Dimmer Switch On Ceiling Fan = Fire Hazard - 10/26/10 06:23 AM
I love dimmer switches; I use them to control almost every light in my house.Installing a dimmer switch is a common enough DIY project, but like any other DIY project, I often find them installed improperly.  The most common problem I find is when dimmer switches are connected to a ceiling fan.
Standard dimmer switches should never be used on ceiling fans because they could damage the fan motor or they could overheat and start a fire.  To know whether a dimmer switch is intended for use with a fan, all you usually have to do is remove the switch cover; … (60 comments)

Could My Radon Monitor Be Broken? - 10/19/10 06:08 AM
 
One of the more awkward conversations that I had with a home seller this year dealt with a high radon test at his home in Minnesota.  We performed a radon test for the buyer, and the test came up high (over 4.0 pCi/L), so the buyer asked the seller to install a radon mitigation system.  The seller wasn’t happy about this, so he called us up to complain.
We had performed a radon test for the seller when he bought the home four years ago, and the test was below 4.0 pCi/L.
I could understand the seller’s frustration; I would … (32 comments)

That's Not An Installation Defect Under The Kitchen Sink; It's The Work Of A Genius. - 10/12/10 06:05 AM
One of my least favorite chores in the kitchen has always been re-filling the built-in hand soap dispenser at my kitchen sink.  Through years of extensive research in to this matter, I've discovered that I'm not alone.  Approximately 57.3% of soap dispensers in the Twin Cities metro area remain unfilled; sitting next to the empty soap dispensers, I often find unsightly store-bought bottles of hand soap.
I have many reasons to not refill my soap dispenser.
For one, they're difficult to access.  Mine is so tough to get at that I need to lay on my back under the kitchen sink … (128 comments)

Six Things To Consider Before Testing For Radon On The Home You're Buying - 10/05/10 06:11 AM
If you're buying a house in Minnesota and you want to have it tested for radon as part of your inspection contingency, here's a list of six items that the EPA says you should consider before you have the test conducted.
Where the radon test will be located The radon test should be placed in the lowest level of the home that could be used regularly, whether it's finished or not.   I've said before that radon tests should never be placed in crawl spaces, but what if the basement ceiling height is 6' 11" ?  The Minnesota State Building Code defines a … (13 comments)