger if you want. The briquettes will be left in the grill once it's removed, and you can spread them out and start cooking. Keep this super-heater handy to use every time you grill outdoors.

Super hints

• To make electrical connections more secure, bend the end of the wire around your screwdriver before wrapping it around the screw. If you attach it in the same direction as the screw will be turning, it will get tighter as the screw gets tighter.

• I've paid good money for drawer dividers for my kitchen drawers, and find that the old muffin pan I use to sort hardware in my junk drawer works just as well. I guess it wouldn't work for flatware or kitchen utensils, but it's great for smaller items. I even have a small one in a drawer in my office. It's perfect for paper clips, erasers and other small things. Now I'm thinking about adding one to my sewing table for all of those smaller items that are always getting lost.

• A bungee cord wrapped loosely around your ladder step is a great place to secure hand tools, rags, instructions and other items you might have trouble holding on to while working.

Q. The wooden louvered shutters on my house need to be sanded and painted. Is there an easy way to do this, or do I need to plan my vacation around it?

A. Wash them with a pressure washer to remove any dirt and loose paint. Either use a detail power sander or wrap a strip of sandpaper around the louver and pull it back and forth to sand loose paint away. You don't have to remove it all, just rough it up to get the new paint to stick. Use a good primer, and the paint will stick better, too.

Q. I replaced the flusher handle on my toilet, and now the toilet lid hits it when I raise it up. Did I do something wrong, or will this be a problem?

A. They make a handle that is made to fit behind the lid, so perhaps you just need to replace the handle. It's probably not going to interfere with the workings; it just might cause wear on the toilet lid after a while.

Q. I've cleaned my fireplace but am left with some stains on the bottom surface. I believe they are from the easy-start fire logs I use sometimes. How do you get the stains off the concrete?

A. We suggest using mineral spirits paint thinner. Cover the stain with paint thinner, then cover it with an absorbent, like clay cat litter, baking soda or cornmeal. Let it sit overnight and see if this picks up most of it. You might have to repeat it, but it usually does the trick.

Reader tips

• My scroll saw is a great tool. I love the versatility, and have used it on several fun projects. I keep the table smooth by spreading a little talcum powder on it after I clean it. The powder acts as a lubricant and keeps things running smoothly.

• Our new hot tub uses bleach tablets in a floating dispenser. I always have added liquid bleach to my air conditioner's drain pan to keep the drain from clogging. Well, this year I just dropped a bleach tablet into the pan. It didn't dissolve right away, so I took it back out and put half a tablet in. It seems to have dissolved and to be working. I was afraid that if it sat there too long, it might harm the pan. But the half-tablet seems to be the right dose. Since it's so much easier, I thought others might want to try this. It's much less messy, and seems to work just as well.

• I weigh the portable propane tank for my grill to tell how much gas is left in it. I know how much it weighs when it's full and how much it weighs when it's empty. When it starts getting light, I just trade it in for another full one. I hate to run out in the middle of a backyard barbecue. It's not perfect, but I haven't run out so far.

• I have doubled my storage by hanging pegboard panels on hinges. This way, I can store items on both sides of the pegboard. I have exposed studs in my garage, so I can fold the panels flat against the wall and store the items on the back, where they won't hit the studs. I have more than enough storage this way, and I used heavy-duty hinges, so the pegboard is very secure. It's really a great idea if you want to try it.

• My old golf bag has a stand built into it. Since I no longer play golf, it makes a great caddie for all of my yard tools. The pockets are even great for holding garden gloves, seeds and small hand tools. Even the towel holder comes in handy.

Shop talk

• A small hole or crack in a tub or shower can make it worthless. Having it repaired can cost thousands. But Devcon makes a Bathtub/Shower Epoxy Repair Kit that will permanently mend small holes or cracks up to 5 inches long. It's fairly easy to use, and everything you need is included in the kit, including easy-to-follow instructions. It can be used on fiberglass, plastic or enamel surfaces, and comes in white or almond colors. The kits are available at hardware stores and home centers. If you need more info, check it out at www.devcon.com.

• Cabinet Rescue helps you refinish cabinets quickly and easily, and without spending a fortune. The waterborne acrylic laminate finish comes in a can and goes right over existing laminate cabinet surfaces to give you a whole new look without having to sand or prime. The "quick dry" properties allow you to put on a second coat in only two hours. It resists dirt, stains and smudges, and cleans up with soap and water or other mild cleaners. Universal tints can be added, and cleanup is easy, too. It dries to a smooth, super-hard, chip-resistant, factorylike finish. Check it out at your paint or hardware store, or online at www.cabinetrescue.com.

• 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.