This Old House On The Money Pit

SHOW NOTES: Embrace the cozy vibes as autumn transitions to winter! In this episode, we've got your back with essential tips on navigating stormy insurance queries. Join us for a fascinating exploration of house histories, discover tricks to enhance the air quality in your home, and guess what? We're answering YOUR burning questions, too! Join us for a dose of warmth and wisdom. - Homeowner’s Insurance: Does your homeowner’s insurance policy offer enough coverage? Here’s what to ask. - Pittsburgh Potty Puzzle: Find out the story behind strange old toilets found in some pre-World War II homes. - Furnace Filters: Using the right furnace filter is the easiest way to make your HVAC system more efficient.   Q & A: - Oil-Based Paint: Oil-based paint is no longer sold in Laura’s area. Cleaning her ceiling well and using a solvent-based primer and flat latex paint instead should work well. - Deck Lumber: After tearing down a rotted old wood deck, David gets tips about above-ground and ground-contact pressure-treated

SHOW NOTES: - Clothes Dryer Tips: These 5 clothes dryer tips put a new spin on the best way to do laundry. - Metal Roofing: Learn the latest options in metal roofs that last long and stand up to Mother Nature. - Best Indoor Plants: You don’t need a green thumb to grow these easy indoor plants.   Q & A: - Bathroom Ventilation: How can you ventilate a bathroom that has no fan? Diane gets advice on installing a vent fan through an exterior wall or between floor joists above the ceiling. - Warped Hardwood Floor: Kenneth’s new hardwood floor has started to warp. We suggest ways to reduce indoor humidity and trying to sand down the raised areas. - Door Gap: Julianne needs to close the gap under her bottom door sill. She needs to pack some epoxy patching cement into the space to reinforce and seal the space. - Insulation: Is ventilation needed after using open-cell spray foam insulation in the attic? Joe won’t need it and his HVAC system will work even better. - Attaching Shutters: Lisa is considering installing win

SHOW NOTES: - Drop Ceilings: Updated drop ceilings offer trendy new looks for remodeling projects. - Tub and Shower Leaks: Tub and shower leaks are easy to fix once you know where to find the source. - Thermostat Mistakes: Avoid these top three thermostat mistakes to stay comfortable while lowering heating bills.   Q & A: - Window Sill Repairs: Should Kaitlyn repair or replace her rotted wooden window sills? Unless they’re totally destroyed, she can fill them with a wood hardener and epoxy. - Sink Insulation: Jim asks about ways to keep standing water in his sink warm. We have suggestions for insulating the area under the sink and using spray foam or a fiberglass blanket. - Kitchen Island Lights: It’s hard to get three square lights above a kitchen island to hang straight. Donna must readjust the twisted rods going into the junction box. - Bubbling Paint: Exterior paint keeps bubbling and chipping. Dana needs to strip off the paint and make sure the area is properly primed before repainting it. - Cleaning Win

SHOW NOTES: - Sealing Drafts: Tracking down and sealing drafts is the first step in keeping your home warm. - Stone Countertop Refinishing: Get the look of natural stone countertops with an easy and affordable weekend project. - Textured Surface Repairs: Fix textured walls and ceilings without the fuss and mess.     Q & A: - Mailbox Stains: Those stains on Louise’s brick mailbox are probably mineral deposits from water splashes. A vinegar solution will clean the surface easily. - Reversing a Door Swing: Scott wants to reverse the swing of a door that blocks the light switch, but it would be simpler to run the light switch to a different spot. - Sealing Windows: Linda is paying high energy bills but has limited options in her rental apartment. We recommend using shrink film or weatherstripping caulk on her windows. - Replacing HVAC System: Sal needs recommendations for replacing his HVAC unit. He should start by checking references of local contractors and seeking out good brands, energy efficiency ratings, an

SHOW NOTES: - Power Outages: When the power goes out, you’ll need these blackout survival tips. - Fall Lawn Care: Proper care in the fall keeps your lawn and landscape healthy and green for springtime. - Cutting Heating Costs: Do high heating bills send chills down your spine? Get energy-saving tips to lower costs.   Q & A: - Indoor Bugs: Centipedes and crickets have Dorothy’s skin crawling! We have tips on how to seal off any basement and garage openings and eliminate indoor bugs. - Water in Basement: Water in the basement after it rains signals a drainage issue. Scott gets advice on what steps are needed to improve drainage around his home. - Drafty Doors: Weather stripping isn’t stopping the drafts around Wendy’s doors. She may need to adjust the door alignment to seal the gaps better. - Supplemental Heating: Ralph can’t warm up a room next to his garage. He should seal any drafts and consider getting affordable electric baseboard heaters with timers. - Cinderblock Walls: How can you give cinderblock walls

SHOW NOTES: - Roof Ice Dams: Those pretty icicles hanging from your roof may signal damaging ice dams. - Repairing Textured Surfaces: There’s a new way to repair textured ceilings and walls without the hassle and mess. - Planning Home Improvement Projects: Avoid unwelcome home improvement surprises with careful planning.   Q & A: - Wall Texture: After stripping the wallpaper, Sandi wants to add texture to her walls. We discuss a number of options for textured paint and techniques. - Water Heater Venting: What is the right way to vent a tankless water heater? John gets tips on running the ducts to vent outside the house. - Removing Roof Moss: Can copper flashing prevent moss buildup? Sue learns how adding copper flashing on the top roof ridge acts as a natural algaecide. - Lawn Seeding: When is the best time of year to reseed a lawn? Early- to mid-fall is the perfect season for Alan to rake and seed, then give the lawn time to take root. - Lead in Ceramic Tiles: Margaret is concerned about lead in her old cera

SHOW NOTES: - Garbage Disposal Problems: Letting seasonal leftovers go down the drain causes clog chaos. - Carpet Deodorizer: Mix up an easy DIY deodorizing recipe to take your carpets from funky to fresh. - Fire Prevention: Get tips on fire hazards you may be overlooking and how to prevent them.   Q & A: - Painting Brick: Cathy wants to brighten up the dark brick wall around her fireplace. Painting is one option but she may also consider other creative alternatives. - Smoke Odors: How can James get rid of smoke odors in his new home? We have advice on what he needs to discard, clean, and seal to remove the smell. - Basement Floor Moisture: Dampness is affecting a cracked basement floor. Holly gets information on how to keep moisture away from the foundation of her home. - Electrical Wiring: We’re completely shocked after Bob’s electrician never checked the power after rewiring the entire house and expects to be paid for fixing his mistake. - Bathroom Grout: Does Janiese need to seal epoxy grout around the b

SHOW NOTES: - Outdoor Projects for Fall: Autumn is the season to fall in love with some favorite outdoor projects for your home. - Door Locks: Home security starts with strong door locks. Find out the best and worst locks for preventing break-ins. - Marble Surfaces: A new DIY product creates beautiful marble surfaces without the expense.   Q & A: - Supplemental HVAC: Cathedral ceilings make it hard to cool the house evenly. Ed may add a split ductless system to supplement the central air conditioning. - Caulking Siding: Does Mary need to caulk concrete siding attached to plywood walls? She may only need adhesive, but she can use caulk to touch up any areas where nails break through the painted surface. - Window Leak: Water is leaking into the bay window beneath a skylight. Adam gets tips on sealing gaps with caulk and diverting water from the roof. - Concrete Curb Cracks: Susan’s concrete curb is cracking and sloping downward. She’ll either need to rebuild it or use DIY products to repair and resurface the co

SHOW NOTES: - Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and leaks are all too common. Learn how to keep your family safe. - Upcycled Furniture: Design on a dime with tips on finding the best upcycled furniture to turn trash to treasure. - LED Lighting: Let’s shed some light on how to save money and energy with LED lighting solutions.   Q & A: - Hard Water: Colleen is wondering about a solution for treating her hard well water, but we recommend a standard salt-based water softener as her best option. - Condensation on AC Vents: Condensation from the AC vents is staining Stanley’s ceiling. We’ve got tips on insulating the ducts to stop the problem. - Basement Water: Lynn finds water gushing through the hose bib into her basement. Silicone will seal the gap around the pipe and she needs to improve the outside drainage. - Porch Resurfacing: Linda is thinking of restaining her peeling porch, but we suggest a great stone-based product to refinish the surface and give it a whole new look. - Deck Staining:

SHOW NOTES: - Getting Rid of Leaves: Rake in some tips on the best ways to get rid of fallen leaves to help next year’s garden. - Concrete Repair and Resurfacing: Learn the easy way to restore cracked and damaged concrete surfaces. - Energy-Efficient Windows: Keep drafts out and heat in by choosing the best energy-efficient windows.   Q & A: - Peeling Linoleum Floor: Mindy has a peeling linoleum floor with even more layers underneath. It will take some work, but we recommend pulling it all up before installing a new floor. - Uneven Heating and Cooling: It’s hard to regulate temperatures in a split-level home. Brent should check the registers and returns and consider adding supplemental heating. - Crumbling Concrete: The concrete basement floor is crumbling from water damage. Mary should address any drainage issues first, then use a patching compound and epoxy floor paint. - Retaining Wall Runoff: Water from a retaining wall is seeping into Richard’s walkout basement. He gets tips on how to intercept and redir

SHOW NOTES: - Pressure Washers: Blast away dirt and doubts with tips for buying the right pressure washer. - Textured Surface Repair: Learn how to make hassle-free repairs to textured walls and ceilings. - Water Filters: Find out why water filters are a healthy and low-cost alternative to bottled water.   Q & A: - Driveway Drainage: Susan’s asphalt driveway was resurfaced but wasn’t pitched properly. She’ll need to install a curtain drain to keep water from collecting and backing up into the house. - Staining a Fence: Mark gets advice about the best methods and materials for staining a cedar wood fence at his condo association. - Radiant Heated Floor: Can you install a radiant heated floor yourself, will it increase electrical costs, and what materials should you use? We’ve got answers to all of Jeanette’s questions. - Tree Stumps and Roots: Bruce is worried about the stumps and roots from trees that were removed near his home. They shouldn’t impact his foundation but he gets tips on how to remove the stumps.

SHOW NOTES: - Paver Patio Projects: New step stone options add style to paver patio projects. - Adding Insulation: Insulation tips to keep your home warm and your energy costs down. - Water-Saving Dishwashers: Learn how your dishwasher saves water, time, and money.   Q & A: - Old Vinyl Windows: Natalie’s vinyl windows won’t stay open anymore. Unless she can find parts for the broken springs, it may be time to replace the windows. - Wood Fence Posts: Should Sam treat his cedar fence posts? The best way to prevent the wood from rotting is to add stone around the fence post base to allow drainage. - Soundproofing Walls: To muffle the sound from the neighbors next door, Donna gets tips on adding a second layer of noise-resistant drywall and sealing any openings. - Removing Paint from Brick: Arthur is worried about stripping paint from old brick. He can test the product he’s using in an inconspicuous area to be sure it won’t damage the brick surface. - Fruit Flies: Lorna thinks the fruit flies in her kitchen are c

SHOW NOTES: - Small Bathrooms: Size doesn’t matter with these space-saving tips for small bathrooms. - Painting Over Mold: Find out how to clean and repaint surfaces the right way to keep mold from coming back. - Buying an Efficient Dryer: Choosing an efficient dryer will consume less energy and lower your electric bills.   Q & A: - Adding an HVAC System: How hard is it to add air conditioning? The ductwork is not that difficult and Courtney should certainly not remove her hot water baseboard heating to change the HVAC system. - Flooring Adhesive: Vito wants to install upcycled bathroom flooring, but it won’t stick. He should clean the subfloor well and use a grooved trowel to apply floor adhesive. - Worms: Lillian doesn’t like the garden worms coming into her patio after a rainfall, but they’re beneficial to the soil and we don’t recommend trying to get rid of them. - Foundation Drainage: After removing a large tree near his foundation, Mike is concerned about drainage. We offer tips on overfilling the area

SHOW NOTES: - Fireplace and Chimney Safety: Stop playing with fire and get tips on maintaining your fireplace and chimney. - Driveway Repair: Fall is a great time to fix and seal your cracked or worn driveway. - Indoor Air Quality: Learn the best way to breathe easier and clear the air of dust, pollen, and other allergens.   Q & A: - Chimney Repair: Someone suggested using roof cement to cover cracks in a chimney crown, but Bill should use a good silicone caulk sealant instead. - Flower Beds: Michelle wants to know how to place her flower bed. We recommend grading the soil away from the house before planting and not adding any borders that may impede drainage. - Deck Cleaning: A chemical reaction with a deck cleaning product left Andrew’s wood deck with a splotchy white film. He could use a spare piece of lumber to test a solid stain and see how well it will cover the filmy residue on the rest of the deck. - Crawlspace Odor: There’s a musty odor coming from the dirt crawlspace that opens into Bridget’s baseme

Show Notes: - Garage Organization Tips: Fall is the perfect time to get your garage organized and make room for off season storage. Tom & Leslie share tips to get your garage ready bikes, bats, lawnmowers and more. - Smart Tips for Purchasing a New Furnace. Whether your old furnace is shot, or you want a more efficient upgrade, buying a new furnace should never be an impulse buy. We’ll have tips for making smart choice to restore heat without burning a hole in your finances. - Ingenious Trick for Replacing Broken Ceramic Tiles. Ceramic tiles are durable and easy to care for, but what happens if one ceramic tile breaks, and you can’t find a replacement? We’ll share a trick-of-the-trade for a fast fix up. Plus, answers to home improvement questions about: - Deck Stain Won’t Stick. Get tips on how to restore deck stain that peels off shortly after its applied. - Bees Buzzing Your Food. If you’re frustrated by bees that buzz your outdoor meals or those of your pets, Tom shares a neat trick for keep them away from

SHOW NOTES: - Buying a Foreclosed Home: Is it a deal or a disaster to buy a foreclosed home? - DIY Stone Countertops: Get the expensive look of a natural stone countertop at a fraction of the cost with a DIY refinishing kit. - Installing Attic Flooring: Learn how installing attic flooring can add to your storage or weaken your structure.   Q & A: - Bad Odors: Jim can’t find the source of a strange odor in his new home. It may be bio-gases in the plumbing, but there are ways to clean out the bacteria. - Dishwasher Stops Working: The dishwasher fills but then suddenly stops. Darlene should check the float in the bottom of the dishwasher to see if it’s clogged. - Property Lines: How can you find your property line markers? Daniel’s home survey will show the boundaries, but it may be difficult to locate the metal corner pins. - Broken Sewage Pipe: A cracked sewage pipe ruined Helen’s basement. She’ll need a remediation company but the damage should be covered by her insurance policy. - Insulation: Marion’s old ho

SHOW NOTES: -      Planning a Kitchen Makeover: Having the right plans for a kitchen makeover is the recipe for success. -      Concrete Crack Repair: Get tips on how to fix cracked concrete and make the repairs last. -      Cleaning Range Vent Hoods: Gross grease can also be a hazard. Find out the best way to clean the vent hood over a stove.   Q & A: -      Insect Pests: Karen has questions about a bug zapper for her problem with flies. We recommend an insect trap that works well to eliminate flying pests. -      Driveway Drainage: Water that flows alongside the driveway is removing the sand and soil. Randy can dig out the dirt and fill the space with gravel that won’t wash away. -      Installing a Fence: Hope wants suggestions on materials to use for building a fence. She gets tips on attractive black fencing and how to build the footings. -      Garage Insulation: Is it a good idea to insulate a garage that will be air-conditioned? Yes, it is, and will help David save on heating and cooling costs. -     

SHOW NOTES: - DIY or Hire a Pro?: Do you have the DIY skills or should you pay for a professional contractor? How to decide. - Tap Water Safety: Tests can determine how safe your water is for cooking, drinking, and bathing. - Insulation: Cooler weather is a great time to find out if your home has enough insulation. YOUR QUESTIONS: - Rusty Washing Machine: Sherry’s washing machine dispenser is rusting. If it’s not that old, it’s worth getting a replacement part and having it repaired. - Insulation: Ed wants to insulate the gap between the drywall and masonry. It would be more effective to seal any drafts and add insulation to the attic. - Popcorn Ceiling: Can you clean a popcorn ceiling? Margaret won’t be able to clean it, but gets tips on how to remove the popcorn texture or repaint it. - Retaining Wall Materials: Should Robert use blocks or poured cement to build a retaining wall? Blocks are more attractive and less work but need to be installed properly for the retaining wall to last. - Weed Removal: Kim i

SHOW NOTES: - Stump Removal: Get to the root of the problem of stump removal with these tips. - Squeaky Floors: Step quietly by fixing those annoying squeaky floors. - Buying Gutters: Installing the right gutters defends your home against water damage. Q & A: - Ceiling Stains: After fixing a roof leak, Sarah has ceiling stains. Using a good primer before painting will stop the stains from coming through. - Cement Caulk: Is there a caulk you can use to match a cement stamped patio? Tom will probably need to just use a clear caulk to seal the cracks. - Bathroom Tile: Is there an alternative for bathroom wall tile? Janet should consider a premade bathtub surround as an inexpensive and effective option. - Crawlspace: Bowen had better have a good reason for removing dirt from his crawlspace because exposing the footing could cause structural issues. - Cracked Concrete Floor: Lori has cracks in her concrete flooring. We recommend using a patching compound to make it look like new. - Uneven Floor: The unev

SHOW NOTES: Open Floor Concept: Create an open design in an older home with a pass-through project. Smart Home Security: State-of-the-art home security systems defend your domain and grow with your family. Choosing a Paintbrush: Make DIY painting projects easier by choosing the right paintbrush for the job.  Plus, answers to your home improvement questions. Building a Deck: Cheryl wants to build a deck over a concrete pad. We explain why that’s not a good foundation and how to build a proper footing. Plumbing Leaks: What should you do about pinpoint leaks in copper pipes? Mike should monitor the situation and replace the pipes as needed rather than remove the whole plumbing system. Cleaning a Vinyl Fence: Beverly wants to clean black marks off her white vinyl fence. She needs to find the source of the stains and use an abrasive pad with the right cleaner. Flooring Over Concrete: Wally gets advice on sealing cracks in his concrete floor to prevent moisture before installing a new floating floor