The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out whether putting softwood in a high traffic area such as the living room is recommended. Learn how engineered hardwood floors are a good choice and can compete with laminate flooring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how long paint should last on exterior windows. Get tips on what to look for in a professional painter so that you know exactly what the painter will be doing when he gives you an estimate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix a squeaking laminate floor. Find out what may be the cause of the sqeaks and whether or not the floor is too tight with the additional underlayment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn which paint is best to use on a bathroom floor. Learn how to get a bathroom floor ready for an oil based paint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you can feel cold air come down from a hole in the ceiling as you are standing under the cold air return. Learn how to find and seal gaps in the duct box. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how a power outage could cause the gasket on your refrigerator to lose its magnetizing ability. Find out the name of a great website where you can oder a new refrigerator gasket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how replacing a heat pump with a gas furnace can save you money. Find out how putting in a clock setback thermostat designed for the heat pump may also be an option to help save you money until you can replace the heat pump with a gas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how installing a curtain drain can keep your basement dry. Find out how putting up gutters and diverting water away from the basement will end basement flooding problems and end mold issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how thick a cement driveway should be. Find out how to go about preparing the driveway for the cement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to prepare walnut kitchen cabinets for pickling or whitewashing. Find out how to go about stripping the cabinets and which topcoat you should use to prevent the cabinets from yellowing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn what to do to legally protect yourself before you buy a home with an abandoned underground oil tank. Find out who is responsible to have the tank removed, and how to go about removing the oil and filling the tank so that the ground doesn't fall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how checking the main water valve could fix your water pressure problems. Learn how a partially closed valve can make the water flow slowly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix floor squeaks under carpet. Find out how to fix squeaks in a whole room with screws, or eliminate squeaks in small areas with nails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to eliminate condensation on a concrete porch floor. Find out your options for condensation elimination, from painting the floor to covering the concrete floor with a wood deck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn what you will need to know before you purchase and install a stair lift. Get tips on who to ask about best brand, the maintenace of the lift, and whether or not you will need to add additional wiring for the elevator stairway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to get rid of rust stains on hardwood floors. Find out the products to use to remove the rust from small areas so that you won't have to redo the whole floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to turn your garage into a living space. Find out the steps you will have to take to make your garage look like the rest of the house and how much a garage remodel may cost. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to deal with moisture damage that causes bricks to crumble in a chimney. Get tips on how to stop spalling, and find out why the bricks are breaking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get solutions for low water pressure problems and learn how increasing water pressure can stop pipes from banging and help to bring back a normal flow of water from your faucets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how adjusting a door jamb will help to straighten out a twisted door. Find out how to keep a door from warping in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on how to finish a basement floor. Learn how to insulate the floor, how to keep the floor dry, and which flooring options you have to complete your basement remodel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best way to add insulation to the walls of an older home. Get tips on which replacement windows would look great in an older home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how you can save energy with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Find out how these bulbs can be used outdoors and how they compare to a incandescent light bulb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how replacing a pressure balance valve in the shower can keep the water in the shower from getting cold. Get tips on diagnosing why the shower turns cold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how using a power washer can get brick and vinyl siding clean. Get tips on how to use the power washer so that you don't ruin the vinyl siding, and how using a mildicide solution first will help to clean any mildew off the siding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to widen the gap under a door. Find out how to use a circular saw to trim a door enough to keep forced air heat circulating underneath. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how occupancy sensors can light your way up dark stairs. Find out how movement automatically triggers lights with occupancy sensors to turn on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to calculate the cost of converting to solar power. Find out about the different types of solar collectors you can use at home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about mid-price options for countertops. Find out more about laminate and tile countertops and how they stand up to leaks and water damage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to choose a tankless hot water heater. Find out how a wall panel will allow you to adjust the water temperature on a Rinnai tankless water heater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn the cause of condensation on thermal pane windows. Find out why you should replace thermal pane windows that are prone to condensation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to clean oil stains from a granite countertop. Find out where to buy stone sealers to prevent future stains on your stone countertop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to ventilate your roof. Find out how to keep air circulating through your ridge and soffit vents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about diagnosing saddle valve problems. Find out how a saddle valve should look when it's properly installed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen in as Leslie Segrete's school principal calls into the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to use paintable latex caulk to repair ceiling cracks. Find out how to determine if the crack is a drywall seam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn a trick to make a concrete slab perfectly square. Find out how to measure in diagonals to square a concrete pad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to maximize your energy savings at home. Find out how having a home energy audit done can help you determine where you could use more insulation and weatherstripping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to get rid of carpenter ants. Find out why you should ask your exterminator what product he is using on your property. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to install a fountain. Find out how to ensure your circuit breaker supports the water circulation pump for your fountain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to paint hardiplank or concrete siding. Find out how to apply paint to siding using a sprayer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to convert two-prong outlets to three-prong outlets. Find out why you should hire a professional electrician to install a ground fault outlet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to fix a buckling floor caused by humidity. Find out how to properly install a plastic vapor barrier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why ridge vents are not enough by themselves to properly ventilate your attic. Learn how to add soffit vents to your home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about flooring options for a garage. Find out how interlocking tile flooring systems are a good alternative when epoxy paint kits won't properly adhere to a garage floor due to moisture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why you should keep roof turbines uncovered for proper insulation. Find out why a drafty attic is important to properly insulate your home and save money on heating bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to identify toxic mold in the home. Find out how to send a mold sample to a laboratory using a piece of tape and a plastic bag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why you should install "rough service" light bulbs outdoors. Find out where to purchase rough service light bulbs, which have a thicker filament and are harder to break. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to eliminate water in your crawlspace. Find out how to improve drainage around your foundation perimeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to get rid of a moldy smell from your crawlspace. Find out how extending your downspouts can reduce moisture in your crawlspace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices