Removing and preventing mold; laying ceramic tile over vinyl
Q. I had my house power washed a month ago, and now a lot of the white paint is moldy. The power washer said it was my paint that caused it. My neighbors' houses [which are not white] are not moldy. How come? And how can I keep the mold off my house?
ANGRY
A. Been quite a season for mold. Who has not escaped? For starters, the power washer is wrong when he said that your paint is to blame. Most exterior paints have a mildewcide in them that helps keep the mold away for two years. But the power washer may not be too far off . Actually, he helped cause the mold by making the paint very wet. And it is the color of the paint (white) that is to blame, not the paint itself. The white color allowed the water to stay on the surface longer because the white color is cool, slowing down evaporation. You said your neighbors' houses that are not moldy are a different color than yours, and that is a giveaway, too, because darker colors absorb heat and dry off faster, reducing the chance for mold to grow.
So, kill and remove the mold with a solution of one part bleach and 3-to-5 parts water, and the mold will stay away -- for a while.
Q. Can I put ceramic tile over old sheet vinyl?
BRADFORD OGREN, Burlington
A.Yes, if the sheet vinyl is intact and adhering well to the floor, and the floor is relatively level. Apply the tiles with a thin-set mortar and you will be good for decades. Be sure to choose the right color; that is, a color that everyone agrees on, because the tile will outlast you, your children, and your grandchildren, and on and on.
Q. I am getting a lot of hot air coming down my fireplace flue, even with the damper closed. How can I stop it? And here is a trick that you can put in your file. I was getting tired of replacing water heaters; they rarely lasted beyond their warranty. I noticed some corrosion on the entry pipes, which I think was causing premature failure. So I put ground clamps on each pipe and connected them with copper wire to a ground stake. Now the heater lasts somewhat beyond the warranty period.
JOHN LENTINE, Norwood
A. Good point, and it does go into my file. If your water heater is gas-fired, here is another trick to extend its life: Replace the anode rod every three years or so. The anode rod is a self-sacrificing metal rod that deteriorates before other parts of the heater deteriorate. And drain a gallon of water from the heater every three months.
Now for your question: Air coming down the chimney is called reverse chimney effect when the air pressure indoors is lower than that outdoors. To stop it, you can block off the firebox opening, making sure it is very tight and well gasketed. Or, cut a piece of 1- or 2-inch styrofoam insulation in the fireplace throat, below the damper. Still another way is to install a top-of-the-chimney damper on the affected flue. You can't do this if there is a steel chimney cap up there now. And such a damper, which is controlled by a wire going down the flue and into the fireplace, cannot be installed on an automatic heater, such as a gas- or oil-fired burner. Finally, several votive candles or a kerosene lamp set in the fireplace will get the air moving up.
Q. My washing machine is leaking around the discharge hose. How can I fix it?
WORRIED
A. If the leaking is where the discharge hose is coming out the back of the washer, check that connection; pull the washer out far enough so you can get to the back. The discharge hose is attached to a metal pipe sticking out from behind the washer; it is held by a wire spring much like a pipe clamp. It might have come loose if the washer was shoved too close to the wall. If the hose is leaking where it enters the metal standpipe drain, it is too big for the drain, which should be replaced with a bigger standpipe. Anything else should be checked by a plumber or appliance serviceman.
Q. My back door is French doors leading to a landing with railings. The landing is open under the floor. A woodchuck has taken up residency, and I don't mind him except he is eating my wife's flowers, and that is what counts. How can I get rid of him humanely?
RICHARD LYFORD, Winchester
A. And thereby hangs a dilemma. You can't, legally. If you have a nuisance animal person remove him, he cannot transport him, except elsewhere in the yard. Otherwise, the Audubon Society says, you must kill him -- humanely. And what, pray tell, is a humane way of killing? Beats the heck out of the handyman.
But hope springs eternal, and there may be a way out of this sink hole. And that is to build a foundation wall around the landing to keep the critter out. You can build one of pressure-treated wood, and sink the boards 12 inches into the ground, maybe more, to keep him from digging under the wall to get to his home sweet home. Make sure that wall is sturdy; a woodchuck is strong, like most animals. And determined.
Q. I used silicone caulk to caulk around a tub surround and shower, but I spilled some on the ceramic tile and cast-iron porcelain enamel tub. How can I remove it?
LARRY GIBSON, Baton Rouge, La.
Soak the spill with rubbing alcohol, which should soften the silicone enough so you can scrape it off with a razor scraper. The tile and porcelain enamel are very tough finishes, but be careful not to scratch them when you brandish that scraper.
A. I am building cabinet enclosures for my radiators. Are they supposed to have backs?
CURIOUS
A. I don't think so; a cabinet with a back might be impossible to slip behind the radiator. What belongs on the wall in back of the radiator is heavy-duty reflective foil or well-polished sheet aluminum. To help stiffen the cabinet, you can nail or screw thin metal bars or straps on the back frame.
Handyman on Call also appears in the Globe's Real Estate section on Sundays. Peter Hotton is available 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair; call 617-929-2930. Hotton chats online about house matters 2 to 3 p.m. Thursdays, at Boston.com. Hotton can be reached at photton@globe.com.
