Doorbell Problem Might Take an Inside Job

Question: The doorbell in our 33-year-old house seems to have a mind of its own. Sometimes it goes off when it’s pushed, sometimes it doesn’t.

T.Y.

Westminster

Answer: “This is a problem that’s often found in older homes, where the doorbell contacts have been exposed to moisture and the elements for a long time,” says Pam Itoine of Martenet Hardware in Anaheim. “The contacts start to corrode and will no longer complete the electrical circuit each time the button is pushed.

“I would also check the transformer connection, as well as the wiring to the transformer to see if it’s decayed or it’s been damaged by insects. But I suspect that you’ll find the problem is in the wiring around the button.”

Q: I’m going to remove the carpeting in my house and I’m planning on installing vinyl floor covering, but I won’t be doing that right away. What’s the best way to seal the cement slab? I want to protect it from spills and pets.

J.B.

Lake Forest

A: “You’re probably better off not putting anything on the slab,” says Tony Beber of Anaheim Centsible Tile. “If you apply some kind of sealer on the concrete, the glue that adheres the flooring to the slab may not work very well. As far as spills and accidents go, just keep an eye on them and wipe them up as soon as they occur.”

Q: I want to remove the paneling in my family room and paint the walls. When I attempted this in another room, large chunks of wall came off with the paneling and I had to replace the damaged dry wall. Is it possible to apply some kind of smooth coating over the paneling that I can paint as an alternative to removing it? I don’t like the look of just painted paneling.

H.L.

Santa Ana

A: “If you’re worried about damaging the wall underneath, you can try drywall over the paneling,” says Mike Delaney of Fullerton Hardware. “This would save you a step if you’re sure removing the paneling will damage the walls and you’ll have to replace them anyway.

“If the paneling has been up for a long time, you may be able to get it off successfully with a little luck and patience. The mastic that’s used to adhere paneling often gets brittle over the years, making it easier to remove. Pull the panels away from the wall and then use a flat crowbar to pop the panels away from the mastic.

“You usually end up with some mastic stains on the wall, and you can use simple paint remover to get rid of them, leaving you with a smooth, clean surface to paint over.”

Q: I live in a condo and I’d like to know if there’s anything I can do to reduce the amount of noise I hear from my neighbor’s unit. Is there some kind of insulation I can use to fill in the wall between the studs?

L.B.

Huntington Beach

A: “I assume you’re thinking about filling the wall with foam insulation that’s used to seal out the weather,” says contractor Steve Perez of Anaheim. “That may help a little, but usually because of the way condos are made, you’re always going to have a problem with noisy neighbors. You could also get into trouble with your homeowners association by manipulating the building’s structure.

“You could try hanging some heavy, decorative rugs on the offending wall to try and deaden the noise, and I’d also contact the association to find out about your rights with respect to the neighbors.”

Q: Whenever one of our toilets is flushed, there is a loud, grating noise that vibrates through the pipes. It only happens on one of the toilets. What causes this and how can we stop it?

K.S.

Garden Grove

A: “I’d suspect that the flap at the bottom of the tank is loose and old, and it’s fluttering,” says Mike Aronov of Mike’s Plumbing in Yorba Linda. “When the toilet is flushed, the fluttering creates the noise you’re hearing. You can get a replacement flap at most hardware stores and it’s relatively easy to pull out the old one and insert the new one.”