Some Feedback on Speakers

Question: I’ve got a two-speaker stereo in my den that I’d like to expand to four speakers. Is it possible to just hook up some extra speaker wire to the left and right ports and connect that to two other speakers?

M.D.

Costa Mesa

Answer: “What you’ll get is a mismatch of impedance, which you may or may not notice,” says J.R. Vaccher of Orvac Electronics in Fullerton. “Impedance is the resistance of the speaker, or the load on the amplifier. If you’ve got an 8-ohm load and you tap into the speaker line to add additional speakers, you’re adding resistance, which translates into more distortion, low power and the possibility that you could blow out your speakers. So, while it’s technically possible, it’s not really recommended.”

Q: For some reason, one of our toilets continually runs even when the tank is full, creating a “singing” sound. How can I tell whether the problem is in the bottom flap or in the ball cock assembly?

S.A.

Fountain Valley

A: “It’s not always easy to tell with a problem like that. It’s kind of like shooting while blindfolded,” says Mark Nulty of Familian Pipe & Supply in Anaheim. “Flush the toilet and turn off the water. Examine the flapper carefully to see if it’s uneven or if there’s any missing pieces of rubber. Refill the tank and put a few drops of food coloring into the water, then check inside the bowl to see if the colored water has leaked out, which would indicate that there’s a leak in the flapper that you can’t see.

“If that’s not the cause, the problem is likely to be in the ball cock assembly. It may be that a small seal has failed and if the assembly is fairly new, you might be able to get replacement parts. But in most cases, it’s less troublesome and cheaper to replace the entire unit.”

Q: I’d like to try replacing a cracked kitchen window myself, but I want to know how to work the window putty so that it stays where it should. The glass butts up against the frame and is puttied only on the outside.

W.B.

Santa Ana

A: “Start out by removing the cracked window. Wear some heavy leather gloves, push through the glass and remove each piece carefully,” says glass installer Steve Kelly of Tustin. “Clean the inside to the frame to remove any old putty, make sure the surface is smooth, then insert the window.

“Take some of the putty out of the can and roll it between your hands to create a thin, snake-like roll. Press the roll along the edge of the glass. Then, rub some linseed oil on a putty knife and press it at an angle along the roll to create a smooth surface on the putty. Use a razor blade to cut away any of the excess, then let it dry for at least two days before sandpapering it.”

Q: We bought a 35-year-old house with hardwood floors last year that we thought were an asset; however, the creaking they create is driving us crazy. Is there a way to fix noisy floors without having to replace them? Would installing carpeting make a difference?

S.M.

Anaheim

A: “If they’re exposed now, you might try an old wives’ remedy,” says carpenter Roger Nawcite of Huntington Beach. “Sprinkle some talcum powder on the floor and use a broom to sweep it around the boards that are squeaking the most. If the squeaking is mostly coming from the planks on the surface, the powder will act as a lubricant and keep it rubbing too tightly against it.

“Carpeting will muffle some of the sound, but if it’s in the subfloor, you may need to go into the crawl space and have someone walk above you to see if you can spot areas where the subfloor is moving. Then you’ll have to wedge the empty spaces between the joists and the subfloor, or place wood screws to connect the subfloor and the top floor.”