OUTLOOK 19SS A preventive maintenance program for your home As homeowners we should take a page from industry book and inmate a preventive maintenance program for our home Industry learned long ago hat it is cheaper to maintain both equip ment and premises on a regular basis than to wait Tor a breakdown to repair It much like maintaining your car regularly to prevent large re pair bills later A good plan is to sit down with a calendar early in the year and note jobs that should be done regularly as well as the seasonal chores This will act as a reminder as you turn the pages of the calendar each month It is also wise to note the as the occur The calendar then serves as an excellent reference next year In a short column like this we can I necessary job but we will note a few and let you otherwise compile your own unique list The furnace has several areas that need attention First the motor should be lubricated once a year preferably the star of the season Do not pump of oil into the oiling cap A portwo is sufficient as too much oil could cause problems White there check me fan bell for fraying or brittle If it of either replace it Filters should tie changed regularly for best- performance Do not forget about the humidifier if you have one shou Id be cleaned and the or drum sleeve inspected if of the drain cleaners on the market regu larly at least twice a year There is always a buildup of grease hair or soap and regular attention con prevent a disastrous flood At the same time check the workings of your toilet tank for J and The c t of leakage can worki n the plumbing examine all the tap wash Not only does a worn washer waste money with water leakage but pro longed use of a lap with a worn washer nay ruin the seal necessitating sue or rcplaccrneni Gutters and downspouts should be checked be fore the winter sets in leaves and debris should be removed The latter can create an ice dam and cause water to back up and leak into he house Joints should also be and sealed if they are leaking The dpwnspout can be tested with a fast running hose to insure there are no blockages If your downspout empties near the house be sure the Dow is away from the foundation to prevent flooding from heavy fall or spring rains and Check the hoses on your auto washer regularly and make a rule to shut off the water supply a the washer after each use Many Hoods have been caused by split washer hoses All about sandpaper We commonly refer to the abrasive paper we use to smooth wood as sand paper This is actually a misnomer The abrasive paper we use today is divided into two types neither of them The natural abrasives found on these papers are flint garnet and emery The gnts are aluminum oxide and silicon carbide The abrasive mineral functions as It is bonded to a paper or cloth backing with modem glues that firmly keep the in place through even use Presentday coating is far mure even than it used lo be due lo the coating ess now available FLINT ABRASIVE I to fair cutting power with short durability used for sanding and roughing GARNET Red to reddish brown abrasive with culling power and good durability Still a favorite of many cabinet makers who prefer it over man made grit EMERY The familiar black sive usually bonded to a blue fabric backing Medium power and poor durability this product is usually used in metal finishing ALUMINUM OXIDE A man made reddish brown or white abrasive probably the most widely used today It has a good excellent durability with culling power ll is used pn manly for woodworking also he used for metal working SILICON CARBIDE A bluish black msnmadc abrasive with good excellent cutting power and long life It can be used for woodworking and metal finishing WET SANDPAPERS These socalled wel sandpapers are really the same a regular sandpaper except ihe backing and glue arc waterproofed allowing you use a lubncanl either while sanding This proc ess is often used to an extra high gloss finish lo boats cars and furniture using a lubncanl also considerably prolongs the life of paper POWER SANDERS Power ore available in several types The fastest working of all is the bell It can be used for fast stock removal surfaces however tare must be taken because of the fast culling action Die militating andor sander is excellent for finishing cabinet and woodworking projects and other fine trijeeti Disk landers arc mostly used lor fast removal of stock pa in I or shaping wood They arc ban handle and lulled for rough wood and metal work The palm or block is a very high speed finishing sander thai docs an excellent job in finishing furniture An orbital speed of about generates finish of all HINTS The finer grades of sand paper are often very fragile To make them last longer a backing of masking tape will strengthen the paper and make it last considerably longer About propane torches torch thai is generally hardware is a marvel used for a myriad of applications from soldering copper pipe la stripping paint Ithucomca long way from the old blowtorch that used gas had to be pumped and was to lay dangerous The basic torch evolved in several areas that expanded it applications and improved its safeness A big tor to safety it the new light torch This device is ignited by simply pushing a button conveniently located at your thumb stays lit while you hold Ihe button in and extinguishes when you release button This means you do not have a live torch burning while you reworking It bums only when needed saving fuel and preventing accidental fifes and bums The manufacturer claim the lighter good for thousand of ignitions Another retail vely new development Spitfire brand name and some other have introduced torch thai somewhat similar This type of torch has a head thai introduces more air to the combustion process thereby atuig much higher heal It can be used for and soldering and brings work to heal much quicker A word of caution If you art using Ihis torch to solder copper pipe be sure not lo hold the flame on the spot too long The heal is great enough to melt the copper Another disadvantage is the high heat thai it is loo hot lo use for stripping paint However these disadvantage are far outweighed by performance when to loosen frozen boll These devices arc not the expensive and you could have one each of the heads in your workshop enabling you lo use right head for ihe job A word on safety The propane used by most it the small hindheld tank on which you mount head This tank has a very narrow base and many fires hive been juried when a tank has been knocked over when IiL The problem can be eliminated by buying a pushbutton instantlight lorch or fastening a deep juice can an square and standing the torch inside the can However you still mist be very careful of burning touch of the flame on your urn can be extremely painful Another hmg to remember is to always remove he head when with the job A alve can leak propane being heavier will lie in a lo h gaortjvtown Ontario L7Q i i ipu In of ioW REMAX SUBURBAN REALTY INC REALTOR CONTACT MM AN Looking for a New Roof over your Head Then look to the HERALD REAL ESTATE SECTION Wednesdays Saturdays Youll find the most comprehensive listings of properties in Halton Hills Were sure youll find the roof and whole house youve been looking for 8772201