There are several tried-and-true methods to thaw frozen pipes

This time of year, frozen pipes are a common problem. Of course, you can prevent this from happening by using heat tapes and sufficient insulation, just to mention a few basic approaches.

Leaving your water dripping also can help prevent your pipes from freezing. If, however, you still end up with a frozen pipe, follow our advice to thaw it out. Hopefully some of these suggestions will help you out of this situation without too much trouble or damage in the process.

Keep in mind that a frozen pipe can burst as it thaws, because the pressure inside the pipe builds as the frozen water thaws. So as you try to thaw the pipe out, work slowly. Keep a nearby faucet open if you can so steam and water can escape.

Those heat tapes that prevent freezing also can be used for a slow thaw if you need them. Install them as directed and let them work to thaw out the pipe. They don't cost much, and might be worth the investment to keep on hand as a preventive or as a repair.

A hand-held hair dryer also will thaw out a pipe, but work slowly so you don't overheat the pipe.

An electrical heating pad can be used with caution. Just wrap it around the frozen pipe and turn it on at a low setting.

Placing a lamp or heat lamp near the pipe can help. Turn it on and heat the area around the pipe. Remember to take it slow to prevent a broken pipe.

You even can pour warm water over a frozen pipe to help it thaw out a little faster. Always be careful when working with water and electricity, and be prepared for emergency leaks. Keep towels and a mop handy, and be prepared to shut off your water supply should you spring a leak.

Prevention is still the best way to go, but you'll know better next time, right? Remember, you can fool Mother Nature some of the time!

Fold the tape

Isn't it frustrating when you need some tape and find that the end has become stuck on itself? It can be really tough to get the tape started again, too. One very simple way to eliminate this problem is to fold the end of the tape over onto itself, just about a quarter-inch or so. This creates a little tab, which keeps the tape from sticking to itself and gives you something to hold on to and get it started again. It takes only a second to do this, and it can save you a lot of time, not to mention aggravation!

Smooth tip for caulk tip

Some caulk requires that you puncture an inner seal once you clip the tip off. This can be done with a wire or long nail. One easy thing you can do is clip a scrap of wire and create a loop on it, and attach it directly to your caulking gun. Now you can trim the tip of the tube off, puncture the inner seal, install it in your caulking gun and start your work right away. It will save you a lot of time and get you finished with caulking chores much faster.

Super hints

• Masking tape can become hard to remove from the roll when it gets old. One way to soften it up a little is to put it into your microwave and zap it for about 30 seconds. This works on electrical tape and some others too. Make sure the tape doesn't have a metal core or dispenser on it, though.

• If you are trying to figure out whether you have a leak from your toilet tank into the bowl, put some food coloring or even coffee into the tank and check the bowl in 30 minutes. If you see that the water has changed color in the bowl, you know for sure.

• You can create some super little candleholders by just punching or drilling holes in a pattern on the face of an empty metal can. Fill it with water and freeze it to keep the can from buckling as you work. After the ice melts, drain the can and place a glass jar inside filled with sand and a candle. That's all it takes, and you probably have all of these things just lying around your house right now.

Q. We are trying to take care of our water heater and get the most life out of it, so we have been draining it a few times a year. Now I find that the faucet on the front is leaking. It's not very much, but I don't know how to fix it. What can we do?

A. It will be easy to stop the leak by just screwing an end cap on the faucet. These are available in the gardening department or plumbing department. Make sure it has a washer inside it, and then just remove it when you need to do your draining chores.

Q. We have a standard electrical heating system and metal ductwork running through our basement, and I am wondering if we can insulate it better. We also plan to finish the basement walls and ceilings. What would be the best way to deal with the ductwork?

A. If you have rigid metal ducts, then you can wrap them in batt insulation. Make sure the seams of the actual ducts are sealed securely before adding the insulation. This should not interfere with your future construction.

Q. I've got some concrete benches in my garden. The surfaces are getting some black spots on them, and I would like to try to clean it up. What can I do to clean and protect the benches?

A. Liquid laundry bleach is the best at removing mold. Make sure you don't get any on your plants. Apply a water seal once you've gotten the surface completely clean.

Reader tips

• I found a great rubber runner strip at a neighbor's garage sale and placed it in front of my workbench. They had been using it inside their back door, where the dogs would come into the house and track mud. It was a little torn up, but I didn't mind that. It's great for my shop. I can keep the floor clean, and was surprised at how much relief it brings to stand on it for a long time when I'm working on a project. I've seen these at the hardware store and never thought of putting one in my shop, but it's been a great addition.

• I have a great way to avoid that film you can get on the top of paint that is left in the can. I have had to throw away paint before because of this. Now I always put a thin layer of paint thinner over the paint before closing up the can when using oil-based paint. This prevents the skin from forming. The thinner won't hurt anything; it'll just thin it a little, which can be helpful, especially when the paint has been sitting around for a while.

• When we store our clothes away for the season, we have a lot of boxes to deal with. The kids each have several, and my wife has as much as all of them put together. I have found a simple solution for this clutter: I give them each a two-wheeled plastic trash can that seals up tightly. That way, each person can fill his or her own can and take it to the storage shed. They can get their can back out when they need it, too.

• I have shower curtains, but the water still got out of the tub around the edges. The curtains just wouldn't stick down, and were really messing up my floors. I glued some hook-and-loop tape on the edges of the curtains and stuck the mates to the side of the tub. This way, the curtain doesn't fly up and let water out. The kids even use it, and that really helps.

• We took a couple of the old lunchboxes the kids used and made emergency kits for the house and car. Inside the boxes, we put small battery-charged radios, candles and matches, snack foods, bandages, ointment, a small flashlight and phone numbers. We think they are very handy and hope we never need them, but will be glad to have them if we do.

Shop talk

• Did you know you can clear a drain sometimes with a wet/dry shop vacuum? Well, the Shop-Vac Drain Hero makes this chore even more efficient. The special fitting is designed to fit most drains, gives you a superior seal and accommodates most shop-vacuum hose ends as well. All you do is set it over the drain and let the vacuum do its thing. At about the same cost as a plumber's friend, it's worth checking out. Check out the Drain Hero at your home center or hardware dealer, or online at www.shopvac.com. View the short video and see for yourself just how simple it is to use.

• If one of your New Year's resolutions involves home repair, check out the new XWHEELS from Rotozip. These handy little blades are super tough and can deliver fast, clean cuts in a wide variety of materials, including tile and metal. The special design makes them last a lot longer than conventional blades, and the special shape helps with flush cutting when used with the XSHIELD attachment. A Rotozip is a great addition to your workshop, and the new XWHEELS make it even more versatile. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Rotozip at your home center or hardware store, or online at www.rotozip.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006.

© 2009, Cowles Syndicate Inc.