The Money Pit Calls & Answers

Do you want the look of textured walls or ceilings? There are many patterns, textures and techniques to get the look you're going for. Learn about some techniques to use when working on textured walls and celings.

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Once you've eliminated bulbs as the issue, a faulty light switch can mean one of many things. Discover what steps to take to get to the bottom of the problem - and to find a solution. Plus, learn about a new and invaluable product that can prevent

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Read about installing an electric water heater vs. a tankless hot water heater. Find out which choice is more energy efficient for your home.

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Learn what toxic mold looks like, how to prevent it from spreading, and what to do if it shows up in a home you own or rent. 

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Refinishing an old dresser is one of the best ways to give new life to old furniture. Find out how to strip and repaint . Bedroom furniture and more.

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Learn what causes white buildup in bathrooms - and how to prevent and get rid of it. Plus, learn how bathroom exhaust fan timers can help keep your bathroom clean and fresh. 

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Drain snakes can do wonders for plumbing clogs, but can wreak havoc on your toilet bowl. Learn which products - including one typically used on cars - can remove toilet bowl scratches. 

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A new cabinets can drastically change the atmosphere of a room. When on a budget, painting you cabinets is a great low-cost alternative. Listen here for tips on how to get started.

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A sulfur odor coming from the bathroom is a common problem for homeowners. Most of the time, it has an easy solution but when that does not work, Tom and Leslie have another one. Listen here to find out more!

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Concerned about radon in your home? Learn an inexpensive method to help you to ensure your home is safe by checking radon level.

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Find out how to fix a faucet with low water pressure, which is most likely caused by debris in the valve. Get tips on taking apart the tip of the faucet where the aerator is and using white vinegar and water to break down any mineral buildup.

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Learn how to clean mildew from drywall. Find out how a product called Simple Green will prevent the growth of mildew and mold in a bathroom.

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Painted surfaces that peel again and again will not protect the wood underneath. Find out why paint peels and steps needed to prep and paint the surfaces so that paint will tick and not paint over again.

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Learn how to clean mold or mildew on leather. Find out how to dilute rubbing alcohol to remove mildew from leather furniture.

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Paint alone won't get rid of the foul odor left behind from cigarettes. Learn how to prep walls before repainting, and how to treat and clean carpets and floors to permanantly get rid of that tobacco smell.

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Doors can be drafty, especially if they are not hung properly in the door jamb. Get ideas for both fixing those drafty doors and keeping the drafts out.

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DIY floor leveling takes time, effort, and preparation, but is much more affordable than having the job done professionally. Learn what to expect, and which materials you'll need.

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Get options for replacing a water damaged ceiling. Read about fiber tiles and drop ceiling options for a bathroom ceiling damaged by a water leak.

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Learn how to pinpoint what's causing a squeaky floor, and get tips on reducing the noise. Also, find out whether squeaky floors are an indication of a structural problem. 

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Learn how to repair a sinking garage floor. Find out why soil movement might cause a garage floor to sink and how to use a jackhammer to remove the old concrete floor.

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Get tips on contacting an independent insurance adjuster to file a claim for water damaged walls and ceilings on a lower level caused by a loose dishwasher hose.

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Think of the valve as the engine that powers the spray functions or the brain that brings water, steam, music and light together for a full sensory experience. When it breaks, it needs to be replaced. Listen here to find out the best options for your money pit.

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If the hot water in your home has a strong odor, the cause could be the water heater, drains or even the water quality itself. Learn how to eliminate smelly water odor.

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Learn how to refinish a stained acrylic bathtub. Find out how to apply a product like Gel Gloss to repair the finish on your discolored tub.

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Bathtub cracks can be hard to repair but we have a solution for your problem here! Check it out!

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Find out to store porcelain tile and get tips for installation.

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Find out how to clean white fuzz from a concrete floor. Learn why it is mineral deposits rather than mold. Get tips on using a mixture of water and white vinegar to get rid of it. You will also need to improve the drainage conditions around your

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Learn how to paint over stained furniture. Find out how applying liquid sandpaper can help paint to adhere to varnished or stained furniture without the need for stripping.

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Get tips on staining and sealing a wood floor. Find out how long to wait between coats when applying polyurethane, and learn what may happen if the second coat is applied too soon.

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Find out what kind of carpet is best to go under heavy office furniture. Learn why low-pile, commercial grade carpet is a good choice for a home office space. Get tips on how to remove furniture indentations in carpet.

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Find out how to repair a leaking kitchen faucet. Get tips on getting a rebuild kit from the manufacturer, and learn why you should never use a generic. Another option is to replace the faucet if it's old and you're due for a new one.

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Get tips on hiring a plumber to remove a bathtub drain that over time has become stripped so there's nothing to grab onto. The plumber will likely drill it off and chisel it away with a cold chisel.

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Learn how a programmable thermostat can help manage a radiant floor heating system. Find out why a programmable thermostat for radiant floor heating systems can help reduce your energy cost so that you don't have to worry about overheating the

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Learn which products should work best to remove grease and grime from kitchen cabinets. Find out where to get the Grime-Away product.

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Find out why you should move your thermostat so it can't "see" your fireplace. Learn why a zone exerciser is an inefficient way to keep hot water circulating through your pipes.

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Find out why it's OK to use a carpet cleaner on a carpet with particle board underneath. The machine pushes water into the carpet but sucks it back out almost immediately. The particle board may become damp, but that won't cause warping or mold

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Apartment living can include noisy neighbors! Learn how to create a sound barrier to reduce noises from others apartments and the outside world.

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With no attic space to work in, insulating a cathedral ceiling is difficult. Learn the best options for insulation and ventilation to save energy.

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Find out why a green switch, which means your heat pump is wired into the power company grid, could be causing the erratically high temperatures in your home. Learn why this is a problem with the control circuit, not the thermostat, and why you should

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Learn how to clean burnt popcorn smell from your microwave. Find out how boiling a bowl of vinegar and water in your microwave can help get rid of the odor of burnt popcorn.

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Learn why you should choose quartz for a heat-resistant countertop. Find out why Silestone is a great kitchen counter choice because it resists scorching and knife marks can be sanded away.

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Learn how to warm up a cold floor. Find out how insulating the floor joists in your crawlspace and installing radiant heating can help warm up a cold floor.

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Learn how to install an alarm to warn against freezing pipes. Find out how a freeze alarm can be part of a centrally wired alarm system that will notify you when a gas pilot light goes out so you can prevent frozen pipes.

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Find out the cause of ice on a storm door. Find out how condensation on a storm door may indicate a well-sealed door.

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Find out how to fix a blocked pipe. Get tips on snaking the drain all the way to where it connects to the street or to your septic field.

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Find out what considerations you must make when deciding whether your heating system is big enough to heat your second floor. Get tips on checking the BTU capacity of the furnace and making sure you have ductwork that already goes up to the attic.

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Find out how to design a sliding door for a small bathroom space. Get tips on installing an exterior track system and hanging a regular wood door or plastic composite door on it.

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Learn how to insulate a basement floor. Get tips on laying a vapor barrier over a dirt floor when insulating a basement floor.

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Learn how to replace a bathtub while preserving tile. Find out how to keep the tile you've got when replacing a bath tub by installing a complimentary color tile on the bottom row.

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Get tips for installing blown-in insulation yourself. Find out how much pressure to use and how much insulation to put in.

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If you have a central AC condenser outside, you can winterize that unit - so to speak - but taking a few steps to get it ready for cold weather. Learn what you need to do.

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Find out how to fix a shower leak. Get tips on running a hose directly down the shower drain to eliminate that as the source of the problem. Then test the shower pan for leaks by taking a heavy washcloth or stopper, covering the shower drain and

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Learn how to stop windows from sweating in winter. Get tips on how to reduce moisture in the home, including properly venting the bathroom and installing a whole home dehumidifier.

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Learn how to install flashing around a chimney. Find out how to layer flashing so that it properly seals the chimney from rain and other leaks.

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Find out how to realign cabinet drawers and doors by tightening the screws on the drawer fronts and door hinges. Also get tips on removing cabinet doors before you paint them, and numbering them so you can put them back in the right order.

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Find out how to locate a roof leak. Get tips on checking places where a pipe goes through the roof and using a garden hose to try to recreate the leak.

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Find out how to get rid of a white residue on the glass door of your shower. Learn why the residue is probably mineral salt deposits from hard water, and get tips on cleaning it with a white vinegar solution.

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Find out how to stain a pressure-treated wood railing and stairway. Get tips on using an exterior stain and learn about the different levels of transparency available.

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Find out how to stop your hardwood floors from squeaking. Get tips on using a stud sensor to find the floor joists. Learn how oak plugs will make the repairs invisible.

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Find out how to solve a leaking toilet. Get tips on replacing the wax seal. The other most common locations for a leak are the fill valve on the back of the toilet and the water-supply pipe.

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Find out how to put in a new tub. Get tips on putting cement down first and wiggling the tub into place. That way the tub will be well supported and won't crack.

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Find out how to paint a ceiling. Learn the difference between wall paint and ceiling paint. Get tips on using a special kind of ceiling paint that goes on pink, so you don't miss any spots, but dries white. Use a good quality primer, such as KILZ, and

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Learn about gas vs. electric applicances for energy efficiency. Find out why gas appliances are almost always more energy efficient than electric applicances like washers and dryers.

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Learn whether cracks in concrete garage floors are structural or easily fixed, and which steps to take first. 

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Find out why you should always leave the damper on your gas fireplace all the way open.

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When it comes to partial replacement of siding, it can be tough to pin down an exact color match. Learn your options. Also, discover the benefits of hiring a public adjuster - when they're valuable, and how they're paid. 

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Find out how mold forms in your closet and what you can do to prevent it from spreading. Use plenty of ventallation and circulate the air in your home to get rid of mold.

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Find out how to research a bathtub refinishing company before you decide whether or not to use their service.

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If you have a small kitchen and small dining room, you might consider cutting the wall between them in half to open up the space. Ask a realtor in your area what he or she recommends to increase the resale value of your home.

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Learn why cracks in a wall can be normal due to settlement in the house over time. Find out how to use fiberglass tape and spackle to permanently repair the crack.

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Find out what causes black staining on carpet near the edge of the room. Get tips on purchasing an electronic air cleaner, such as Trane Clean Effects, and minimizing carpet in your home to avoid aggravating your allergies.

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Learn how to choose the best dog door for your four legged friend that is pet friendly and weather safe.

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Learn how to create a soundproof room for recording. Find out why you should install rock wool insulation batting to muffle sound.

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Solar Roof Shingles seem like a good idea but does the benefit outweigh the initial cost and long term maintenance requirements? Tom helps a homeowner sort it out.

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When brick walls age, the mortar can deteriorate and become britle. Get tips to restore loose brick and mortar and restore old walls.

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Find out why the solution to a long distance between your water heater and bathroom is to install a tankless water heater. Get tips on putting your electric tankless water heater on a timer to control the cost.

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PEX piping has a lot of advantages over copper piping - but some detractors are concerned that it might be eaten by rodents. Get The Money Pit's take on the topic. 

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When paint peels, it's often a sign of delamination - and a sign that you need to start from scratch. Find out what steps to take to restore a peeling wall or ceiling and repaint it to perfection. 

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Find out whether over-the-counter pesticides can help a termite infestation, or if calling an exterminator is always necessary. 

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Find out how to solve the problem of a toilet that won't flush completely. Consider getting the Champ, a power-flush toilet from American Standard with a completely new bowl design that’s virtually clog-proof.

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Learn how to build and tile a shower stall. Find out the steps to creating your own custom tiled shower stall, including demolition, plumbing, and more.

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Loose roof shingles that don't seal well can cause roof leaks to occur. Get tips on the best way to repair loose roof shingles once and for all.

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Get tips on cleaning soap buildup on your stainless steel dishwasher door. Using a slightly abrasive cleaning agent on a damp cloth can eliminate soap buildup.

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If you are doing a bathroom remodel and want to tile the shower, learn what you need to know to keep the area leak free and draining correctly.

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Find out how to fix a blocked washing machine pipe. Get tips on opening up the pipes near the T and snaking the line from there.

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Get tips on choosing a tankless water heater for your home. Learn about tankless water heaters and find out where to but a tankless water heater for your home.

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Removing wax from carpet is surprisingly easy if you know what to do! Get tips to remove wax from carpet using paper towels and a hot iron.

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Get tips on leveling an uneven walkway. An epoxy patching compound can even out the walkway and will remain intact even after a freeze-thaw cycle.

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Got leaking windows? Bugs and mold seem to love the leaks but you don't have to. Learn the best way to stop windows that leak.

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Learn how to insulate floor joists on an addition that extends from your house, and how to seal drafts that enter around the floor framing area of an extesion to warm up a cold area of your home.

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Find out how to get rid of bed bugs when spraying hasn't worked. Get tips on looking into a bed bug extermination method in which professionals put supply ducts into your house and overheat it, essentially turning the house into an oven and killing the bed bugs wherever they are.

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Looking for a new bathroom floor but do not want to rip up the current tile? Learn what kind of floating floor to put over tile might be right for you.

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Find out why you should hire an architect to design a house that will meet your needs and desires. He or she will also develop a set of specifications so you will be able to compare and contrast competing general contractors.

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Find out how to keep your basement from getting too hot in the winter. Get tips on insulating the ducts in your basement, and learn why you shouldn't insulate the basement ceiling.

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Find out how to fix a light switch timer. Get tips on looking closely at the light to figure out why the bulb isn't making contact with the socket.

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Get tips for getting rid of mice. Find out how using a rodenticide can eliminate rodents in your home.

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Discover the pros and cons of bathroom flooring options, and find out whether bamboo - which is very durable and on trend - is a smart bathroom choice. 

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Learn how to strip wallpaper with a power steamer. Find out how to take care of the wall once the wallpaper has been removed and how to get the wall ready for paint.

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Moving a load-bearing beam is a difficult project for the best of contractors and definitely not a job for a DIYr. Find out how beams of this type can be moved and if the change is worth the expense.

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You can clean the odor from your dishwasher fairly easily. Learn which product will help clean odor.

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