h o u s e
-
w ise
indoors
summer fix-ups
with
Danny Lipford
Tackle these home projects now so
you can enjoy the rest of the season.
S
ummer is already
knocking on the door at
my house, but before
the heat really gets
cranked up, I’ve got a
few home improvements that can
ease the scorching days ahead.
■ SEA L D U CTS
Leaky heating and cooling ducts
can send 20 percent of your air-
conditioning right out the window.
Before you have a bad case of
sticker shock from your power bill,
take the time to seal your ducts. (If
you aren’t comfortable doing this
job yourself, you can hire a heating
and cooling contractor.)
Start by throwing on some old
clothes or a disposable jumpsuit;
grab a flashlight, and turn on your
AC. Go in the attic or under the
house, and carefully feel around
each of the ducts for drafts or
condensation. Pay particular
attention to joints and connections
in the ducts.
W hen you find a leak, carefully
peel back any insulation, clean off
the duct, and cover the gap w ith a
special metallic tape made for
sealing ductwork. Don’t use
standard cloth “duct” tape, since it
w ill not hold up under extreme heat
and cold.
As an added measure of protec-
tion, use a paint stirrer or putty
knife to apply a coat of duct mastic
over the patch. Reattach insulation,
and you’re good to go. Both metallic
duct tape and duct mastic are
available at home centers or heating
and cooling supply stores.
■ O U TD O O R CLEA N IN G
Skip the pressure washer when
cleaning wood decks and outdoor
furniture; it can damage the surface
and force dirt deep into the grain.
Instead, apply a deck cleaner w ith a
pump garden sprayer, allowing it to
soak in for the recommended time.
If needed, scrub the surface gently
w ith a soft nylon brush. Then rinse
off the cleaner w ith a garden hose.
To restore dull surfaces on
plastic and vinyl outdoor furniture,
apply a coat of vinyl car protectant,
rubbing off any excess w ith a clean
cloth. If the finish is too far gone,
use a spray paint designed for use
on plastic surfaces.
■ G A R D EN H O SE REPAIR
Nothing is more annoying than a
leaky garden hose; fixing it is easier
than you might think. Start by
cutting off the damaged end of the
hose. Take it w ith you to the home
center to find a hose repair kit of
the correct thread and size. Insert
the replacement end of the kit into
the usable hose section, screw on
the hose clamp, and you’re done. fib
Danny is the host of the nationally
syndicated show
Today’s Hom eowner
with Danny Lipford
(dannylipford.com).
Get more advice from Danny and
submit your own questions at
BHG.com/dannylipford
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AREN'T YOUR STYLE.
Remove even the toughest odors
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your home, www.renuzit.com
r e f r e / h . r e n e w . r e n u z iT .»
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
JUNE 2010 5 9
© 2010 The Dial Corporation. A Henkel Company.
