HOME TIIPS

Sniffles and sneezes may be some of the symptoms associated with the common cold -- but "mite" is the operative word here.

That's M-I-T-E, as in dust mites. Dust mites are microscopic organisms that feed on dead skin, animal hair and the like. There is a great likelihood that they are living on your carpet, bedding or even on you.

While dust mites can't really hurt you, they can make your life particularly miserable if you have allergies or respiratory ailments. Your little ones are especially susceptible, due in part to their underdeveloped immune systems.

You can't get rid of dust mites, but there are ways to reduce their numbers. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA(high-efficiency particulate air) filter or a water filter is your best defense.

Also, wash bedding frequently in hot water, use hypoallergenic pillow cases and clean the air with a HEPA air cleaner to help you breathe more easily.

Q. I have one toilet in my house that is flushing very weakly. The other toilets are working fine, so I don't think this is a problem is with the drainpipe. What could it be?

A. Toilets flush properly when the water from the tank flows freely into the bowl and when that water can easily exit the bowl into the sewer. If the flow at either of these locations is reduced, the condition you are experiencing will result.

Unfortunately, it isn't really easy to find a clog in the bowl.

Sometimes a submerged mirror will reveal a child's toy or some other obstruction, but most often it is necessary to use a toilet snake (a short version of the big plumber's kind). A minor clog in the toilet trap can easily be removed with a snake.

The other possible cause for the weak flushing action involves the water holes under the rim of the toilet bowl. Over time, these holes can become clogged with calcium, again restricting flow, in this case from the tank to the bowl.

Removing the lime deposits that build up around each of these ports can reduce the flow enough to ruin the flush. Chances are you have either one problem or the other -- not both.