The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why it's OK to use a carpet cleaner on a carpet with particle board underneath. The machine pushes water into the carpet but sucks it back out almost immediately. The particle board may become damp, but that won't cause warping or mold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apartment living can include noisy neighbors! Learn how to create a sound barrier to reduce noises from others apartments and the outside world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With no attic space to work in, insulating a cathedral ceiling is difficult. Learn the best options for insulation and ventilation to save energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a green switch, which means your heat pump is wired into the power company grid, could be causing the erratically high temperatures in your home. Learn why this is a problem with the control circuit, not the thermostat, and why you should Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to clean burnt popcorn smell from your microwave. Find out how boiling a bowl of vinegar and water in your microwave can help get rid of the odor of burnt popcorn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why you should choose quartz for a heat-resistant countertop. Find out why Silestone is a great kitchen counter choice because it resists scorching and knife marks can be sanded away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to warm up a cold floor. Find out how insulating the floor joists in your crawlspace and installing radiant heating can help warm up a cold floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to install an alarm to warn against freezing pipes. Find out how a freeze alarm can be part of a centrally wired alarm system that will notify you when a gas pilot light goes out so you can prevent frozen pipes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the cause of ice on a storm door. Find out how condensation on a storm door may indicate a well-sealed door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a blocked pipe. Get tips on snaking the drain all the way to where it connects to the street or to your septic field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what considerations you must make when deciding whether your heating system is big enough to heat your second floor. Get tips on checking the BTU capacity of the furnace and making sure you have ductwork that already goes up to the attic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to design a sliding door for a small bathroom space. Get tips on installing an exterior track system and hanging a regular wood door or plastic composite door on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to insulate a basement floor. Get tips on laying a vapor barrier over a dirt floor when insulating a basement floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to replace a bathtub while preserving tile. Find out how to keep the tile you've got when replacing a bath tub by installing a complimentary color tile on the bottom row. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips for installing blown-in insulation yourself. Find out how much pressure to use and how much insulation to put in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have a central AC condenser outside, you can winterize that unit - so to speak - but taking a few steps to get it ready for cold weather. Learn what you need to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a shower leak. Get tips on running a hose directly down the shower drain to eliminate that as the source of the problem. Then test the shower pan for leaks by taking a heavy washcloth or stopper, covering the shower drain and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to stop windows from sweating in winter. Get tips on how to reduce moisture in the home, including properly venting the bathroom and installing a whole home dehumidifier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn how to install flashing around a chimney. Find out how to layer flashing so that it properly seals the chimney from rain and other leaks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to realign cabinet drawers and doors by tightening the screws on the drawer fronts and door hinges. Also get tips on removing cabinet doors before you paint them, and numbering them so you can put them back in the right order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to locate a roof leak. Get tips on checking places where a pipe goes through the roof and using a garden hose to try to recreate the leak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of a white residue on the glass door of your shower. Learn why the residue is probably mineral salt deposits from hard water, and get tips on cleaning it with a white vinegar solution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stain a pressure-treated wood railing and stairway. Get tips on using an exterior stain and learn about the different levels of transparency available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop your hardwood floors from squeaking. Get tips on using a stud sensor to find the floor joists. Learn how oak plugs will make the repairs invisible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve a leaking toilet. Get tips on replacing the wax seal. The other most common locations for a leak are the fill valve on the back of the toilet and the water-supply pipe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices