The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Find out what kind of siding to use if you live in an area that gets a lot of wind and rain. Learn why Hardiplank is weather-resistant and get tips on installing it on top of your old plywood siding instead of removing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a wood fireplace generally provides more home value than a wood stove. A fireplace makes a home more attractive to buyers, and stoves can pose decorating problems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a cold shower. If your shower is the only fixture in your house that doesn't produce hot water, the problem is most likely the valve, and the solution is to replace the faucet set. Learn why you should consider a pressure-balanced Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to insulate your crawlspace to keep your tile floors warm and keep your plumbing from freezing. Get tips on insulating the pipes and insulating the floor joists to make things more comfortable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to properly insulate a crawlspace. Get step by step instructions for sealing gaps with expandable foam, pressing unfaced batts into the floor joists and putting plastic on the floor of the crawlspace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep squirrels out of your yard. Get tips on laying garden netting on the perimeter of your yard to repel squirrels. Learn about Whole Control, a solution you can spray on your lawn that tastes bad to squirrels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tips on checking with the townhome association to find out who is responsible for fixing structural problems. Learn how to fix cracks in your walls with perforated drywall tape. If it turns out the structural issue is your responsibility, get tips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to renew the look of vinyl siding with paint. Get tips on getting a paint rated for vinyl siding that is designed to adhere and not peel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to deal with pet urine and feces that have penetrated the floors in the home you rent out. Get tips on a product called 1-2-3 odor free to get rid of the odor. You can also pull up all the carpeting and use a primer on the subfloor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out if you should be worried about black mold developing in your home after a one-time leak. Learn why mold only develops in a place that stays wet for a long time, and get tips on doing something counter-intuitive when your ceiling starts bowing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to fix a banging noise caused by a kitchen water sprayer. Get tips on replacing the handle in the handheld sprayer to see if that fixes the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to keep your sunroom cool in the summer. Get tips on using a separate HVAC system for the sunroom -- Tom recommends a Mitsubishi Mr. Slim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before you agree to a service agreement for your HVAC system, find out what it entails. If the HVAC people are just going to look at your system, that's one thing, but if they are going to actually inspect it and do maintenance work, that's worth it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to repair a chipped laminate floor. Get tips on contacting the manufacturer to see if they have a touch-up compound you can use on the floor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to use a floor-leveling compound to even out your floor so you can install engineered hardwood on top of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't worry about a crack in your foundation as long as it seems to be stable and isn't growing. However, if it starts widening later, learn why you should have a structural engineer inspect it and report on what needs to be done Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to seal out window drafts in the winter. Get tips on using weatherstripping caulk -- the temporary kind that you can peel off in the spring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to catch squirrels in your attic, repair the holes they've chewed and keep them from coming back. Get tips on using humane traps called Havaharts, and try moth balls, which they don't like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn about storage solutions for kids' toys. Get tips on making a storage bench with a cushioned top and slow hinges that won't hurt their fingers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a fireplace, unlike a central heating system, does not distribute heat evenly throughout your house. Get tips on installing a duct booster in the wall between the two sides of the house to move air from one side to the other. Consider a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why a radiant barrier is not the most effective way to reduce your home's energy consumption. Get tips on installing adequate insulation as well as soffit and ridge ventilation in your attic to control the moisture level and help you save Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to use a garden hose to narrow down the location of a roof leak. Learn why the intersection between two roofs must be properly flashed, or the water will back up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out why you shouldn't build a fire pit in your gazebo, because there's nowhere for the smoke to go and the roof will burn down. Learn why we don't really heat gazebos in winter months because they aren't meant to be enclosed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to winterize your home. Get tips on adding antifreeze to all the fixtures in your home so they won't crack in the event that your home loses heat. Learn about freeze-alert systems and asking a plumber to install a drain valve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to install the plastic floor guide for your floating closet doors. Get tips on pilot drilling the laminate floor and then screwing through the guide into the pilot holes to secure it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices