Home Improvement for Women

How to install your own electrical and nonelectrical home items – all the while, saving money and becoming more self-sufficient.

1. Install a dual carbon monoxide and smoke detector

Safety First! Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement. Make sure there is an alarm near every sleeping area. Because smoke rises, mount smoke detectors approximately 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. Do not install smoke detectors next to windows, doors, or ducts, where drafts might interfere with their operation. Test your smoke detector at least once a month. Change the batteries at least once a year, and make sure that your smoke detector is UL certified.

2. Install a new doorknob

Doorknobs are functional jewelry for your home. You will need a Phillips head screwdriver and your new doorknob set with the matching strike plate. Detach the doorknob using the screwdriver by pulling out all screws once they are loose. Remove the metal strike plate.  Insert the new bolt into the door and screw it into place.  The slanted side should face the direction that the door closes.  Place the new knob trim between one new doorknob and the door, and insert the doorknob.  Insert the other knob and trim piece on the other side of the door.  Make sure the two are aligned so that the long screws hold them together.  Tighten the screws gradually, alternating sides so that each comes together uniformly.

3. Install a dimmer switch

• Step 1: Getting to the wiring: Unscrew the switch plate and the old switch and lift it out. If the box is metal, be careful not to let the screw terminals on the sides of the switch touch the box.
• Step 2: Testing the circuit: Touch your tester to each wire. If the test light stays off, it is safe to proceed.
• Step 3: Refresh the wiring: Before you replace any wires, especially on a three-way switch – note which wire attaches to each switch terminal. Use masking tape to mark each wire and write what it was attached to. Cut off the wires at the switch terminals and strip about 1/2″ of insulation off the two cut switch wires.
• Step 4: Match the wires: You’ve got a lot of choices here, so pay attention: If your dimmer has two black wires it has no polarity, so twist each dimmer wire together with either one of the switch wires and screw on a wire connector. If the dimmer has a green wire, connect it to the grounding wire. If a dimmer has black and red wires, wire the black one to the incoming power line and the red one to the lights. Keep the wires well apart from each other during this process. Gently fold the wires back into the box and attach the dimmer to the outlet box with screws. Replace the cover plate and press the dimmer dial on to the shaft of the dimmer.
• Step 5: Let there be light: Restore the power and set the mood.

You did it yourself! Barbara’s Way

Did you know that there are a handful of home repairs and renovations you can do yourself?  Especially these days when you may not want to pay $150 an hour for a plumber, or shell out $1000 to a contractor for a paint job you could do over a weekend.  So in this series of three posts I’ll share my list of top 10 do-it-yourself fixes.  Keep these posts in your “everything” drawer.  You’ll save time and money — and might even have some fun in the process!

The perfect toolbox: Just as every woman should have the perfect manicure set, every woman should have the perfect toolkit with the following items: hammer, screwdriver, pliers or wrench, tape measure, Teflon sealant tape, level, electric drill and hex keys. Each tool should be contained in a soft or hard bag within easy reach and kept away from all who might think of taking it!

Bathroom fixes:

1. Change a showerhead

It’s easy to make an old shower look new.  A new showerhead can perk up an old bathroom, improve shower flow and even add a massage feature.  Use pliers or your hand to twist off the old showerhead (counterclockwise) while holding the shower pipe stem.  Wrap the Teflon sealant tape two or three times around the threads at the end of the pipe stem. Using a cloth under the pliers to protect the new showerhead fitting, screw on the new showerhead (clockwise) until tight.  You’ve now earned that hot, steamy shower!

2. Unclog the toilet

Don’t call the plumber!  This is one easy fix you can certainly do yourself. Place the cup of the flanged plunger over the drain outlet, and plunge up and down rapidly while maintaining a seal around the lip of the cup. Slowly pour a 2-gallon bucket of water into the bowl to clear the drain. Repeat plunging, if necessary.

If that doesn’t work, an object may be obstructing the drain. A closet auger, sometimes called a toilet auger, will help. Push the auger cable into the trap (where the water drains out) until the bend sits in the drain opening. Crank the auger handle in a clockwise direction to break up the clog or snag obstructions. Continue to crank as you retrieve the cable and pull the obstruction out of the trap.

3. Repair a running toilet

Step 1: Start with the stopper. Remove the lid and check the guide rod or chain attached to the tank stopper to see if there is any problem with twisting, erosion or buildup that is preventing the stopper from having a complete seal.
 
Step 2: Try the float. Lift the float ball up. If this stops the water from running, try bending the arm so the float ball is buoyant. If the float ball is not floating on top of the water, unscrew the old one and replace it with a new one from the hardware store.
 
Step 3: Eliminate erosion. If the toilet continues to run, there may be buildup or some kind of sediment that is not allowing the stopper to close properly. Check the flush valve and the flush valve seat to see whether there is any damage. The stopper and the valve must be replaced if they are broken.
 
Step 4: Flush away. Your tank should now refill – and stay full.

No more wasted water, and you did it yourself! Barbara’s Way!

Summertime means vacation time — and, like most people, I can’t wait to leave everything behind for some carefree rest and relaxation. Unfortunately, summertime is also peak season for house thefts and there’s nothing relaxing about returning home to find that everything you’ve left behind is gone! Fortunately, a few simple do-it-yourself measures can help you keep your house safe while you’re off enjoying your vacation.

From the Outside In:

The most effective home security program is one that deters burglars as soon as they look at your home. Even something as simple as posting decals or notices that you have an alarm system may be enough to deter a break-in.

Sliding glass patio doors can be easily lifted out of their sliding tracks, but simple pin inserts can prevent vulnerability. To prevent the door from being lifted out of the track, drill a pilot hole in the top track above, and slightly in, from each corner of the sliding door frame section and install a screw into each hole. Adjust the screws so that the head of the screw just barely clears the top of the door when it is moved back and forth. Use a broomstick, metal rod, or wooden dowel in the bottom track to secure the door from opening.

Window bars make it almost impossible to enter your home. But remember, the same safety feature that keeps intruders out can trap you inside: keep the key near the bars.

Install outdoor lighting that operates on timers, light-sensitive photocell mechanisms, or motion detectors. 

Give the impression of activity at your home: Hire someone to keep up with the yard work; ask a friend or neighbor to remove any advertising flyers that are stuffed in your mailbox, or partly under your door, or dropped on your lawn. Stop mail and newspaper delivery until you return. Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open. Don’t hide keys in mailboxes, under doormats, or any other place that burglars will know to look. Ask one of your neighbors or friends to use your driveway to park their car overnight, or anytime they are at home.

From the Inside Out

The simplest way to make a house look occupied is to have the lights, TV, or radio turn on at differing intervals. Plug-in timers are excellent for activating interior electronics. All you have to do is plug the timer into an outlet and then plug your light or TV into the same outlet.

“Burglar deterrent” CDs offer recorded household sounds selected and recorded to will fill in your apartment with various noises–from kitchen, to living room, even bathroom!–that give the impression that someone is in the apartment

Be sure your fire and smoke detectors’ batteries are fully charged, and put all of your important documents in a steel lock box in a safe location.

Go Wireless.

Advancements in wireless technology have made reliable systems affordable, and you can install a system in an afternoon. Sketch out a rough floor plan of your home and mark those areas where you would like protection. Designate the placement of the main control box near a power source and close to your main entry door, so you can arm and disarm the unit easily. If you prefer an out-of-sight display, choose a system that can be activated and deactivated with a wireless key fob (like the kind that locks and unlocks your car.) If you are using a system that automatically informs police and fire, locate the main controls near a phone line.

Affix the wireless sensors to external doors and windows. These are usually magnetic devices that are triggered when the circuit is broken. Other sensors may be placed throughout your home to detect movement. These motion detection sensors are simply screwed to the wall. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can also be added to your system.

Go Hi-Tech

If you really want to know what’s happening when you’re not home (no parties in the pool, kids!) various Web systems allow you to watch and control the camera from any Internet–connected computer through a simple Web browser; others let you give commands and view images via cell phone. Some will even e–mail you video clips at specific times you set, or when the camera detects motion. New programs for the iPhone allow you to control your entertainment system, lighting, HVAC system, security systems, and even your power consumption.

Go Low-Tech

For total peace of mind while you’re floating in the waves at the beach, you don’t always have to do-it-yourself: keep your home and possessions safe by hiring a trusted house sitter!

With everyone making a “break for it,” the Fourth of July Holiday weekend should prove to be a hustle and bustle of families driving to beaches, mountains and backyard bbq’s. With the recent heat wave we’ve been experiencing it’s important to keep your cars in good operating condition to be safe. So here are some suggestions:

FLUIDS

Check your fluids: All fluids should be checked while the car is on a flat surface – otherwise the readings could be inaccurate. Aside from the washer fluid, all fluid systems under the hood are closed, if after replenishing them they again read “low”, something is probably leaking. First, check for fluid underneath your car. If you see droppings you know there is an issue so get it checked out as soon as possible.

Oil: Check it monthly with the engine off (use the barbara’s way grip it gloves to make your work easier and so you dont get grease on your hands. They can be purchased at www.homedepot.com). Change it and the filter every three months or 3,000 miles.

Coolant: Check the level monthly, add when necessary but give the engine the opportunity to cool down. Make sure to have the system flushed once a year.

Transmission: Check it monthly, change it every 2 years or 20,000 miles, or as recommended by the owner’s manual. Automatic transmissions have their own dip-sticks and are usually read when the engine is running and warm. Manual transmissions need to be checked from underneath the car – you’ll probably want to take the car into a service station for this. It’s easiest to have it checked every 3,000 miles when you are getting a regular oil change.

Windshield wiper fluid: Take a peek every week; in winter or during rainy seasons you might want to check it more frequently.

TIRES

Check the pressure (after you have driven a bit) at least once a month. Don’t forget to check the spare tire, too! Not sure what the right pressure is? Most cars have a sticker on the inside of the driver’s side door that will tell you. If you’ve changed tires since the car was new, it’s best to check the sidewall of the tire for recommended pressure. Also, if you hear your tires screeching as you make slow turns, it could mean your tire  pressure is low. Proper tire pressure increases your gas mileage and saves you money.

To use a tire gauge, place it on on the tire valve and just press down. Read the number and check it against your cars specific manual requirements. If air is needed, press the air pump nozzle onto the tire valve to inflate. Some valves require you to press a lever as well. Check the tire pressure with tire gauge again and adjust air if needed. You should rotate the tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, or every second oil change.

Wiper blades: Replace once a year, unless there’s obviously a problem like streaking

Air filter: Change once a year, or every 20,000 miles. If you live in an area that’s excessively sandy or dusty, check it twice a year or more.

Safety equipment you should always have in your trunk: Flashlight, jumper cables, emergency beacons or reflectors of some kind (and try to pull the car off the road should any event occur both for your safety and for the safety of other drivers), first aid kit and disposable camera.

Now you can travel safely and you checked your car Barbara’s Way!