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Mike Klimek

Home repair columnist

Mike Klimek is a licensed contractor and owner of Las Vegas Handyman. Questions may be sent by email to handymanoflasvegas@msn.com. Or, mail to 4710 W. Dewey Drive, No. 100, Las Vegas, NV 89118. His web address is www.handymanoflasvegas.com.

The Latest
Ceiling fan wobble just needs fine-tuning

A lot of ceiling fan wobble can be attributed to the installation itself, rather than poor fan quality. Start by making sure the box in the ceiling is tight to the ceiling with no movement.

Reinforce corners when building backyard sandbox

You can build the sandbox out of lumber to form the sides, but you will have to reinforce the corners, as there will be lots of pressure on them to come apart. Don’t use treated lumber as the chemicals in that material can be hazardous to children.

Replacing floor under sink will take some carpentry skills

At some point, I’m sure everyone will find they have a leak under the sink that, in turn, will lead to some degree of water damage on the floor of the cabinet. Replacing the piece will take a few hours and some light carpentry work.

Mid-priced body shower units are easiest to install

A body shower has multiple jets that spray on you as you bathe. Some jets have pulsating heads that will give you a gentle massage as you shower. Mid-priced units are the most popular as they come in a unit that mounts on the wall.

Copper adhesive should fix leak under sink

Q: I have a problem with my plumbing. Below my kitchen sink is a copper pipe that comes out of the wall, extends for about a foot and then goes back into the wall. I have noticed a small leak coming from a fitting and it needs to be repaired. My problem is that I’m scared to use a torch as I don’t want to burn my house down. Is there any other choice?

 
Solar screens on windows reduce heat inside house

Solar screens typically block between 65 percent and 90 percent of the heat entering your home through the windows. They also can help prevent your furniture and carpet from fading.

Adding glass to cabinet door less expensive for DIYer

Q: I have some very boring builder-grade honey oak kitchen cabinets that I would like to dress up. I have seen cabinets with glass doors instead of solid ones and I want to replace a few of mine. I went to a cabinet company and they could not match the color of my cabinets’ door frames. Is there a way I could replace the panel inside the door frames by myself?

Vacuuming pool can clog up skimmer suction line

One way you can clog up your skimmer suction line is when you vacuum your pool. Since you have to remove the skimmer basket to insert the vacuum hose, debris goes straight into the line.

Leaky hose faucet is easy fix

A hose faucet is simple to work on because it has few moving parts. It’s an easy valve to replace, but you should try a few simple fixes first.

Use right tools to unclog backup in pipe

Q: Several of the drains in my house are backed up. I have tried plunging the toilet and clearing the drain trap in the sink, but I can’t get it to drain. My neighbor has a cable drain machine with several attachments included, but I’ve never used a device like that. Can you give me the details?

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