Thanks to everyone who's sent comments regarding e-Recycling.  We mentioned a national office supply chain, Staples, in our episode on technological waste.  We have been asked to also mention that Office Depot, another national office supply chain, offers Tech Recycling Services.  The Office Depot service charges by the size of the box you need, starting at $5.  They accept all kinds of items, but check with the store first to make sure they'll be able to process your junk.  Call (800)Go-Depot if you have questions.

Help keep harmful waste such as glass, plastic, copper, aluminum, lead and more out of our landfills.  Recycle your tech waste properly.

Hello everyone and welcome to another House Help podcast.

I’ve been cleaning out my closets and found several obsolete computers along with other unwanted electronics.  What do I do with these dinosaurs? 

Disposing of these unwanted items can be problematic; they can contain lead, mercury and other toxic substances which makes them unsuitable for disposal in local landfills.  Refurbishing and recycling is a responsible, effective way of disposing of your unneeded equipment.  Since the market value of most computers drops dramatically after two years, donation is an attractive option.  Best of all, donating your old equipment to a non-profit can make you eligible for a tax deduction.

Almost all three-to-five-year-old working computers can be upgraded to do useful tasks such as Internet browsing, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and finances.  Often, non-profit organizations can refurbish these computers by installing bigger hard drives, more RAM, and a network card.

You can find a list of non-profit organizations that offer refurbishing and commercial recyclers at http://www.techsoup.org.  You should also check out http://www.electronicsrecycling.com, which is full of information about recycling and reusing computers.

If you can’t find an organization near you to take your old computer, Staples makes it easy for customers to recycle e–waste.  According to their website, customers simply take their used computers, monitors, laptops, and desktop printers, faxes and all–in–ones to any U.S. Staples store.  Staples stores accept all brands. There is a $10 fee per piece which is used to cover handling, transport, product disassembly and recycling. They also accept keyboards, mice, and speakers at no charge.  Other national office supply chains are also offering similar services.

Whatever you do, don’t dump your equipment into the donation box for your local thrift store, church or school.  Broken equipment and computers older than five years old can’t be refurbished and their disposal becomes the responsibility, and cost, of the poor agency that has become the unwanted recipient.

Well, that’s all for today.  Thanks for listening and if you have a question or idea for our show, please send an email to podcast@freehousehelp.org.   If you need a free referral to a reliable quality contractor, visit our website, www.freehousehelp.org.

If you like our podcast you'll love the Seegars Family Edifice Adventure.  Please tune in to this amazing video-cast:

www.edificeventure.com

Informative, funny, dramatic - great family/home improvement entertainment!

Getting rid of chipmunks can be a tiresome task.  I just received an email from Kawai who wrote:

I saved a baby chipmunk from my cat and I was going to put it in a box so it could rest and recover…but it got away and my cat chased it again, now it’s loose in my room.  What can I do to catch it?

Well Kawai, that’s quite the dilemma.  I too have battled chipmunks and so I have a few tricks to share that I think will help.

Chipmunks are ground dwellers and exist in the entire lower 48 states. Chipmunks thrive in suburban areas as well as parks and empty lots.  Chipmunks eat almost everything, so the first thing you should do is remove any possible food sources from your property.

Slugs, Snails, Insects, small birds, eggs, mice, seeds, fruit

Vegetables, seeds, flower bulbs, pet food

Chipmunks will eat all these and more if given the opportunity.

Outside pet food bowls, bird feeders, nut trees, gardens, flowers or insect colonies can all attract chipmunks.  Don’t let the cute chubby cheeks of a chipmunk charm you – chipmunk infestations can explode once they’ve moved into your property, they can be difficult to remove!

Before I cover ways to remove chipmunks from your premises, here are 10 reasons why chipmunks shouldn’t be welcomed guests:

1) damaged and destroyed garden vegetables and fruits

2) chipmunks devour seed in your bird feeders.

3) chewed up cable , air conditioning and electric lines.

4) burrows which can cause water damage to patios, driveways, crawlspaces and foundations

5) destroyed flowers, bulbs and other plants

6) Flea problems that transfer from chipmunks to your pets or inside your home

7) fungus growth in planting beds caused by tunnels filling with water

8) retaining walls weakened and damaged from tunnels and water damage

9) burrows near your foundation can attract termites

10) Chipmunks will inevitably attract snakes which will come looking for the chipmunks for food.

For around $20 and a quick trip to your hardware store you can purchase a small live trap.  Smear some peanut butter and bird seed onto the bait tray and place the trap under your deck or a bush – anywhere you’ve seen a chipmunk.

If you’d rather make your own trap take a 5-gallon bucker or similar container.  Fill the container ¼– ½ full of water.   Now, take a board and make a ramp leading to your bucket.  Have some wine corks lying around?  Place them in the bucket so they are floating on the water, disguising it.  Now sprinkle in some bird seeds and wait for the chipmunk.  He’ll jump after the seeds and then get stuck in the water.  You can then put a lid on the bucket and take your chipmunk for a little ride to a local park or forestry for release.

There are other ways to eliminate a chipmunk problem that I don’t recommend:

·         poison peanuts

·         rat traps or glue traps

·         flooding tunnels with water or gasoline

Live trapping is the preferred, humane method for removing your chipmunk Charlie.

Well, that’s all for today.  Thanks for listening and if you have any comments or ideas, please send us an email the address is podcast@freehousehelp.org.  To learn more about how House Help connects homeowners with reliable quality contractors, visit our website, www.freehousehelp.org.

Who should I call to put in a gas line?

Hello everyone and welcome to the house help podcast.  I received an email from Chris in Kentucky who wrote:

This might be a silly question, but I can't figure out who to call to have a gas insert installed in my fireplace.

We currently have a gas water heater and kitchen stove, so we need to find someone to run the line to the kitchen. Will a place that sells me the gas fireplace insert (like Sears or Menards Home Store) help me find an installer or do I need to call someone specific myself?  Can this be done by any handyman?  Is it very expensive? 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well Chris, thanks for the great question.  It’s one that we get quite frequently.  I’ve spoken with my local building department and our local code requires this type of work to be done by a plumber. 

Although this job is fairly simple, it can be dangerous if done improperly.  That’s why most cities  require a permit for gas line work.  I suggest you can call your city or county building department to ask the process and the cost.   In my area the permit is $25.  After you or your contractor gets the permit and the job is completed, the building department will send an inspector out to look at the job and make sure it was done correctly -- and to current code.

The cost of the job will depend on how far the plumber has to take the line and how difficult it is to access.   The skill required for this job is basic plumbing, but your homeowner’s insurance might not cover any damages that are caused by the insert if it wasn’t installed by a licensed plumber or without a permit.

That’s all for today’s show.  Thanks for listening. If you have a question or comment, please email podcast@freehousehelp.org.  And if you need a free contractor referral for your next home improvement or repair project, visit our website, freehousehelp.org, or phone 877.360.7292 today!

Pesky Varmints

Hello everyone, and welcome to the house help podcast.  Today’s topic is pests. 

In a previous episode we discussed ways to get rid of a pesky woodpecker.  Since then I’ve received lots of requests to discuss other types of pests, like insects and rodents.

To get started, determine what type of pest you have and where they are entering your home.  Take a pad of paper and pencil, walk around the outside of your house and check these 10 places:

1. If you have a chimney, does it have a cap?  If not squirrels, birds, and raccoons could be settling in.

2. Are there any gaps between your chimney and outside wall?

3. Are any of your roof ridge vents loose?

4. Check your attic vents and flashing for loose spots

5. Are any of your window frames coming loose or pulling away from the house?

6. Check your siding for any loose pieces

7.  Look at the entry points for your utilities such as phone, cable and electric, are there any gaps?

8. Do your outside faucets have gaps around them?

9.  Are your dryer vents completely sealed and guarded?

10. Does your foundation have any cracks or gaps?

Once you’ve identified possible means of entry, arm yourself with some caulk and screws then plug and repair any places on the outside of your house that are inviting to pets.

To keep moths away, place dried lavender around your door ways, on your window sills and in your closets.

Did you know that empty paper grocery bags and cardboard boxes can bring cockroaches into your house?  The roaches love paper and glue, so bags and boxes often become infected with eggs which can hatch in your home.  If you suspect more than a few roaches are nesting in your home – call a professional.  If you just have a few, take an empty jar and pour in a little bit of beer.  Then add a few slices of banana and finally a few drops of anise extract.  Wrap the outside of the jar with tape so the roaches can easily climb in, then smear petroleum jelly around the inside rim so they can’t get back out.  Leave in the cupboard under your kitchen sink for a couple of days and then throw the jar away!

Have you seen a silverfish lurking on your walls, ceilings or baseboards?  You can easily build a trap to lure and kill them.  Place ¼ cup of flour and ¼ teaspoon of sugar in a small glass jar.  Tape the outside of the jar with tape so they can easily walk in.  Once the silverfish drop into the flour/sugar mixture they get stuck and can’t get back out.  For extra insurance wrap double sided tape around the inside rim so if they try to slip back out they’ll get stuck.  Place the jar in a corner of any room where you’ve seen the silverfish and in just a few days you should have them trapped and killed.

Do your houseplants have aphids or other bugs?  A simple solution is to press a garlic clove into the soil near the root of the plant.  If the garlic sprouts just cut back the shoots.

If you suspect that you have ants or termites, your first line of defense is to repair any roof or plumbing leaks.  Moisture in the home attracts and retains these invaders.   Before you call a professional, try sprinkling a line of chili power as a barrier defense.  You can then place a teaspoon of boric acid mixed with some jelly onto an index card and leave on your counter or under your cabinet for a few days.  You should notice the ant population dwindle immediately.  Be CERTAIN to keep this card out of the reach of pets and children.

Do you have a raccoon that you just can’t keep out of your garbage?  These animals hate the smell of ammonia.  So, before you put the garbage cans outside spray a small amount of ammonia over the bags.

Got a squirrel or chipmunk in your chimney?  Fill a flat baking pan with ammonia and place in your hearth with the flue open.  The fumes will waft upward and drive away your intruders.

Have you tried trapping a mouse with a glue trap or spring trap, but just can’t seem to catch him?  Mice have a great sense of smell, so handle all traps with gloves to keep your human scent off.  Place the trap near the wall…mice have bad vision so they hug the walls when moving.  To make your bait more tempting, try gumdrops or crisp bacon, maybe even a little dried oatmeal.

Getting rid of most minor pest problems is easily done yourself.  But I also recommend that you have the phone number of your contractor referral service close by.  You may find a problem that’s either too difficult to properly diagnose or makes you uncomfortable tackling it yourself.

That’s all for today’s show. You'll find a transcript of this podcast at http://freehousehelp.libsyn.com.  That's freehousehelp dot l-i-b-s-y-n dot com. Remember, if you an idea or a question, email podcast@freehousehelp.org.

Should you need help finding a reliable insured contractor for your home repairs and improvements, visit our website:  www.freehousehelp.org for a free contractor referral.

Today’s topic is pests. 

In a previous episode we discussed ways to get rid of a pesky woodpecker.  Since then I’ve received lots of requests to discuss other types of pests, like insects and rodents.

To get started, determine what type of pest you have and where they are entering your home.  Take a pad of paper and pencil, walk around the outside of your house and check these 10 places:

1. If you have a chimney, does it have a cap?  If not squirrels, birds, and raccoons could be settling in.

2. Are there any gaps between your chimney and outside wall?

3. Are any of your roof ridge vents loose?

4. Check your attic vents and flashing for loose spots

5. Are any of your window frames coming loose or pulling away from the house?

6. Check your siding for any loose pieces

7.  Look at the entry points for your utilities such as phone, cable and electric, are there any gaps?

8. Do your outside faucets have gaps around them?

9.  Are your dryer vents completely sealed and guarded?

10. Does your foundation have any cracks or gaps?

Once you’ve identified possible means of entry, arm yourself with some caulk and screws then plug and repair any places on the outside of your house that are inviting to pets.

