Getting to Bottom of Toilet-Seat Problem
Question: Two years ago I bought an oak toilet seat with brass hardware that was on sale at a local home supply store. Unfortunately, it has already rusted, and the seat is cracking. Before I install a replacement, should I coat it with some type of sealer?
L. S.
San Juan Capistrano
Answer: “Many of the oak seats you see being advertised at low prices just aren’t very good quality,” says Paul Deriver of Niagra Plumbing Supply in Garden Grove. “Moisture will make the hardware rust, and the seats often split. You might be better off spending a little more to buy a quality seat, which would be more resistant to wear. If you get a cheaper seat, you can try applying a sealer to the oak to protect it, and rub some automotive car wax into the hardware.”
Q: I’m going to be disconnecting my cable TV soon and hooking up the TV to an antenna. I’ve been told by a neighbor that I don’t need to get an antenna that sits on the roof; I can put one up in the attic that will work just as well. Is that true?
A. T.
Newport Beach
A: “If you’re able to get an antenna that is the right size to fit in the attic, then it should work fine,” says Larry Blake of Ball Electronics in Anaheim. “However, a common problem with attic antennas is that because of all the beams, there’s often very little room to adjust it. Also, if your attic has aluminum insulation, that could create some interference with the reception.”
Q: We have a concrete pond in our back yard that we’ve emptied to clean it. I’d like to paint the concrete black or navy, and I want to know what type of paint should be used.
G. U.
Lake Forest
A: “You have to find paint that says it’s water submersible,” says Tim Wiles of Decratrend Paints in Cypress. “It’s not enough to get paint that claims to be waterproof. Paints for pools and ponds often have a chlorinated rubber base, and there are some water-based paints that need a little longer time than the others to dry. They’re applied like any other paint, with a roller, spray or brush on a clean, dry surface.”
Q: In making a unique gift, I’m going to have to bond the sides of two aluminum picture frames. What’s the best type of glue to use when you’re trying to bond metal to metal?
R. Y.
Laguna Hills
A: “You’re better off using some type of strong epoxy,” says Angie Matthews of Martenet Hardware in Anaheim. “Epoxy comes in two forms. You often see it come in two tubes: one is the epoxy and the other is the hardener. You have to mix portions of the two to create the glue. The other form is an epoxy that is mixed, so you don’t have to worry about creating the right combination of glue and hardener.”
Q: I’m going to have to have the gas company come out and ignite the pilot light in my furnace. Is there any danger of the gas that comes out when the pilot isn’t lit?
T. E.
Los Alamitos
A: “While pilot lights frequently go out, there’s generally no danger when that happens,” says Greg Boyko of Familian Pipe and Supply in Anaheim. “Most gas furnaces have a safety feature that shuts off gas to the pilot when the light is extinguished. Should you smell gas from the furnace area, however, contact the gas company immediately.”