One of the most rewarding home projects that we can do ourselves is painting.   Surface preparation is the key to a professional job.  Wiping down the walls with a wet cloth will usually suffice, but excessively dirty walls should be cleaned well with a commercial cleaner such as trisodium phosphate.  You should, if you intend to, paint ceilings first and don't forget the primer.  Cut in or trim around windows, doors, and other openings first, then paint the rest of the wall (whether using a roller or a brush) in small sections always keeping a wet edge.  Plan to finish an entire wall before quitting or starting another to help eliminate overlap marks.  Spencer's has a color match computer, and we can mix quart "sample" cans so you can make sure that the color you pick is the one you want.  Don't forget to check out our miss-mixed paint; we may have that perfect color on clearance.  

Have you stopped to think about the broken limbs caused by the ice and snow in that shade tree out front?  Broken limbs are similar to pruning cuts, and they need to be treated with pruning seal to protect the tree from insects and disease.  The jagged edges should be cut clean and a proper pruning seal applied to prevent any further damage.   Also, consider taking this opportunity to prune any limbs that have become overgrown to help prevent future damage from snow and ice (the dormant winter period is a good time to prune).

With the extreme cold weather that we have had lately, there has been an increase in frozen and broken water pipes.  Any exposed pipes should be insulated; even pipes in attics and crawl spaces.  On extremely cold nights, leaving a faucet dripping will keep the water moving and make it less likely to freeze.  Care should be taken when thawing pipes that you do not overheat and damage the pipes (a hairdryer works well).  If you are unfortunate and have a broken pipe, make sure to insulate or re-route the pipes to prevent future freezing. 

All of us would like to save money on that energy bill, and here are a few energy saving tips.  Close off unoccupied rooms so that you don't heat unused rooms in your home.  Don't leave that bath exhaust fan running.  In just one hour they can pull out a whole house full of heated air.  Use a programmable thermostat to reduce the temperature of your home while you are away.  You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for eight hours, when you’re not at home or overnight.  Clean your dryer lint trap every load.  This will allow more air to flow; clothes will dry faster and more efficiently.

We all love to see those birds flitting around our bird feeders, but when was the last time that you cleaned your feeder?  Regular cleaning of bird feeders is necessary to keep bacteria from building up, which could make the birds sick.  Old, stale food in a feeder may cause birds to stop visiting (would you go back to a restaurant that served stale food?).  Also, don't forget those hummingbird feeders. Hummingbird food will go stale after only a week in hot weather, so don't forget to refresh hummingingbird feed.  Spencer's carries a full line of feeds for our feathered friends.

With winter just around the corner, we all need to plan for those possible power outages.  Take time now to check your flashlights, and replace batteries and bulbs as needed.  Check your kerosene heater to make sure that the wick doesn't need to be replaced.  Consider installing a propane heater.  Not only will they heat if the power goes out, but they work great for zone heating (keeping the main rooms in your house warm without heating the entire house).  Let's all take time to prepare now for those cold powerless winter days.

When was the last time that you checked your heating ducts for leaks?  Just a small hole or seam leak will blow a lot of hot air out under your house.  To check for leaks make sure that the unit is running, and use an incense stick or candle to check seams for escaping hot air.  Repair any leaks with a high quality duct tape, and use caulk to seal around vent openings.  Also, don't forget to check for crushed or sagging ducts.  This can restrict air flow making your furnace less efficient.  A few minutes to inspect your duct work could save money on heating bills, and make your house more comfortable during this cold weather.

Have you ever had a problem with peeling paint?  Most cases of peeling and blistering paint are caused by moisture.  Moisture accumulates in your home (bathrooms, clothes dryers, etc.), and if your home is not adequately ventilated the moisture can get into the walls.  To fix this problem, you must remove the peeling paint, prime with a good quality primer, and fix the moisture problem (possibly through ventilation).  Stop by Spencer's and check out our new color match computer.  We can scan and custom match most anything so that you can have the exact color of paint that you want.

Have you noticed how dirty those white gutters get after years of weathering?  I have tried everything from bleach to TSP, and nothing works without heavy scrubbing on top of a ladder.  Try Bleach White white wall cleaner.  It not only works wonders on tires, but it will remove years of build-up from gutters.  A few sprays, a few wipes, and instantly clean white gutters.  Make sure that you follow label directions, and be careful not to get it on windows or plants. 

Here’s an interesting statistic about CFL (compact fluorescent) light bulbs that I ran across on the U.S. Department of energy website.  If every American home replaced one incandescent light bulb with a CFL bulb, we would save almost six billion kWh of energy per year.  We would also save more than $600 million in annual energy costs and reduce greenhouse gases by the equivalent of nearly 750,000 cars.  The average CFL lasts 6,000 to 15,000 hours (incandescent bulbs last about 1000 hours). 

When was the last time you wormed your pet?  Gastrointestinal worms are a common problem with any pet.  These parasites will weaken your pet by consuming much of the nourishment that your pet consumes.  Pets should be de-wormed on a regular basis (even if they don't show signs of having worms).  From my experience, once a month is best.  By doing this you will keep your pet from becoming infested with worms.  Our spring rabies clinic is coming up on Saturday, April 25th, from 8:00am until 12:00 pm at the Ag barn on 226 South.  Make plans now to bring your pet by.

Got a leaky toilet?  Leaking toilets can waste hundreds of gallons of water a year, and they can be repaired by most do-it-yourselfers.  The first step to repairing your toilet is to find where the water is escaping from the tank.  A little food coloring in the tank will help you figure out where the water is going.  If the water is leaking into the floor, the colored water makes it very easy to locate the source.  Once you figure out where the water is going, it is usually simple to replace the faulty gasket, washer, flapper, or fill valve.  Stop by Spencer's and we will be glad to help you solve your leaky toilet problem.