Keeping Your Garage Safe and Secure
Rather than use a clicker that I kept on the car’s visor, I’ve decided to try a keychain clicker. The cost is around $33 each and was easy to install.
I read about cars being broken into almost every week in our community. If you have a garage door opener on the visor, then the bad guys have easy entry into your house if they get into your car.
Note – while I have a Chamberlain opener, I’m sure most companies have their own brand of keychain opener.
Here is another type of physical lock that I use during vacations.
You attach it with four metal screws and it prevents the door from being opened.
Free Classes Every Day
What I’ve recently discovered is the plethora of free virtual classes available at our local library. While this is specifically the St. Louis County Library system, it is open to anyone and I’m guessing that this type of resource is available at other libraries. You don’t need a library card or be part of the SLCL system.
IRS – Pin and Sign-Up
Brian Krebs is reporting that starting in January of 2021, all citizens can get a pin number for use when filing their federal taxes. He also suggests that people now setup an account with the IRS. It took me ten minutes to setup an account, but then they send you a letter which you use to activate the account.
The only question I have is, “Does my wife need her own pin or can my pin work for both of us since we file jointly?
The answer I got from an accountant friend was, “In the past, the IRS issued an IPPIN to the person who had been compromised. If both spouses were compromised, each received an IPPIN.”
Replace Your Watch Battery
When my wife’s watch needed a new battery, I checked with a local watch repair and they wanted $27.00 to put in a new battery. Since a new watch only costs $25.00, I thought I’d try to replace the battery myself.
The watch make is a Skagen, which is a bit more upscale then our usual Timex.
I bought a $12.00 kit on Amazon which had a number of pieces. I wasn’t sure which piece would actually work. The knife-like tool worked to pop off the back. The notch for the knife was barely visible.
You can also notice above the black line which I put on the watch. This is to mark the spot where the watch should line up with the turning mechanism. You might also notice the dirt and dust around the edge. I’ll clean this off with a vacuum and alcohol swab.
A 20 pack of batteries was available on Amazon for $5.99.
I tried to just press the back on, but didn’t have any luck. I ended up buying an inexpensive press which worked after a couple of tries.
Here’s a video showing the process.
Frost at 38 degrees
This frost caught my attention on October 4th since it was not supposed to be that cold that night.
According to weather records, the temperature only got down to 38 degrees.
The process that causes ice to freeze when the temperature is above freezing is called radiative cooling. Below is a video which talks about the process.
Can you make ice at 40 degrees? Give it a try.
Replacement Windows
Since I need to replace a few windows in my house, I thought I’d share my research. It’s interesting that I talked to eight different companies and only made my choice after talking to the eighth company.
First – it’s complicated. and there are a lot of factors to consider.
Material
You have to figure out what material you want your windows made out of. You can choose:
- Wood
- Wood covered with vinyl or aluminum
- Fibrex – wood and vinyl
- Vinyl
- Fiberglass.
Wood – the windows I’m replacing have rotted at the bottom, so I’m not a fan of all wood windows. They take a lot of maintenance – painting at the minimum.
Wood covered with vinyl or aluminum – this seems to be the ideal since you eliminated the maintenance factor. Pella had a lawsuit against them for water getting behind the aluminum and rotting the wood. Again – wood will rot if it gets water damaged.
Fibrex – this is an Andersen Windows product. They combine wood fibers and pvc. This results in a stronger product and theoretically shouldn’t rot.
Fiberglass – a more rigid window which won’t rot, but may need painting.
Vinyl – there seem to be lots of brands and quality types with vinyl. Consumer Reports rates vinyl windows on wind and rain resistance and gives out score from 91 to 54.
Installation
This is a biggie since poor installation can cause problems with even the most expensive window. I even have doubts about one installation I heard about from a big box store where they had complaints that the window stuck out past the vinyl. It’s the Pella 350 which is about an inch larger than their 250 model. The Pella dealer said that they installed theirs so that the window never went past the vinyl siding on the outside of the house.
Price
As you can see by the table below, prices go from $850 to $4730 for two windows. For my whole house, the price would from $9775 to $54,395.
| Elite Exteriors – vinyl – Corvus 1000 | $850 |
| Home Depot – Andersen 400 wood covered vinyl Home Depot – Andersen 100 composite | $3983 $2760 |
| Home Depot – Simonton 6100 vinyl | $1772 |
| Lowes 250 – vinyl Lowes 350 – (CR-93) | $1449 $1945 |
| Marvin – Elevate – fiberglass | $3170 |
| Mills – Pella 350 vinyl (CR-93) Mills – Great Lakes Comfort Smart vinyl | $2264 $1482 |
| Pella 250 vinyl Pella 350 vinyl (CR-93) | $1745 $2132 |
| Window World 4000 (CR-67?) | $1148 |
| Renewal by Andersen | $4730 |
| Wilke Window – this is to fix two windows and replace one. | $1140 |
Consumer Reports (CR) gives ratings on wind and rain resistance. They don’t give advice on how well the windows hold up over a number of years.
The two windows I am replacing have rotted on the bottom. They are 100% wood windows, but they have lasted 30 years. My other windows seem to be holding up ok. They do need regular maintenance.
Your income, what you can afford and how long you plan on living at your current residence are all factors when you consider price.
Models by Manufacturer
Each windows company has a number of models which they sell. Each different model has a different price point and different features. Some are single hung versus double hung. Some tilt-in and some don’t. Some have the grill between the glass and some don’t. Some have a full screen and some have a half screen. What you have to figure out is what are the features which are most important to you and what are you willing to pay extra for.
Marvin – fiberglass – one thing I didn’t like about the sales presentation was that he did not have any models or displays to show me the different series and what the difference was between them. He didn’t even have a brochure. You have to go online to download or request brochures or go to their show room.
Pella 350 – This model is an inch thicker than the 250 and has an extra weather strip. This is also the model highest rated by CR. While Lowes has a good price on the 350, especially for veterans, they don’t have their own installers, but contract it out.
Renewal By Andersen – RBA – these are the most expensive. While I do like the RBA windows and their service, I don’t like their high price.
Window World – Model 4000 – this is the model recommended by the sales person. It has a couple of unusual things I noted. 1. You can’t open the bottom window all the way since there is a piece of trim which sticks out and stops the window. This piece of trim also showed a hole which water might enter. 2. For some reason instead of the water just following the natural path and leaving down a sloped piece, it has a small lip at the bottom to hole the water in and only has a small “weep” hole on the side which is covered up by the screen. I can see the water getting backed up and/or the weep hole being blocked. On the other hand, I have a friend who has bought a number of these windows and likes them.
Other Considerations
Every person’s situation is different so there is not one right answer for everyone. You need to look at all the ratings, the price, the installation and all the features you want and make a decision that is right for you.
Other Factors
I like to use the Consumer Reports ratings as a basis for my decision. I currently have Andersen windows in my house and want to match the look and finish of these windows. The Pella 350 seem to come close to matching the look of the Andersens. The Pella 350 also has a nice inside finish than other vinyl windows and is larger. It also has the grills between the glass and has the tilt-in feature.
My Solution
While almost all companies were more than happy to replace my windows, a couple suggested that my water problem was related to factors other than my windows. That seems to be the case. A couple suggested just replacing my lower sash with Andersen replacement windows. I ended up choosing Wilke Window to replace the lower sash in my two windows and also replace another window in my kitchen for a price of $1140.00.
Mat Fraser – Crossfit Champion
I ran across Mat Fraser in a YouTube video and was impressed with his level of fitness for a relatively small man. At 5’7″ he’s my size, so right away I relate to him and hope I can learn a bit from him.
Here are some notes from the video below.
- He doesn’t follow any one type of diet.
- He doesn’t eat out much.
- He eats food from the outside of the grocery – meats, vegs, fruit,
Usually nothing from a package. - He eats white rice with almost every meal.
- “You can’t out train a bad diet.”
- He doesn’t take multi-vitamins
- He takes whey protein, Extend BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acids), and CBD,
- CBD in morning – Beam Clarity and at night Beam Dream
- C4 pre-workout – has caffeine and beta-alanine
- Lots of sleep. Turn off all electronics. Sleepy time tea.
- I have also seen him use Ice Water baths – questionable?
- Interesting he did not mention any anti-inflammatory drugs.
Bushes – Trees in the Yard
Since Crestwood is hopefully going to receive some free bushes-trees from Forest Releaf, here are some notes on each species from the Missouri Botanical Garden website.
Aromatic Sumacs – Rhus aromatica
Height: 2.00 to 6.00 feet
Spread: 6.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: Yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Fragrant, Good Fall
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Fruit: Showy
Smooth Sumac – Rhus glabra
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 9.00 to 15.00 feet
Spread: 9.00 to 15.00 feet
Bloom Time: June
Bloom Description: Yellowish-green
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Good Fall
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Fruit: Showy
Other: Winter Interest
Black Chokeberry – Aronia melanocarpa
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 3.00 to 6.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge, Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Good Fall
Attracts: Birds
Fruit: Showy, Edible
Tolerate: Wet Soil
Deciduous Holly – Ilex decidua
Zone: 5 to 9
Height: 7.00 to 15.00 feet
Spread: 5.00 to 12.00 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Description: Dull white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Insignificant
Attracts: Birds
Other: Winter Interest
Eastern Ninebark – Physocarpus opulifolius
Height: 5.00 to 8.00 feet
Spread: 4.00 to 6.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: White or pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Hedge
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Wet Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut
Eastern Wahoo – Euonymus atropurpureus
Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 12.00 to 20.00 feet
Spread: 15.00 to 25.00 feet
Bloom Time: June
Bloom Description: Dk. purple
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Leaf: Good Fall
Attracts: Birds
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Black Walnut
False Indigo – Baptisia australis
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Eastern United States
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Indigo blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Naturalize
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Butterflies
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Rabbit, Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Roughleaf Dogwood – Cornus drummondii
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 6.00 to 15.00 feet
Spread: 6.00 to 15.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Yellowish-white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Tolerate: Deer
Silky Dogwood – Cornus amomum
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Cornaceae
Native Range: Eastern North America
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 6.00 to 12.00 feet
Spread: 6.00 to 12.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Yellowish white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Hedge, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Birds
Fruit: Showy
Tolerate: Deer, Erosion, Wet Soil, Black Walnut
Hospital Go-Bag
If you are ever heading to either Urgent Care, the Emergency Room or the Hospital, one item that I suggest you always bring with you is the Hospital Go-Bag.
The items in the bag may differ a bit for each person, but you can change the list to fit your needs.
Here is our list.
Last Minute
- book or kindle
- extra clothes
- glasses case
- health record –
- snacks/cookies
- watch
- tums, tylenol, prilosec
- wallet
- medications for both people (bring pill cases)
- phones and chargers – our phone frequently doesn’t work in many hospital locations.
Always in the Bag
- AA batteries – TV remotes at the hospital frequently need new batteries
- paper and pens – take notes on everything that happens
- Toothpicks
- Underwear
- Urinal
Read ID in One Hour
The standard old Missouri drivers license will no be valid for airline travel as of October 1, 2020. Here is the process we just went through to apply for the new license.
- Cost – $5.00
- Time – it took us an hour of waiting.
- Documents we needed – drivers license, passport, social security 1099 and bank statement with your name and address.
- There are other document options so make sure you read the entire document below – https://dor.mo.gov/forms/5754.pdf
- You get back your old license and give you a temporary license until your new Real ID license comes in the mail.
- You cannot extend your drivers license, but will keep the expiration date on your old license.
- For more information click here.
- Tip – the office is open late a couple of days per week. I’ve been told that coming on those days at a late time and you can get right in.
Electricity Is Out!
Staying comfortable and safe when the electricity goes out.
Every year the electricity goes out in our house. In many cases it’s just for a couple of hours, but in some cases longer. Today the electricity went out at 2:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. it’s still off.
The trick to staying comfortable and safe is to have the right backup amenities to keep things civilized.
