This Old House On The Money Pit

SHOW NOTES: How can you extend your outdoor space, upgrade yard hydration, and improve indoor air quality? Learn about building a backyard deck, installing a rainwater collection system, and making the most of your vent fans in today’s home improvement episode, plus more tips to create your best home ever!  - Backyard Deck: Get your outdoor living space all decked out by building a backyard deck. - Rainwater Collection: Make every drop count with a rainwater collection system to hydrate your yard and garden. - Vent Fans: Find out why vent fans are your most overlooked appliances that control moisture and improve air quality.    Q & A: - Floor Drain: Patricia’s garage floor drain is clogged but she can’t remove the grate. We suggest running a drain snake through the side yard access and using a vacuum to clear the grate. - Water Heater: Will an electric heat pump water heater affect the indoor climate? Karl is making the most efficient choice and shouldn’t worry about any negative impact. - Cleaning Grout: Nic

SHOW NOTES: Today’s show is about cleaning quirks, lush lawns, and illuminating insights. Listen as we discuss the one room we all dread cleaning, dig deep into the secrets of soil, and shed light on exterior lighting. Tune in for expert advice and ideas for all your home improvement questions! - Bathroom Cleaning: It may be spring cleaning season, but this is the one room people most hate to clean. - Lawn Care: Grow a lush lawn by using superior soil. - Exterior Lighting: Add safety, security, and style with a great exterior lightscaping design.   Q & A: - Deck Stain: Should Dawn use a sealant over her solid deck stain? There’s no need to seal the wood surface if she uses a good-quality deck stain. - Replacement Windows: Steve has gotten a wide range of price quotes for replacement windows. We offer tips on choosing the best windows and getting reliable estimates on Angi.com. - Sliding Doors: Moisture and ice are forming in the bottom rail of sliding doors. Sherry gets advice on how to check and adjust the d

SHOW NOTES: In this episode, get helpful tips about early spring gardening, efficient garbage disposals, and safe garage storage solutions. From plants to trash to avoiding toxins and clutter, we’ve got answers to these and other questions from homeowners like you! - Spring Gardening: Get ready to spring forward with tips for making your garden grow early in the season. - Garbage Disposals: Cut down on food waste with these garbage disposal options. - Safe Garage Storage: Keep toys and tools away from toxins with safe garage storage.   Q & A: - Kitchen Range: Cindy has a small house with a big stove that burned the kitchen cabinet. She should contact the manufacturer for the proper installation specifications. - House Listing: When selling a house that’s been remodeled, how can you describe the upgrades? Mike gets advice on how to list his home and provide an inventory of improvements. - Electrical and Plumbing: Karen gets tips on how often to check the circuit breakers and how to check for plumbing leaks in

SHOW NOTES: Learn about laundry, layouts, and longevity on today’s show, as we discuss the best and worst laundry detergents, kitchen layouts that maximize space and functionality, and how the age of your home influences needed repairs. Tune in for all this and more home improvement questions and answers! - Laundry Detergent: If clean laundry is an ongoing drama, you may need to use a better detergent. - Kitchen Design: When updating your kitchen, be sure the layout offers improved functionality. - Home Repairs by Age: Find out how the age of your home can determine when you’re likely to need certain repairs.   Q & A: - Types of Roofing: Should Debbie choose a shingle or metal roof? Metal roofs will last a lifetime, but the ROI will depend upon how long she plans to live in the house. - Driveway Stains: Rubber marks are impossible to remove from an asphalt driveway. Ryan gets some DIY tips to reseal the driveway to cover them up. - Insulation: Old attic insulation is dried out and falling down. Claudia can re

SHOW NOTES: Sleep soundly after listening to tips on buying the right mattress at the best price, banishing weeds from your garden, and tackling drywall repairs like a pro. Whether you’re a DIY expert or a novice, you’ll want to hear answers to these and more of our callers’ home improvement questions on this episode! - Buying a Mattress: Rest easy with tips on how to buy the right mattress and when to get the best deals. - Weed Control: Spring is the season for weed warfare, so find out how to eliminate dandelions and other green invaders. - Drywall Repairs: Keep cracks, holes, and nail pops from returning with the right DIY drywall repairs.   Q & A: - Enclosed Porch: Marla wants to enclose an old porch with lots of columns. We suggest having an architect create a design that won’t ruin the look of the house. - Water Heater: Louis wants the best gas water heater that will last a long time. We recommend a more efficient model with an electric ignition or a tankless water heater. - Crawlspace: Should you dig d

