Whether you are looking to replace a water heater or are wondering how to fix a socket on a lamp, Lou Manfredini is here to help. The TODAY contributor and host of House Smarts stopped by Studio 1A to answer viewer-submitted questions.

How can I replace a worn-out socket on a lamp without being electrocuted?

This is one of the easiest things to do, Lou said. "You can rewire a lamp for less than $15."

You can pick up spare sockets and a lamp cord at the hardware store. To install it, unplug the lamp. Take the cover off of the spare socket and notice the gold and silver screws. Your lamp cord will have a ribbed side. Take that side and attach it to the gold screw. Take the non-ribbed side of the cord and attach it to the silver screw. Put the cover back on and attach to the lamp.

During the winter, my dryer and microwave are freezing. You can feel a cold breeze coming from both when you open the doors. How can I fix this?

When you have an exhaust fan in an appliance, the metal on the fan actually draws the cold air in. To fix this, Lou recommends picking up the Backdraft Damper from Tamarack Technologies. The product has a sock that will trap the cold air, but the sock won't hinder your appliance's performance.

I want to replace my 8-year-old water thank asit started producing rusty water. Is there an economic advantage to installing an on-demand water heater instead?

The average life of a tank water heater is about 7 years and has a rod that can decay and rust the water. That rod can be replaced if you don't want to buy a new water heater, but Lou loves on-demand or tankless water heaters. They can often provide hot water for continuous use (including showers). They cost more upfront, but will last up to 20 years.

The rest is here:
Are tankless water heaters worth the cost? Answers to your home questions

What is the most common mistake you find in a home inspection?

By far it is electrical problems.

The most common in older homes is that people remove the old two-slot outlets and replace them with three-prong outlets, which are supposed to be grounded. Just because they are three-prong does not mean the wires were changed and that they are grounded.

This problem can be fixed by reverting back to two-slot outlets. But a better solution is to install ground fault circuit interrupter outlets, which have the test and reset buttons on them. These outlets, which have a circuit breaker built into them, do not need to be grounded to offer protection.

Improperly updated electrical service is another common problem. When a service is updated from the old 60 amps to a more modern 100- or 200-amp service, the old meter base needs to be changed. Without changing the meter, youre still getting the old amperage.

I recommend hiring a licensed electrician when you have any electrical problems.

I feel I did not get a full inspection because the inspector could not inspect the gas fireplace or the water heater because the gas was turned off to them.

Anything that is turned off should not be turned on or ignited by a home inspector.

The reason is we cannot know or predict why they are turned off. If a breaker is tripped the inspector should not turn it back on. It may be off for a reason.

The inspector could be held liable if something would happen if they turned it on.

Original post:
Ask the Inspector: Electrical problems common

2015 Water Heater Federal Regulations
New Water Heater Regulations Will Dramatically increase Replacement Prices For Austinites. The new federal regulations that go into effect April 15 2015 will...

By: Radiant Plumbing Air Conditioning

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2015 Water Heater Federal Regulations - Video

The Better Business Bureau rates Bonney Plumbing an A+, and the company is one of the biggest plumbing contractors in Northern California -- but KCRA 3s investigative team has found the business may be in danger of losing its license.

Watch report:State accuses Bonney Plumbing of overcharging, misleading customers

The state of California is accusing Bonney Plumbing of deliberately misleading and overcharging customers.

Two years ago Leonard Granger was looking for a plumber. He needed to replace the water heaters at two homes. So he turned to Bonney, partially he says because the company is among the biggest of its kind in the Sacramento area.

"I saw their ads on TV and I listened to it on the radio, Granger said. When they said, You can trust us from the very beginning -- we'll get the permits, we'll go all the way through the job and conform with the state code and county code, and so forth, I thought, Now that's the outfit I want to work with."

The company is certainly high profile. The red-and-blue vans have been a staple since Mark Bonney started the company in 1978. Bonney Plumbing now has more than 100 of those vans, and 150 employees. The business promotes itself with ads on TV. The new pro soccer stadium at Cal Expo is even called Bonney Field.

With that pedigree, Granger hired the company to install the water heaters at his farm in Vacaville and another property in Dixon.

Receipts show Granger paid more than $2,000 for one job and about $1,800 for the other. Granger said Bonneys employees told him Dixon city code and Solano County code both required expansion tanks to be installed with the water heater. He paid nearly $450 for both tanks.

"I'm not sure what that does, said Granger, pointing out the tanks to KCRA 3. He added that he paid at least $150 for permits and administrative fees on each job. "(Bonney Plumbing) did a wonderful job, Granger said. I have no complaints about the work.

But months later, that all changed when Granger called the city of Dixon and Solano County to find out why his scheduled inspections hadnt been completed.

Read the rest here:
State accuses Bonney Plumbing of overcharging customers

Published: February 28, 2015

By Peter Hotton The Boston Globe

Q. I believe youve stated that the best ventilation for an attic is a ridge vent and long, continuous soffit vents. My question is what happens when the ridge vent is under 3-4 feet of snow. Should I keep the gable vents?

A. When a vent is blocked, by snow or anything else, it stops working. Im surprised you did not report ice dams and leaks into the attic or house. The soffit vents may be enough to prevent ice dams, but its a good idea to free the ridge vent of its snow burden. But not you. Lay off the roof; it is too dangerous. Hire a roofer or professional who does this sort of thing as his vocation.

Q. Several months ago I recaulked my bathroom tile shower, the corners where the tile wall meets the tile floor. I carefully removed the old caulk, let the shower dry a couple of days, and slowly applied the new caulk. For most of the shower, it looks great. But in one corner, it curled and came away from the surface. I again removed the caulk in this area, dried the shower thoroughly and replaced the caulk. Again it has curled and come away from the wall. Whats the problem and how I can fix it?

A. Problem? First, there seems to be no depth to the joint (maybe because the tiles are too close together), so any caulk is being applied to a flat surface. Second, the wrong caulk was used. Use instead grout, a white cement-like material that will get into any cracks that are available. Use sandless grout. If you really want to use caulk, do it this way: Put your caulk cartridge in a caulking gun, with a good spout, then push the caulk into the joint, then smooth it out with a wet finger, making a small concave cove.

Q. My kitchen ceiling is peeling just above the stove, probably from steam from pots. How can I repair it? It looks like parallel wavelets.

A. I dont think its calcimine, which must be removed entirely or painted with a paint called CalCoat. I think the steam from cooking did it. To fix, sand all the loose, wavelet type peelings, right to the bare plaster, then apply two thin coats of a latex ceiling paint. To prevent a recurrence, I suggest you install a stove hood vent, exhausting outdoors to clear out all that steam.

Q. I had a new gas-fired water heater installed about a month ago and every time I turn the hot water on everywhere in my house I have air in the pipes. Do you know how I can fix this?

A. I am guessing that you are getting hot water eventually; no one should go without hot water for a month. Id say you should call the installer to make sure you get hot water with each turn-on, with no air.

Read more here:
Ask the handyman: Checking snow-covered roof vent

Austin, Texas (PRWEB) February 27, 2015

The new DOE federal regulations going into effect on April 15 will increase the size of all conventional water heaters, making them too large to fit though standard attic access and some closets built for existing water heaters. Once the new regulations for water heater efficiency go into effect, manufacturers will stop producing current models. All that will be offered are upgraded devices. Consumers won't be able to find a direct replacement to install if it breaks down. Typically, the new water heater models will cost up to 35% more and will be 2" wider and taller (due to having more extensive insulation).

Brad Casebier from Radiant Plumbing and Air Conditioning says, "A large percentage of Austin homes have water heaters in the attic. The standard attic access is 21 1/2" wide. The new water heaters are going to be about 2 larger than that. This means that home owners will have the additional expenses of sheet rock repair, and even possible carpentry."

Plumbing experts (Brad included) suggest replacing older water heaters before the deadline, that way consumers can make sure the replacement fits both home and budget. Consumers that have an older machine or are noticing the warning signs of wear and tear, should consider investing in a replacement today!

Some signs that a water heater is in disrepair include: leaks, bad odors, visible rust, higher energy bills, dirty water, and poor heating. If the water heater is past 5 years old, consider this action sooner rather than later. Check to see the age of the water heater in question, then call the local plumbing professionals at Radiant Plumbing & Air Conditioning http://www.RadiantPlumbing.com for a replacement estimate today. If unsure of the age of your unit, a specialist would be happy to come out to verify the age and condition.

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Federal Regulations Will Dramatically Increase Water Heater Replacement Prices For Austin Residents

The people calling the shots at Vermonts Okemo Mountain would probably be good weather forecasters.

They chose this year to unveil a unique six-person bubble-faced chairlift that umm, yes, has a heater in the seat. They did it in a winter when the mercury rose above freezing only once this February.

Smart.

I was calling around to ski area officials Tuesday afternoon looking for comments about how the cold is impacting skier visits.

After calls to area mountains without success reaching the PR folks, I called Bonnie MacPherson at Okemo Mountain and she mentioned the new lift.

If there was ever a year to install a bubble chair with a heated seat, this was it, she said proudly. People love it. Its a game changer.

MacPherson said the lift, which replaced the main NorEaster lift, opened Thanksgiving weekend. She said she expected it to be busy at first and then fade.

But months later, probably due in large part to the cold, people are content waiting in lines to ride it.

You can almost ski up and get on any other lift any time because people will stand in line (for that one), she said. They say it feels like a shorter ride and its also very social.

Im hoping to get up for some runs at Okemo before winter is over and check out this lift, the only one of its kind in North America. Mount Snow has one, but without heat, she said.

Read more here:
Column: Heated-seat lift was worth the wait

Homeowners... If you don't have hot water, don't panic!!

Thinking of a new water heater installation using a licensed plumbing professional, but you don't want pay thousands of dollars for a simple water heater installation? Would you like to take advantage of government tax credits without having to endure the expense and uncertainty of a tankless water heater installation? Just call...

KNIGHT PLUMBING - Water Heater Heroes

Call 414-423-7376 for an appointment today!

WHYshould you call Knight Plumbing for your next water heater installation in Milwaukee , Racine, or Eastern Waukesha counties? The answer is simple...

We give you a two hour window in which we GUARANTEE we will arrive. Many Plumbing Contractors that do water installations will ask you to wait around all day, and then might not show at all if they have something better come up. At Knight Plumbing, we respect your time. So no matter if your new water heater installation is in Milwaukee, Bay View, St. Francis, Franklin, Cudahy, Oak Creek, Racine, Greenfield, or any other local area, trust Knight Plumbing for your water heater installation.

Unlike the big orange box or other large home improvement stores, we have no subcontractors for your water heater installation or plumbing repair. Why is that a good thing? You know you are getting properly trained and licensed plumbing technicians who have years of experience in water heater installations that are fully insured for your protection. Do you know who is coming to your house with the other guys? No, you don't. When looking for a South Milwaukee water heater installation, ask them what company they're subcontracting for your new water heater installation. They won't tell you. So, what does that tell you? Will the subcontractor care about you and your home or are they only concerned about making the big box happy? Does the subcontractor have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau like us, Knight Plumbing? Does the subcontractor have references upon request like us, Knight Plumbing? All of these questions may not be that important to you, but what will happen when that inferior water heater installation doesn't work after a year? Who will come out to fix it? Can they fix it? Or worse yet, will they fix it? So many questions with unknown answers. Our answer is we can and we will, CALL Knight Plumbing for your next South Milwaukee water heater installation.

The reality is not all water heaters are made equal and the Milwaukee area big box home improvement stores do not have high quality water heaters we have. It's not just lip service, here are some of the differences. Did you know you should drain your water heater every year? Our water heaters have a brass drain valve instead of a plastic one so that it'll last over the years for this critical maintenance. Foam insulation instead of fiberglass batting makes the water heater more efficient. The new icon gas regulator on our standard water heaters makes adjusting temperature and checking your water heater pilot light easier since the government legislated FLVR program. Along with that, the way the combustible air enters the combustion chamber has a better design than most big box products. This will help keep dust and debris away from shutting your water heater down over time. Because of the FLVR program, water heaters have become much more complicated and therefore more expensive. Our exclusive line of water heaters are only sold to licensed professionals and you cannot find them at a big box home improvement store.