Some of these recommendations may be expensive, but you will appreciate them in the long run.
Uninterruptible Power Supply
I use these on our computers so that when the power goes off, the computer will beep. It will also give you 30 minutes of backup power to keep your computer working for a short time. The beeping on the UPS is what woke us up, so it also serves as a warning bell that the electricity is off.
Surge Protectors
When you have bad storms, surge protectors will keep your electronics like TVs, computers etc. protected from electric surges. This is not 100% safe but better than nothing at all. Another tip is that when your electricity is off, unplug your big ticket electronics. This way when the electricity does come on it won’t burn out any electronic devices.
Flashlight with lots of batteries.
I like the inexpensive flashlights that use one AA battery. I put them on a lanyard and have them all over the house for emergencies. I also have extra large packs of batteries in case the emergency is a long one. I like to keep a flashlight on my bed stand so it’s easy to find in the dark.
Also remember that your phone has a flashlight function so learn how to use it.
Gas is a Must.
I see many houses and condos with just electricity and no gas connection. In an emergency having gas is a must.
Gas Fireplace
As I write this my gas fireplace is on and is radiating heat into the living room. It’s keeping the room at a cozy 72 degrees although it is 38 degrees outside.
Gas Hot Water Heater
You still have hot water with gas.
Gas Stove
With a BBQ lighter, it’s easy to cook and have a hot breakfast, dinner or lunch.
Percolator Coffee Pot
I have an old one from my camping days, but I’m going to upgrade to a new stainless steel model.
Sump Pump Backup
I use a water powered backup for my sump pump. It’s comforting to hear it run every few minutes and know that my basement will stay dry. If you have a battery backup, make sure you have it on your calendar to check on a regular basis. I have had neighbors on both sides of me have a water logged basement because their battery backup failed and they didn’t know it.
Garage Door Battery Backup
Buying a garage door which has a battery backup is a nice feature to have when you need to an appointment while the electricity is out. While you can open the garage door manually, it won’t be locked when you leave.
USB Backup Power
Having a usb power brick or two is handy for your phone. Without electricity, your phone is your only link to the outside world.
Car Battery Power Backup
While this is not a necessity, it will fill in as a usb power backup and a flashlight. I could have used one of these when my battery died. I now have one in my trunk.
Gas BBQ
It’s nice to have a gas BBQ you can use to cook outside when the electricity is out.
Phone Hotspot – wifi from your phone.
This is a feature that you may have on your phone so take some time to learn how to use it. On T-Mobile, the free hotspot is VERY SLOW, but it’s fast enough for email and writing this article.
Phone – keep it charged.
Have your phone charging overnight so it will be ready if you wake up without power in the middle of the night.
Computer with USB-C
While this is not strictly necessary, it’s nice to have a Chromebook which allows charging via a USB battery backup. Couple this with a fast hot spot and you can keep the kids entertained with Netflix. I’m writing this article on my computer linked to my phone’s hotspot.
Generator
Another somewhat expensive option, but it may be worth it if it keeps your pipes from freezing. The limiting factor is being able to buy gasoline to keep the generator running.
If you have any other tips to be prepared when the electricity goes out please share them with me.
Saving on Taxes and Give to Charity
Here is a tip from my favorite CPA, Brent, on a way to save taxes and still donate to your charity.
If you are 70 1/2 and have to take a Required Minimum Distribution, RMD, one way to give to your favorite church/charity is via this RMD.
Have the firm/trustee liquidate a specified dollar amount from your IRA and have them mail/wire the amount directly to the charity.
You will pay no taxes on those withdrawals and still benefit from your standard deduction.
Any amount processed as a QCD, Qualified Charitable Deduction, counts toward your RMD and reduces the amount of your IRA distribution.
You can only make the tax free transfer from an IRA, not a 401(k) or a 403 (b).
Air Filter and Box Fan
Here’s an option for the people affected by the smoke in California. I use this on a regular basis. I use a very good air filter and tape it to a box fan. I used the Filtrete Healthy Living Elite Allergen Reduction Filter, MPR 2200. These cost about $15 on Amazon.
As you can see from the picture, this simple setup is doing an excellent job at filtering our the small particles in the air.
While you could use this in your furnace, I’ve found that it reduces the air flow quite a bit. I ended up putting one of these filter fans upstairs and one downstairs.
Dudes Playground – Veterans Day
There is a new lake/park in Waterloo Ill. which is being dedicated to veterans on Sunday November 11th.
It will start at 1:00 p.m.
5301 Kaskaskia Road Waterloo IL 62298
The featured speaker will be a rear admiral Lee Metcalf, retired. There will be a band, barbecue and free beverages for the afternoon.
The eagle will be there and available for photos. Bring your camera or cell phone for great pictures. A donation to World Bird Sanctuary would be appreciated.
Gas Explosions
Jeff Rossen Reports had some good information on the latest gas explosions and what the home owner should do if they smell gas. I will list them below, but noticed that he omitted what I would consider to be an obvious action to take.
Turn off the outside gas valve. This is something I learned in my CERT training and is fairly easy to do. There is a video below which shows how to do this. I’d recommend getting a LARGE wrench since the valve can be a bit hard to turn.
Here are the actions that are recommended by the show.
- Check the stove to make sure none of the knobs are on.
- Don’t use the light switch or any electric appliances. The spark could ignite the gas.
- Open the window/windows. They only vent one window and leave the door open.
- Don’t start your car. It might cause a spark.
- Get 350 feet away from the house.
- Call 911.
No Fees for Freezing Credit Reports
Brian Krebs did a great article on the change in fees for freezing and unfreezing your credit reports.
Starting Sept. 21st. the three large credit reporting agencies cannot charge for freezing your credit accounts.
Here is the entire article. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2018/09/in-a-few-days-credit-freezes-will-be-fee-free/
Brian Ettling – Climate Change
Friend, author, speaker and expert on Climate Change, Brian Ettling, is coming back to St. Louis for a couple of weeks this fall.
He will be teaching his continuing adult ed Climate Change 101 class for St. Louis Community College at Meramec Campus on Saturday morning, October 13th.
NATR:734 | $19 | Age 60+: $17
F01 | Sa 9 am-12 pm | Brian Ettling | Oct 13 | MC – SO, 107
For additional information, contact the Office of Continuing Education at 314-984-7777.
He is also willing to give a couple more talks while he is back in his home state of Missouri in mid-October. You can message Brian through his Facebook page if you’d like him to talk to your group.
https://www.facebook.com/brian.ettling
Garage Door Lock – $10.44
I have just come across a simple way to add some extra security to your garage door.
It’s a simple piece of metal which you add to your door and which slides out a metal bar to prevent the door from opening. I bought this one from Amazon, but probably any other brand would work.
The only problem I ran into was that I needed an assistant to hold the lock in place when I added the first sheet metal screw. The metal I was going into was also a bit thick so it took some pressure to get the screws to go in. You could pre-drill like the video shows.
Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance
I have a friend who was recently sued for $800,000.
Even though he ended up not having to pay, he suggested to me to check out Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance.
What I discovered was that while I do have some liability insurance with my auto and house, it’s not a lot.
With State Farm insurance, I found I could buy another million dollars of insurance for $10/month. That seems like a bargain to me.
Even though I hope I’ll never have to use it, this small expense is worth the potential benefits.
Here is an article from State Farm about this type of insurance.
This image was originally posted to Flickr by maveric2003 at http://www.flickr.com/photos/maveric2003/96149867/. It was reviewed on 10 February 2007 by FlickreviewR and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.
Saving Money on Prescriptions
I just saw an interesting story on NBC which shows how to save money on prescriptions.
- Your insurance may not give you the cheapest price on the drugs you need.
- Question the pharmacist and find out if the same prescription without insurance is cheaper. Apparently, the drug store can’t/won’t tell you if the non-insurance prescription is cheaper.
- Check out the website – https://www.goodrx.com/ It will show you the price of the same drug at different stores. It may also show coupons which could same you even more money.
Tom Terrific 