HOME HANDYMAN
Hose fine for cleaning air conditioner
By Glenn Haege
Q. I would like to know how to clean my air conditioner's outside condenser unit. It is covered with fuzzy white stuff, and I am afraid that it will get sucked into the unit or cause the condenser to overheat.
A. You can usually just wash it off with the garden hose. Krud Kutter will help with this project. Aim the stream of water on an angle so that it washes the debris off, not into, the condenser. Do not use too much pressure. The metal fins are very delicate. Make certain that you cut away all flowers, bushes and weeds within one foot of the unit.
Q. Please let me know if it is possible to remove deck sealant from vinyl siding that has been there about two years. I do not know if it is water-based or oil-based sealant. I would appreciate your input.
A. Get Motsenbocker's Lift Off No. 4 Graffiti Remover and No. 5 Latex Paint Remover, (www.liftoffinc.com). One or the other should work like a charm.
Q. We were told the vinyl siding on our newly purchased house is less than 5 years old. It is a dull white. I've tried vinyl cleaner and a scrub brush, and it still looks sad. Can I paint it? If so, what's the best paint to use? I've read that you're not supposed to paint a darker color than the original vinyl color because it absorbs more heat and buckles.
A. Vinyl provides an excellent surface for painting. However, it should be very clean. Clean with a solution of two to four ounces dry measure of TSP (trisodium phosphate) per gallon of water. If you have a mildew problem, add two cups of household bleach. Wear goggles and use a brush mounted to a long arm extension handle. Then rinse. This is best done as a two-person job. One person washes, the other rinses. This is strong stuff, so both of you should wear goggles, rubber gloves and long-sleeved shirts and follow instructions. The next day, apply a premium house paint.
You can use the color of your choice. However, the darker the color (like brown), the more subject it will be to fading.
Q. I have seen a deck in a Home Depot ad. I really like the design of that deck. Is there any way I could find plans for that deck? Is it available by free download, through a magazine, or can I buy a book that has it? One last question: Since it is shown primarily in reference to eon, is there a kit that eon sells that would include all the materials needed to build the deck?
A. The photo probably came from the manufacturer of the materials, therefore, they would be the best organization to contact for plans. Check out the eon Web site at www.eonoutdoor.com/index.php. They have a large deck photo gallery.
You also could just show the picture to the contractor desk at your local lumberyard. If they have a design center, they might be able to create a working plan along with a materials list that they could provide when you got the materials.
Two warnings: The deck in question might be a design copyrighted by a deck designer. Also, eon costs several times more than cedar, and the decks are usually installed by professionals.
Glenn Haege writes for the Detroit News. Write to Ask Glenn, Master Handyman Press, P.O. Box 1498, Royal Oak, MI 48068-1498 or e-mail askglenn@masterhandyman.com.
