Ask the handyman: Checking snow-covered roof vent

Published: February 28, 2015

By Peter Hotton The Boston Globe

Q. I believe youve stated that the best ventilation for an attic is a ridge vent and long, continuous soffit vents. My question is what happens when the ridge vent is under 3-4 feet of snow. Should I keep the gable vents?

A. When a vent is blocked, by snow or anything else, it stops working. Im surprised you did not report ice dams and leaks into the attic or house. The soffit vents may be enough to prevent ice dams, but its a good idea to free the ridge vent of its snow burden. But not you. Lay off the roof; it is too dangerous. Hire a roofer or professional who does this sort of thing as his vocation.

Q. Several months ago I recaulked my bathroom tile shower, the corners where the tile wall meets the tile floor. I carefully removed the old caulk, let the shower dry a couple of days, and slowly applied the new caulk. For most of the shower, it looks great. But in one corner, it curled and came away from the surface. I again removed the caulk in this area, dried the shower thoroughly and replaced the caulk. Again it has curled and come away from the wall. Whats the problem and how I can fix it?

A. Problem? First, there seems to be no depth to the joint (maybe because the tiles are too close together), so any caulk is being applied to a flat surface. Second, the wrong caulk was used. Use instead grout, a white cement-like material that will get into any cracks that are available. Use sandless grout. If you really want to use caulk, do it this way: Put your caulk cartridge in a caulking gun, with a good spout, then push the caulk into the joint, then smooth it out with a wet finger, making a small concave cove.

Q. My kitchen ceiling is peeling just above the stove, probably from steam from pots. How can I repair it? It looks like parallel wavelets.

A. I dont think its calcimine, which must be removed entirely or painted with a paint called CalCoat. I think the steam from cooking did it. To fix, sand all the loose, wavelet type peelings, right to the bare plaster, then apply two thin coats of a latex ceiling paint. To prevent a recurrence, I suggest you install a stove hood vent, exhausting outdoors to clear out all that steam.

Q. I had a new gas-fired water heater installed about a month ago and every time I turn the hot water on everywhere in my house I have air in the pipes. Do you know how I can fix this?

A. I am guessing that you are getting hot water eventually; no one should go without hot water for a month. Id say you should call the installer to make sure you get hot water with each turn-on, with no air.

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Ask the handyman: Checking snow-covered roof vent