SHOW NOTES: Get tips on aspects of home energy management, from signs it’s time for an electrical upgrade to the nuances between various home heating fuels to ways of sealing and insulating your attic access panels! Plus, we’ve got home improvement advice for callers on a wide range of topics that you’ll want to know! - Electrical Upgrade: Get ready to power up and know when it’s time to get an electrical upgrade. - Heating Options: Learn the differences between oil, gas, propane, and electric heating options. - Attic Access: Prevent energy loss by sealing and insulating your attic access panel.   Q & A: - Shaking Washing Machine: Laura’s washing machine is shimmying on her laminate floor. She should make sure the appliance is level and balanced and use anti-vibration pads under the appliance. - Cleaning Stainless Steel: Tom is frustrated by stains on the stainless steel appliances. They look great but need to be polished regularly with a recommended product. -Pipe Insulation: MaryAnn’s uninsulated laundry r

SHOW NOTES: In this home improvement episode, we’ll tackle small bathroom makeovers to save space and add style, give tips on selecting the best HVAC filters for optimal air quality, and discuss how driveway markers can enhance safety and curb appeal. Tune in for expert insights and answers to more homeowner questions! - Bathroom Makeover: Make every inch count with a space-saving small bathroom makeover. - HVAC Filters: Breathe easy by choosing the right HVAC filter to clear the air of springtime allergens. - Driveway Markers: Make your house stand out with a driveway marker that adds safety and curb appeal.   Q & A: - Windows: Condensation and foggy windows are signs that the thermal seal is failing on old windows. Ruth would be better off replacing the windows instead of repairing them. - Sliding Doors: Cold drafts are blowing through Anthony’s old sliding glass doors. Newer sliding doors would be better insulated and curtains can block the cold glass. - Countertops: Diane wants to refinish her original Fo

SHOW NOTES: This home improvement episode is all about safety, including common fire hazards associated with fireplaces and stoves, options for safe cleaning products, and the risks of hiring uninsured contractors. Listen to hear more about these and other callers’ questions to keep your home safe, sound, and comfortable! - Fireplace and Wood Stove Safety: Learn how fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can be dangerous causes of house fires. - Safe Cleaning Products: Get tips for choosing cleaning products with safer ingredients. - Uninsured Contractors: Find out how hiring uninsured or unlicensed contractors poses risks that are your responsibility.   Q & A: - Laminate Flooring: The seams in Judy’s Pergo laminate floor are bubbling up, either from moisture or after being installed incorrectly, and the floor will need to be redone. - Gutter Guards: John’s gutter is overflowing, even with gutter guards installed. The water may be running too fast down a steep roof and washing over the guards, but he should check

SHOW NOTES: Join us as we reveal the pro secrets to crystal-clear windows, the benefits of high-efficiency washers and dryers, and the potential of basement bedrooms! If you’re seeking the answers to these or other home improvement challenges from today’s callers, we’re here to help! - Cleaning Windows: Get crystal clear results with tips on the best way to clean windows. - Washers and Dryers: Find out whether high-efficiency washers and dryers are worth the additional cost. - Basement Bedrooms: Adding a basement bedroom can be a good idea, as long as it complies with building safety codes.   Q & A: - HVAC Filters: What kind of filter should Sandra use for her furnace? You get what you pay for, and high-quality filters provide better filtration to trap more allergens. - Cracked Concrete: Roy has a crack in the driveway slab near his garage. Mud jacking will work to replace that area by filling in the low spots and tamping down a solid base. - Countertop Repair: Is there a way to repair scratches in a Corian c

SHOW NOTES: In this episode, learn about three kinds of safety tips: keeping kids safe by babyproofing your home, keeping fabrics and surfaces safe from red wine stains, and keeping your back safe by installing a heated driveway to eliminate snow shoveling! Plus, hear answers to a wide range of additional homeowner questions from Money Pit callers! - Child Safety: Baby on the way? Keep kids safe with important tips for babyproofing your home. - Stain Removal: After a merlot mishap or a cabernet crisis, here’s how to remove red wine stains. - Heated Driveways: If you’ve had enough of shoveling snow, you may want to invest in a heated driveway.   Q & A: - Floor Beams: Wendy’s renovating her old house and gets advice on how to add support to the beams and plywood under her kitchen floor. - Driveway Mold: Mold keeps growing in the shady area of the driveway. We suggest a mildewcide product with a residual effect that David can easily apply. - Crawlspace Moisture: Irena’s house is on a slope, with rainwater coming

SHOW NOTES: Join us as we discuss some helpful homeowner essentials, like how often you should be washing your germy towels, selecting the toughest hardwood flooring, and keeping severe weather worries at bay! Get answers to these and more home improvement questions in our latest podcast episode. - Washing Towels: Find out some dirty secrets about bath towels and how often they should be washed. - Hardwood Floors: Ratings reveal the toughest types of hardwood flooring. - Severe Weather: Homeowners share their leading concerns about severe weather damage.   Q & A: - New Construction: Are there lemon laws for new homes? Tina gets advice on reporting home warranty issues and hiring a home inspector to examine the problems. - Garage Floor Repair: Mike’s got cracks in his slab garage floor. We’ve got tips for using a crack filler and sealer, then recoating the floor to give it a beautiful finish. - Roof Leak: Rain is blowing through the roof dryer vents into Pat’s house. We discuss changing the type of roof vent a

SHOW NOTES: Learn how to insure, restore, and spot more in this episode about avoiding costly renter’s insurance pitfalls, repairing and replacing tiles, and finding termites in your home. All this and much more home improvement help in today’s episode! - Renter’s Insurance: Beware this costly loophole in your renter’s insurance and stay protected. - Replacing Tiles: Get tips for repairing or replacing hard-to-find tiles. - Termites: Learn how to spot termites in any season before they make themselves at home.   Q & A: - Bathroom Ventilation: Lisa’s not sure if her bathroom exhaust fan is working. We suggest asking her HVAC contractor about proper air exchange and installing a humidistat timer. - Foundation: Steve wonders if a solid concrete foundation is better than cinderblock walls, but moisture issues are simple to address with proper drainage outside the home. - HVAC Condensation: Should there be condensation on a high-efficiency HVAC system? Jean should have the HVAC serviced annually and check how it’s

SHOW NOTES: Delve into the intricacies of home improvement as we discuss getting the right bang for your buck in lumber purchases, using the best grout cleaning routine, and breaking the ice on frozen garage doors. From measuring mastery to thawing tactics, we've got answers to these and other homeowner questions! - Measuring Lumber: Does the price you pay for lumber really measure up to what you get? - Cleaning Grout: Read between the lines on how to choose the right cleaner for your dirty grout. - De-Icing Garage Doors: Learn how to de-ice a garage door that’s become a frozen fortress.   Q & A: - Dehumidifier: Kayla’s dehumidifier keeps tripping the 100-amp circuit. The problem is with the breaker, not the dehumidifier, but she can easily add a bigger dedicated circuit. - House Settling: Cracks, stuck doors, and popping screws all happening at once may indicate house movement. AJ needs a home inspector or structural engineer to determine whether it’s an active problem. - Rusty Garage Doors: Carolyn gets tip

SHOW NOTES: In this show, we tackle a trifecta of home improvement challenges! Discover how to make your fireplace a heat-saving hero, peel away layers of old wallpaper, and unclog drains like a pro. Plus, get answers to additional home improvement questions! - Removing Wallpaper: Removing wallpaper is quicker and easier with these tips. - Fireplace Efficiency: Keep warm without burning money through your fireplace. - Unclogging Drains: Weasel your way to clear drains with this handy tool.   Q & A: - Bathroom Flooring: Besides tile, what kind of flooring is best for bathrooms? Zelda should consider bamboo flooring that’s durable and works well in moist areas. - Water Heater: Jacob’s water is either too hot or too cold. Installing a pressure balance valve will keep the water temperature regulated. - Kitchen Remodeling: Joan gets advice on how to plan a kitchen remodeling project and working with a kitchen designer. - Dehumidifying: Randy wants to reduce the humidity in the crawlspace. He should put down a vapo

SHOW NOTES: Learn the secrets to a fresh and inviting home in this episode, as we address the challenge of sink odors, discuss windows to brighten your rooms, and suggest pet-friendly floors that look great. Tune in for these and lots more home improvement inspirations! - Pet-Friendly Floors: Make furry friends feel at home with paws-itively perfect pet-friendly floors. - Transom Windows: These trending transom windows add light where you need it. - Sink Odors: Try these simple solutions for stinky sinks.   Q & A: - Chimney Removal: Steve’s considering removing his brick chimney. It’s a big job, but he gets advice on the steps involved. - Ceiling Repair: Rock lath is discovered under a damaged ceiling. We give Maria tips on how to plaster over it before priming and painting the entire ceiling. - Garage Insulation: Mike wants to warm up his cold garage, but there may not be enough room to add insulation above the ceiling. - Dry Rot: Joan finds what she thinks is dry rot when she pulls up a rug. We explain it m

SHOW NOTES: Enjoy some home budget bliss as we discuss how to control maintenance and repair costs, get the look of expensive stone countertops at an affordable price, and do a home remodeling project with the best ROI! Save time, money, and stress as we answer these and other home improvement questions you’ll want to know. - Home Maintenance Costs: Avoid unpleasant surprises by setting a budget for home maintenance and repairs. - Stone Countertops: Get the luxe look of stone countertops at a fraction of the cost. - Remodeling ROI: Find out which home improvement project delivers the highest ROI.     Q & A: - Door Replacement: Old French doors have developed wood rot at the bottom and repairing them is a challenge. Fran should look at getting a new fiberglass door. - Removing a Wall: Martin wants to remove a main support wall between rooms. It can be done, but this is a big project that needs a professional to avoid disaster. - Garage Floor: Someone made Kathleen doubtful about installing an epoxy garage floo

SHOW NOTES: Join us as we explore the importance of roof inspection, reveal the most stressful home improvement projects, and decide whether to repair or replace that aging appliance. Tune in for expert insights and practical tips for these and other home improvement questions! - Home Improvement Projects: A new survey reveals the most and least stressful home improvement projects. - Roof Inspection: After withstanding winter weather, it’s time to give your roof a checkup. - Appliance Repair: Get a cheat to help decide whether to repair or replace appliances.   Q & A: - Surge Protectors: Can Rick save money by connecting appliances and electronics to surge protectors? Not much, and they’re really meant to guard against power surges. - Toilet Condensation: Ilene has condensation on the outside of her toilets. A plumber can run a line to mix in warmer water and she should reduce the humidity in her home. - Spray Foam Insulation: Should Kevin use open- or closed-cell spray foam insulation? They’re both very effe

SHOW NOTES: Get tips on keeping your home colorful, bright, and warm in today's show as we discuss what to think about before painting, easy pick-me-ups to beat the winter blues, and doing a home energy assessment. Plus, hear helpful answers to lots more home improvement questions! - Winter Blues: Lift your spirits and beat the winter blues with DIY tips to brighten up your home. - Painting Tips: Consider these 6 tips before starting your next painting project. - Energy Audit: Learn how to make your home more energy-efficient with a DIY energy audit.   Q & A: - Deck Stain: Jeanie needs advice for staining the new boards on her deck. We recommend using a solvent-based solid stain that will last longer. - Water Pressure: The water pressure is different in Brad’s bathrooms. He gets tips on how to figure out if it’s an obstruction or a problem with the valve or faucet. - Gutter Guards: Risa’s gutters are getting clogged with leaves from nearby trees. We advise her to find a reputable contractor to install mesh gu

SHOW NOTES: In this enlightening episode, we’ll discuss efficient new heat pump technology, learn savvy tips to reclaim your rental security deposit, and discover quick hacks for easy furniture repairs. For answers to these and lots more home improvement questions, your home transformation starts here! - Rental Security Deposit: When your rental lease ends, don’t forget these tips for reclaiming your security deposit. - Heat Pumps: New efficiencies in heat pump technology keep costs down and comfort up. - Furniture Repair: Clean stains and fix dings and dents with these easy furniture repair hacks.   Q & A: - Roof Moss and Mold: Mary wants to clean and prevent moss and mold on her asphalt shingle roof. Sunlight is the best solution and we recommend cutting back some trees. - Insulation: Does spray foam insulation pose a mold risk? It’s unlikely that a leak in Luke’s roof would go undetected long enough to cause any concern. - Replacing Windows: Marcia’s old wood kitchen window is hard to open and close. Repla

SHOW NOTES: In today’s show, we’ll focus on winter wisdom for your home, with tips on how to use space heaters safely, ideas for luring colorful winter birds to your yard, and info on easy and effective spray foam insulation! Join us as we navigate these cold weather challenges and delights, plus answer lots more home improvement questions. - Space Heaters: If you want to enjoy warmth without worry, remember these space heater safety tips. - Winter Birds: Add life and color to your yard by attracting winter birds with the right feeders and food. - Foam Insulation: This innovative spray foam kit boosts insulation, seals drafts, and improves energy efficiency.   Q & A: - Tile Grout: Christine wants white grout for her white bathroom tile. Using sand grout for the floor, epoxy grout for the walls, and sealing it well will help keep it clean.  - Chimney Repair: Rebecca’s chimney has external cracks and the mantel is chipped and shifting. This sounds like a significant structural project that requires a profession