Animal Invasion
Question: I have a rabbit in my window well that can’t get out. I don’t have a cover and would like to get one after the rabbit is out.
Answer: To get the rabbit out, climb down into the window well with a laundry basket. Scoop up the rabbit with the laundry basket and throw the basket up and out of the window well with the rabbit.
If the animal in the window well is black with a white stripe down its back, do not use this technique. You will need to make a skunk ladder. Take a 2 x 6 that is two feet longer than the height of the window well. Nail 6-inch long 1 x 2s every foot on the 2 x 6. Lower this ladder into the window well and leave. Eventually the skunk will be gone.
You can get a metal window well grate at Chicago Contractors Supply located on the west side of Route #47 just north of the older McDonalds. The grate fits right over the metal walls of the window well and lets in plenty of light and keeps animals out. They have the two main sizes used in Sun City, 56 inches wide by 36 inches deep, and 52 inches wide by 36 inches deep.
Patio door fix
Question: The handle on my sliding glass patio door fell off.It has been loose for some time and I have tightened the screws several times but now they are stripped and can’t be tightened any more. How can I fix this?
Answer: The inside handle and the outside handle are cast aluminum. Two #8 – 32 screws go through the inside handle, the door, and are threaded into studs in the outside handle. It sounds like the threads in these studs are stripped either by using the door while the screws were loose or by over tightening the screws.
This can easily be fixed by tapping the studs in the outer handle to accept larger #10 – 32 screws. Take the inside handle and the outside handle along with the two screws to your local hardware store and tell them what you want to do. You will need two #10 – 32 screws the same length as the old ones. You will also need a #21 drill in order to drill out the studs and a #10 – 32 tap.
When reassembling the handles on the door, be sure to align the lock actuator so it goes through the slot in the latch mechanism. Tighten the two screws and your door will be as good as new.
If you have suggestions for future tips or have questions about maintenance around your home submit them toask.the.woodchucks@gmail.com
