Backup Battery For Home

Posted on by Tim Carter

Backup Battery For Home TIPS

  • Standby generators create power for days if you keep them fueled
  • Massive amounts of batteries required to deliver tens of thousands of kilowatts per hour
  • Battery production is messy and causes pollution
  • Batteries can be enormously expensive
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

Malcom's Assault

Malcom O'Dell, who lives in the land of rainbows and unicorns in Washington, DC, came to my website, saw a column I wrote about portable electric generators - and possibly one about standby generators - and proceeded to take me to the woodshed to bust my chops. Read for yourself:

"Why do you recommend environmentally unfriendly electric generators when for no more money homeowners can buy battery back-up systems that--like the ubiquitous computer UPS backup--instantly restores power with no delay, and can keep basic systems going for hours, even days?

Our family has used these systems in our homes and even large offices for years in developing countries where power goes down routinely. They are simple, cost-effective, and cost no more than a generator.. and they eliminate all the noise and toxic fume pollution of generators.

The batteries charge with a simple trickle charger when power is available from the lines and can be supplemented, for even more environmentally performance, by solar panels.  And, with a sizable array of solar panels, the homeowner or office can become substantially or even completely off the grid, never dependent on failing public power utilities.

Time for Tim, Ask the Builder, to look at modern environmentally friendly technology.. and address climate change at the same time.

Can do?"

Home Runs At The Pit

Malcom's soapbox statement reminded me of when I used to play softball with my buddies back in the late 1960's. We played at "The Pit" - the playground behind Clifton School in Cincinnati, OH. I routinely hit pitches over the fence out onto McAlpin Avenue.

Malcom, you just served up a juicy ball that's I'm going to turn into a frozen rope.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors that will install a standby generator like mine. Demand that you get a Kohler one.

Solar Power Is The Answer

The first thing I want to say is I'm in complete agreement with Malcom about the promise of solar. I think the future is extracting clean energy using photovoltaic (PV) panels.

There's going to be some yet-to-be-discovered technology advancement that will cause PV panels to become mainstream. Right now, the average person simply can't make the numbers work to get a payback in a short amount of time.

PV Degradation

The other issue with PV panels is the active photons in sunlight destroy the current panels at a slow rate. Hopefully some future affordable technology will address this issue.

As the panels degrade, they put out less electricity.

Residential Generators

Malcom, the portable generators I wrote about cost less than $1,000 in 2014. The standby generators average about $10,000 installed.

Standby Generator Video

Here's a video showing you the fantastic and reliable Kohler standby generator at my own home.

Massive Batteries For Normal Power

Where in the world can you get a battery backup system that will deliver electricity to a home for " ... hours, even days." as you said for $10,000 or LESS? I'm not talking about a few hundred watts of electricity for hours or days. I'm talking about 2,000 or even 5,000 watts of clean power per hour for hours and hours and hours.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors that will install a standby generator like mine. Demand that you get a Kohler one.

Source of USA Electricity

Malcom, are you aware how the power that comes through the lines and enters the batteries' trickle charger is made?

Most commercial power in the USA is made with FOSSIL FUELS. I believe that's your complaint with regular generators - that they use "Unfriendly" environmental liquids.

My guess is you use them - as many of us do - each day when you drive to work, the grocery store, etc.

Possibly More Efficient

Now granted, the massive power plants are probably more efficient at producing a kilowatt of electricity per Btu of fossil fuel than the portable or standby generators, but then there's that pesky voltage loss over the power lines that extend from the power plants to your home and office.

Toxic Mining Tailings

Oh, don't forget the mine tailings from all the mines in the third-world countries where the elements are clawed from the Earth to make the magical batteries you so love. My guess is all the rivers in the area of the mines are poisoned with heavy metals that leach from the mine tailings.

Air Pollution From Smelting!

I almost forgot the air pollution from the smelting process! Once the rocks have been mined for the batteries, they have to be smelted - melted - to extract the lithium, nickel, cadmium, etc.

I doubt those smelters in those third-world countries have all the scrubbers on them that are mandated by our EPA. I guess Mother Nature removes all the pollution out of the air via rain before they'd ever float over us here in the USA.

Time To Help Others

I'm sure I've forgotten something or other major points, but I need to scoot to answer other questions from other AsktheBuilder.com visitors.

If you want to continue the discussion, feel free to do it in the comments below.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors that will install a standby generator like mine. Demand that you get a Kohler one.

Connect Wires Light Fixture Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

What Happens if You Wire a Light Fixture WRONG!

Did you discover something in this video that prevented you from getting ELECTROCUTED? How about buying me a mocha-chip ice cream cone as a favor?

Tim Carter demonstrates how to connect wires to a simple light fixture. Tim received an email on this video FIVE years after it first was published. Read the latest in the September 2, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. The first mention of this column was in the September 19, 2014 AsktheBuilder Weekend Warrior.

Brass Screw = HOT Wire

Simple light fixtures that you find in basements and garages usually have different colored screws where you attach the wires.

You want to put the HOT black wire on the brass screw and the neutral white wire on the silver screw.

If you do it backwards, you'll energize the threads inside the socket and if you touch the threads on the bulb as you screw it in, you could get ZAPPED!

Silver Screw = White Neutral Wire

Put the white neutral wire on the silver screw.

Ground Wire = Green Screw

Put the bare ground wire on the green screw. If no green screw, attach it to the box if it's metal. If it's a plastic box, just tuck it back into the box away from the fixture screws to prevent a short.

Free & Fast Bids

Get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians if you're TERRIFIED of getting electrocuted. It can happen.

Fixtures With Wire Leads

If you have a light fixture that has short wires that are part of it, connect them this way:

  • Black to black
  • White to white
  • Green to bare copper ground wire

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians if you're TERRIFIED of getting electrocuted. It can happen.

How to Install Porch Light

Posted on by Tim Carter

How To Install Porch Light TIPS

  • Type of wall construction determines difficulty - brick is hardest to do
  • Location of porch light makes a difference - wall location easier
  • Watch Light Switch Video below!
  • Get FREE & FAST BIDS using links below
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

Robert and Sharon need some light on their front porch in Florence, KS.

"We bought a older ranch house that doesn't have a front porch light or switch.

How can we add one? And where would we get the power source from?"

Well, this is an open-ended question to be sure!

Type Of Construction

There are so many variables. It is a solid masonry house? Is it a simple frame home with an open basement where it's easy to fish a cable up into the wall next to the front door?

Location of Light

Is it acceptable to have the light on the wall right next to the door, or do you want it in the ceiling of the porch away from the house's exterior wall?

I could go on and on with questions.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE NOW to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can do all the crazy steps to add this new porch light for you.

Required Switch Box

Here's a typical remodeling box you'll probably use for the light switch.

electrical switch box

This is a box made to install in an existing wall. See the flip-up tabs that lock behind the drywall? CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE THIS BOX DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

Simple But Hard Steps

You add one by extending a new electric cable from an outlet or the electric panel to the new switch location. This cable can originate from a wall outlet near the door. 

Wall outlets have continuous hot wires and a neutral and that's all you need to get a porch light to work.

A typical porch light will only have a 60-watt bulb in it so there's little chance the new light will overload a common room circuit.

How To Steps

  1. Determine the box you'll get the power from
  2. Extend a proper-sized two-wire cable with ground from this box. Use a 14-gauge wire.
  3. Put cable in new switch box near door.
  4. Extend another two-wire cable from new switch box to new porch light fixture box.
  5. Watch following video to see how to wire it all up

CLICK HERE NOW to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can do all the crazy steps to add this new porch light for you.

Light Switch Wiring Video

Watch this video to see how to connect the wires to a simple switch that will turn the porch light on and off.

Fishing New Cables

Depending on how your house is built, extending these cables and installing the boxes can range from easy to very difficult.

I'd simply get quotes from three different electricians and have them describe exactly how they intend to solve the problem and have the finished product meet your goals.

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK to get the FREE BIDS!!

CLICK HERE NOW to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can do all the crazy steps to add this new porch light for you.

Digital Multimeter Usage

Posted on by Tim Carter

Digital Multimeter Usage TIPS

DEAR TIM: I’m about to buy a digital multimeter to troubleshoot all sorts of electrical issues around my home. I’ll be blunt.

Do you own one, and if so, which one? What do you like about the one you have?

There seems to be a huge difference in these handy devices and I’m very confused as to what to purchase.

I know you can’t tell me everything about these, but can you go over what I can use one for around the house and why there is such a huge disparity in pricing of these tools? Randy P., Akron, OH

DEAR RANDY: I sure can understand your confusion when looking at these products.

Many Different Multimeter Models

If you visit an online retailer that shows all of them next to one another, they pretty much look alike, but the difference in price from the lowest to the highest can vary by 25X or more! It’s natural for you to wonder if there can be such a huge difference inside the tool.

Guess what? the answer is yes. When it comes to digital multimeters you get what you pay for.

I've Got Several

Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a few digital multimeters. I started off with a beginner's model from Radio Shack.

It’s smaller than a deck of playing cards and has somewhat limited capabilities. I could go on and on about the detailed electrical specifications of multimeters, but it would probably make your head explode.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians if you feel multimeters are too complicated to use. Let a pro get ZAPPED, not you!

Pedigree Counts

What you need to know is that you should get one that’s durable, one that can handle any electrical appliance at your home and one that has a pedigree. The more expensive multimeters can do more.

digital electrical multimeter

This is one of my multimeters. This one is PERFECT for homeowners. A professional electrician might want a more robust one, but this one will do almost all an electrician could ever want. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE THIS MULTIMETER DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

Klein MM700

The digital multimeter I’m now using is a sleek Klein Tools MM700. As you might expect it’s robust and has a full feature set that would impress professional electricians,

HVAC technicians and anyone who tinkers with electronic devices.

Auto Ranging Feature

What I really like about this one is it’s an auto-ranging multimeter. This means it will automatically detect what you want to measure without you guessing the approximate value. I strongly recommend an auto-ranging multimeter for homeowners like you.

Continuity Checkers

Perhaps the most useful thing you’ll do with your new digital multimeter is to check what we call continuity. This refers to checking to see if a wire or circuit is continuous or unbroken.

Here’s a simple example of this. When I take a quarter or a piece of metal, turn on the multimeter, insert the two probes into the proper holes on the tool and touch the quarter with the probes, I hear a nice tone and I see a measurement on the screen. This tells me electricity is flowing through the quarter or metal between the two probes.

Klein MM700 Video Review

Watch this simple video to show a few features of the Klein MM700 Multimeter.

OL = Open Loop

If I had performed the same test but substituted a piece of wire that had a break in it, I would have not heard a thing and my meter would have displayed “OL”. The audible tone in many multimeters is very handy because you can concentrate on what the probes are touching and get the information you need with your ears in some cases.

Jobs For Multimeters

Here’s a few things an auto-ranging multimeter can do around your home that could save you the cost of a service call from an electrician. First things first, when you get your multimeter stop and read the instructions, especially the safety warnings.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians if you feel multimeters are too complicated to use. Let a pro get ZAPPED, not you!

Troubleshoot Doorbell

Let’s say you have an old-fashioned low-voltage doorbell and it’s not working. You can use the multimeter to see if you’re getting power up to the doorbell switch. If you don’t register power coming to the switch, then you can use the multimeter to check for a break in the wire from the transformer or up to the doorbell.

3-Way Switch Issues

Often people mess up the wires that connect to a 3-way switch. They go nuts trying to figure out what wire connects to what screws on the odd switch. Once again, the multimeter will save you an expensive service call.

You can use it to discover the continuous hot wire that feeds the first switch. Once you know this, it’s pretty easy to get both switches wired the right way.

Bulbs Still Good?

Here’s a simple task many overlook. You can use a multimeter to check to see if light bulbs are burned out.

Realize the small glob of solder at the base of a bulb is connected to one end of the filament. The other end of the filament is connected to the aluminum threads at the base of the bulb.

Turn on the multimeter, touch one probe to the solder glob and one to the threads and check for continuity. If the bulb is still good, you’ll hear a tone if you have my multimeter!

Check Voltage

The most common use you may put the multimeter to is to check for live voltage at a switch or an outlet. Follow the instructions that come with the multimeter and avoid working with live circuits.

You can turn off the circuit breaker that provides power to an outlet and then check to see if it is energized. I can do this easily with my MM700 as it has removable shields so the probes can get into the slots of a standard wall outlet. If you’re unsure how to do this, consult with a pro.

Broken Switches

Let’s say you think a wall switch or dimmer switch is broken. The multimeter can tell you in a jiffy it still works. Disconnect the switch from the power source and use the continuity tester function.

If the switch is in the on position and you don’t hear an audible signal or readout for continuity, then the switch is probably defective.

Check Car Alternator

If you like working on your cars, a multimeter is invaluable. The alternator on my son’s car went bad and in minutes I used my multimeter to confirm the alternator was not producing the needed power to keep the battery topped off.

Check Surface Temperature!

One thing I love about my Klein Tools MM700 is it also can test the surface temperature of something. It has a really wide range from 0 - 1,500 F! There are countless things around your home you may want to know the temperature of, and most would fall within that range.

Tough & Rugged

I also love how durable my MM700 is. It can handle drops from just over 6 feet and sustain no damage. Remember, read the instruction manual that comes with your new digital multimeter!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians if you feel multimeters are too complicated to use. Let a pro get ZAPPED, not you!

Column 1128

Wiring Recessed Lights

Posted on by Tim Carter

Wiring Recessed Lights TIPS

  • National Electric Code changes every three years
  • What is code compliant now may become a violation in the future
  • Secure romex wiring to wood framing
  • Get FREE Bids below from local electricians about code questions
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

Bob lives in Saint Peters Missouri and asked a not-so-easy question about wiring recessed lights.

Here's what he sent to me:

"I'm installing seven recessed lights in my living room and they're IC rated. My attic is full of blown in insulation.

Do I have to go up in the attic to secure the wiring to the joist with staples, do I have to drill holes in the joists or can I go over the tops of the joist with the romex wiring?

I would appreciate it very much for any feedback or resources you might have thanks for your response."

National Electric Code Changes

Bob, here's the issue answering electrical code questions like this. The National Electric Code is a moving target.

It's always best to consult with a professional electrician in these matters. People like you die each day from electrical fires because of wiring installed hoping it was right.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can answer your code questions NOW.

Here's why it's tough for me to give great advice. The code officials CHANGE THE CODE every three years. I may give advice here that's relevant right now, it's December of 2016, and in a few years it will be INVALID because of a change in the code.

Staple Romex To Wood Framing

To answer your question Bob, I can tell you that it's important to staple the romex cable to wood members. That's very explicit in the code.

In fact, you have to secure it within so many inches of where it enters the fixture or the electric box where the cable terminates. I believe it used to be 6 inches, but who knows now as it could be 4 inches!

Drill Holes Through Wood May Be Better

What's more, I know it's been accepted to drill holes in joists and run cable through them. The holes need to be sized so the cable can move freely in the hole, but you don't want it too big!

Hole Position Critical - Nail Puncture Danger

The placement of the hole is critical. You need to stay at least 2 inches from the top or bottom of the joist if possible. You don't want a fastener driven into the wood to get to the cable and cause a dead short or arcing in the cable / wires.

Think Ahead For Attics

In years past, it's been perfectly fine to lay cable on top of the joists. That's all fun and games until such time in the future as someone decides they want to put flooring down in the attic space!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can answer your code questions NOW.

Safe Light Bulb Wattage

Posted on by Tim Carter

Safe Light Bulb Wattage TIPS

Gabriele, who lives in Crofton, Maryland, was worried about putting in the wrong bulb in a recessed light fixture.

She wanted to make sure the bulb wattage was safe. Here's what she asked:

"My recessed light housing reads 60-watt bulb maximum.  The GE bulb I have says the 75w "uses only 53w."

Since I just can't grasp electricity and watts and  watt hours, will you kindly tell me if it is safe to use the mentioned bulb in the mentioned light fixture?

My sincere apologies if this is covered in one of your older Q&A posts.  I searched back about six or seven "pages" and didn't find this. However I found other interesting items, though!"

It was very wise of you to stop and think about this Gabriele. Many people don't ask and some become a number in the National Fire Protection Association statistics that deal with fire deaths. Overheating in recessed lights causes many fires and people die.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can help you SIZE bulbs correctly for fixtures.

More Watts = More Heat

Here's what you need to know about light bulbs. When a bulb converts electricity to light, it produces heat as a byproduct.

The brighter the bulb, the greater the amount of heat.

Recessed Fixtures TRAP Heat

This is not so much an issue for normal bulbs that are out in the open and can dissipate the heat. The issue with recessed lights is that they're often in confined spaces and some get covered by insulation that traps the heat.

Regular ceiling-mounted fixtures can also be problematic which is why you'll often see insulation between the bulb and the wiring. 

Wall Sconces Or Ceiling Lights Can Melt Wire Insulation

If you install a bulb that has a higher wattage than the fixture recommends, the heat can build up and get so great it can melt the insulation on the wires. If this happens, the bare wires can and do arc starting electrical fires.

The good news is that your new bulb should be safe because it's using less than the 60 watts an older-style incandescent bulb would use.

The only other thing I'd check, and this may require a professional, is to be sure you don't have insulation packed around the recessed light fixture. 

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can help you SIZE bulbs correctly for fixtures.

Extension Cord Safety

Posted on by Tim Carter

Extension Cord Safety TIPS

Select Right Size

I get quite a few questions each week about what size extension cord to use.

You may be one that's very worried about safety and electrical fires when using extension cords.

Talk with any seasoned firefighter and they'll tell you that extension cords are quite often the source of an electrical fire. There's a number of reasons why they're dangerous, but paramount is how it's easy for a cord to get overloaded with too much current.

Flowing Current Equals Friction

When a rough rope passes through your hand fast you'll almost always get a rope burn. It's caused by the friction of the rope fibers rubbing against your skin.

When electricity flows through a wire, it creates friction. The more current that goes through a wire, the hotter it gets.

If you want an extension cord to safely handle the load you've attached to it, then it better be big enough.

You have to stop and do a simple calculation as to the number of watts that will flow through the extension cord.

Most bulbs, tools, space heaters, and appliances have the wattage clearly marked on the label.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who will HELP YOU size an extension cord.

Amps Easy To See

If you look at your circuit breaker panel in your home, you'll see odd black tabs. These are the flipper switches for common circuit breakers.

They always have a number somewhere on the flipper or the breaker. You'll commonly see the numbers 15, 20 and sometimes 30 or 40.

The most common number you'll see on most of the breakers is 15.

It stands for 15 amps.

IMPORTANT TIP: Fifteen amps is equal to 1,800 watts if your household voltage is 120 volts.

That's the standard voltage in the USA. Europe tends to be 240 volts for some reason.

All those confusing numbers are related in this formula:

Watts = Volts x Amps

Try it:  1800 watts = 120 volts x 15 amps

or how about this one: 2400 watts = 120 volts x 20 amps

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who will HELP YOU size an extension cord.

Why Circuit Breakers TRIP

Can you see how this helps you understand why you trip circuit breakers? If you have a toaster, a hair dryer and some lights on the same circuit and turn them all on at the same time, too much current is trying to flow through the breaker.

Circuit breakers are designed to protect the wiring in your home. When they sense too much current is flowing they SHUT OFF.

It TRIPS on purpose to prevent the wires in the wall from OVERHEATING which in turn causes a fire.

Wire or Cable Size

Above I talked about how larger sized wire can handle more current or heat. 

Wire size is stated in gauge to get you even more confused.

A 14-gauge wire is rated for 15 amps or 1800 watts.

A 12-gauge wire is rated for 20 amps or 2400 watts.

A 16-gauge wire or extension cords is usually only rated for 10 amps or 1200 watts.

When you look at the label of a heater, saw or any other electrical tool, you often see how many WATTS it draws. Use the above values to help you size the correct extension cord.

CAUTION: Don't think you can plug in a powerful table saw rated at 2400 watts or 20 amps into a 12-gauge extension cord and all go well.

Why? You may be plugging in the extension cord into a wall outlet that's only rated for 15 amps!!!!!

Wire New Homes With 12-Gauge Wire

This is why I hate to use 14-gauge wire when I wire homes. I always used 12-gauge wire when possible and the customer was willing to pay for the extra cost. It's so nice to know that you have plenty of wattage available on every circuit.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who will HELP YOU size an extension cord.

Light Bulbs Burning Out Fast

Posted on by Tim Carter

Light Bulbs Burning Out Fast TIPS

DEAR TIM: Four of the six bulbs in the recessed lighting in our kitchen ceiling keep burning out. I just replaced one and it burned out in an hour. I am using 65-watt bulbs. Our house is only three-years old. Are the bulbs the wrong size? Is there a problem with the wiring? Cory Dixson, El Dorado Hills, CA

DEAR CORY: The problem with the premature failure of the light bulbs has nothing to do with the wattage or the wiring. My first guess is that it can be traced to the person who has installed the light bulbs or previous owners of your home. I think they are twisting them into the socket too tightly.

The flickering of light bulbs in lamps and fixtures can also be caused by bulbs that have been installed too tightly into light fixtures.

Brass Tab

Bulbs Burning Out Fast

Look right in the center of the photo. You can clearly see the brass tab and if you look closely you can see it is raised up off the bottom of the socket. © 2017 Tim Carter

At the base of light fixture sockets you will find a brass tab. This tab is bent at an angle when the fixtures are new and will spring back and forth if depressed slightly. Do not ever stick your finger in the socket to test this, as you can get shocked if the power is on to the fixture.

Take several new light bulbs and inspect the base of each one. You will quickly notice that the bottom of most light bulbs has a small droplet of solder in the center of the base. More importantly the size of this drop of solder is not consistent from light bulb to light bulb. It is close in size, but not always the same size or height.

Free & Fast BIDS

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who will stick their fingers down and pull up the brass tab if you'r fearful of getting ZAPPED!

Arcing Melts Bulb Bottom

If the brass tab at the base of the socket does not make firm contact with the bottom of the light bulb, a small electrical arc, or spark, can happen that starts to melt the solder. Over a period of time, the solder can deform and the gap between the solder and the brass tab gets larger.

In some cases, this arcing can create a hole in the base of the bulb causing air to enter the bulb. When this happens, the filament burns out rapidly.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who will stick their fingers down and pull up the brass tab if you'r fearful of getting ZAPPED!

When this happens, the electrical contact between the brass tab and the solder is broken and the light bulb acts as if it has been turned off when in fact the switch is on and the bulb is still in working condition.

Pull Up The Tab

To prevent this arcing you must be sure the brass tab is always at about a 30-degree angle inside the bottom of the socket. People who twist bulbs in tightly will depress and flatten the tab so it does not spring back when a bulb is replaced.

Turn OFF Breaker

If you discover the tab is flattened, then you must turn off the power to the lights, and as an additional safety safety measure, turn off the circuit breaker to the lights.

Use a needle-nose pliers and carefully grasp the sides of the brass tab near the tip of the tab, not where it bends down into the underside of the socket.  Slowly pull it up so the end of the tab is about one quarter inch off the base of the socket.

These needle-nose pliers will work great to pull back up the brass tab. CLICK THE IMAGE TO BUY THESE GREAT PLIERS.

