# It's Time For My Occasional Reminder About Screws **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231 "2014-02-13T08:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/1 "2014-02-13T08:41:58Z")
I do this every so often because it caught me by surprise once – If you have a deadbolt-type lock on your front (or other) door, remember to check once in awhile to see if the screws holding it in are tight. They can sometimes work themselves so loose that they will keep you from opening the door. They wouldn’t necessarily be sticking out hella far. It only takes a short amount of screw protruding to block the lock from turning. While you’re at it, check the screws on your bannisters, on the door hinges, stuff like that. I do this every year or so, and I’m always surprised how much they can come loose. That is all ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/2 "2014-02-13T15:05:34Z")
Are you implying that lots of us here have a few screws loose? ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/3 "2014-02-13T15:08:49Z")
Loctite is your friend. Squirt a little in each loose screw hole, tighten it up and you’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/4 "2014-02-13T16:33:02Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > Loctite is your friend. Squirt a little in each loose screw hole, tighten it up and you’re good to go. There once was a couple named Kelly Who walked around belly-to-belly Because in their haste They used library paste Instead of petroleum jelly. Just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/5 "2014-02-13T16:43:56Z")
if you use thread locking goop then be sure to use one that is appropriate. a Phillips head or an aluminum screw may strip out easily if too tight. also work all water and gas values in you house once a year. test your smoke alarms a few times each year. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/6 "2014-02-14T00:09:53Z")
Vacuum out the dust build up on your refrigerator coils twice a year … saves energy, last longer. GREAT call on the smoke alarms, vacuum those weekly. Keep your hammer sharp …“huh?” … the claw end makes a handy hatchet. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/7 "2014-02-14T03:11:58Z")
Twice a year, drop a light object on your toes to make sure gravity is still working. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/8 "2014-02-14T03:24:37Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Twice a year, drop a light object on your toes to make sure gravity is still working. My cats do this for me. Good advice about checking screws. I ride a sportster. The only thing that vibrates more than a sportster is a helicopter. Parts vibrate loose and fall off. The only way to stop that is to do regular maintenance and know where the red tube of locktite is. I rarely remember to check the house screws, but when I do, I am always surprised at how loose doors get. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/9 "2014-02-14T04:42:23Z")
You are a very prudent people. I’m proud of myself if I remember to set the time on the microwave every daylights savings. That’s not very often. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/10 "2014-02-14T05:16:34Z")
Twice a year (give or take…) I wake up and get out of bed to see if I am still functional. Whether I am or not, I then go back to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/11 "2014-02-14T05:17:48Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Good advice about checking screws. I ride a sportster. The only thing that vibrates more than a sportster is a helicopter. Parts vibrate loose and fall off. The only way to stop that is to do regular maintenance and know where the red tube of locktite is. :eek: I hope y’all really check the screws on your helicopters! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/12 "2014-02-14T07:14:26Z")
And ladies, it’s that time of year again when you should email topless photos of yourself to Zebra. [crosses fingers] ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/13 "2014-02-19T03:07:56Z")
I have to periodically tighten the screws on the interior rear hatch panel on my '97 Jeep. I’ve had a few of these screws fall out over the years; fortunately, I keep a big toolbox in the vehicle too. I once had to reattach a panel while in a Whole Foods parking lot…I got lots of disapproving looks from customers for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/14 "2014-02-20T19:13:06Z")
A friend of mine bought a Sportster, and unfortunately the first thing that jettisoned itself was the tool kit. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/15 "2014-02-20T22:12:47Z")
Other things to think about: Remove the aerators from your faucets and clean them out. You’d be surprised how much gunk might be in there, and it restricts your water flow. Run your car AC every month or so, even in winter. If you have a generator, either as an emergency backup or in an RV, run it once a month for about 15 minutes, preferably under load. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/16 "2014-02-20T22:35:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Run your car AC every month or so, even in winter. On most passenger cars and trucks, running the defroster engages the AC. It helps remove the humidity in the passenger cabin, defrosting the windshield faster, and keeps the compresser lubed. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/17 "2014-02-21T03:06:54Z")
I did the rounds in the house a few days ago and tightened screws on my front door, garage door, and sliding glass doors. Thanks for the reminder. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Other things to think about: > > Run your car AC every month or so, even in winter. Not a problem here in S. Florida. 🙂 > [@](#): > > If you have a generator, either as an emergency backup or in an RV, run it once a month for about 15 minutes, preferably under load. This I still need to do. I’ve been a bit delinquent. Hope it still works. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/18 "2014-02-21T03:46:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Run your car AC every month or so, even in winter. > > > [@](#): > > > > Not a problem here in S. Florida. 🙂 Or here in winter when a recording says “Are you fucking crazy?” Well, actually, it doesn’t say anything. A light flashes and nothing happens. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/19 "2014-02-21T05:49:02Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > I did the rounds in the house a few days ago and tightened screws on my front door, garage door, and sliding glass doors. Thanks for the reminder. > Not a problem here in S. Florida. 🙂 > This I still need to do. I’ve been a bit delinquent. Hope it still works. People who know what they’re looking at will usually not buy a used generator with little or no hours on it. Generators need to work to keep them lubed and in prime operating condition. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/20 "2014-02-21T12:22:19Z")
When the furnace guy was here a while back doing our regularly scheduled maintenance, he mentioned that we should get a new CO detector. He said the sensors are only good for about five years. I don’t know if that’s true or if he was just trying to sell us something, but I know that ours is 10+ years old so it probably wouldn’t hurt to replace it. I wonder if it’s the same deal for smoke detectors? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231.md?page=2)