The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to stop a toilet from double flushing. Get tips on replacing the flush valve and fill valve to fix the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out where to buy MonkeyHook, a piece of wire that slips in behind the wall and can support a picture or a wall-hanging up to 50 pounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for low-maintenance siding. Learn about vinyl siding, aluminum trim and soffit ventilation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when your refrigerator keeps tripping the circuit breaker. Get tips on testing every outlet in the house and having an electrical inspection done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you should be concerned about a crack running down the side of your house and into the foundation. Get tips on filling the crack with silicone and hiring a professional home inspector to take a look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the numbers mean in the two main ceramic tile rating systems. Also learn why laminate is an ideal type of flooring to stand up to humidity and moisture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to kill weeds in your front lawn once and for all. Get tips on doing a Roundup restoration, which means killing your whole lawn with Roundup and putting new seed down on top of the weeds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what kind of paint will create a non-slip surface on your porch. Get tips on using a product called Traction-N-More from Interstate Products on almost any surface. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with dead patches in a lawn. Get tips on adding a thin layer of topsoil with the new seed and blocking off the area so it doesn't get stepped on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to prevent moss from growing on your roof. Get tips on trimming back trees so the roof gets plenty of sunlight and installing a copper ridge vent to act as a mildicide when it rains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to paint a textured ceiling without it flaking off. Get tips on using a roller cover with spiral slicing that accommodates the texture instead of removing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you have to worry about an attic fan blowing your insulation around. Get tips on installing sufficient attic ventilation to vent the air that gets pulled up there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what steps you can take to lower your electric bill. Get tips on installing a ridge and soffit vent system in the roof, making sure you have enough attic insulation and replacing your windows with low-e glass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce moisture underneath a house. Get tips on increasing ventilation by substituting vinyl skirting with latticework and installing a humidistat-controlled fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to unblock a drain pipe. If you have tried to snake the drain with no success, you might not have gone down far enough. Get tips on calling in a Roto-Rooter guy to solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to ventilate a bathroom to reduce the risk of mold growth. Learn about your options, including bath fans and remote fans. Also learn why these fans should never be vented into the attic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the pros and cons of particle board vs wood cabinets. Learn why a composite is a good option as long as you find someone who knows how to install cabinets properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to dispose of lead paint properly. Get tips on making sure the paint doesn't get into the soil and checking with your local sanitation department to see what they recommend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a pest management professional instead of trying to solve your cockroach problem by yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a squeaky floor. Get tips on locating the floor joists and using drywall screws to go through the subfloor and into the joist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if you should be concerned about signs of wear in an old house, such as a sagging floor and cracks where the wall meets the ceiling. If the problems are really dramatic, hire a professional home inspector to take a look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install laminate over ceramic tile flooring in your kitchen. Get tips on taking your appliances out before you put down the laminate in order to adjust for the height difference. Also learn how to build a wood threshold to transition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove carpet from your hardwood floor. Get tips on removing the tackless strip and sanding the floor with a belt sander or U-Sand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install sod. Get tips on testing the soil pH first to see if you need to add anything. Then level out the soil, lay down the sod and water it frequently until it starts to knit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to redirect a vent that runs from your dryer into your garage. Get tips on how to avoid annoying your neighbors with the vent placement and using metal ducting instead of PVC, which will burn up in the heat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about ants in your hot tub. Learn why you should bring in a pest management professional instead of trying to solve the problem yourself. A professional will use the right product in the right amount and put it in the right Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what your options are for replacing masonite siding. Learn about Hardiplank, which is more expensive than vinyl but sturdy, pre-painted and available in a number of different styles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of fruit flies in your garbage disposal. Learn why cleaning the garbage disposal with baking soda and white vinegar will remove the yeast growth that attracts the flies. Also get tips on making a fruit fly trap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a conventional roll-up garage door. The one main consideration is making sure that your garage has a standard-height ceiling because it can be hard to do if the ceiling is low. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a squeaky floor under carpeting. Get step by step instructions for locating the floor joist and then using finish nails to secure the floor and stop the squeak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about ways to make your home a better environment for people with asthma. Get tips on installing a whole-house dehumidifier, switching from carpeting to laminate flooring and improving drainage conditions around your home's foundation to prevent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep birds from nesting on your porch and pooping on your furniture. Get tips on keeping the birds away by putting spiky wire in the ledges and nesting areas where the birds are landing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get a trick of the trade for getting a clean line when painting a room. Paint your ceiling color, then tape off your ceiling and roll the paint over the tape. This way, if any paint leaks or seeps underneath the tape, it will be the same color. And Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the problem of a toilet that bubbles when the washer drains. The solution is to add an additional vent to your plumbing system. Learn where to add the vent and what type to get. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to soundproof a room. Get tips on buying foam panels that adhere with glue from broadcast and recording studio supply places. Also consider putting heavy drapery on your walls to help absorb sound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your contractor is pushing you towards an expensive home improvement that you don't see the benefits of, such as replacing your shingles with a metal roof, it is time to find a new contractor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to figure out what's causing discoloration in your linoleum floor. Sometimes rubber floor mats can react with linoleum or vinyl, causing a stain. Mold might be another culprit, and can be cleaned with bleach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about new safety features in garage door openers, such as reversing mechanisms and battery backups. Find out why Wayne-Dalton's pinch-free overhead garage door is a good choice for a replacement door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to kill black mold on your wood deck. Get tips on using a deck washer and oxygenated bleach, or Jomax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the pros and cons of hydroseed vs sod. Hydroseed is less likely to be eaten by birds, but it takes longer to grow and can only be put in at certain times of the year. Sod provides instant gratification and fewer chances for weeds to drop in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to unblock a clogged drain outside. Get tips on calling Roto-Rooter and having a drain camera inspection done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how tile floor is rated for durability, and how laminate flooring can stand up to humidity and moisture. Also learn how to get rid of pesky carpenter ants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to get rid of mold growing on vinyl siding. Find out how using a mildicide and a pressure washer will remove mold from vinyl siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about choices in insulation. Find out the differences between BIBS insulation, batt insulation and spray-on insulation, and which one is best for your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix toilet tank problems. Find out how easy it is to fix the fill valve, flush valve and chain in the toilet tank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to refinish gingerbread on a historical home. Learn which finish is best to use on a tounge and groove porch floor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how using mothballs in an attic will deter squirrels from eating away the exterior of your home. Find out how using a piece of fruit in a Havahart trap will snare the squirrel so it can be moved out of the home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about topographical map resources. Find out how these resources allow you to see the areas available for development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to get rid of mold and moisture in a crawl space. Find out how adding fill dirt around the perimeter and a power ventilator in the crawl space will eliminate any moisture issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on painting cement roof tiles. Find out whether or not you should replace the cement roof tiles and if you should switch painted tiles to a shady spot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices