The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Some hairline cracks in poured-concrete foundations are normal; others are signs of structural problems. Learn how to differentiate between the two, and how to keep unwanted cracks from appearing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taking down rotted fascia board is a chance to improve building materials. Get tips on removing the existing wood as painlessly as possible, and discover a replacement product that looks and feels like wood, but resists rotting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Backing paper - or lining paper - left behind from removed wallpaper can be a continued source of even texture - or a source of major problems. Find out when to remove it, and when to leave it be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If installed properly, fiber and mesh heater filters provide adequate defense against dusty, dirty air - but they're not the best solution. Learn about a much more effective appliance on the market that shields against even the smallest airborne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn which products and DIY cleaning mixtures work best on removing mold and algae from decking and other outdoor spaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many options exist for updating the look of non-working fireplaces and hearths. Get tips on color, function, and even easy-to-apply stone veneers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if a home you are in the process of buying turns out to have high radon levels. Learn why a sub-slab mitigation system is the solution, and get tips on a type of radon testing that can't be compromised so easily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mudjacking is a valid option to raise and level a section of your concrete driveway that has settled. Another option is to tear out that one section and repour the concrete -- you don't have to redo the entire driveway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a running toilet so you can get your water bill back in check. Get tips on replacing the fill valve and flush valve, and going to Fluidmaster.com for a how-to video. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should invest in high-quality air filters if you have asthma or allergy problems, and get tips on looking into an electronic air cleaner, which can even remove microscopic particles from the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why condensation inside your water heater does not necessarily indicate a leak. Get tips on sizing your water heater for the number of bathrooms in your home, and learn how to determine the age of your water heater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what could be causing a banging noise that seems to be coming from your countertops. Learn why it could be due to expansion and contraction of plumbing pipes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should enlist professional help in tackling an extensive mold problem in a home to avoid releasing mold spores and spreading the contamination throughout the house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to avoid mold from forming in kitchen cabinets. Learn how to remove mold safely and stop it from coming back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does your water take too long to heat up in your kicthen, bath or shower? Is your water heater the problem? Get the solution and learn how to stop wasting water waiting for it to get warm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get a crucial, rule-of-thump tip for preventing flooring problems caused by temperature-induced expansion and contraction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the most energy- and cost-efficient way to convert an oil-fired boiler to an electric water heater. Some pressurized storage tanks fired by oil can also be replaced with either traditional or heat pump electric water heaters - the latter of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The addition of a heat pump to a house's HVAC system can dramatically change humidity levels. Find out ways to control the moisture in your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When an addition roof is not properly attached to the original building, leaks happen. Find out how to add flashing to repair the bad installation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what route you should take when replacing your home's insulation after a hurricane. Learn why expandable foam insulation, which seals as well as insulates, is a good option if it's cost-effective. You can also go with standard fiberglass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do if you have the problem of mud running down your driveway when it rains. Get tips on digging behind the retaining wall and adding stone, filter cloth and soil to create a proper drainage situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to tweak the duct system in your home to ensure that the heat is distributed evenly throughout. Learn how that can be done through adding additional ductwork and controlling the duct dampers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do with an old wood window that is difficult to open and close. Learn about your two options: You can either take the window apart and sand down the jambs and sashes, or you can buy a replacement window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to correct rooms that are not heating or cooling evenly. Learn how to adjust HVAC ducts to improve air flow to thse rooms and other energy saving tips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips to address a sagging pool fence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when you can't seem to adjust your shower to a comfortable temperature. Get tips on installing a pressure-balance valve, which will always maintain a steady mix of cold and hot water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about your options to seal a patio after it's already been put in. Get tips on using a trisodium phosphate solution to brighten the stones, then using a vapor permeable sealer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why diluted bleach is an effective mildicide. If you want to use a different product, get tips on checking out Wet & Forget, a green mold remover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's a bad idea to try to put a plumbing system into your fireplace to turn it into a boiler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why quartz infrared heat is very expensive to run. Instead, get tips on saving money on your heating bill by improving your home's insulation and making sure drafts aren't coming in through your electrical outlets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a rat-proof shed. Get tips on building a block foundation or pouring a slab so there's no space for the rats to get underneath the shed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of cigarette odor in a home. Get tips on pulling up the carpets and padding, cleaning everything with TSP and using a good-quality, oil-based primer to seal in the odor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you never want to disable a hot-water baseboard heating system. If you want air conditioning, get tips on adding a separate set of ducts for that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As long as both water heaters are installed safely and in accordance with code, it's fine to have a propane water heater next to an electric one. However, learn why a better way to ensure access to hot water in the event of a power outage is to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to re-stain a faded area of a concrete floor. Get tips on mixing up new stain and blending it in to cover up the bald spots. Learn why you might want to consider putting down a clear coat or using a chair mat for further protection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on using good-quality textured paint on a wall instead of spackle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce noise from an HVAC system. Get tips on reinforcing metal ducts to reduce vibration noise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal a drafty siding door. Get tips on using a weatherstripping caulk like DAP Seal 'N Peel. Another option is shrink film, which will keep out any drafts that are coming through the glass itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair cracks in exterior stucco. Learn why it's important to do so that water doesn't get in, freeze, and loosen the stucco. Get tips on using exterior caulk to seal the cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the best system for attic ventilation is to have soffit vents working in conjunction with ridge vents. Get tips on blocking off your gable vent, since it interrupts that flow of air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a crack in a cement sink. Get tips on using an epoxy putty to seal the crack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to connect the roof of your garage to the roof of your home. Get tips on overlapping the metal under the composite to create a watertight seal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why the purpose of flushing a water heater is to get rid of the sediment on the bottom. Find out why it's more important to do if you have well water than if you have city water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly insulate your attic. Get tips on adding extra blown-in insulation or fiberglass batts to your existing insulation. You should aim for 18-22 inches, which is the standard for an energy-efficient home today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a rotted porch post. Get tips on scraping out the bad wood and repairing it with wood filler. Another option is to hide the damage with a piece of trim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's OK to vent a bath fan out through a soffit as long as you actually cut a hole in the soffit and bring it out. Otherwise, you'll have problems with moisture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean mold in an attic. Get tips on using a bleach solution in a spray bottle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to permanently fix a ceiling crack so it won't keep coming back. Get tips on using perforated drywall tape and spackle to make the repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what steps you can take to keep rainwater away from the foundation of your home. Learn why installing a drainage system is only necessary when you have a rising water table, and not merely flooding that is consistent with rainfall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices