INSIDE & OUT : Getting at the Root of Drainage Problem
Q We recently corrected our blocked kitchen sink by opening the trap outside the kitchen and using a snake. We understand there’s a similar clean-out trap for the line that runs from the house to the street. Should that be periodically checked and cleaned?
H.B. Dana Point *
A On some houses that are below grade, which is where the property is below street level, there’s a check valve, says Ted Blanke of Central Plumbing & Heating in La Habra.
This valve keeps sewer debris from backing up into the home drainage system, and generally it needs no maintenance.
A more common problem with that line from the house to the sewer is roots.
Many homes have clay pipes that are joined with cement. When the cement gets old and cracks, a tiny tree root, the size of thread, can get in there and grow and crack the hub and interfere with the flow to the sewer.
That can be cut away, but the problem will return until the pipe is fixed.
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Q We have jalousie-style windows in our bathrooms, and a slat in each has broken. Since these are old-fashioned windows, are the glass slats hard to find?
D.V. Anaheim *
A Most glass shops can cut these for you, says Katy Jackson of Maley’s Glass & Mirror in Orange. The standard size is 4 to 4 1/2 inches wide. Bring one of the slats with you so the new one can be matched up. They should slide right out from the inside of the house. Because these windows aren’t very energy-efficient, many people remove the glass and attach a small strip of rubber on the bottom of each slat where it sits on the slat below it.
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Q I’ve been doing some prep work on the interior of my house to get ready to paint. In patching some holes, I’m disappointed that I can’t get the patch to match the rough texture of the rest of the drywall. How do the pros do it?
R.R. Huntington Beach *
A Professionals generally use a sprayer that runs off a compressor to create that kind of texture, says Frank Eckert of Arrow True Value Hardware in Orange. This type of equipment can be rented; however, most homeowners aren’t working on jobs that are big enough to justify that kind of expense. There is an aerosol sprayer that can be used. Spray Texture has three different-sized sprayers to allow for variations in texture, from fine to coarse. You basically find which type you need and spray it over the smooth patch. You’re probably not going to get a perfect match with the rest of the wall, but it will look better than just leaving the area smooth.
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Q We’ve been having problems with the eaves around our house. They were painted two years ago, and now in many places the finish is cracking and chipping. What needs to be done to them before they’re repainted?
N.N. Irvine *
A The usual cause for this is they weren’t properly cleaned when they were originally painted, says Charlie Kaczorowski of Tustin Paint Mart. You need to scrape away loose paint, sand them, wash them down with a strong stream of water and then use a good primer before applying a new finish coat.
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Q We recently installed a new shower head and a rotating aerator in our kitchen sink. For some reason, the water pressure to these fixtures has dropped. Could there have been a problem in the installation?
L.R. Orange *
A New faucets, aerators and shower heads are now sold with restrictive heads, says Ron Albright of Albright Plumbing & Heating in Los Alamitos. These cut down on the amount of water they release in order to save water. New shower heads generally release about two gallons per minute, while aerators are down to one or 1 1/2 gallons per minute.
If you have a question about your home or garden, A Helping Hand will help you find the answer. Send questions to: John Morell, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
