Broadcaster Press 11 September 27, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com fall & car care What to Look for During Roof Inspections 4 Reasons for a Check Engine Light Cold weather can be tough on a home, and perhaps no part of a home is more vulnerable to harsh winter weather than its roof. Fallen snow can equate to several pounds of pressure placed on a residential roof. Roofs do not often collapse under heavy snowfall. But adverse winter weather conditions can compromise roofs in other ways. Water leakage and damage to the roof’s interior are just two of the potentially problematic issues that can arise when roofs are battered by cold, blustery weather. That’s why many home improvement specialists advise homeowners to conduct roof inspections prior to the start of winter. Many homeowners can conduct their own cursory roof inspections, but they may not know exactly what to look for. The National Roofing Contractors Association says that there are certain key areas to inspect that may reveal some telltale signs of roof damage. • Curled, cracked or missing shingles may prove troublesome. Inclement weather can test the strength of even the most durable roofs. Even though many roofs are designed to last up to 30 years, some may need to be replaced early, particularly when they have been exposed to harsh weather over a period of years. Individual shingles can be replaced as spot treatments, but if the damage is widespread, a new roof may be necessary. • Attic leaks or water elsewhere might signal issues with the roof. Figure out if water inside the home is coming from the roof. Water stains do not always indicate problems with the roofing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. • Look for protective granules wearing off. If gutters are filled with the sandy granular material that coats roofing shingles, that may be a sign of an aging or damaged roof. • Inspect flashing. Professional roofers can recognize properly installed flashing, the material that connects the roof to other parts of the house that adjoin the roof, like skylights or a chimneys. Poorly installed flashing can cause leaks. Stains that appear below chimneys or near attic windows may indicate new flashing, and not new shingles, is needed. • Gutters and downspouts should be in good condition. A roof is the sum of its parts, and that includes downspouts and gutters. If the gutters are clogged or damaged, they cannot direct water away from the house properly. Snow, leaves and other debris needs to be cleared from gutters to help them function at optimal capacity. • Animals and insects can cause damage, too. It’s not just poor weather that homeowners need to consider with regard to roof damage. Boring insects and animals may cause problems with roofs as well. A roof inspection may shed light on potential pest problems. Holes or nesting materials may indicate that an animal or animals are using the attic as a shelter from the elements. Get to the root of issues with your home’s roof before they become bigger problems once winter arrives. A thorough inspection can reveal problems that may prove costly if ignored. Vehicles rely on many components working harmoniously to function at optimal capacity. Any number of systems can go wrong, and oftentimes the first indication that something has gone awry is an illuminated dashboard signal. One such signal is the “check engine” light. Many drivers have little idea what to do when this indicator lights up, and this light can cause some anxiety. According to Consumer Reports, a check engine light turning on does not usually require immediate action. However, it does mean that you should make an appointment to have the vehicle inspected for potential problems. Check engine lights are part of a car’s onboard diagnostics. The light turning on may indicate something minor, such as a loose fuel cap, or something more serious like a misfiring engine. When the light turns on, drivers wondering why may want to see if the answer is related to one of the following issues. 1. Loose gas cap: Fuel vapors can leak out and air can get in when the fuel cap isn’t secured correctly. This can compromise the fuel system and make the check engine light come on. Take off the cap and then reseal it to see if that alleviates the problem. Cracked caps will need to be replaced. 2. Dirty oxygen sensor: A faulty or clogged sensor may not provide the right information about unburned oxygen from the vehicle’s exhaust. This sensor monitors how much fuel is burned. Compromised data can cause a decrease in fuel efficiency. Some do-it-yourselfers can replace an oxygen sensor on their own, but those who can’t should have the issue addressed immediVarious factors guide a person’s decision when buyately by a professional. ing a vehicle. What one person finds attractive may 3. Too much speed or load: not appeal to another buyer. One buying trend that has Towing a trailer or another emerged among American car buyers is their preference heavy item may put strain for a certain body type. According to analysis of new on the vehicle and cause the vehicle retail registrations by IHS Automotive in 2014, light to come on because of SUVs and crossovers accounted for 36.5 percent of the loss of power. Lightening the new vehicle market, versus 35.4 percent for sedans. Conload and reducing speed can sumers are increasingly drawn to attributes like higher help fix the problem. Always ground clearance, more interior space, stronger towing consult with the owner’s mancapacity, and higher seat positions. Sedans still draw ual to determine the towing attention, but they’re losing ground to larger vehicles, capacity of your vehicle. resulting in a major shift in the automotive market. The 4. Short or faulty code: study also found that pickup trucks and hatchbacks Computers aren’t always foolhave lost more share in the past few years than any othproof, and sometimes an elecer vehicle categories. trical short or another similar problem can cause a light to come on. Bring the vehicle to Inspect a roof each fall to get an idea of the potential damage and any an automotive supply store. necessary repairs that may be needed before nasty weather sets in. Such stores typically have diagnostics tools that can be hooked into the car’s comMachine Shop Services puter and provide a more detailed understanding of what • Lathe • Presses is triggering the check engine indicator. • Break • Welding In many cases, a steady check engine light is not a • Portable Welding serious concern. However, • Tree Removal/Cutting when such a light comes on, Millions of leaves fall from so they can be collected and fate each year. In fact, there drivers should try to find out tree boughs each fall. Home- ultimately added to compost are many creative ways to use why as soon as possible. owners and landscaping pro- piles or removed by local gov- leaves gathered from lawns fessionals will spend count- ernments. and gardens. less hours removing leaves But leaves do not necessari- • Scarecrow: Gather a decent from lawns and driveways ly have to meet with the same pile of leaves and the makings of a scarecrow, which include hay, old clothing, string, and canvas. Use the leaves to help stuff the body of the scarecrow and make him a bit more plump. • Vases: Fill an empty flower vase with different leaves that you have gathered. This makes for an engaging centerpiece when entertaining. • Pressings: Press leaves between two pieces of paper to make a leaf silhouette. Some of the pigment will transfer to the paper, and these natural pieces of artwork can be displayed or shared. • Laminate: Laminate leaves so they can be used as place cards when hosting guests for holiday feasts. Put these ideas to the test to make fallen leaves part of your unique home decor. Did You Know? O’Connor P PR RO OO OF F 605-624-3200 Creative Uses for Fallen Leaves Whirlpool® 3.5 CU FT Top Load Washer with Deep Water Wash Option Whirlpool® 7.0 CU FT Electric Dryer with Heavy Duty Cycle Your choice $449 MSRP $599 Vermillion Ace Hardware Name Ace Hardware 812 Cottage 123 Name St. City, State ZIPSD Vermillion, 123 Name St. (000) 000-0000 City, State 605-624-3195 ZIP www.acehardware.com (000) 000-0000 www.acehardware.com www.acehardware.com Store Hours: Name Ace Hardware Mon-Fri 0-0, Sat 0-0, Sun 0-0 Store Hours: Mon-Sun 7am - 8pm Store Hours: Mon-Fri 0-0, Sat 0-0, Sun 0-0 5 W Main St • Vermillion • (605)624-7491