When you install a bulb always do so with the power on and the light switch on. As soon as the bulb comes on, only continue to turn the bulb one-eighth of a turn. If you screw the bulb in too tightly, you will once again flatten the brass tab.

You need an excellent pair of needle-nose pliers for this repair. This is a great one. CLICK HERE to BUY it now.

Afraid of electric fires?

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who will stick their fingers down and pull up the brass tab if you'r fearful of getting ZAPPED!

Column EM0017

Outdoor Furniture Restoration

Posted on by Tim Carter

Here’s an outdoor bench that desperately needs to be restored. It sits outdoors in the harsh conditions in Tuscon, AZ. (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Outdoor Furniture Restoration TIPS

    • Most free advice from store associates is worthless - tough love, sorry!
    • Get best advice from pros who's livelihoods depend on the product
    • Urethane-resin paints perform very well

DEAR TIM: I’ve got several pieces of outdoor furniture that need to be sanded and repainted. I’m getting conflicting recommendations from the handyman I know, each supposed expert I talk to at the local national chain hardware stores and the apron-wearing giant big box warehouse sales associates.

All of the different advice creates a cacophony that’s clanging in my head! The last time I did the bench using the advice from one of the big box stores it lasted but two years. I live in the high desert of Arizona and realize that it’s a harsh environment, but shouldn’t I get more than two years out of a finish?

Help me Tim, you’re my only hope. Shirley R., Tuscon, AZ

DEAR SHIRLEY: I hear you loud and clear about the free advice you get from all those experts at your local businesses.

Poor Advice Rampant Across USA

If you had access to my email you’d quickly discover that many others all across the USA are very frustrated with the quality of the advice they receive from the sales associates.

Ask The Right Question!

Here’s the mistake most consumers make when they talk with a sales person at a local hardware store, paint store or giant big-box retailer. They forget that the power is always in the question.

At some point in the conversation with the sales associate you always must ask this very simple and valid question:

“Before you came to work at this fine business, can you tell me what you did professionally to accumulate your knowledge about this product and how’s it’s used?”

It’s a valid question because you’re about to part with your hard-earned money and very valuable time. Why waste both hoping you get the best advice?

If the sales associate says, “Oh, I retired from working my entire life as a paper salesman in Scranton, PA and thought it would be fun to work here.”, then you know what to do.

The same is true if the sales associate is a part-time college student or some other young person. How much life experience could that person possibly have with using products professionally?

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can use the best paint sign painters use.

Talk To The Real Pros!

Enough about all that. Let’s talk about paints and outdoor wood furniture. I’ve got some very good news for you.

I just went online and searched for Tuscon sign painters. You’ve got quite a few out there.

tuscon sign painters

Here's a common search result for Tuscon AZ sign painters. Don't be afraid. Go talk to them! Copyright 2017 Bing.com & Microsoft Corp.

Pros Don't Gamble

If you want to know the best products for a situation, you go talk with the professionals who’s livelihood depends on the products they have to use in their daily jobs.

How many sign painters do you think would still be in business if their painted signs peeled in less than two years? I’ll answer for you: Not many.

Wood Is Not Easy

First and foremost wood is hygroscopic. This means it swells and shrinks in response to the moisture content in the wood. For you this is not too big of a deal as you have a very arid climate. Your annual rainfall is nowhere near what I have here in New Hampshire.

Paint Is Just Colored Glue

Now let’s discuss paint. Paint is just a film. The chemistry of paints is complex.

One of my best friends in college, John Pendery, got his PhD in chemistry and went on to be a chemist for the largest paint company in the USA. I’ll never forget the day he handed me two very similar chemical formulas. He asked me if I knew what they were.

I said, “No”. His response was, “This one is the formula for common yellow carpenter’s glue. This one is a very common wall paint many paint companies sell.”

Many Paints Have Cheap Resin - Glue

Paint is just glue. It sticks to things. But some paints stick far better than others.

Your local sign painters will attest to that. They’ll also tell you that wood is the hardest thing for paint to stick to because it wants to move.

But it’s not impossible to get lasting results with wood as I’ll wager there are hundreds, if not thousands, of painted wood signs in Tuscon that don’t peel like your wood bench has.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can use the best paint sign painters use.

Urethane Resin Paint Is Fantastic

I’ve had remarkable success with modern house paints that are made with a urethane resin. The resin is the glue component in paint. If you have anything indoors that’s got a coat of urethane on it, you know how tenaciously urethane bonds to anything.

urethane porch paint

Here's a great urethane-fortified paint. That's why on the label it says it's for porches and floors! It's tough enough to walk on! CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO ORDER IT.

