Be prepared for emergencies.
With winter just around the corner, now is the time to get your car ready for the possible dangers of running a car in the cold of winter. If your car shuts off and you find yourself stuck in the snow for a certain period of time, you'll need to make sure your basic needs are taken care of. You can do this by building a winter car kit. Here's how.
Have a way to contact the outside world. Always carry your cell phone with you into a car when you go driving, as you're never sure what might happen, and have some phone numbers of local authorities and AAA help programmed into your contacts list. You'll also want some way of contacting the outside world for help, which can include emergency lights - be sure you have emergency lights packed and that you'll be able to power them (this might include having the right batteries handy). Always have a flashlight with batteries handy, as well.
Keep a cooler full of food freshly stocked. Every month or so during the winter, include a "winter car kit" section on your groceries list - foods like nuts, granola, and dried fruit are calorically dense and don't take up a lot of space. After a month, buy the replacements for this food, and move the old food into your house so that you can eat them like any other food.
Keep plenty of water stocked. Water is also key - you can live a lot longer without food than you can with water, so be sure you have clean water ready to drink, and plenty of it stored somewhere in your car. You can keep it in a large cooler.
Have warm blankets and insulating materials handy. Sleeping bags are made for insulation, so include at least one in your car at all times during the winter. It won't hurt to have a couple of extra blankets - blankets that are designed to trap in serious heat, not blankets that are comfortable only around the home.
That should get you started for a winter car emergency. Remember that this article is about fixing an emergency before it happens - this is also know as prevention. In order to prevent your car from breaking down, keep it full of fuel, fresh oil when needed, and well-maintained. This will help your car function well in the winter.
Photo Credits: Joaaso
Originally posted 2009-11-17 03:17:02.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 28, 2010 in
Car, How to Fix, Mechanic
Deadbolt with Key.
Having a quality deadbolt lock on your door can be vital to your home security, so it's best not to put off on any repairs or replacements that are needed. Don't let a thief take advantage of your broken deadbolt before you get a chance to take a crack at repairing it. If you need to replace your deadbolt lock, this article will make a handy guide for getting started.
First, it helps to understand that there are generally two types of deadbolts - internal and external. An interior deadbolt will generally be more secure, but can be a little more difficult to remove or install, while an exterior deadbolt will be the opposite - not quite as secure, but easier to remove. If you're a solid do-it-yourselfer, you should have no problem installing a quality interior deadbolt.
When it's time to replace your deadbolt, you'll want to make sure you prepare adequately. This means you'll want to test the quality of your door's wood - if it's so old that nothing will come out, it's generally a good idea to simply buy a new door. You'll also want to look and see how your current deadbolt is installed for any clues you can get about installing a new one. Also, make sure you do proper research and preparation in terms of your new deadbolt - it should be able to fit properly once you place it in the door.
To begin, simply remove the screws from the old deadbolt and remove it as best you see fit - generally, you'll want to remove the smaller pieces before the bigger ones, though this rule isn't always set in stone. Remember to make a mental note of what you're doing in case you need to work the opposite way when you install the new deadbolt.
When you put in the new deadbolt, do your best to follow any instructions you have. Your new deadbolt should be able to fit if you've done your homework. Make sure you install the right side up - a good way to check this is to make sure any writing isn't upside down - and make sure that the new deadbolt is properly installed and secure in the door. Give it some tests, having someone help you by locking it from the inside and having you try to open it from the outside. After a few tests, you should be good to go. Congratulations! You've installed a new deadbolt.
Photo Credits: The Suss-Man (Mike)
Originally posted 2010-01-14 03:47:53.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 21, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Locks, doors
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