1. On the Air - Congrats to our Weekly Winner!
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Disconnecting a Gas Line
3. Short Cuts - Home Heating Tips
4. Fun Fact - Hotel Hot Spots
5. Dot Common Sense - www.moneypit.com
6. On the Wire - Looks Like a Fan, Works Like a Heater!

ASK TOM & LESLIE

This week's question comes to us from Kate in Maryland. Kate says, "We are having flooring put in and the installers said we have to have the stove/range disconnected for them so the can move it. Is this something we can do? It does look to me that we can turn off the gas from the shut off just behind the stove, bleed out the lines, after shut-off and disconnect and reverse after the range is back in place and installers have left. My main question is what size cap to I use to seal off connection while workers are doing their thing?"

Kate, disconnecting your gas range for this purpose is a fairly simple job. Basically, a properly installed gas appliance will have a gas shut off valve that needs to be turned from the "on " position which is in-line with the pipe, to the "off" position which is perpendicular to the gas pipe. Once it is turned off, no gas should leak out. If the valve works correctly, you should have no need to cap the pipe for the short time the stove will be disconnected. However, for an extra safety measure, you can do this by picking up a cap at the local hardware store. The size depends on the pipe. Measure it and then by 3 caps, one smaller than what you think you need, one the right size and one larger. This will cover you and you can take the unused ones back. However, before you begin, please consider this advice carefully. Since you are unfamiliar with disconnecting a gas appliance, I would not recommend you tackle it alone. Find a handy friend who has done this before, or hire a plumber. It's not a hard job - but this is not the time to learn!

GOT A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR MONEY PIT?

1. The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.MoneyPit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
2. Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
3. Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.

Follow these seemingly simple steps to keep your house warm and save money on your energy bills:

• Lower thermostats or close doors and vents in unused rooms.
• Move your furniture and drapes away from heating registers, radiators and baseboard heat covers.
• Seal openings that let cold air in around doors, windows and outlets that are on outside walls. Don't forget to seal the area around you dryer vent and keep the damper of your chimney closed when not in use.
• Replace air filters every month.

FUN FACT

If you have to be away from your Money Pit, make it an experience. The latest trend in travel: stylish boutique hotels. In places like Houston and Atlanta, not generally known for cutting-edge lodgings, swanky hotels are cropping up -- full of over the top décor, touches of whimsy and superb service. The concept is growing and a hit with consumers and developers alike. Established hotel chains are also getting in on the act. Choice Hotels International - think Econo Lodge and Comfort Inn - has just announced it will launch a new chain of hotels including plasma TVs, luxury bedding and contemporary furnishings at a comfortable hundred-dollar-a-night rate. Other things you might see at a boutique hotel include tray tables for working or eating in bed, a goldfish bowl or an in-room martini bar. Reasoning behind the new trend is savvy travelers looking for affordable luxury and new experiences.

DOT COMMON SENSE

This week we want to highlight a great website with lots of resources for homeowners... ours! We encourage you to visit www.moneypit.com to see our newly redesigned site. It's filled with great information and resources like estimators and calculators, home improvement links and behind-the-scenes scoop on all the folks who put the show together each week. You can also listen to the radio show on our website each week, and even download it for your own personal podcast! If you missed a past show, you can find that, too. And you can enter your zip code to learn where we broadcast in your area. While you are there, check out the buzz on the show and learn why radio industry insiders say Tom and Leslie are the how-to team to watch. It's all at MoneyPit.com - check it out!

ON THE WIRE

Have you ever wished for zoned heating, but just didn't want to deal with the expense and hassle of re-doing duct work? There is an amazing product for your home that will help you achieve the comfort and ease of zoned heating with minimal installation, including staying away from current duct work! The Reiker Room Conditioner looks, installs and operates like a very attractive, high-end ceiling fan but is a heater, too. It's a product that works all-year round. This patented product features four ceramic heaters that are housed above the fan unit. It can heat a 20 x 20 x 10 ft. room quickly and efficiently for about 5 cents an hour. The Reiker Room Conditioner works with a computer controlled transmitter that checks the room temperature every three minutes and turns on or off one or more of the heating elements to maintain the exact room temperature desired. It's great for efficiently heating cold rooms during the winter and extending the life of three-season rooms during the spring and fall. The ideal temperature is maintained using just one-quarter the power output of a single space heater. Unlike other room heaters that take up floor space and can be potentially dangerous if left unattended, the Reiker Room Conditioner does its job overhead. Reiker's Room Conditioners have a 54-inch blade circumference and mount to the ceiling like a standard ceiling fan. It's available in several finishes to complement any décor. The Room Conditioner includes an energy efficient light kit. It has been tested and its performance verified by the U.S. Department of Energy. It is available at Menard's stores, Orchard Supply, Home Hardware (Canada), selected Lowe's and Home Depot stores and lighting showrooms. It is also available by special order through Home Depot. For more information visit www.buyreiker.com, or call 866-473-4537. (1-866-4-REIKER)

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