To keep moths away, place dried lavender around your door ways, on your window sills and in your closets.

Did you know that empty paper grocery bags and cardboard boxes can bring cockroaches into your house?  The roaches love paper and glue, so bags and boxes often become infected with eggs which can hatch in your home.  If you suspect more than a few roaches are nesting in your home – call a professional.  If you just have a few, take an empty jar and pour in a little bit of beer.  Then add a few slices of banana and finally a few drops of anise extract.  Wrap the outside of the jar with tape so the roaches can easily climb in, then smear petroleum jelly around the inside rim so they can’t get back out.  Leave in the cupboard under your kitchen sink for a couple of days and then throw the jar away!

Have you seen a silverfish lurking on your walls, ceilings or baseboards?  You can easily build a trap to lure and kill them.  Place ¼ cup of flour and ¼ teaspoon of sugar in a small glass jar.  Tape the outside of the jar with tape so they can easily walk in.  Once the silverfish drop into the flour/sugar mixture they get stuck and can’t get back out.  For extra insurance wrap double sided tape around the inside rim so if they try to slip back out they’ll get stuck.  Place the jar in a corner of any room where you’ve seen the silverfish and in just a few days you should have them trapped and killed.

Do your houseplants have aphids or other bugs?  A simple solution is to press a garlic clove into the soil near the root of the plant.  If the garlic sprouts just cut back the shoots.

If you suspect that you have ants or termites, your first line of defense is to repair any roof or plumbing leaks.  Moisture in the home attracts and retains these invaders.   Before you call a professional, try sprinkling a line of chili power as a barrier defense.  You can then place a teaspoon of boric acid mixed with some jelly onto an index card and leave on your counter or under your cabinet for a few days.  You should notice the ant population dwindle immediately.  Be CERTAIN to keep this card out of the reach of pets and children.

Do you have a raccoon that you just can’t keep out of your garbage?  These animals hate the smell of ammonia.  So, before you put the garbage cans outside spray a small amount of ammonia over the bags.

Got a squirrel or chipmunk in your chimney?  Fill a flat baking pan with ammonia and place in your hearth with the flue open.  The fumes will waft upward and drive away your intruders.

Have you tried trapping a mouse with a glue trap or spring trap, but just can’t seem to catch him?  Mice have a great sense of smell, so handle all traps with gloves to keep your human scent off.  Place the trap near the wall…mice have bad vision so they hug the walls when moving.  To make your bait more tempting, try gumdrops or crisp bacon, maybe even a little dried oatmeal.

Getting rid of most minor pest problems is easily done yourself.  But I also recommend that you have the phone number of your contractor referral service close by.  You may find a problem that’s either too difficult to properly diagnose or makes you uncomfortable tackling it yourself.

That’s all for today’s show. You'll find a transcript of this podcast at http://freehousehelp.libsyn.com.  That's freehousehelp dot l-i-b-s-y-n dot com. Remember, if you an idea or a question, email podcast@freehousehelp.org.

Should you need help finding a reliable insured contractor for your home repairs and improvements, visit our website:  www.freehousehelp.org for a free contractor referral.

Hello everyone!  We are back from our extended summer vacation and ready to drive ahead into fall home improvement projects.

This media file isn't an 'episode', rather our 20-second show promo.

Enjoy!

Need help loosening a tight screw, nut or bolt?  This episode will give you tips and tricks to save some time, trouble and keep a few colorful words out of your vocabulary.  Download the complete episode for detailed tips.  Here's a summary:

1. Use a hairdryer or small propane torch to apply heat.  After the bolt cools, use penetrating oil or spray to loosen further.

2. Use locking plyers to get a bite:  beware using this method as you'll only have 2 or 3 tries before the head becomes completely rounded.

3. Use a combination of flathead screwdriver and wrench to add torque.

4. Try cutting new slots into the head with a hacksaw.

5. File the sides off of a screw so that you can grab it with an adjustable wrench.

6. Use a hacksaw, nut splitter ($20-$30), screw extractor ($10) or impact driver ($20-$30) to remove the offender completely.