Kelly Smith's Blog

Posted by Kelly Smith

Online registration for the 38th running of the Chevron Houston marathon was supposed to open last night at 12 am, Friday, July 17. As it happened, the web page wasn't quite ready so it was delayed about an hour. I got mine submitted just after 1:00 am.

It's unbelievable just how popular this race has gotten. It was nowhere near this big the first time I did it way back in 1992. The combined field for the full marathon and the half this year is limited to 22,000. I got an email an hour or so ago that said, "as of 2:00 p.m. (CT), 13,200 spots have already been reserved."

Posted by Kelly Smith

Since I've already finished installing radiant barrier foil and additional insulation in my attic, I'm on the hunt for my next energy-saving steps. And I do believe it's going to be solar window film. I can already tell the difference from the attic improvements.

Here at the hacienda in South Texas, the afternoon temperatures are already flirting with the high 80s and the low 90s. So here's a test I did. All my water pipes are in the attic where the temperature goes over 120 degrees easy this time of year.

Since my plumbing water pipes are in the attic, turning on a cold water tap before resulted in up to a minute and a half of hot water coming out before it got cool. (Space heated water already in the pipes, plus hot pipes.)

But now, since the radiant barrier foil went over the pipes, I get at most 30 seconds of lukewarm water. I think it's safe to say that my semi-unscientific test is an unqualified success.

But Back to the Window Film

Window film comes in different grades of efficiency. Additionally, it can be had with a mirror finish for privacy. It seems to me this is a good substitute for new double glazed argon-filled windows. Mind you, before I get a flood of email from window salesmen, I'm not saying it is as good a solution.

All I'm saying is that it's a monumental good step in the right direction for those of us on a budget. And in this economic recession, whom among us is not? Other than Obama political appointees. They aren't required to pay their taxes anyway it seems, so they have a tad bit more expendable income than the rest of us.

But are Solar Window Treatments Eligible for Energy Tax Credits?

This is where it gets tricky. You would think the green energy wonks would be doing cartwheels, 100 meter sprints, and high-fives for anything we did to save the planet. Alas, it just ain't so. Basically, whether you can claim a credit depends on three things:

• Where you live.
• Which solar film you use.
• What your window frames are made out of.

Despite the fact that I live in one of the hottest parts of the country, I still have aluminum window frames so I'm out of luck. But, I can still cut my energy bills, even if it's not considered worthy of any incentives. Take that, global warming doomsday policy-making naysayers!

Posted by Kelly Smith

Everybody was shocked into reality last summer when gasoline prices skyrocketed to over $4.00 per gallon. It might be cheaper now, but believe it when I say it's temporary. When crude oil prices go up, it just mimics energy prices in general.

This means the price of electricity and natural gas will go back up. Do you want that in the summertime? It means that your air conditioner is going to eat a huge portion of your paycheck. Don't fret though; you can take control of the situation.

And when Cap and Trade legislation kicks in, all things energy will be heavily taxed. A report from the Heritage Foundation think tank said residential utility bills could increase by a whopping 50%!

Take Tax Credits for Attic Insulation and Radiant Barrier Foil

That's what I've been doing. I've been taking a few hours every morning to add insulation to my attic and install radiant barrier foil. I'm using Energy Q Thermal Barrier foil. The insulation is R-30. Energy Q is an Energy Star product and is the best foil on the market. Even NASA uses it.

Both energy efficient products are eligible for income tax credits linked to the 2009 economic stimulus package this year, so they pay you back in two ways. But here's the catch -- only the cost of the product is eligible, not labor. Hence, it's DIY time!

And both products work equally well to keep your home warm in the winter.

This is Seriously Hurting My Workouts

The downside to all this is that I'm not having enough time for my running workouts. I'm not too tired; there's not enough hours in the day. Ironic isn't it, given that I go to 24 Hr Fitness! It's alright though, my attic remodeling is almost done.

And just in time; it's going to get to 90 degrees today!

Posted by Kelly Smith

Titebond, also operating under the name Franklin (it is ambiguous on their website) has a broad range of construction adhesives and sealants aimed at pros, contractors, and DIY weekend warriors.

It might seem like overkill. After all, back in the day, Liquid Nails was the duct tape of the glue world; it did everything. But think of it. The whole thing about green building comes down to eliminating solvents and getting rid of VOCs in Titebond's particular arena.

That means smart guys wearing white coats with pen protectors in the lab, pouring things around in beakers. The recipe can no longer be one-size -fits-all. With the solvents gone, other components must be found. But there is an upside.

Task-Specific Green Adhesives

Making so many changes means that the formulations can be targeted to more specific applications. For example, consider their Professional Radon Sealant. Just a few years ago, nobody cared about monitoring toxic radon gas. Not indifference, just a lack of education. Now this sealant is formulated to address this one specific gas.

Another one is the Weatherproof Subfloor Adhesive. When installing or repairing subfloors, in the past few years folks have wised up about using a glue as well as screws.

The problem is VOC off-gassing. Contained as it is, it takes a long time to seep out and travel through the finished floor (such as carpet and padding). This adhesive takes this issue away from day one.

Green Drywall and Adhesive?

Imagine using EcoRock and Titebond's Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive to build your walls. You'd be the greenest person on the block!

Posted by Kelly Smith

I posted an article yesterday about the new EcoRock, a green drywall product. It comes from Serious Materials, the same company that brought us QuietRock, the soundproof drywall. Great stuff for home theaters.

Anyhow, EcoRock is 80% post-industrial waste material. Mucho green. The problem I have is the price; about $17 per sheet is the rumor. Of course I know it's a new product and there's R&D costs to recover.

It is actually cheaper to produce than gypsum board. After all, not only is it made of scrap that was going to be thrown away, but unlike regular drywall, it doesn't have to be cooked in monster ovens. All things seem to point to a less expensive product; but no.

Even though it's got a "glass mat finish" rather than the paper that Sheetrock does, they say the drywall taping and floating is just the same.

They also claim it's "Tile backer board qualified". Does thay mean it can be used in lieu of fiber cement backer board? It's unclear, but that would be a good thing. I hate working with that stuff. It just sucks all the moisture out of your hands.

I hung a lot of it a few years ago when I scored a contract at a new T.G.I. Friday. I had a boatload of tile baseboard installation to take care of, so that made for cutting a lot of Hardiplank.

So EcoRock is just coming on-line here in summer 2009 (four plants in production) so I await the industry verdict. I love the fact that it's a sustainable and green building product, but if they're not careful, they'll price themselves out of the market.

Posted by Kelly Smith

Which kind is right for you? I would venture to guess that the vast majority of the ones sold are gas-powered. Personally, I've got a Brill Razorcut 38 reel lawnmower. Had it since last year and it's awesome.

When my old gas one bit the dust we were right in the middle of the oil shortage and the price at the pump was so high. A little research convinced me that a push mower was the right choice. Sure, people give me funny looks, but operating it doesn't make me either deaf or broke.

It's not that I'm a tree hugger either, or as worried as Al Gore is about global warming, no wait, that's now called climate change, to justify the wrong results. Oh well, better luck next time, Al. Seriously though, I like energy conservation as much as the next fellow.

Yeah, I was environmentally friendly, following green building practices, and sustainable before it was cool.

But electric mowers? I don't know; I don't think the technology has caught up quite yet.

I did buy a new gas-powered weed eater last weekend. No options for that landscaping tool. I was surprised at how expensive the high-end Echo weed whackers were. You know, the kind that you see the Pedro y Paco Lawn Care Service wielding?

And just think, when I was a kid back in Panama, I did all this with a machete. Ah, those were the days...

Posted by Kelly Smith

I really hate to call an appliance repair company if I don't have to, as you know if you've read many of my home improvement articles or blogs.

Even if I can't fix it myself, I like to get an idea of what's wrong so the repair person won't pull the wool over my eyes. And this is what led me to write an article on troubleshooting electric ranges. This appliance really isn't that complicated.

About the worse that could happen is getting shocked, so as with all other messing about with electrical gadgets, flip the circuit breaker!

Diagnosing a refrigerator falls in basically the same category, other than the refrigeration aspect. The average homeowner won't be able to legally purchase, add, or recover refrigerant. Freon requires a license because only some people are now allowed to hose the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

Other than Al Gore, that is. Come on, I'm just joking!

The main tool that you will need to perform diagnostics on these and other kitchen appliances is a multimeter. They come in two flavors: digital (modern) and analog (the original kind, with a needle display). Which one you use is up to you.

In one respect, the difference is price, roughly speaking. They go for ten bucks or so up into the hundreds. Manufacturer quality is the other difference. Most professional electricians carry the Fluke brand name or something similar.

So if your kitchen gadgets are starting to falter, before going out and spending your income tax return on new ones or calling in the big guns, have a go at puzzling it out and repairing it yourself. You can do it! Si se puedes!

Posted by Kelly Smith

I got an interesting letter yesterday from State Farm. I use them for both my car and my homeowners insurance. They've been busy around here this year because of hurricane Ike. Generally, we get about twenty years between really bad storms, so maybe we're good for a while.

Knock wood.

Anyhow, the gist of this latest correspondence was about the importance of keeping the dollar figure on your homeowners insurance policy up to date. This is your responsibility, and yours alone. Trouble is, most folks don't think about it. I know I don't.

For one thing, my payment is lumped into my monthly home mortgage payment, along with my school, city, and property tax escrow. So, it's all but invisible. See no evil, hear no evil.

We all make some kind of home improvements at some point. Have you pulled up the carpet and laid a laminate floor? The cost of your home replacement just went up, and that's what your insurance payout should cover. Not what your friendly taxing authority tells you what your home value is.

There's a vested interest if ever there was one! Not enough money in the municipal coffers this year? Just tell Joe the value of his home just went up. Again.

But suppose you haven't made any home improvements in the past few years. Should you still review and revise your policy? Absolutely! Remember, it's all about replacement cost. The price of labor for the building trades has gone up.

Unless, of course, the local building contractors in your area indulge in the loathsome practice of hiring illegal aliens.

There are some things about homeowner and renters insurance that people mistakenly assume and don't find out until it's too late. Things like flood coverage. In most cases, it's not built into the basic policy. It's not expensive, but also not automatic. Seems like it would be, but nay. Forewarned is forearmed.

Posted by Kelly Smith

Another season change, another year older, uh, I mean better! Anyhow, spring is the time to check out the home air conditioner, give it a cleaning, and have the refrigerant checked.

Why go to the trouble? Your AC is a big investment, for one thing. Secondly, you're going to want it working as energy-efficiently as possible. The new president has promised Obama's big tax breaks (remains to be seen), but more importantly, he means to put Cap and Trade in effect. This policy will cause energy taxes to rise sharply.

What this boils down to is this: a massive increase in taxes on traditional energy production as a result of "capping" the amount of carbon emissions, and allowing entities to "trade" carbon points. Like trading Pokemon cards on a global stage I suppose.

Will this put Al Gore on the spot? He'll have to do something to keep his mansion and private plane running while he chides the rest of us for not turning out the bathroom light.

Hey, Transcanada Pipeline, let's hurry it up on the Keystone project, eh?

But back to your AC maintenance. Chances are that you won't be buying or selling any carbon points to India in order to save the polar ice cap or big cuddly polar bears, so it's important to first learn how air conditioners work.

It's really not that complicated, and while you'll have to bring in a pro HVAC service company to do things like recharge your freon or puron, there are things you can do yourself to minimize what you pay them to do.

But here's the easiest task any also the most overlooked: just change out your filter monthly; the smoother the air flow, the less the unit has to work. Now, stay cool!

Posted by Kelly Smith

Like everyone else, I suppose you have the full complement of basic household tools squirreled away somewhere, right? Heck, even that old stereotypical spinster aunt has a kitchen drawer stuffed with screwdrivers, pliers, duct tape; you get the picture.

But if you're a woodworker or dedicated DIY type always checking jobs off on that dreaded Honey-Do list, your tool arsenal goes a bit deeper. At least an assortment of power saws, and perhaps a router and scroll saw.

But for me, at some point, I had all that and more: drill press, table saw complete with a plethora of table saw extensions, etc. Past that point, that's where what I like to call "specialty tools" comes in. These are not-so-common items that don't get used often, but when you're in a pinch and nothing else will do, boy, do they come in handy!

Let's have a look at a few:

• Kreg K4 Pocket Hole Jig Tool - Pocket hole joinery is simply boring a pilot hole at an angle to join two pieces of stock, making a strong "blind" joint; bypassing the woodworking glue and clamp-up step if you desire.
• Whitney Punch - Looks like a heavy pair of pliers, sort of. But on one jaw is a die and on the other a receiving hole. Squeeze the handle and punch perfect holes for pop rivets.
• DeWalt Track Saw - Basically a specialized circular saw that runs on a track, it makes table saw grade cuts with portability.

So, diversify your shop!

Posted by Kelly Smith

Got your attention, yes? Yes, it's sad but true. With the new policies that are coming out of the Obama administration and those that are planned for the future, your electricity and gas bills are going up.

Why? For one thing, he's hot for cap and trade. "What's that?" you ask. Ostensibly, it's a "market-based policy tool for protecting human health and the environment," according to www.epa.org. Basically, this is all about reducing our carbon footprint.

Sounds rosy, doesn't it? Well, sure; but implementation is the problem as far as consumers are concerned. These changes don't come cheap. And rather than let the market take us that way naturally (which it's doing quite well right now, thank you very much), cap and trade puts it all under a bloated government program.

It's going to get paid for by huge taxes on crude oil and natural gas, which will be passed to the consumers, big time.

You know what I'm always harping on. My mantra: reduce your power bills now. How? Home lighting is a good place to start. Replace incandescents with CFL bulbs. I did this in my home a few years ago, and it does make a difference.

Done? Good; that was the easy part. There are many other ways to tweak your home's energy eficiency, but you must prioritize. Check out this energy efficiency checklist and proceed from there.

Bookmark this page and stay tuned for more saving ideas.

Posted by Kelly Smith

It's springtime here in South Texas and that means that I take my DIY skills outside to shape up the yard and get the garden cranked up.

The new thing I did this year is put in a raised bed vegetable garden. There are many ways to build one of these but I went the easy and cheap way -- cinder blocks. I've already transplanted some pea plants in it but it will be a few more weeks before I can put in tomatoes.

Other than that, I did start a mulch pile. This is an easy thing to do and over time it will pay off. If I build it up enough I can use it on my asparagus garden in the fall. As a matter of fact, I harvested the first juicy spear yesterday. Much tastier than store-bought.

And then the not so much fun stuff is creeping up on me... mowing the lawn. Oh well. Even that's not too bad; I bought a reel mower last year and it's actually easier to use than the old motorized one. Now if I can just get around to doing it...