The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out why you should remove old attic insulation before adding new blown-in insulation. The old insulation is probably settled down and compressed and not doing its job anymore. Get tips on checking out AttiCat from Owen Corning for a DIY blown-in Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what you can do to make a wooden staircase less slippery. Get tips on testing out any spray products, such as SlipDoctor, in a closet or on a spare board before you commit to putting it on your staircase. Your other option is to have a carpet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how installing a backflow preventer valve in the main waste line can prevent sewage from being pumped back into your house. It's a job that needs to be done by a plumber, but it's a worthwhile project if you live in an area that is Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should replace your vinyl porch screening with heavy-gauge metal screening if you live in a windy area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when you've accidentally gouged and scratched your bathroom floor in the process of removing old linoleum. Get tips on using 1/2- or 3/8-inch AC plywood as the underlayment to provide a smooth, even surface for the new tile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no way to tell just by looking if a building material has asbestos in it. If you are concerned that something in your home contains asbestos, you should send a sample of it to an asbestos testing lab. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a mysterious white dust inside your closet is most likely coming from the nearby heating duct. Learn why you have to improve the quality of the filtration on your forced-air heating system to solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get advice for pulling up unwanted carpeting. Don't try to remove the glue from the subfloor, because it's not worth the trouble. Just add a layer of luan plywood and put the new flooring on top of that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the black streaks on the northern side of your roof are most likely algae and moss growths. Learn about an eco-friendly product called Wet & Forget that will help you clean the roof (as well as siding or sidewalks) without damaging your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to solve the root problem of a crumbling concrete floor by taking steps with your gutter and downspout system to make sure rainwater is being properly redirected away from your home's foundation. Get tips on sealing the concrete floor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire an electrician to investigate disconnected outlets. It is not a do-it-yourself project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to adhere baseboard molding to plaster walls. Get tips on using Liquid Nails and trim screws to attach the molding to the wall after a carpenter has cut it to fit your space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair broken fiberglass pool steps. Get tips on removing the steps from the pool so you don't have to drain the water. Learn how to make the repair with fiberglass and fiberglass resin you can buy at an auto-body supply store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a plumber to replace your water heater after the pressure-relief valve has leaked into the panel and fried the elements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the solution for rainwater draining back towards your house rather than running off your driveway into the lawn. Get tips on having a general contractor cut into the driveway and install a curtain drain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to eliminate smoke odor in a home. Get tips on scrubbing the walls and ceiling with TSP, trisodium phosphate, to get rid of the smell. If you are also concerned about the possibility of mold growth, learn how Concrobium can help inhibit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you should hire a pool maintenance company to take care of your pool if you feel the upkeep is getting to be too much. Learn why a pool does not always add to the value of your home, especially if you live in the North. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove water leak stains from your hardwood floor. Get tips on having the entire floor professionally sanded for an even result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best way to get rid of spiders in your house. Learn why you should call a professional pest removal company rather than try to apply a pesticide yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why water that takes too long to get hot is an indication of the long distance between the water heater and the faucet. Learn why the solution --installing an additional water heater or recirculator -- might be too expensive in energy and Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install faux stone on an exterior basement wall. Learn why it's OK to wait a day or two to put on the stone after doing the scratch coat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why basement flooding with is consistent with heavy rainfall is caused by excessive water around the home's foundation rather than a rising water table. Learn how to ensure rainwater is discharged far away from your home with an effective Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix squeaky flooring under carpet. Get a trick of the trade for driving galvanized finish nails at an angle through the carpeting and into the floor joists to help quiet the squeaks. Learn how to pull the carpet up so the nail head Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install a replacement window in a frame that is masonry on three sides but has a metal bar across the top. Get tips on using a piece of pressure-treated lumber as a shim to close down the opening so the window can be secured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of mold on a patio. Get tips on using a deck wash product from Concrobium Mold Control. It's a non-toxic product, and it also leaves a protective barrier when it dries that makes it much less likely the mold will grow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices