The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Listen here to determine whether changing your electrical service is necessary or is a waste of your money pit! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen here to find out how we helped Wally from NJ with repairing his burst drainage pipes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Got a shady yard where it's tough to grow pretty much anything? We hear ya! Get tips for plants that like to hide from the sun as much as you do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thinking of building a paver brick patio? Find out how to create an attractive new space for outdoor living while making sure rain water drains off the patio and away from your house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does a stained ceiling mean you have a roof leak? Maybe! Find out how to determine if a leak is active, and how to paint over water stains so they wont come back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drafty old windows may be ready for replacement but with the few key improvement, old windows can be restored for much less, saving money and energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A crack in a concrete patio is a very common condition caused by settlement, often made worse by poor drainage. Find out the how to make this simple repair so the crack will not return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When installing central air conditioning, getting the right air conditioner size is important to make sure the home cools properly without wasting energy. Learn the right way to determine AC size. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Water backing up after a heavy rainfall? Find out about possible causes and information about pumps that can be part of a solution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Handrails makes steps much safer, if they are properly designed and installed. Find out when a handrail is required for steps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wondering what the best flooring for radiant heat might be? With careful installation, many types of flooring will work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking for the right material for a floor covering over concrete? You can select among several different types of material. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking for the best roof vents? Learn why a combination of ridge and soffit vents can work together to keep your attic cool and prevent condensation that weakens insulation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When replacing an air conditioner, get tips for best practices to follow for improved energy efficiency without spending too much. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As heating systems modernize, old chimneys become an obsolete and unsafe as a venting option. Get tips to determine if old chimneys should be removed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to determine whether a wall or ceiling crack is run-of-the-mill, or requires urgent attention. Plus, discover how to easily fix those common drywall cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn options for leveling a concrete garage floor and wether its better to replace rather than repair the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SharkBite is a quick, safe and effective way to join plumbing pipes. Learn how they work and pickup a trick-of-the-trade for taking a SharkBite connection apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips for prepping a basement floor for installation of vinyl plank. Learn if old glue must first be removed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Painting a textured ceiling can be difficult. Get tips to prepare, prime and paint the ceiling to make sure the 80's handiwork is a distant memory! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the hot water in your home has a very poor pressure, the cause could be in the water heater or the plumbing that feeds it. Get tips to help restore good water flow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ideas for dressing up boring walls during a kitchen makeover by using bead board, wainscoting and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Basement floor cracks are common and seldom need more than a cosmetic repair. Learn why and how to best repair these cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flys that infest structures can be a pest problem. Get tips to keep Flys out of your home, garage or barn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the easiest way to clean mold from a deck surface and keep it from coming back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a sliding patio door that's hard to open and close, can it be repaired or does it ned to be replaced? Find out along with tips on the best type of door to replace it with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Attic fans and ridge vents are two separate ways to ventilate your attic, but can they be used together? Find out how each operates and if they can be combined for better ventilation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Replacing a load bearing beam is a very difficult project that can damage your home if it is not done the right way. Get tips to get this project done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Flat roofs typically have a shorter life span than pitched roofs. Find out the options for roof replacement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your home has been damaged by smoke, get tips for smoke damage restoration including how to clean and paint damaged surfaces so the stains won't come back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your home has two-zone heating, should you keep both zones even if one is not used often? Get energy efficiency tips for zoned heating and cooling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A heated bathroom floor can be a comfortable addition to any home. Get options for adding heat to your bath floor for a warm, spa-like experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your basement's wet or flooding, take heart: This common home problem can often be prevented in a few DIY steps. Get the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Uneven heating and cooling is usually the result of poor HVAC design but it can be fixed. Get tips no matter what kind of heating system you have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laminate floor is relatively easy to install but does it need a separate underlayment layer beneath the floor? Learn the options and best practices for this project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Need to replace windows with an old frame or flange around them in an older home? Find out suggestions about the best solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover the wide variety of deck drainage systems on the market, all of which install under joists to keep your outdoor space free of rain and moisture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For log cabin lovers, chinking, the sealant between the logs, requires constant maintenance. Find out if home made or commercial chinking is best. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to get the most out of an older air conditioner? Find out what works to improve AC efficiency and what wastes money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oil heating systems can be difficult to maintain, but electric heat can be more expensive overall. Get tips to help determine the best choice for you home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cathedral ceilings are difficult to insulate with traditional batt insulation. Learn options to restore energy efficiency and comfort to homes with cathedral ceilings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the right way to face insulation with a vapor barrier in a crawl space. Find out how cutting the vapor barrier can help prevent moisture build up and allow the insualtion to breathe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Discover options for cleaning inside bathroom sink overflow trap to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Power outages can wreak havoc on your home if you don't have a back-up generator. Learn how whole house generators run, what options exist, and Leslie and Tom's own experiences with long power losses during Hurricane Sandy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keeping crawlspace humidity down adds to a home's efficiency and comfort. Learn what options exist for keeping it dry. Plus, find out whether dehumidifiers are recommended for crawlspaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get step by step tips to fix a crack between a wall and a ceiling so that it does not crack again. Learn how to apply plaster and spackle, and how to reinforce the area of the crack for a more permanent repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Foundations are hydroscopic, which means they absorb water. Get the best options for finishing an exposed foundation, and for replacing a finish that is peeling and cracking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prevent basement flooding by diverting water away from foundational walls. Learn rules of thumb for downspout installation, and tips for grading your home's perimeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When converting a second-floor attic to living space, find out how to add knee wall insulation between the finished space and the unfinished attic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on warming up a stucco home with wood-frame walls, and learn which factors to consider when deciding whether to insulate from outside or inside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices