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Get some expert advice on blocked dryer vents, banging water pipes, stains on vinyl flooring, and woodpecker problems.
Q. A serviceman told me the reason my clothes don’t dry fully is because my clothes-dryer vent is clogged with lint. He wants to open the wall to replace the estimated 15 feet of duct in the wall, which he claims will be a major job in my house. Do you think I’m getting a straight story?
Despite regular cleaning of traps, lint can indeed work its way into the duct work, getting hung up on protruding screws or at crimps or other obstructions and certainly can affect drying efficiency. The lint buildup can also cause overheating of the unit or a fire, so it needs to be addressed. In most case, there are options to full replacement, such as more aggressive cleaning efforts or just partial dismantling and replacement.
If you do end up replacing the duct, the shortest and straightest path to the outside is the best one for a clothes-dryer vent. For the new vent, use smooth aluminum pipe rather than the pleated, flexible plastic or aluminum foil vent pipes sold at many home centers and hardware stores. Smooth pipes are less likely to trap lint and are therefore safer. On the outside end of the vent pipe, use a cap that will allow lint to pass from inside but will keep out rodents and insects. A cap with small louvers that open only when the dryer is running seems to work well.
Check the vent cap occasionally to make sure it is working properly and that there is no lint buildup there. At least once a year, disconnect the vent at the dryer end and make sure it is free of lint on that end.
Q. When I use the faucets in my kitchen and bathroom sinks, I hear banging in the walls that seems to come from the water pipes. I heard that this is caused by air in the pipes. Is there a simple solution?
Banging or rattling noises associated with water pipes is often due to a condition called water hammer. Water hammer is caused by lack of air in the pipes (not the presence of air). The banging usually occurs when faucets or valves are quickly closed. The pressure of the water, with no air in the pipes to cushion it, makes noise when it slams against a closed valve. Loose piping also contributes to the noise as the vibrations created in the pipe by the sudden stoppage can also cause pipes to knock against structural elements. In addition to noise, the water pressure can cause premature damage to sensitive valves in appliances and fixtures
Water hammer can sometimes be stopped by introducing some air into the pipes. In many homes, this can be done by closing the main water valve and opening the lowest faucet in the house (usually a basement or outdoor faucet) and several other faucets. Let the water drain out for about five minutes, until water stops coming from the faucets. Then close all the faucets and reopen the main valve. As the pipes refill, air pockets may form at points in the system to provide the cushion needed.
If the noise persists, one or more devices called water-hammer arresters might need to be installed. An arrester maintains the air cushion that is needed to prevent the noise. For more information on water hammer and arresters, as well as many other plumbing products and issues, check the Web site http://www.plumbingsupply.com.
Q. I have a yellow stain on the relatively new vinyl flooring in my bathroom. It was caused by a rug. How can I remove it?
The stain is probably permanent. Yellowing of vinyl and linoleum floors can be caused by additives in the rubber nonskid backing of some throw rugs. Some other rubber products, such as wheels on carts, can also cause yellowing, as can products tracked in on shoes. If you want to use nonskid throw rugs on these floors, check to see if they are labeled safe for vinyl.
In your case, it seems the stains can be traced directly to the carpet, but vinyl flooring can also be discolored when moisture gets trapped underneath or the flooring reacts with something in or on the substrate. Leakage problems should be considered whenever irregular staining occurs around toilets, pipes or other water sources.
Q. My wood-sided house is being attacked by woodpeckers, which have made several sizable holes in the siding. Is there any effective way to keep them away without harming them?
Woodpeckers are attracted to certain houses, especially wood-sided houses, for several reasons. They hunt for insects in the wood, bang on metal or wood surfaces in a ritual called drumming, and they sometimes make large holes intended for nests. Your birds appear to have nests in mind.
One preventive measure is to hang strips of aluminum foil or special reflective tape over the area that interests the birds. The strips should be long enough to move freely in the wind. Plastic propellers or windmills, sold in some garden-supply stores, can also be attached to the target areas to frighten the birds; the brighter and more reflective the windmills, the better.
Setting up birdhouses suitable for woodpeckers might also draw the birds away from the house. Hanging bird netting from the eaves, so that it hangs loosely over the area that attracts the birds, can also be effective. Immediately repair any holes they make so other woodpeckers are not attracted to the area.
There are many other approaches and special bird deterrents that you might consider, ranging from smelly compounds to sonic devices. Here’s a Web site maintained by Cornell University that provides detailed information about woodpeckers and their control: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/wp_about/index.html.
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