Mar 7, 2015 4 min read

Q. Again, I send you the e-mail below requesting your help. I find it hard to believe you haven’t answered my request or at the very least, confirmed receipt of my e-mail. You’re slowly losing one of your best fans.

This is the original e-mail: (it was shortened and edited by The Handyman):

I’m a faithful reader of your column and although not a homeowner, find your solutions apply to renters, also. I have a problem with my hot water faucet in the bathroom. I have lived here alone for almost 30 years and have known the owners for more than 40.

About four years ago, I noticed the faucet drip and mentioned it to the owners, who did something that left it dripping only occasionally. Two years later, it became a real problem when family visited and complained that they couldn’t shut off the hot water. I told the owners again, and this time they said: “Can’t fix the faucet; we would have to replace it. But if we replaced the faucet, we’d have to replace the sink, too. But we can’t replace the sink unless we replace the cabinet.” Obviously this is a really OLD bathroom, but nothing was ever done! Now the dripping has become streaming. I’ve gotten really good at manipulating this through the years, but even I can’t stop it. Nor can I shut off the valve under the sink.

How much water – our Earth’s precious commodity – would you estimate has been wasted? How much have the owners paid in excess on the water bill? How much have I wasted paying for oil to heat water that has gone down the drain?

A. I did not answer your original questions because they seemed obvious to me, and the cost in wasted water and money is obviously a lot. And for the non-answers, I apologize. The faucet needs a new washer. The landlords’ answer is ridiculous. If you can’t get them to do the work, hire a plumber.

The loss of water and the cost are mind-bogglingly high, and I am surprised the city has not investigated. You could call the water department and let them know the situation.

Q. I have a three-season porch that I want to heat for the winter. Could you suggest a cost-effective method of doing so? The porch is not insulated and has jalousie windows. I would like to keep the temperature above 50 degrees for my tropical hibiscus and other plants. What options should I consider?

A. First, cover the windows and outside door with well-sealed clear plastic. Insulate where you can, both the walls and ceiling. I’d invest in a small electric heater to keep the temperature 50 degrees or so. To be safe, make sure the heater is turned off when no one is home or when you are sleeping. If you can’t use a heater, open the door to the house and let air from there heat the porch. This is likely to be very expensive, however.

Q. My husband and I live in a 100-year-old Victorian. About five years ago, we had someone hang wallpaper in the large foyer, along the hall, and in the second-floor hallway. About one year later (perhaps a bit longer), the wallpaper started coming apart at the seams. At first it was just a bit, but now it is almost every seam. It looks awful! My husband spoke to the wallpaper hanger, and he unsuccessfully tried to re-paste the seams. My husband says we have to take the paper down and paint. I love the paper (it’s a pretty light yellow and blue). I am hoping you have a solution for us so the paper does not need to come down.

A. Too bad, but fixable. The hanger forgot to put glue sizing on the walls before pasting the paper. It’s always needed, even with so-called self-sizing paste. The paper is probably stripable, so pull it off the wall carefully for reuse. Wash all the paste off the walls, then apply glue sizing on them before putting up the old (or new) paper with vinyl paste.