The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out how to bend PVC pipe. Get tips on filling it with sand, which will prevent it from collapsing as you use a heat tape to warm it and bend it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a noisy air conditioning system. Learn why the fan speed is probably set too high, pressurizing the ducts and causing a whistling noise. Get tips on calling back your contractor and having them resolve the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what steps you can take to keep rainwater away from the foundation of your home. Learn why installing a drainage system is only necessary when you have a rising water table, and not merely flooding that is consistent with rainfall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to stop pipe couplings from breaking. Get tips on replacing your glued-on couplings with a Fernco -- a rubber boot that attaches to both sides of the pipe and will give you a lot of flexibility to allow for expansion and contraction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out whether you need to replace your air conditioning system. Learn about split-ductless systems and how they are used to supplement, not replace, central air. Get tips on replacing the compressor rather than replacing your entire AC system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to improve the look of a hardwood floor that gets heavy foot traffic without actually completely refinishing it. Get tips on using a floor buffer and a sanding screen to take out the scratches. Learn a trick of the trade for applying your Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a shower drain that backs up and makes a slurping noise after you plunge it. Learn why the problem is that the shower drain is not vented properly. Get tips on snaking the drain to make sure it's clear, and then adding an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what the problem is when the cold water in your shower has low water pressure compared to your hot water. Learn why it's probably caused by a clogged or obstructed shower diverter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to dry out a damp crawlspace. Get tips on sloping the soil around the perimeter of your foundation so that rainwater is carried away from the home. Make sure the floor is completely covered by a vapor barrier and add vent fans wired to a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the right way to refinish a cork floor in a bathroom. Learn why cork is a good choice for wet environments and get tips on sanding the floor and applying polyurethane to refinish it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what you can do to fill the gaps between a prehung door and your door opening. Learn why clamshell trim surrounding the door is a traditional but boring option. Instead, try baseboard molding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to cover up an ugly, outdated baseboard heater. Get tips on checking out RadiantWraps.com, the website of a company that makes covers for all types of baseboard heaters -- electric, gas and steam. They offer a variety of models so you can Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why it's important to repair a crack in a brick wall so that water doesn't get in and expand when it freezes, causing further damage. Get tips on using a clear, quick-dring caulk product like DAP 3.0. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why planning an addition to a modular home is no different from the process of adding on to any other home. Learn about the importance of working with an architect and creating a comprehensive spec list so that you can do an apples-to-apples Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do when the waterproofing finish on your basement walls is flaking off. Get tips on removing it and putting a damp-proofing material on the walls. Learn why a better way to waterproof your basement is to redirect water away from the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a lawn that's in really bad shape. Learn why the solution is to do a "Roundup restoration" -- apply Roundup to the entire lawn so everything gets killed off, and then put in new seed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to reduce the level of dust in your home. Learn why duct cleaning is only necessary if you have recently done some construction or remodeling. Otherwise, the solution is to invest in a good quality electronic air cleaner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to add a shower to your basement without using a jackhammer. Get tips on building up the shower a few inches to a foot so there's room to get the plumbing in. Then, drain that to a lower point where the house drain can pick it up, or, if Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about silt in your well water. Learn why the solution is a water filtration system rather than digging a new well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a sulfur odor coming from well water. Learn why the problem could actually be caused by a worn anode in the water heater. Get tips on replacing the anode to fix the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to remove oil stains from a concrete driveway. Get tips on mixing up a paste of trisodium phosphate, spreading it over the stains, and letting it sit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out what to do about a warped wood floor in a home you are trying to sell. Get tips on how to repair the floor if the problem is a buckled floor joist. Learn why you should hire a professional home inspector to diagnosis the problem and identify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to unstick a cabinet drawer and get tips on swapping it with a drawer of the same size from elsewhere in the kitchen so it doesn't get stuck again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate an attic with a low-sloped roof. Learn why you should try to get as much insulation as possible into the floor joists without blocking the soffit vents. Then consider adding a ridge vent down the peak of the roof to help keep Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to attach a doorknob to an oversized hole. Get tips on using a machine screw, nut and washer to secure the doorknob. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices