Keep your garage door opener running smoothly

The invention of the garage-door opener changed life for most of us. It's been around so long now most of us take it for granted. The fact is, they are a luxury when they work. But they can be a real pain when they don't.

Here are some ways to keep them running smoothly and what to do when they don't.

The first thing you should look at when they stop functioning is the battery in the portable opener. The hand-held buttons use batteries, and they should be replaced once a year.

Another thing that can go awry is the electric eye, placed on the side of the door frame in the garage. This is a safety feature that is supposed to prevent the door from coming down on you if you are standing in the doorway. If anything is sticking out of the doorway or in the way of the eye, the door won't close. Sometimes they just get knocked out of position or they can get too dirty to “see.” We've even seen trouble when the sun is shining directly into the eye and preventing it from “seeing” the transmitter on the other side of the doorway. Cleaning or shading the eye can help. Most eyes are set on adjustable brackets, so you can loosen the screws and realign them so they work.

If the door frame is a little out of line and the door is straining to go up or down, the pressure can activate the safety switch and cause the door to go back up. Straightening the door frame can relieve the pressure and allow it to work again.

If the on-board computer is the problem with the door opener, then you can replace that. Just check with a local dealer for the part.

Just keeping the door tracks, wheels and all other parts clean and lubricated will go a lot of the way toward keeping things running smoothly. If you plan to go out of town, turn the unit off so it can't be activated, and then lock the door behind you.

Recycle your batteries

You should never throw a battery into the regular garbage can. Even those that can't be recharged still need to be recycled and kept out of landfills. Rather than take them in one at a time, save them all in one area so you can take several in at once. What we do is to set an empty facial tissue box out, and you just can drop them into the top like a piggy bank. Then, when you have a trip to Radio Shack or some other recycling site on your to-do list, you can bring your box of batteries with you to recycle them properly. That's easy enough, isn't it?

Use duct tape when sanding

There are some times when a power sander is the right tool to use on a piece of wood. But other times, hand sanding just works better. But your sandpaper can wear out faster if you don't use some sort of a backer with it. A sanding block is good for flat surfaces, but when you need to sand curves or rounded wooden shapes, put a piece or two of duct tape on the back of the sandpaper. This extra-thick layer on the back of the sandpaper will give it some oomph and will help it last longer. There will be less wear and tear on the sandpaper, which will save you time.

Super hints

• Spray lubricants help you get the job done quickly, so why not pour some lubricating oil into a small, empty bottle and keep it handy where you need it? It will be a fraction of the cost of the prepared cans.

• For removing a single brick from a wall for repairs, it used to mean getting out a chisel and hammer. Now everybody has a power drill. Use a masonry drill bit to drill a series of holes spaced close together all around the brick. This cuts way down on the chiseling and the knuckle busting.

• Some of my favorite plants go to seed this time of the year. I try to save the seeds in plastic bags with labels on them for next year. With things like Morning Glories, Marigolds and Zinnias, the seeds are easy to harvest, and they germinate again easily in the spring. I rarely have to buy new annuals each year, and when I do, I try to save their seeds as well. You can even trade them with your friends.

Q. Our fireplace is lined with white brick. I really think the fireplace would look a lot better with a dark finish. I know it would be easier to maintain, as I now have to clean it constantly. Maybe I could just let it go dark from the smoke stains! Can we just paint it black?

A. Yes, you can, as long as you use a paint that is made for the firebox. Check with your paint dealer for a high-temp paint. Read and follow the directions on the can for the best results. Unfortunately, that is going to require cleaning it first. Trisodium phosphate, or TSP, is the best cleaner to use. But you'll be happy with the results.

Q. We have an enclosed sun room that I would like to put carpet in. What's the best type? It's not really outdoors, but not totally indoors, either. What do you recommend?

A. How about indoor/outdoor carpet? Just make sure the concrete slab is sealed to prevent moisture from seeping in. Use carpet tape rather than glue to hold it down. The adhesive can be really hard to remove later if you want to go back to the slab.

Q. Our home has wooden columns on the front porch. One of them has started to rot, and I want to try to fix it. Do those wood hardeners really work?

A. If you are talking about the epoxy wood hardeners, then yes, they do work well. You have to carve out all the rotted wood first, though. Then just fix it up and mold it into place. You can sand and paint it to match afterward. It's actually harder than the rest of the wood and does a great job.

Reader tips

• I use paper shop towels to clean up in my workshop. The shop towels are heavy-duty and last longer than regular paper towels. The only thing I don't like about them is that they come in a box, and a regular roll would be so much easier to find space for on my workbench. I mounted a regular paper-towel holder on the side of my workbench and keep them there now. Some rolls are too big to fit on this, so I try to buy the smaller rolls in a large package. Now I have more room to work.

• I don't have a tool belt or nail apron, so I usually carry nails I'm going to use in my pocket or in my mouth. I know it's bad, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. I have found that I can put a rubber band around the hammer handle or even my arm to hold the nails. They just slip right under the rubber band, which holds them in place until I need them. It works pretty well for me.

• I'm so glad the holidays are coming up. I use the outdoor Christmas lights around my yard in the trees. It's hard to find them during the summer, so I stock up on the good, outdoor type around the holidays. That way, if I need to replace any bulbs or the whole strand, I will have some in stock. They are really great in the backyard as a decoration. I use them year-round, and all of my neighbors love coming over in the evenings to have a glass of wine and relax.

• We just finished painting our front door. It needed it so badly. It faces due west and was faded. I sanded the door down and then was going to remove the hardware, but it was rusted and wouldn't come off. I covered it with plastic wrap to prevent the paint from getting on it. The plastic wrap stayed in place until I was finished painting. I had only one small place that I had to clean off afterward. I thought you might want to give it a try and see for yourself.

• You'll appreciate this. I have a large metal tool chest. It's great because it's large enough to store all of my tools, and the drawers keep everything organized. I have improved the drawers, though, by lining them with carpet tiles. I cut the tiles to fit each drawer and stuck them in place. The carpet keeps the tools from rolling around and knocking into each other. The blades stay sharp, and nothing gets lost.

Shop talk

• Getting under your shrubs to remove leaves and old mulch can be difficult, and a regular rake just won't cut it. The Shrub Rake from Fiskars is the perfect tool. It's lightweight, low profile and shaped to get into those tight spots. It's made from durable resin and has a lifetime warranty. You can find it at garden centers and hardware stores. To find out more, you can go to www.fiskars.com online and check it out. They have a lot of other great garden tools, too.

• Replacing your toilet fill valve is a part of regular maintenance for most toilets and usually has to be done every few years as they wear out. We recommend Korky's WaterWise fill valve. It's easy to install and features the only dual shut-off valve on the market today. It's made from Chlorazone, which lasts longer than standard toilet parts and can stand up to toilet tank cleaners, which can cause parts to wear out faster. All Korky toilet repair parts are widely available at hardware stores and home centers around the country. Check them out at www.korky.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.