The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to fix a noisy air conditioning system. Learn why the fan speed is probably set too high, pressurizing the ducts and causing a whistling noise. Get tips on calling back your contractor and having them resolve the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cut off a solid core door. Get tips on using safety glasses and an old carbide saw blade, which will cut right through the staples in the door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop pipe couplings from breaking. Get tips on replacing your glued-on couplings with a Fernco -- a rubber boot that attaches to both sides of the pipe and will give you a lot of flexibility to allow for expansion and contraction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to bend PVC pipe. Get tips on filling it with sand, which will prevent it from collapsing as you use a heat tape to warm it and bend it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you need to replace your air conditioning system. Learn about split-ductless systems and how they are used to supplement, not replace, central air. Get tips on replacing the compressor rather than replacing your entire AC system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to improve the look of a hardwood floor that gets heavy foot traffic without actually completely refinishing it. Get tips on using a floor buffer and a sanding screen to take out the scratches. Learn a trick of the trade for applying your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the right way to refinish a cork floor in a bathroom. Learn why cork is a good choice for wet environments and get tips on sanding the floor and applying polyurethane to refinish it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a shower drain that backs up and makes a slurping noise after you plunge it. Learn why the problem is that the shower drain is not vented properly. Get tips on snaking the drain to make sure it's clear, and then adding an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to dry out a damp crawlspace. Get tips on sloping the soil around the perimeter of your foundation so that rainwater is carried away from the home. Make sure the floor is completely covered by a vapor barrier and add vent fans wired to a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the problem is when the cold water in your shower has low water pressure compared to your hot water. Learn why it's probably caused by a clogged or obstructed shower diverter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's important to repair a crack in a brick wall so that water doesn't get in and expand when it freezes, causing further damage. Get tips on using a clear, quick-dring caulk product like DAP 3.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why planning an addition to a modular home is no different from the process of adding on to any other home. Learn about the importance of working with an architect and creating a comprehensive spec list so that you can do an apples-to-apples Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cover up an ugly, outdated baseboard heater. Get tips on checking out RadiantWraps.com, the website of a company that makes covers for all types of baseboard heaters -- electric, gas and steam. They offer a variety of models so you can Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what you can do to fill the gaps between a prehung door and your door opening. Learn why clamshell trim surrounding the door is a traditional but boring option. Instead, try baseboard molding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when the waterproofing finish on your basement walls is flaking off. Get tips on removing it and putting a damp-proofing material on the walls. Learn why a better way to waterproof your basement is to redirect water away from the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a lawn that's in really bad shape. Learn why the solution is to do a "Roundup restoration" -- apply Roundup to the entire lawn so everything gets killed off, and then put in new seed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce the level of dust in your home. Learn why duct cleaning is only necessary if you have recently done some construction or remodeling. Otherwise, the solution is to invest in a good quality electronic air cleaner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to add a shower to your basement without using a jackhammer. Get tips on building up the shower a few inches to a foot so there's room to get the plumbing in. Then, drain that to a lower point where the house drain can pick it up, or, if Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about silt in your well water. Learn why the solution is a water filtration system rather than digging a new well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a sulfur odor coming from well water. Learn why the problem could actually be caused by a worn anode in the water heater. Get tips on replacing the anode to fix the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove oil stains from a concrete driveway. Get tips on mixing up a paste of trisodium phosphate, spreading it over the stains, and letting it sit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a warped wood floor in a home you are trying to sell. Get tips on how to repair the floor if the problem is a buckled floor joist. Learn why you should hire a professional home inspector to diagnosis the problem and identify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to unstick a cabinet drawer and get tips on swapping it with a drawer of the same size from elsewhere in the kitchen so it doesn't get stuck again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate an attic with a low-sloped roof. Learn why you should try to get as much insulation as possible into the floor joists without blocking the soffit vents. Then consider adding a ridge vent down the peak of the roof to help keep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to attach a doorknob to an oversized hole. Get tips on using a machine screw, nut and washer to secure the doorknob. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to locate a roof leak by running a garden hose over the roof and getting a general idea of where the water is going through. Then take the shingles apart in that particular area and re-roof it. Get tips on using an oil-based primer to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to look for in a roof paint to reflect the sun's rays and help cool down your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a door that won't stay open. You have two options. The first is to rip out the door and rehang it, which is a big project. The second is to bend the hinge pins slightly, which will add some friction to the connection and help the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to readhere wallpaper that has started to peel away along the ceiling. Get tips on using a glue called Wallpaper Seam Fixer to make the repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best way to paint your kitchen cabinets. Learn why an oil based primer is a better choice than latex in this situation. Get tips on sanding the cabinets before applying the primer so it will adhere better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fill a void under a concrete driveway. Learn why you need to fix the problem to prevent water from collecting in the void and causing further shifting. Get tips on cutting out that area of the driveway, repacking the void with soil, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are having gutters installed on your house, find out what you need to know to make sure the contractors do a good job. Learn about seamless gutters, downspout placement, and gutter guards. Plus get tips on painting your fascia before the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why aluminum dryer hose is preferable to vinyl, which can overheat and cause a fire hazard. Also get tips on using a dryer vent cleaning brush to further reduce the risk of fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why central air conditioning is the most effective cooling solution for a historical home. Get tips on asking your HVAC contractor about a low-volume, high-velocity system, which should be able to be installed with the least amount of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what's causing air to come up through the trap of your toilet, making the water splash against the seat when the toilet is flushed. Learn why the problem is a blockage somewhere in the vent connected to the waste line under the toilet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove a popcorn ceiling. Get tips on knocking down as much of the texture as possible and then putting a second layer of drywall over the ceiling. Also learn how you can make old, dirty popcorn texture look new and clean with a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a minor crack in the concrete foundation wall in your basement. Get tips on sealing the crack with a silicone caulk or masonry caulk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what you can do about coarse stucco on your home's exterior. Learn why it would probably be more trouble than it was worth to hire a mason to re-stucco the entire house. Get tips on finding a decor solution, such as changing the color of the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to find an interior decorator in your area. Get tips on checking out the website for the Society of Interior Decorators to get started on your search. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when you have trouble removing the anode rod from your water heater tank. Learn why you should replace your water heater after about 10 to 12 years. Get tips on considering a tankless water heater, which only heats the water when Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on choosing an exterior siding to complement the brick walls of your patio. Learn why your best options are probably Hardieplank or cedar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why poor attic ventilation might be causing the black spots you're seeing in your home. Learn why improperly installed insulation and vapor barrier in the attic might be the problem. Get tips on using a continuous ridge vent matched with Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to quiet the noise produced by your high-efficiency heating system. Get tips on insulating and reinforcing the ducts to reduce vibrations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair cracks and extend a concrete driveway. Get tips on using a Quikrete concrete repair product for the cracks, and learn why you should hire a mason for the driveway extension rather than trying to do it yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a leaky attic. Get tips on looking for leak stains to figure out the location of the leak. When you find the vent that's leaking, reseal or replace it to solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to use grout dye to change the color of grout. Get tips on using a grout dye product that seals and stains the grout in one application. Your other option is to grind out the old grout with a grout saw, and then regrout the tiles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out an easy way to create a tile backsplash for your kitchen. Get tips on using a self-adhesive mastic product called Bondera, which you can stick to the wall and then stick tile directly to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get the perfect color stain for your kitchen cabinets. Get tips on buying several small cans of different color Minwax stains and a piece of trim that you can experiment on. If that doesn't work, you can go to a Sherwin Williams store Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a pothole and fix cracks in your asphalt driveway. Get step-by-step instructions for patching the hole, filling the cracks, and applying an asphalt sealer to finish the job off. Get tips on the best time of year to do the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to add a popcorn texture to a repaired section of your ceiling to match the rest of the ceiling. Alternately, get step-by-step instructions for removing the popcorn finish from the entire ceiling if you don't like the way it looks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices