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Show FIRST-AID AILING HOUSE by Roger B. Whitman ( Roger B. Whitman WNU Service.) Rattling in Water Pipe A HOME owner is much worried because of a rattling and vibration vibra-tion in his water supply pipes that comes with the turning on of a faucet. fau-cet. He says that the vibration is so great that it is felt all over his house, and naturally enough, he wants to know how it can be stopped. That trouble comes from a worn faucet washer, or from some loose inside part of a faucet. The rush of water wa-ter through an opened faucet sets up a vibration that extends to the whole pipe. The remedy is to put in a new washer or to tighten up any part that may be loose. This vibration, which occurs when a faucet is opened, is quite different from the bang or hard thump that may come when a faucet is being closed, and especially when the closing is abrupt. That noise is due to the sudden stopping of the water flowing flow-ing through the pipe; of the overcoming over-coming of its momentum. The noise is accompanied by a sudden rise in pressure that may strain the pipe and can be overcome by an air cushion. This is an extension of the pipe, with the end tightly capped, or by a spring arrangement. Air contained con-tained in the capped pipe, or the springs, forms a cushion that takes up the momentum of the water and brings the flow to a gentle instead of an abrupt stop. The overcoming of the trouble, which is known as water wa-ter hammer, calls for the services of a plumber. Chimney Cleaning Question: Our furnace chimney is so clogged with soot that there is no draft. Can the soot be cleared out by anything used in connection with the fire, such as salt? Or must cleaning be done from the chimney top? Answer: Chemicals used as soot cleaners have the effect of reducing the temperature at which the soot will ignite, so that it will burn off. However, when a chimney is clogged with soot, this would be dangerous, dan-gerous, for the fire might spread to the roof or to the house itself. The safe and sure way to clean a chimney chim-ney is from the top.' One easy method meth-od is to let down an old tire chain on a rope, swinging it around from side to side as it descends, so that the soot will be scraped off. The opening at the bottom of the chimney should have something' over it to keep the powdery soot from messing up the room. Furniture Finish Question: An oak breakfast set was originally stained pale green, but much of the color has come off. How can the remaining stain be removed? re-moved? How can I give the set a maple finish? Answer: The stain should come out with a varnish remover, to be had at a paint store. For a finish, use varnish stain; you can get a good maple shade by mixing oak with a little mahogany. Refinishing a Dresser Question: I have an oak dresser that is now finished with enamel. How can I take the enamel off, so that I can use varnish? Answer: Any liquid paint remover remov-er will do the job. Be sure that you follow the instructions on the label. The remover should be used in a place where there is plenty of ventilation, so that the vapors will be carried off. In a closed room they might cause a fire. Skating Rink Question: Roller skating is now becoming the vogue, and I would like to convert my maple dance floor for roller skating. Would skating skat-ing render the floor useless for dancing danc-ing again? Answer: Roller skates with composition com-position wheels will not do any great harm to the floor. When you wish to convert the floor for dancing again, sanding and refinishing will put it in good condition. Brick Floor Question: I want to lay a bVick floor on the dirt under my back porch, to make a shelter for bicycles, bi-cycles, etc. How can I keep the bricks from settling into the dirt? Answer: By far your best move will b to lay the bricks on a bed of concrete, two or three inches thick. An alternative would be to excavate and to lay six inches of packed sand, placing the bricks on top. Roosting Sparrows Question: Is there any way to keep sparrows from roosting on rainspouts and telephone wires? They gather on horizontal rainspouts rain-spouts in large numbers. Answer: Birds cannot be kept from roosting on wires, but it might be possible to protect rainspouts with insect screening, of the same metal or finish. Spotted Enamel Question: A few weeks ago deep cream on woodwork was covered with ivory enamel. 'Orange spots have now appeared through the enamel. en-amel. How can I cover them? Answer: There was evidently something in the original cream color that "bled" into the enamel. Bleeding can be prevented with a coat of shellac, or better yet, of aluminum paint. If the orange spots always appear in the same places, scrape off the enamel, coat the bare places with shellac or aluminum, and apply new enamel. |