Most of our professional level water heaters come with a 6 year warranty with the ability to up it for extra money to 10 years. That's great! Now you don't have to worry about the last paragraph about Better Water Heaters right? What they don't tell you is that you may get a warranty on the water heater but you WILL have to pay for the time it takes to install or repair the new one. Not so with us, we provide you with a full, parts AND labor warranty. With everything else, isn't that the best reason of all to call Knight Plumbing for your next Milwaukee area water heater installation.

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Water Heater Installation Milwaukee | Gas and Electric ...

In anticipation of an another round of frigid weather that will impact the area Thursday into Friday, Aqua Pennsylvania has recommended several steps that homeowners can take to prevent frozen pipes as well as what to do if pipes freeze.

Aqua says homeowners should have a supply of heat tape and pipe insulation, as well as a portable space heater and hair dryer on hand, in case pipes freeze. Wrap pipes with insulation material or heat tape and wrap indoor water meters with a blanket. Proper and safe use of portable space heaters can also keep exposed pipes in drafty areas from freezing.

For interior plumbing located on an outside wall, such as a kitchen sink, install heat tape to the pipes beneath the sink. If no small children are in the house, open cabinet doors beneath the sink to allow warm air in the home to reach the pipes.

Shut off and drain any outside faucets, including those for lawn sprinkling systems. Shut off and drain any outside faucets, including those for lawn sprinkling systems. Prevent drafts in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces and basements, by replacing broken glass or making repairs. Prevent drafts in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces and basements, by replacing broken glass or making repairs.

When temperatures remain near 10 degrees, residents should leave a very thin stream of water running continuously from at least one tap, preferably the one farthest from the meter. The additional cost of the water is cheaper than the cost of repairing ruptured pipes, Aqua said.

If a pipe freezes, homeowners should locate the frozen area, use a hand-held hair dryer or heat tape to thaw the area. Homeowners should also locate and mark the master valve, typically found at the front of a home, so the water can be turned off in case a pipe breaks. Also, it is advised to make sure lids on outdoor meters are not broken or missing.

If your pipes do break, homeowners should call 1-877-987-2782 to reach their local Aqua representative.

More here:
Aqua gives advice on prevention, solutions to frozen pipes

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) -- DeKalb County Animal Services officials say pet owners need to take extra precautions to keep companions safe while cold weather moves through the region - and Hall County Fire Services is out with some safety tips for the pet owners, themselves.

Animal Services Director Xan Rawls says cats and dogs should be kept inside during cold weather. Rawls says despite cats and dogs having fur, they're not resistant to cold weather and can suffer frostbite and hypothermia, too.

Rawls says drivers should also check beneath their cars and tap on their hoods to make sure cats aren't taking shelter on warm surfaces before starting the engine.

Rawls says pet owners should also check paws for cracks or bleeding and wipe dogs' paws and bellies down after walks because they could pick up traces of anti-freeze or de-icer which could be harmful to them.

PEOPLE TIPS

Hall County Fire Services Fire prevention officials encourage residents to take extra precautions during this cold weather and in the aftermath of the ice storm which many people are still without power and their normal heating source.

Many times, people just dont understand the risk involved in using alternative heating methods. Citizens are just trying to keep warm the best way they can, with whatever they have, says Battalion Chief Scott Cagle, Hall County Fire Marshal.

An additional problem during the next few days might be carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. CO gas can come from several sources: gas-fired appliances, charcoal grills, wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces, and motor vehicles. CO poisoning symptoms are similar to flu symptoms. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. CO poisoning is deadly! Another source of CO, specifically during power outages, is the improper use of generators:

Generators should be operated in well ventilated locations outdoors away from all doors, windows and vent openings.

Never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open. Place generators so that exhaust fumes cant enter the home through windows, doors or other openings in the building.

Read more here:
Cold weather tips for people, pets