Home & Garden - 26 January 2007

This is not as stupid as it sounds. :o)

I have a room where the light switches are in a TERRIBLE location.

The Room is lighted by a ceiling fan / light. I was considering turning both light and fan switches to the ON position, and just manually using chains to turn the light/fan on and off.

This would mean the Light switches would be in the ON position on a permanent basis. In fact, I plan on putting an Armoire in front of them, making them completely unaccessible.

But if having the switches ON, means we are using electricity endlessly (and paying for it), then I don't want to do that. But if using the pull-chains and to operate the light/fan is just as effective cutting off electricity usage as using the wall-switch would be....then that is what I'd like to do.

Does this make sense?

2007-01-26 08:00:38 · 20 answers · asked by momof2kiddos 4 in Maintenance & Repairs

2007-01-26 08:00:36 · 16 answers · asked by Roshanda C 1 in Decorating & Remodeling

The pygmy palms, hibiscus tree, lemon tree and bird of paradise are all frozen on the outside, but still look green in the middle.
Are they dead, or should we remove the dead part and when?

2007-01-26 07:58:45 · 3 answers · asked by Lena f 1 in Garden & Landscape

I use this product called Static Guard to reduce the number of static electricity shocks I get. It seems to make things wet. How does it work?

2007-01-26 07:58:01 · 2 answers · asked by trer 3 in Cleaning & Laundry

For some strange reason I never have much luck with these plants. When I buy them they're gorgeous and they just steadily decline..

I planted a bunch of containers and mixed them in with other plants. I used very good potting soil, they get plenty of water, are mostly in shade and I feed them about every 14 days with liquid Miracle Gro. They're just not good bloomers and the foliage looks kind of ratty. My regular Impatiens are going crazy! I'm in Florida and the weather has been nice an warm and not super-hot. This is about my 4th attempt and am thinking I should probably never plant them again.

Is there something I'm missing?

2007-01-26 07:55:48 · 3 answers · asked by Kathleen G 3 in Garden & Landscape

2007-01-26 07:53:33 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

I've just had central heating installed. It is not state of the art, in the sense that it has a tank in the attic and my rads cannot be individually raised or lowered. Since I haven't had a bill yet I haven't a clue about running costs, etc. Could you tell me, please, if I turn off rads in the rooms I don't need all day heating in, would that lower the running costs? Or do you pay the same cost whether you have one rad on or six? People are telling me I'm going to have a gigantic bill. But, in the living room where we spend most of our time I have to have it on a decent temp. Can someone who knows about this please help me? I'd really appreciate it.

2007-01-26 07:51:57 · 6 answers · asked by Rachel Maria 6 in Other - Home & Garden

Will they last 2 hours, or do I need to put them in water myself?

2007-01-26 07:49:59 · 10 answers · asked by Justin C 1 in Garden & Landscape

Can anyone recommend a good firm for a loft extension in Harrow area of Middlesex? There are a few around but rather than simply asking for quotes from loads, I want to have a few round that are recommended by people who have used them.
Plus- any bad stories and things to look out for in quotes etc.
I am close to retirement and don't want any bodgers or rip-off merchants.

2007-01-26 07:49:11 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Decorating & Remodeling

i have a 2 bed 1 bath house with a double garage which has an add on. i am thinking of converting the add on part of the garage into a home office, i will insulate, dry wall, carpet, add a new exterior door. my question is do you think this would add any value when i sell the house? if so any idea how much? thanks in advance

2007-01-26 07:48:21 · 5 answers · asked by regdent 1 in Decorating & Remodeling

2007-01-26 07:46:46 · 8 answers · asked by callahans_mom 1 in Cleaning & Laundry

pipe sags underneath my townhouse. results in horrible drainage of my downstairs bathroom. home owners association refuses to pay because the problem starts underneath my unit. plumber sais it will cost 13 THOUSAND dollars to repair it. Does anyone know of any other way to repair the problem, other than to digup the floor and re-route the pipe

2007-01-26 07:41:02 · 7 answers · asked by haileyc30 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

How long does gas hold its effectiveness???

2007-01-26 07:41:01 · 5 answers · asked by auto.jerry 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

lint rollers arent helping

2007-01-26 07:38:44 · 4 answers · asked by Millennials' Planning Program Consultant 3 in Cleaning & Laundry

Hi,
My house has double glazing on the side and rear but not on the front (bay window and two of the master bedrooms windows).

As I can't afford to have double glazing installed, and I also prefer the look of sash windows, I was wondering if there were any other good ways to reduce heat loss.

I will probably leave the front room be, as there is an open fire to use during cold spells. However I would like the master bedroom to be a bit more snug.

I remember when I was younger, living in a house with single pane glass and within the window area was sort of a strip attachment point that enabled another pane of glazing to be inserted. Sort of a crude methoud of double glazing. Does this sound familiar? Is it still available?

Thanks for your help. I'm just after a solution for the coldest few weeks of the year really. I'm more than happy with single glazing in these two rooms at all other times.

Ta!

2007-01-26 07:36:37 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

Need Help on Siding remodeling project.

2007-01-26 07:36:23 · 4 answers · asked by Rodney G 1 in Decorating & Remodeling

I am considering three vacuum's-
Infinity NV31 Upright Vacuum and
Roomba Sage for Pets and
Roomba Discovery for Pets.
Does anyone have any experiance with these vacuum's? What makes the Sage different than the Discovery (besides price)? Has anyone bought the Infinity NV31? I have a Golden Retriever with A LOT of hair. I need something that will pick it up. I am not paying for the Dyson so no need to mention that.
Also, has anyone tried the Scooba? Does it work and does it pick up pet hair or does it get clogged? Thanks!

2007-01-26 07:33:48 · 9 answers · asked by Sarah 4 in Cleaning & Laundry

The control board for this stove has an Auger on/off switch. This stove was given to me by a friend who ran it for years. The switch for the Auger was bad so we soldered on two pieces of wire to the back of the Control board to a new toggle switch. We used the stove for a little while, it ran fine. Then the toggle switch must of pressed against the metal door for the control board causing a little spark. The augar motor instantly stopped. I unplugged the wires to the augar motor, tested to see if power was going through the actuall control board, and it is. The motor will not run hooked up to the control board, but if I hook up an extension coard from the wall with spliced ends the motor runs fine. There is a little glass fuse on the back of the control board that is Not blown. The stove "starts up" and the combustion and distribution blowers work, but the augar will not.

2007-01-26 07:27:50 · 2 answers · asked by Chuck H 1 in Maintenance & Repairs

2007-01-26 07:25:07 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Decorating & Remodeling

2007-01-26 07:21:00 · 11 answers · asked by LISA D 1 in Other - Home & Garden

my cabinets are in need of repainting they were stained oak and before we moved in someone had painted them white any suggestions

2007-01-26 07:10:21 · 6 answers · asked by Missa 4 in Maintenance & Repairs

I HAVE TO PAINT THE TRIM ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE AND IT IS ALREADY CHIPPING SO WHAT IS A FAST EASY WAY TO REMOVE THE PAINT WITH OUT SCRAPING,

2007-01-26 07:08:37 · 6 answers · asked by Missa 4 in Maintenance & Repairs

It's so inconvenient when filling up. You have to invert a full, heavy tank of water at the end to replace it in the humidifier. Would much prefer to refill the tank from the top without removing it, like one adds motor oil to a car.

2007-01-26 07:02:15 · 1 answers · asked by bc399 1 in Other - Home & Garden

I dont use any equipment that consumes that much power. I have one 47 inch tv which stays on 24/7 and have 4 PCS which are used 4-6 hrs a day. I wouldnt be surpirsed if it was a summer time and I get a high electric bill, but it is winter and should be getting lower monthly bills. I hate that ConEd is ripping customers. They have monopoly in the market and do whatever they want. Is there any solutions to reduce monthly bill? There are other companies such as IDT and many others that provide service. But, is it worth switching to? Your answer is highly appreciated.

Thanks

2007-01-26 06:53:33 · 11 answers · asked by tradegenuine 1 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

Electric rates have skyrocketed in my area and I only heata few rooms in the house and only in the evening. I think a small electric portable oil-filled radiator would be cheaper to operate than heating up the large baseboard heater. I am wrong or right? Would love to save some money somehow. Thanks for your answers

2007-01-26 06:53:28 · 2 answers · asked by Dartagnan 2 in Maintenance & Repairs

We have 30 big trees on a 1/3 of an acre property (big = taller than the house; some are 5 stories tall and 2-3 feet thick in the trunk). ALL of them are too tall to simply drop - they will hit something (fencing, neighbors house, our house).

We want to take about 20 of them out. I wager this is going to cost a fortune. Does anyone have any clue what we are looking at? The trees themselves have no value (mostly gumball trees) even as firewood.

We live in SE Virginia if that helps.

2007-01-26 06:48:00 · 4 answers · asked by fucose_man 5 in Garden & Landscape

2007-01-26 06:47:22 · 3 answers · asked by pach1962 1 in Do It Yourself (DIY)

i was using some lead solder and there was a sharp end and i scratched myself with it by accendent and i was wondering what may happen from this

2007-01-26 06:43:58 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Maintenance & Repairs

wuts more my style goth .metal music. guitar.....blablabla..

2007-01-26 06:42:10 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Decorating & Remodeling

We have 3 palm trees and were gonna sell them. Our neighbor said that now is that the time to take them out so you can plant them. Is that true? Or no?

2007-01-26 06:34:34 · 4 answers · asked by Mr. Zombie 2 in Garden & Landscape