Q Is there a law that says when a landlord has to turn on the heat in Minnesota?

A Check your city for specifics. In Minneapolis, for example, landlords must make sure tenants can heat to at least 68 degrees between Oct. 1 and April 30, and 65 degrees between May 1 and 15, and Sept. 15 and 30.

Remember, do not use a gas cookstove to supplement heat. The common practice of starting the oven and keeping the door ajar is dangerous and should not be done. Invisible, odorless, toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen are produced, which can cause sickness and even kill. This caution is especially important in households with children or elderly or infirm people (such as asthma patients) because they often can be adversely affected by low levels of these poisons before healthy adults show symptoms.

Also, if you use a space heater, be sure that it's electric and that it operates safely away from flammable objects such as curtains, papers, bedding etc. Monitor its use. Keep children away and unplug the heater whenever you leave.

Includes information from Minneapolis Housing Service Office

More on skunks In response to a recent column on how to remove a skunk, readers supplied the following:

• Put a light where they are and they'll move out on their own.

• Skunks are a major reservoir of rabies in Minnesota and the overwhelming source of swine rabies in rural areas. Skunks should be dealt with by skilled professionals.

• Try applying fox urine and such to make them leave. You can verify that they're gone by shoveling dirt in front of the hole and waiting a few days to see if they dig it back out. Install 1-inch hardware cloth, 18 inches into the ground to keep them out.

• Set up the garden hose and sprinkler. They will shake their heads back and forth and then amble off. Just follow them and usher them right out of the area.

• I had a family of skunks under my porch. I was told that lutefisk would get rid of them. It worked, but now I have a family of Norwegians living under my porch. (Ha!)

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, call 612-673-7032 or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies. Fixit appears everyday except Friday.