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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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Sun City in Huntley

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September 24, 2015

Update on FloodSafe Washing Machine Hoses

Unless you turn off the water to the washing machine whenever it is not in use, the full water line pressure is on the hoses.

Ask the Woodchucks: September 10, 2015

I need to do some minor paint touchup on interior doors and moldings on our 10-year-old Dearborn model. The original touch-up can of paint provided by Pulte has long ago dried up. The can had no brand name or specific color, although I believe it was called “antique white” and it appears to be a semi-gloss finish. What brand and color would you recommend I buy to try to match the original color interior trim in my house?

Wireless interference

If you and several of your neighbors have suddenly had problems getting your garage door to open with the remote, you could be experiencing wireless interference. One street in Sun City has seven houses with this problem. Some would only work when the remote was held very close to the door, but some would not open at all.

Miscellaneous Questions

am concerned about the washing machine hoses…I want to order the FloodCheck hose(s), but would not know how to connect them. Do I need two: one for each hot and cold faucet? Is it easy to disconnect and connect these?

Shower door dilemnas

I own a 2004 Pulte Adler model home. The original shower stall track and sliding doors can no longer be effectively cleaned. I would like to replace the shower doors with the exact same shower door kit, brand, or model. I cannot find the brand name anywhere. Is the brand name somewhere on the track or sliding doors or do you know the brand?

Washing machine hoses

The leading cause of water damage in most residences is failure of the flexible rubber hoses that connect the washing machine to the hot and cold water. These hoses become brittle over time and only have a useful life of about seven years.

Door Problems Resolved

Last week I opened the “inside” garage door to our house and heard a loud pop. It sounded like a balloon burst. Now the door doesn’t close by itself. There are two large cylinder type hinges on this door. Are these spring-loaded? Did one or both of them snap? How do I go about getting the door fixed?

Ask the Woodchucks: June 18, 2015

New federal guidelines for home water heaters took effect in April. The heaters will now be larger than the existing models. Will they fit into Sun City homes that have no basement, or will the homeowners have to modify or rebuild their space?

Ask the Woodchucks: June 4, 2015

Every year I visit the consumer showcase, looking for ideas for this column, and this year was no different. Larry Bernstein of Larry’s Home Maintenance showed me a new device to prevent kick-in attacks, where burglars either kick the front door in or wedge it open with a crow bar.

Ask the Woodchucks: May 21, 2015

We moved to Sun City three months ago. Our house has an electrostatic filter on the furnace. How do we clean it and how often?

Ask the Woodchucks: May 7, 2015

I got involved in a discussion the other day about reversing the direction of the ceiling fans in the house as we move from the heating season to the air-conditioning season. To understand how to make this change correctly, it is helpful to know how this fan works.

Ask the Woodchucks: April 23, 2015

How do I remove the salt stains on my garage floor? Last winter they used a lot of salt. I have tried rinsing it with the hose and brushing it with a stiff broom, but the stains are still there.

Ask the Woodchucks: April 9, 2015

I live in an original Del Webb-built home, and I can hear mice when they occasionally crawl up the siding and get into the attic. Do you have any solutions to prevent this from happening? Some of my neighbors have the same problem.

Ask an Angel: March 26, 2015

Question: The flame on the burners of my gas stove recently turned orange. They used to be blue. Is that a problem?

Ask the Woodchucks: March 12, 2015

The latest burglary in Sun City was accomplished by lifting the sliding glass door up into the upper track enough so that the lower edge could be swung out, clearing the lower track. This is the reverse of how the door was originally installed. This can be eliminated by closing that gap above the sliding door. A wooden dowel slipped into this gap can prevent the door from being lifted out.

Ask the Woodchucks: February 26, 2015

read the article in the February 12 edition of Sun Day about dripping sounds from a furnace. I have a similar problem, but it stems from my water heater.

Dripping water on water heater, and dripping sounds from furnace

Water keeps dripping down the copper tube on the side of our water heater onto the floor. Is this a problem or is it normal?

Ask the Woodchucks: January 29, 2015

I have a Traverse Bay, which I moved into on 3-9-2000. The door handle on the front door has been giving me problems. When I press the door lever with my thumb to open the front door, it sticks and is hard to open. It has been that way for years but seems to be getting worse. I am afraid someday I won’t be able to get in the house. The brand is a Weiser, and everyone I talk to says it has been discontinued. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could fix it or get another handle and lock to replace it?

Ask the Woodchucks: January 15, 2015

We have heard of several incidents where Sun City residents have been charged outrageous amounts to repair furnaces and air conditioners. In one case one of the Woodchucks checked on a neighbor’s furnace after a repairman told her the furnace was shot and needed to be replaced. He found a wire in the furnace disconnected, something that only could have been done by the unscrupulous repairman.

911 locator light switch

These light switches must be reaching the end of their useful life as we have received several queries about where to get replacement switches.

Ask the Woodchucks: December 4, 2014

I have a dresser that needs the top refinished. It is 76″ X 20″. Do we have someone here in our community that I could hire to do this work or could you refer a company that does this kind of work? I would truly appreciate it because there are few companies that do this kind of work today.

Ask the Woodchucks: November 20, 2014

Could you please have a column on the yearly maintenance of water heaters? I have a Bradford White water heater that was installed by Pulte in 2006. I have been draining the tank for about 3 to 4 minutes each month. Should I drain the entire tank yearly, and if so, what is the proper way to do that?

Vacation Checklist

As many Sun City residents pack for warmer climates, it is important to spend an hour or so to prepare your house for the winter. When you are going to be away for a week or more, you should prepare your home so there will be no surprises on your return.

Ask the Woodchucks: October 23, 2014

We are the original owners of a Manistee without a basement. We have wood (engineered) floors in the kitchen and hallways. Would anyone in your group know if Del Webb used glue to install the floors? We would like to replace a couple strips in the kitchen. Do you know if that can be done?

Ask the Woodchucks: October 9, 2014

Question: The water in our tub drains very slowly. There is probably hair blocking the drain, but I can’t reach it because the drain plug is in the way. Is there a way to remove this plug so the blockage can be removed?

Fire Suppression System Warning

If your house was built after 2005, it probably has a fire suppression system (sprinklers), especially if it is an attached property in neighborhood #34. You can verify this by looking for sprinkler heads high on the inside walls.

Ask the Woodchucks: September 11, 2014

Question: Our roof has black streaks on the shingles. Does this mean the roof is wearing out and the gravel has worn away?

Five things to do this month

Many of the Woodchucks, besides being competent woodworkers, have plumbing, electrical, and general maintenance skills. Four years ago, we decided to share those skills with Sun City residents through a column in the Sun Day newspaper. The column you are now reading is our 100th.

Artillery Fungus

Question: We have artillery fungus on our house siding and have tried various online suggested removal methods to little avail. Do you know any tried and true methods or any companies that provide removal service?

Ask the Woodchucks: July 31, 2014

Question: We have two pieces of used furniture made from wood that strongly smell of cigarette smoke. Is there any way to get rid of the smell other than getting rid of the furniture?