Here’s an outdoor bench that desperately needs to be restored. It sits outdoors in the harsh conditions in Tuscon, AZ. (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Here's a great example of end grain on wood. This bench leg is made from a log or limb of a tree. The top and bottom of this leg are all end grain. That's what you see when you look at the end of a piece of lumber. You must seal end grain very well with wood that's exposed to the rain. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Prep Work Important

Based on the photos you sent, you’re prep work is not going to be that hard since most of the paint has peeled off. Any professional painter will tell you that the success of a new paint job is based on the preparation of the surface.

Remove Sun-Damaged Lignin With Stain Solver

Oxygen Bleach

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

The first thing I’d do is scrape off all the old paint and get the bench to bare wood. I’d then clean off all the old sun-damaged gray wood lignin using Stain Solver.

It's a certified organic oxygen bleach. Stain Solver is a powder you mix with water. You apply the solution working in the shade if at all possible.

Allow it soak into the wood. Keep the wood very wet with the solution for 15 minutes, lightly scrub with a stiff brush and rinse. The natural wood color will return and the bench will look marvelous.

Sand Off Wood Fuzz

You’ll probably have to sand the wood to remove wood fuzz. Brush off all the dust and then apply any recommended primer that the finish coat paint manufacturer says to use on bare wood.

Be sure to work in the shade. Before priming, fill all cracks with exterior spackling compound and caulk all cracks where water could enter the wood.

IMPORTANT PAINTING TIP: Pay close attention to the recoat time on the primer label. You want to apply the finish coats of paint as soon as possible after the primer allows.

Doing this creates both a mechanical and chemical bond between the primer and finish coat of paint. If you prime the bench and then wait days or a week to finish paint it, you don’t get as good a bond between the coats of paint.

Coat End Grain For Sure

Paint all the surfaces of the bench, especially the underside and the bottom of the legs. You want to completely seal out all water. The end grain of the lumber is where water loves to get in, so those may require three  or more coats of paint.

Please let me know what brand of paint the local sign painters say to use. Be sure to talk to no less than three sign painters!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters who can use the best paint sign painters use.

Column 1194

Unclog Drain Pipes

Posted on by Tim Carter

Drain Cleaners That Work TIPS

Backed Up Bathtub

Years ago, I injured my right heel coaching my daughter's soccer team. It was slow to heal and if I walked on it too much it ached. A hot bath temporarily provided some relief. 

I needed to soak in the tub and went to my kids' bathroom as my wife and I only had a walk-in shower in our bathroom.

I filled the tub and relaxed. When finished, I moved the drain lever and absolutely nothing happened - I mean not even the slightest movement of water.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local drain cleaning companies. 

Plunger First

Let me add here I'm a master plumber. I've been one for decades. I know all about blocked drains and why they happen.

Why my kids didn't tell me the tub wouldn't drain is beyond mental comprehension.

I tried to plunge the line and nothing, but black gunk came backwards through the piping into the bathtub. An attempt to snake the line yielded no results.

I had horrible visions of cutting into the living room ceiling to cut apart the piping. I decided to try an off-the-shelf drain cleaner just to see if it would work. My past experiences with these products was not good.

New Thick Product

I went to the store and saw a new product - one that was thick - it claimed it would penetrate right to the clog through the standing water. I thought I would give it a try.

Realize that there are plumbers who specialize in cleaning out drains. It's their entire business. I had no intention of EVER being that type of plumber.

I enjoy installing new piping, or replacing old piping with new. Cleaning out drains? No way.

Secret Weapon - Wet / Dry Vac

Once home, I decided to improve my chances. It made sense to me to concentrate the power of the product by removing the standing water. I bailed the tub as much as possible.

I then fired up my wet-dry vacuum and sucked all the water from the tub and trap. To get the water from the trap, I made sure I inserted a wet rag into the tub overflow. Without this rag, I would have just sucked air through the overflow past the trap water while it remained in the drain.

With the piping clear of all water, I poured in the drain cleaning product and allowed it to sit for 30 minutes as directed.

I then covered the drain opening with my hand and filled the tub with water. I knew that the weight of the water would have a great impact on moving the clog - if the drain cleaner worked.

Once the tub filled, I moved my hand. BINGO! - the drained opened and water rushed out of the tub. I was astonished. I had never seen a drain cleaner work so well so fast.

This experience inspired me to write this article. Here's the product that worked for me:

Drano Max Gel bottle

Yes, I'm a master plumber and used Drano! On some clogs, it does a great job. But so do Oxygen Bleach! Look down below about that! CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE NOW TO ORDER DRANO GEL.

Gel Drain Cleaners

The thick drain cleaners work better than old drain products because they are stickier. They stay at the clog site longer and thus have more time to dissolve and soften the clog.

The primary ingredient in most of the liquid drain cleaners is regular household chlorine bleach. Bleach can be used by anyone who has their house connected to a city sewage system.

Don't use concentrated chlorine bleach if you have a septic system! The chlorine kills the beneficial bacteria within the septic tank.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local drain cleaning companies. 

Oxygen Bleach - Probably Better!

Oxygen Bleach

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

There's another bleach you might not know about. It's oxygen bleach. I happen to love Stain Solver.

Stain Solver is a certified organic oxygen bleach Made in the USA with USA ingredients. It's an oxidizer just like smelly, toxic chlorine bleach. 

Stain Solver is also a great drain cleaner. Just pour the powder down into a clogged drain and magic can happen in a few hours.

It works well to dissolve grease, black nasty biogoop, toothpaste and any other organic matter that's clogging the pipe.

The best way to use it is do exactly what I did to clear the clog in my bathtub. Once you've sucked the water out of the drain with a wet-dry vac, then pour 1/4 cup of the Stain Solver powder into the drain followed by one cup of boiling hot water.

Allow it to work for about two hours and see what happens.

Biofilm

Biofilm is gunk that builds up inside pipes. It is basically a glue-type substance that holds clogs together. The liquid drain cleaners do a great job of dissolving this bioflim. Once this happens, solid particles trapped in the biofilm can be flushed through the pipes.

This black goop on the side walls of drain pipes can also create an odor. You know you have biofilm buildup if you run water in a sink, tub or shower and the first seconds after the water goes into the drain a foul odor fills your nostrils.

Foaming Cleaners

Biofilm can buildup on the entire area of the drain pipe. When a pipe is not clogged, drain cleaners used to do preventive maintenance only attack the bioflim the liquid can touch. Here's a great one to use to clean your piping system:

Drano Dual-Force Foamer Bottle

This is a foaming cleaner. You want to really read the instructions on how to use it. I'd pour it in and then not put any water down the drains for hours. Probably before going to bed. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO ORDER SOME.

This is why the new foaming drain cleaner is exciting. The foam fills up the entire pipe - when used according to directions - and attacks all of the biofilm buildup. At this time, only one manufacturer - Drano - offers this foaming drain clog product. I intend to try it tonight on my tub drain to clean any clog that might have been missed in my first successful attempt.

Enzyme Cleaners

Enzyme drain cleaners eat the biofilm. If your drain is completely clogged, these cleaners are not the thing to use. You will need a powerful drain cleaner or a mechanical snake. The enzyme cleaners are perfect for septic systems and for preventative drain cleaning work. Use them on a regular basis in all systems before you get a solid drain stopping clog.

The enzymes work best in lukewarm water - perfect growth conditions for bacteria. They also need time to work. Use them when you don't plan to drain things down the pipes. If you pour the enzyme into your system and then brush your teeth, do laundry, dishes or use the toilet, you simply flush the cleaner down the system. Follow directions!

The Old-Fashioned Snake

Not too long ago I had a clog develop in my own home. It was a buildup of toilet paper caused by a malfunctioning low-flow toilet that was only discharging 1.5 QUARTS of water with each flush. I'm a master plumber and I HATE the low-flow toilets and feel the government should not force them on people like me that do NOT NEED THEM.

I live in a rural area on a well. Each time I flush my toilet and that water is sucked from my well, the exact same amount is put back into Mother Earth. No water is being wasted.

Rant is over. Sorry.

I cleared my clog in my main drain pipe under my concrete basement slab in about 45 SECONDS using an inexpensive traditional snake.

You can buy them in different lengths and here's the exact one I got. They are CHEAP!!!!

Buy one now and have it ready to go when you need it.

drain cleaning snake

Here's the exact simple drain cleaning snake I used to clear my clog. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO HAVE THIS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

Clog Prevention

Once the clog is gone and the drain is working well you can prevent clogs by just forcing lots of water into the drain at one time.

For toilets, have two people in the bathroom with filled 5-gallon buckets. Flush the toilet and as most of the water is just about to leave the bowl BOTH people need to empty the buckets AS FAST AS POSSIBLE at the same time.

Pour as much as possible so the bowl doesn't overflow. This huge surge of water fills the 3-inch drain pipe to the max.

This giant slug of water has tremendous energy and it blasts out of the way any small buildup of crud, toilet paper, etc. keeping the drain wide open.

Fill sinks and tubs full with water and pull the plug to get the same effect on small-diameter drain pipes.

What Doesn't Work?

Forget about using the liquid drain cleaners for clogs in laundry drains. Why? Most laundry drain clogs are lint buildup caused by clothing fibers.

These fibers are not dissolved by the liquid drain cleaners. Capture washing machine lint with an old panty hose. Prevention is the best medicine for laundry drain clogs!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local drain cleaning companies. 

Drain Design VIDEO

Related Articles:   Minimize Clogged Drains - Plumbing Installation Tips,  Liquid Drain Cleaners,  Drain Cleaners - Thick is Good

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