Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: House too dusty? This may be the cause
QUESTION: I have a problem with house dust. We have a 15-year-old home with a gas forced-air furnace. About 10 years ago, we installed a Kenmore electronic air cleaner on our furnace. We get a lot of dust in our house. We do have the furnace fan running continuously. I clean the filter elements frequently, have had the ducts cleaned and have talked to a technician about the problem. They tell me I have one of the best methods for filtering the air in my house.
Can you advise if there are better methods to keep the air clean and dust down?
Thanks, Mark Neskar.
ANSWER: I receive several inquiries about excessive dust in homes several times a year. While I am never sure what people like you consider "a lot" of dust, I will offer some general suggestions for things that may help and one very likely culprit.
Dust in homes can come from several sources and contain unusual items such as dead skin flakes and pet hair. While it may be impossible to prevent dust inside our domiciles, there may be a few common items you can address to help reduce the circulation throughout your home.
One observation about homes your age is that you have drywall on your ceilings and walls, which are not prone to deterioration like old plaster walls, which can lead to increased dust. Also common to homes as old as yours are interior finishes with dark wood. If that is the situation, especially with dark wood cabinets and flooring, it may appear you have a higher than normal amount of dust, but in reality it is only more visible due to the dark surfaces. If you don't have dark floors or finishes, ignore the previous point and keep reading.
Running your furnace fan continuously may be a mixed blessing. While this ensures good air movement in the home, preventing condensation and damp areas, it may allow airborne dust to circulate more frequently than intermittent fan usage. Conversely, having continuous airflow through the furnace will allow more constant filtering of the air, which should theoretically cut down on dust if the filter is cleaned regularly. While I often recommend continuous furnace-fan use, you must ensure your filter is clean and in proper operational condition at all times to prevent excessive movement of dust.
One common area of concern for newer homes such as yours is whether there is something external to the living space that may be contributing to the dust. This may be caused because you have a fresh-air intake, which normally brings unfiltered air from outside the home directly into the return-air ducting for your furnace. If the vent hood for this intake is too close to grade, dryer-vent outlets or other dusty areas, this could be a source of excessive airborne particles.
While this intake should enter the ducting upstream of the air filter, it may still add significant debris to the air if you are in an area prone to high levels of airborne dust or debris from exterior sources. You should regularly check and clean any dirt off this vent hood and possibly install a small, homemade filter if it is excessively dirty.
Household activities and habits may contribute to your dusty observations. If you have any pets, especially more than a single long-haired dog or cat, higher than normal dust levels should be expected. Not only fur or hair is the issue, dust from cat litter boxes, rabbit or hamster cages, or debris from pet beds may be a significant contributor.
Large numbers of plants, particularly cacti or other plants with sandy soil, can add to air pollutants. If you do any woodwork inside the home, it is very difficult to prevent sawdust from travelling through the living space. Hobbies such as pottery or sewing can add to dust collection in the living space.
Though all these factors should be considered, there is one main area that should be double-checked, as it is the most likely cause of your dusty home.
You stated you installed an electronic air cleaner on your furnace about a decade ago. Depending on the style and maintenance, this filter may not be effectively preventing circulation of dust throughout your heating system. If this device is the wide-bodied type, with removable metallic elements and pre-filters, it may be fine if you clean it regularly and hear frequent crackling when it is dirty.
If it is the simple, thin model that replaced the original paper filter, with a small, low-voltage wire that unplugs, it may be the main problem. Many of this second type of filter can be ineffective, especially after several years of use. Even if you clean this type regularly, they are little more than a foam filter with a slight electronic charge passing through. Over time, the electronic wiring may become deteriorated, corroded or damaged and offer little to no additional dust protection.
If, as I suspect, you have a one-inch-thick, electronically charged, cleanable filter, pull it out and try throwaway filters for a few months to see if there is improvement. Purchase higher-quality pleated filters, which will catch more dirt and debris and help clean the air. If this solves the problem, recycle or discard the old unit and change your filters every month or two for a cleaner house. If this does not solve the problem, check the other possible causes or continue to dust your furniture more frequently.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors-Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Get physical with a salt-stained car carpet
QUESTION -- How can I remove salt stains on the black carpet in my car? Thanks. Irene, Winnipeg
ANSWER -- Begin by beating the mats with a broom to remove most of the loose dirt and dust. Next, vacuum the mats until no dirt remains. Using either dish soap or carpet shampoo and water, create lather and distribute onto the salt stains, scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse and let air dry.
