Water rushes over gutter guards, freezes
Q. Last summer I had LeafGuard gutters installed, but whenever the weather gets cold, the water apparently does not go into the gutters but somehow escapes to run down the walls. I'm afraid water is getting behind my aluminum clapboards, although the clapboards do have small weep holes. What can I do? The LeafGuard people said one cure is to remove the gutters. I also have humongous icicles.
MYRON MINTZ, Newton
A. The more improvements we make to our houses, the more they seem to succumb to the weather. Pray for early heat, and a green Easter/Passover. What happened: Water running over the LeafGuard froze, and then melting water ran over the guard and splashed over the front of the gutter, forming the icicles. Some of the water percolated under the gutters or got behind the gutters and ran down the wall. It's too bad we can't make our gutters easily detached when this happens, because missing gutters will solve the problem until the weather warms up, for a while, except maybe the icicles, which can be knocked down carefully.
So, hang loose for a while; at least the problem is temporary and you apparently do not have leaks from ice dams. Be thankful for those weep holes in the aluminum siding; they will allow any water in there to evaporate. Taking off the LeafGuard might help, but I don't think they can be removed. But even if the guard can be removed, the water might freeze anyway until it fills the gutter, and you have the same problem all over again. One cure is to put heating cables in the gutter; there should be enough heat from the cables to keep the running water from freezing.
Q. I replaced the valve stem in the upstairs hot water faucet after it leaked and now almost everything is OK except when my wife turns on the hot water just a little, a loud rapid banging occurs.
PAUL MOTYKA, Acton
A. You could turn on the water a little faster. I think the pipe leading to the faucet is a bit loose in its hangers, and the flow of water shakes it, resulting in the rapid banging. Tighten the pipes that are reachable under the sink and see what happens. Snugly, not too tight.
Q. My aluminum siding is still in pretty good shape, but someone with a big shovel whacked a piece of the siding right off the wall. Are there any stores around that sell replacements?
FLORENCE, Newton
A. There are several aluminum fabricators who might be able to help. Aluminum Window Co., Revere, 781-289-3448; Samson, South Boston, 617-268-9622; Everett Aluminum Co. (781-389-3839) - and they'll cut it to length for you; Hadco Window & Door Co. of South Boston (617-426-7890).
Globe Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is also in g on Thursdays. He is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call 617-929-2930. Hotton also chats online about house matters 2-3 p.m. Thursdays. To participate, go to www.boston.com. Hotton's e-mail is photton@globe.com 
