“Ask Shell” with Shell Busey
Q: We like to leave our bedroom windows open at night rain or shine.
However when it has been raining we hear an annoying drip, drip, drip
sound coming from the gutter down spouts. Is there a magic solution?
A: Yes, that can be a very annoying sound which only seems to get louder and louder as the night goes on. This dripping sound will occur where gutters are installed at locations where there is very little or no overhang to require elbows to run the water back to the side of the house and down. Without any elbows water is allowed to run directly from the gutter into the vertical down pipe sometimes dropping 8 feet before being directed to the drain spout or perimeter drainage system. When the water changes direction at this lower elbow it makes a loud dripping sound.
To correct this take a length of brass or galvanized 1 inch link chain and dangle it down in the down pipe to the elbow. Secure the chain by placing a 6 inch galvanized common nail through a link of the chain and bridging the downspout opening keeping the chain at the side of the gutter.
This will force the water to run down the chain breaking the fall of water and silencing the dripping sound. If water is entering the downspout from both sides at the top you will need to loop the chain before putting the galvanized nail through allowing the chain to touch both sides of the downpipe. This will force the water to run down the chain from both sides.
Fix Those Squeaky Floors
Q: I live in a very nice 30 year old townhouse. My problem is squeaky floors. I plan to have new carpets installed in the near future. Is there anything I can do before laying the new carpet to prevent the squeaking.
A: Yes there certainly is and now that you are installing new carpet it is the perfect time to get rid of the squeaks. Using 2 inch wood screws tighten the plywood underlay to the floor joists before installing the new underlay and carpet. Note: do not use drywall screws. You must use wood screws placing them 12 inches apart.