The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to maintain a log home. Get tips on choosing a location that gets plenty of sunlight in order to avoid moss and mildew growth. Learn why you should power wash your log home every fall if you live in a damp region. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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