The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out what to do when you can't seem to adjust your shower to a comfortable temperature. Get tips on installing a pressure-balance valve, which will always maintain a steady mix of cold and hot water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about your options to seal a patio after it's already been put in. Get tips on using a trisodium phosphate solution to brighten the stones, then using a vapor permeable sealer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's a bad idea to try to put a plumbing system into your fireplace to turn it into a boiler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why diluted bleach is an effective mildicide. If you want to use a different product, get tips on checking out Wet & Forget, a green mold remover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why quartz infrared heat is very expensive to run. Instead, get tips on saving money on your heating bill by improving your home's insulation and making sure drafts aren't coming in through your electrical outlets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to build a rat-proof shed. Get tips on building a block foundation or pouring a slab so there's no space for the rats to get underneath the shed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to re-stain a faded area of a concrete floor. Get tips on mixing up new stain and blending it in to cover up the bald spots. Learn why you might want to consider putting down a clear coat or using a chair mat for further protection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to get rid of cigarette odor in a home. Get tips on pulling up the carpets and padding, cleaning everything with TSP and using a good-quality, oil-based primer to seal in the odor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As long as both water heaters are installed safely and in accordance with code, it's fine to have a propane water heater next to an electric one. However, learn why a better way to ensure access to hot water in the event of a power outage is to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you never want to disable a hot-water baseboard heating system. If you want air conditioning, get tips on adding a separate set of ducts for that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce noise from an HVAC system. Get tips on reinforcing metal ducts to reduce vibration noise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on using good-quality textured paint on a wall instead of spackle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal a drafty siding door. Get tips on using a weatherstripping caulk like DAP Seal 'N Peel. Another option is shrink film, which will keep out any drafts that are coming through the glass itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair cracks in exterior stucco. Learn why it's important to do so that water doesn't get in, freeze, and loosen the stucco. Get tips on using exterior caulk to seal the cracks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn why the purpose of flushing a water heater is to get rid of the sediment on the bottom. Find out why it's more important to do if you have well water than if you have city water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why the best system for attic ventilation is to have soffit vents working in conjunction with ridge vents. Get tips on blocking off your gable vent, since it interrupts that flow of air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a rotted porch post. Get tips on scraping out the bad wood and repairing it with wood filler. Another option is to hide the damage with a piece of trim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to connect the roof of your garage to the roof of your home. Get tips on overlapping the metal under the composite to create a watertight seal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly insulate your attic. Get tips on adding extra blown-in insulation or fiberglass batts to your existing insulation. You should aim for 18-22 inches, which is the standard for an energy-efficient home today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a crack in a cement sink. Get tips on using an epoxy putty to seal the crack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to clean mold in an attic. Get tips on using a bleach solution in a spray bottle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's OK to vent a bath fan out through a soffit as long as you actually cut a hole in the soffit and bring it out. Otherwise, you'll have problems with moisture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to permanently fix a ceiling crack so it won't keep coming back. Get tips on using perforated drywall tape and spackle to make the repair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cut off a solid core door. Get tips on using safety glasses and an old carbide saw blade, which will cut right through the staples in the door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices