A silent and dangerous killer may be loose in your home. It
is clear and odorless, but definitely a killer. Thousands of
people are killed each year by this silent slayer, and many
more have fallen victim to its side effects. It causes
symptoms ranging from only a mild headache to muscle
paralysis and serious neurological problems. It also has been
known to be especially dangerous to an unborn fetus, elderly,
and individuals with heart and lung problems. This killer is
called CARBON MONOXIDE.
It is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon based
fuels such as natural gas (from stoves or boilers), charcoal
briquettes (from a barbecue), kerosene heaters, and firewood.
The best known way of treating this problem is with
prevention: a carbon monoxide alarm. This is a rather
inexpensive ($30 or less in the USA and UK at Radio Shack or
Tandy), device that installs on the wall or ceiling with just
a few screws. In Israel Paz Gas offers one for $45.
Most smoke detectors do not detect carbon monoxide, and few
home security systems have one incorporated into a home. The
most common types available run off home AC or mains current
or DC 9V battery. I prefer the latter. Even though a new
battery will be needed every 9 months to a year, it offers
protection when there is a power outage. If using the battery
version, 9V lithium batteries are available and even though a
little more expensive they can last years.
It goes without saying that a smoke alarm is always needed.
These detect smoke, and some detect high temperatures as
well, and are designed to save your life. They need to be
installed throughout a home, and the batteries must be
checked regularly too. Even in stone construction buildings,
such as are common in Israel, this is necessary as
furnishings can catch fire, and even certain types of paint
too. It was common in the past to apply oil or lacquer paint
to walls in Israel. This is illegal in most places in the
world because it is highly flammable and will spread fire.
(For superior washability on painted walls a quality acrylic
paint properly applied is best.) Also keep in mind that most
deaths and injuries in domestic fires are from smoke and
smoke inhalation. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are
necessities, not options.
Mr. Schapiro in Jerusalem writes: "Around the stove is a
layer of fat or grease and it is difficult to remove, maybe a
special paint could remedy this?"
If you have ceramic, metal, Formica, or a quality paint on
the walls, washing with dish soap would do the trick. If the
grease is still difficult to remove, WD-40 Spray can be
applied directly on these surfaces and it would dissolve the
grease. Later, soap and water can be used to remove the WD-40
. If the walls have been painted with an inferior paint,
first clean the walls as above, then apply a quality
primer/stain block and paint.
Many residents of Israel have asked recently, "Now that the
elections are over, we have stickers and posters all over. Is
there an easy way to remove them?"
The large paper posters can be removed by spraying with lots
of water, then scraping with a painter's scraping knife.
Bumper stickers need to be removed by hand or with the help
of a knife. Then the remaining glue can be dissolved with
turpentine or denatured alcohol. If public walls were spray
painted, your local municipality should sandblast the area.
For a quick fix, a matching paint to the wall could be
applied over the graffiti.
Mrs. M. asks, "We recently had bedroom cupboards installed in
our home. The only problem is that the handles seem to get
loose quickly and subsequently get lost. Is there any way to
make them more permanent?"
Locktite is commercially available for this purpose and is
available worldwide. Just apply a few drops into the hole of
the handle, then reattach to the cupboard with the screw. If
for any reason you need to remove the handle later, it is
possible with a little force. In a pinch, white glue can also
be used but it will never be able to be removed.
Mr. Berman in Bnei Brak asks, "We live on the top floor of an
apartment building. Every year we need to whitewash the roof
as part of our contract with the roofer and to keep our
apartment cooler. Is there any way to do this once every few
years?"
Yes and no. If, according to your contract, you must hire the
contractor to rewhitewash the roof, you may void your
warranty by not having it done his way. There are acrylic
based compounds that can stay on a roof many years with a
single application. At Walls R Us, we prefer to use a white
plastic coating that waterproofs as well. It has a life of 3-
8 years, and commonly lasts in Jerusalem for 4 years,
maintenance free.
Today's Do It Yourself Hint: If cats have been using your
garden for a litter box, Rabbi Y. Goldberg in Neve Yaakov
recommends placing mothballs though out the garden. The
camphor smell emitted from the balls keeps them from
returning.
Yosef Krinsky, a third generation craftsman, is the CEO of
Walls R Us - House Painting, Inc., Jerusalem Division. He can
be reached at (02) 585-9559; common mail POB 27355,
Jerusalem, Israel; email at wallsrus@hotmail.com; and soon at
his new World Wide Web Site. Homeowners (and renters too) are
invited to email their questions for a quick reply.
