From Wisconsin to Virginia, people have come to us to get their home repair questions answered. Home improvement expert Ed DelGrande has done his research and is here to solve your problems.
Q: (from Maggie in Arizona City, AZ): Several pet stains in our light beige carpet just won’t come out. Replacing the carpet is not in our budget. Can I dye the carpet so the stains don’t show so much?Ed: Dyeing carpet has been around for quite a while and it is an inexpensive way to handle stains like this. However, it’s not something a homeowner should do. Hire a professional. Also, when dying carpet the stains will usually be masked, but will not completely disappear. Q: (from Dan in Kenosha, WI): I purchased a small apartment building with numerous small dents and holes inside. Do you have any shortcuts to filling them?
Ed: This happens a lot of time near doors. There are some neat time saving all-in-one patch kits available at home improvement stores (figure A). Get one with a metal patch. Place the patch across the damage; making certain that the tape lays flat (figure B). Apply the compound across the taped area, spreading it thin and smoothing it using a drywall knife. Once the compound is dry, sand the surface smooth with sandpaper. After the surface has been sanded smooth, apply another layer of compound and spread it smoothly. Allow the second coat to dry and sand it as before.
Q: (from Etonia in Rocky Mount, NC): How often should you drain your hot water heater?Ed: As a plumber, I know that removing the sediment from the bottom of a water heater can extend its life. I would recommend once a year. The most important thing to do is turn the gas valve to "pilot" if you have a gas unit, and turn off the circuit breakers if it’s electric. This will prevent the burners from igniting while you’re flushing it. Attach a hose to the bottom, but keep the water valve at the top of the unit open. When you open the drain at the bottom, new water coming in from the top will stir up the sediment. Once the water runs clean...you’re finished! Q: (from Robert in Danville, VA): How do you remove hard water stains from windows? Ed: Hard water stains are caused when mineral deposits form from evaporating water. When they appear on windows, they’re unsightly and if not removed may cause the caulking or paint around the window to chip. There are all kinds of products available to remove hard water stains. Some you just attach to your garden hose and spray. You can also use the same product you use to remove calcium or mineral deposits in the house. The trick is to make sure the hard water stains don’t return. Here’s a great idea to solve that problem. Use the same silicone solution designed for auto windows...it’s great on any glass surface.
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