QUESTION -- I have two questions: How do I remove grease spots on a T-shirt? Secondly, my daughter has plants in her house and there are fruit flies or gnats flying around. How can she get rid of them? Thanks. Pat, Winnipeg
ANSWER -- As soon as you notice grease splashes on your washable fabrics; sprinkle cornstarch onto the area and pour enough dish soap over the spot to cover it. Leave for two hours and wash in hot water. Lay flat or hang to dry. Do not put fabrics into the dryer until the grease spots are gone because the heat of the dryer will set the stain.
Secondly, your daughter can formulate her own easy solution for this plant challenge, using everyday ingredients. In a one-gallon milk jug, combine 2 tbsp. dish soap, 1 tbsp. rubbing alcohol, dash of Tabasco sauce, 1 tbsp. canola oil and enough water to fill the jug. Pour mixture into spray bottle and spray as needed. Another option is to steep cigarette tobacco in water. Leave for two days and spray the plant. Taken from Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets.
Feedback from Manitobans who care
Dear Reena:
Someone was looking for Bar Keepers Friend. It was sold at D.A. Niels Gourmet Kitchen Ware on Berry Street. She could call and find out if they still carry it. Regal sometimes sells it through their catalogue as well. Best cleaner for pots I have ever used. Lisa, Roland, MB
Regarding spilt red candle wax on an old oak table
Hi Reena:
I thought I would get back to you about the candle dye on my antique oak table. When I bought the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, the instructions made me a bit nervous about possibly damaging the finish on my table. However, I have found wonderful uses for it in my kitchen. Anyway, the thing that removed the dye eventually was a combination Orange Glow Wood Polish and Conditioner and Murphy's Wood Soap, used alternately over a few weeks. Today, I realized that the spots are all gone, thank goodness, and the finish is just fine. Thanks so much for your help. Maybe this could be useful for someone else in the future. Shelby
Healthy breakfast-bar recipe
In a mixing bowl, combine two egg whites, one-and-a-quarter cup old-fashioned rolled oats, one-quarter-cup honey, one-quarter-cup oat bran, one-quarter-cup smooth or creamy peanut butter, half tsp. cinnamon, half tsp. vanilla and half cup either raisins or chocolate chips. Press into greased eight-inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins. or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool, cut into bars and refrigerate. Grab and go.
I enjoy your questions and tips; keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my brand-new blog/website: reena.ca.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Thin coat of oil repels, removes water spots
QUESTION: We own a faucet made of glass. After every handwash, a few drops dry off at the bottom of the faucet surface where the water runs. Now it has lots of watermarks that I can't remove. Do you have any suggestion as to how to get this nice and clean again? Thank you. Gita, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Oil is the best water repellent. Wipe a thin coating of oil wherever the water spots tend to collect. Doing this repels and removes water stains. If the water spots are stubborn, scrub with oil and an abrasive pad.
QUESTION: When I make chicken in the oven, I like to shake it in eggs and then in a flour mixture. I find that the chicken always turns out soggy, never crisp, and it always sticks to the pan. What am I doing wrong? Bailey, Tyndall, Man.
ANSWER: Crispy chicken is often made by deep-frying the meat so the outside becomes crisp while leaving the inside soft and tasty. However, a healthy alternative is to bake chicken in the oven. While the chicken may not be as crispy, it will still taste great if you season it correctly. If you happen to have a cooling rack for cookies, place the rack on top of a foil-lined pan. Brush oil onto the rack. Raising the chicken off the rack enables heat to bake evenly without the meat sticking to the pan. If you don't have a cooling rack, crumple foil and lay it on the rack so it does not sit flat. Place chicken on the crumpled foil and bake. Or melt a half cup of butter in a pan before adding chicken.
Extra Tip: Make your own "Shake 'n' Bake" chicken by combining the following ingredients in a bag. One-quarter cup bread crumbs and one-quarter cup flour, one-quarter tsp. black pepper, one-quarter tsp. thyme and one tsp. salt and one tsp. paprika. Add three pounds of chicken parts to the bag; shake, shake, shake and bake. Bake at 450 degrees for 40 minutes or until juices run clear. Turn chicken once during baking time.
QUESTION : I've looked through many, many newspaper clippings from you that I've saved over the years. However, I cannot find a specific solution for the following: My Mom uses a hard-plastic raised toilet seat. While she is able to wipe the top of the seat frequently, it is the underneath that is getting stained. I would welcome any suggestions on how to best clean the underneath of the seat, along with an easy maintenance of the seat (my Mom is in her 80s). Thank you so much, Reena! Keep the columns coming. Carol, Winnipeg
ANSWER: If the toilet seat is extremely old and stained, it might be easier on your mother to purchase a new seat. But for regular cleaning, here are a few tricks to keep that seat looking and smelling fresh. Wipe the seat with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and baking soda. The eraser cleans the stains while baking soda adds abrasion to get rid of surface mess. Another option is to scrub with whitener toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Some people have also had great results by scrubbing the dry area with an art eraser before regular cleaning. Lastly, you can clean the seat with Shout (the pre-treatment product used to get rid of stains on fabric) and scrub with a scrubby pad.
Tips for gourmet french toast
-- Begin with slightly stale bread. If you know that you are making French toast for breakfast, let the bread sit uncovered on the counter overnight.
-- Use cream instead of milk when making French toast. Once you try it, you'll never go back.
-- Skip the margarine and reach for the butter instead. For a rich, flavorful treat, line the pan with butter before frying.
-- When cooking is complete, get ready to eat because they are best when hot. Top with jam or syrup and perhaps a shake of icing sugar.
I enjoy your questions and tips; keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my brand-new blog/website: reena.ca.
Renovation & Design
Cable-bracing system a safer way to secure tree
I recently met with a client who had a 70-foot-tall Manitoba maple tree on the property.
The tree was about 75 years old and for its species, getting close to the end of its life time. Older trees such as maples, willows and poplars whose wood lacks the strength of an oak or elm can fail during strong wind events. The client's tree experienced a great deal of branch breakage in the past. Wood decay was very prevalent in those branches.
This tree also had four prominent secondary trunks originating from a common stout base trunk. One of these sub trunks had been heavily damaged by woodpeckers feeding on overwintering grubs (wood boring larvae) close to that trunk's origin at the main base trunk. For safety reasons I advised the owner that this damaged secondary trunk must be removed. For this owner, removal of the entire tree was not an option. Is there a way of making the tree relatively safe without significantly cutting or topping the tall secondary trunks?
Exposing the damaged secondary trunk through removal exposes the area of attachment where the remaining secondary trunks originate from the base trunk. Potentially wood decay and further woodpecker damage could cause the failure of another secondary trunk. I advised the owner to have a professional arborist install a cable-bracing system connecting all the secondary trunks to one another.
The Cobra Tree Bracing system is the method most commonly used in the Winnipeg area. Special cables are used to connect the secondary trunks together. Images of this system are beautifully shown and described on the Cobra website: http://www.cobranet.de/en/pdf/cobra_us_brochure.pdf.
For copyright reasons, I cannot use their images in this article.
No system is completely fail-proof. The cables will limit catastrophic trunk failures, but it should always be remembered that an old maple tree can be unpredictable.
I recommend that if this is a solution for your trees, that you contact two or three licensed Manitoba arborists for quotes, especially those certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. If you contact me, I will send you a list of these arborists.
Michael Allen M.Sc.F., RPF is a consulting urban forester, tree diagnostician and certified arborist. He owns Viburnum Tree Experts, a Manitoba company that provides objective assessments of the condition and the care required for trees and shrubs on home and business landscapes. He can be reached at 204-831-6503 or viburnumtrees@shaw.ca His web site is www.treeexperts.mb.ca.
