Gary Dymski
Home Work
HOME WORK: Consider the sources of that inside leak
April 10, 2008
My wife and I have lived in our Colonial for 38 years. Just recently, we encountered water leaking into the ceiling of our den closet on the main floor. The water then enters the room from two places in the den ceiling. Then we discovered that the water enters the ceiling from the bathroom. This room is on the second floor above the den area. We installed a new roof about 17 years ago. Because of ice damming, the venting of the attic was improved, insulation was increased and a large attic fan was installed. A year before these improvements, we also had central air installed. This unit is in the attic area, above the bathroom/den. At the end of the year, the gutters were cleaned. We have tried to hire a roofing specialist to find the leaks, but they are too busy, do not return calls or do not perform this type of work. What do you suggest?
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Dont just worry - help protect your kids
April 3, 2008
We worry so much about our children, regardless of their ages.
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Putting AS SEEN ON TV products to the test
March 27, 2008
The television was tuned to one of the 750 stations we have, and Jack LaLanne was hawking his Power Juicer on a painfully annoying infomercial. Yep, the same Jack LaLanne whose exercise show I watched on a black-and-white Zenith nearly 45 years ago when I got home from morning kindergarten classes. He was annoying then, because I wanted to watch cartoons. He is annoying now, because I'd rather watch cartoons.
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How homeowners can dispose of hazardous waste
March 20, 2008
The voice on the other end of the phone was frantic. The woman could not find out how to properly dispose of her burned-out compact fluorescent lightbulb. "It has large amounts of mercury, doesn't it?" she asked. "So shouldn't it be properly disposed of?" When I told her that her CFL contained the same amount of mercury as the head of a ballpoint pen, she didn't believe me. "Honest," I told her. "Look it up."
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Home work: installing Sixplex electrical outlets
March 13, 2008
I really liked the idea of installing the new three and six-space receptacles you wrote about last week ("10 Top Performers," March 6). Are they difficult to install? I have a couple of rooms where I use computers and other electrical devices, so I think they'd be a great fit. Tell me more.
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Long Island builders are going green
February 28, 2008
For years the amenities and features in new-home construction have been consumer driven. Custom countertops, high ceilings, wood floors, designer kitchens - even three-car garages - have taken turns recently as must-have desirables for new buyers.
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International Builders' show house: big but green
February 21, 2008
Like many of its predecessors, the New American Home 2008 is big on luxury, big on space, big on, well, everything.
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Decorative landscape Zorock stone really rocks
February 14, 2008
In one area of their landscape recycling yard were pile upon pile of mulch, much of it being dyed black, red and brown. In another area were piles of crushed concrete and asphalt. Much of it was, well, doing nothing but piling up.
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At next weeks International Builders Show, green homes move to the forefront
February 7, 2008
Think green, go green, be green.
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Saving the patio from tree roots
January 31, 2008
I have a small concrete patio in my backyard. The yard also features a lot of old trees, with very long and thick roots. The root system is lifting up my patio, so I have to replace it. I'd like to use another type of material, but I'm afraid I will have the same problems. Any suggestions so I can have a patio where I can still entertain?
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HOME WORK: Staying out of too-hot water
January 24, 2008
It was days before the baby girl would turn a year old, and her grandmother was giving her a bath. The phone rang. Grandma took but a minute to answer the call.
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Solar Center in Dix Hills energizes solar option
January 17, 2008
If you could purchase a system that would generate all your household electricity, would you buy it? Would you at least be interested in hearing more about it?
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Older heating systems can burn money
December 12, 2007
Can you tell me a little about the term Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which is applied in the ratings of furnaces and boilers? On an older unit, where can I find the AFUE? Also, can you tell me about paybacks on installing a new furnace or boiler? -- John Barry, Oyster Bay
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Cleaner ducts won't improve health
November 15, 2007
Can you tell me a little about duct cleaning? I've gotten some estimates, and the cost ranges from about $80 to almost $500. Do cleaning ducts and vents help with both heating and cooling efficiency? Is it really necessary to have these ducts and vents professionally cleaned? -- Dino Marchese, Malverne
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What's happened to the missing socks?
October 4, 2007
Two socks enter the washer. Two socks exit the dryer.
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The most popular driveways
April 26, 2007
When John and Lynda Helenek renovated their 10-year-old Lake Grove Colonial almost a year ago, the last thing on their minds was their driveway.
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Building a dream
August 10, 2006
Almost 45 years ago, Jeff Hallock was a kid riding his bike past a creaky old house on South Jamesport Avenue, thinking the same spooky thoughts his friends were thinking. "To all of us kids, it was a haunted house," Hallock says of the 19th century Jamesport mansion. "When we got older, in high school, we'd sneak in on Halloween nights, just for something to do."
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A weekend in Jamesport
August 10, 2006
Almost 45 years ago, Jeff Hallock was a kid riding his bike past a creaky old house on South Jamesport Avenue, thinking the same spooky thoughts his friends were thinking. "To all of us kids, it was a haunted house," Hallock says of the 19th century Jamesport mansion. "When we got older, in high school, we'd sneak in on Halloween nights, just for something to do."
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Correcting a sticky finish
July 27, 2006
About 10 years ago, I finished the top of a wood table with Varathane. Within the past year or so, the finish has become "soft," and in spots, it has developed a stickiness. Everything, such as dishes, cups and paper, sticks to the table. Even my hands. Is there anything I can do to remove this stickiness without refinishing the entire tabletop?
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Finding a small mower to replace old faithful
July 27, 2006
I have enjoyed the use of an 18-inch, rear-bag, gas-powered lawn mower for 24 years. The machine, like the owner, has become tired. As a senior with a small yard, I have searched long and hard to either rebuild my mower or find another 18-inch mower. The new 21- or 22-inch models are too heavy and too large for my property. An electric model with a cord is not an option because of the layout of my property. Any ideas?
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Which way is your fan fanning?
July 27, 2006
There is a switch on my kitchen ceiling fan that goes up and down. Which position should it be in for the summer?
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10 most wanted home products
February 9, 2006
New technology can make a splash. Like the Swash toilet seat. Or the Jentle Jet laundry sink.
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And the top 10 are ...
February 9, 2006
1. AUTOMATED LIGHTING CONTROL
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Nonprofit turning houses into homes
December 29, 2005
Michelle Wacker was 28, single and looking to buy her first home.
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Scotch tape has stuck around for 75 years
September 22, 2005
Be honest. We take that wonderful household item, transparent tape, for granted. Who thinks twice about using it to repair a torn page in a book or to stick their child's prized school paper on the fridge?
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Wrap up cankerworm and defoliation problems
July 21, 2005
For most of May and the first half of June, they dropped in like unannounced houseguests, ruining virtually every outdoor activity. Many of my neighbors were forced into the middle of the street for their evening walks because these invaders had overtaken the low-hanging branches of trees that line the sidewalks.
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Underground news: beware life span of oil tanks
June 16, 2005
What would you do if your underground oil tank sprang a leak? One response is certain - dig into your pockets.
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'Draft dodger' cuts to the chase
December 16, 2004
I reached into the drawer for the tools of my trade -- drywall saw, utility knife, pry bar and hammer. She shuddered. This was going to be dirty and ugly. I looked into her ocean-blue eyes. "Are you sure about this? "I want my fireplace, she said, her voice desperate. "At all costs.
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Home, sweet concrete home
May 13, 2004
One of the most intriguing exhibits at the International Builders' Show in January was called the New American Home.
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Are all thermostats created equal?
May 6, 2004
Q. I have oil heat, one zone, with a Honeywell rotary dial thermostat. I want to change the thermostat to a digital type. Are all thermostats compatible? What should I look for in installing a new thermostat? -- J.D., Syosset
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Finding a cap for a metal chimney
May 6, 2004
Q. We have a metal chimney that is used for venting the boiler. A chimney cap was added several years ago, and we were told it was stainless steel. However, it has rusted and made a mess of our new roof. I have been looking for a new cap, but the local home centers seem to have caps only for brick chimneys. Can you suggest anywhere else I can look for this cap? It measures about 18 inches, square. -- Ken Capel, Middle Island
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On track for a touch of tin tile designs
May 6, 2004
Q. I own a new co-op in Queens. I would like to put tin tiles in the kitchen as a wall covering. Originally, I wanted stainless steel, like a restaurant, but everyone has told me it is cost prohibitive. Through the Internet, I discovered that tin might be an option. But I can't find anywhere to purchase the tiles. And who installs them? Help. -- Ellen J. Rogers, Bayside
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Drench Warfare Down Below
February 19, 2004
No sooner did I step through the doorway of the tool rental department at The Home Depot in South Setauket than the man behind the counter said: "If you're looking for submersible pumps, we're all out."
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Drench Warfare Down Below
February 19, 2004
No sooner did I step through the doorway of the tool rental department at The Home Depot in South Setauket than the man behind the counter said: "If you're looking for submersible pumps, we're all out."
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Foam Is Where the Art Is
October 23, 2003
Until recently, my only experience with architectural millwork had been with crown moldings. But after installing a ceiling medallion and a wall niche made from polyurethane foam, I'm hooked.
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Tools That Get the Job Done in Style
October 16, 2003
When it comes to do-it-yourself home repairs, Barbara Kavovit says she knows exactly what a woman wants.
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Reviews of more AS SEEN ON TV products
May 15, 2003
Tucked high in our kitchen cupboard is a collection of gadgets my family rarely uses, from dicers to ratcheting tools to ravioli folders. We even have the blooming onion machine.
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Gutter Repair
August 23, 2001
THE NEXT TIME your house springs a leak, look up. Specifically, look to the gutter system that's designed to put a roof's water runoff where it belongs - away from the foundation. If your gutters are sagging, leaking and in all-around terrible shape, it's probably time to replace them.
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Preventing Creosote Chimney Fires
October 26, 2000
Q. WE USE A wood-burning stove and our problem is a buildup of creosote in our brick chimney. The stove is cleaned often, every 2 to 3 weeks, but the buildup of creosote in the chimney creates sparks and this starts a fire in the chimney. We bought a commercial cleaner to spray on the wood. It is supposed to help retard the creosote buildup. Do you have any other suggestions? -Monika Ristau, Kings Park
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