The Leonard Lopate Show

Can you please ask our experts to explain how the steam-radiator heating system works? I am referring to the one with a single pipe for the steam and return, and around in buildings/homes 50+ years old. Why and under what circumstances do the pipes make loud knocking sounds (like someone is striking them with a hammer!), what do the vents do – what do the numbers/letters mean, can you adjust temperature with the valves -- if not why are they built into the system? And with winter around the corner, what can we do to tune up these systems? Do we need to – and how often – flush the system and get the rust out?

Thanks.

Last year I installed dimmers in my living room and bedroom (the kind that replaces the wall switch with a dial). When I set the dimmers to any level below full power, I hear a humming/buzzing, which gets louder the lower I set the dimmers. What causes this noise? I think the sound is coming from the light bulb, and not the dimmer, but I'm not certain.

If there's a way to eliminate or reduce the noise, that would be nice, but I'm mostly trying to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks.

What is the best way to take care of termites

I am having trouble finding someone to take off the vinyl siding of my frame house and replace it with clapboard and replace old windows with new ones. Any recommendations for contractors and how to deal with contractors who will not provide a written estimate? Any idea how much something like this should cost?