On the Wire - Uninvited Visitors
If you are constantly swatring the air around your, it’s time to take some steps to get rid of these pesky pests.
Filth flies, as they are called, live up to their name – breeding in moist or decaying organic matter. While they don’t cause major damage to your home, they do spread serious diseases. Sanitation is key. Eliminate breeding sites: keep garbage covered and clean your trash cans more often in warmer months.
Are silverfish bugging you? They live in cracks and voids and are common in attics and basements. They are nocturnal and can get around very fast, making them hard to spot and harder to completely eliminate. You can call in a pest control professional or sprinkle boric acid powder in areas they’re known to hide. Boric acid is generally safe around kids and pets. Millipedes and centipedes are nuisance pests, but no fun nonetheless. Boric acid works with them as well.
For larger pests like bats, you may need to call in a professional. Attics make an excellent home for bats. They only need a half inch or less of space to crawl through to get inside. There are lots of unproven methods for getting rid of bats. But the only foolproof method is to trap and remove the bats in your belfry, and then make sure to seal up gaps so they don’t return! You can call the local animal control department of your town for more information. Or visit www.fundforanimals.org.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Electric vs. Gas
“We are remodeling our kitchen/pantry/laundry room. Does it make sense to replace our electric clothes dryer with a natural gas dryer? We could have the plumber extend the gas line into the laundry room while the walls are opened up.”
This makes total sense. In general, electric dryers are a bout 15% less expensive to run compared to gas. While this isn’t enough to justify the cost of installing a gas line and gas meter, it does make sense as a “while you’re at it” kind of project!
Another good reason to switch is that gas clothes dryers have never been “smarter” at saving you energy. Many of the newest Energy Star models include moisture sensors which turn off the dryer when the clothes are dry, which might happen before the timer reaches the end of its cycle, thereby saving both energy and the wear and tear on your clothes!
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Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
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On the Air - Hurricane Help
We are right in the middle of hurricane season. One good way to prevent major damage is to be prepared. Learn what you can do to help your home withstand the elements, on the next Money Pit radio show. To find out where to tune us in where you live, or download our Podcast, visit www.moneypit.com/listen.
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Dot Common Sense - Handy Tools
The Ryobi One 18-volt power tool system is saving DIYers from their own clutter all over America. No longer do you need a separate battery and charger for every tool you own. With the One system, dozens of tools run off the same battery and charger.
There are some great rechargeable gadgets that aren’t really tools – but will become indispensable once you have them. Use the inflator, radio and fan while camping, boating or just hanging out by the pool.
The inflator is a great alternative to searching for change to inflate a low tire at a gas station, or pumping up inflatable boats and air mattresses by hand. (Ugh!) The 18v inflator works in two modes – automatically up to 40 PSI, and manually to 115 PSI – to quickly and effortlessly inflate everything from footballs and beach balls to tractor tires.
Why let your spare ONE batteries just quietly wait their turn to work? Let ‘em rock your worksite, campsite, or outdoor party in this rugged cordless radio. Digital tuning gives you crisp, clear FM reception – and an auxiliary MP3 input lets you choose the tunes and play your favorites. Time flies when you’re having tunes!
Now, virtually everything you do can be a breeze – or at least, be in a breeze – thanks to a handy portable fan. No cord. No sweat. Sweet relief! And a perfect gift for anyone with Ryobi ONE tools.
For more information on Ryobi tools visit www.oneplustools.com
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Fun Fact - Freezing Furnace
Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Well, believe it or not, if you have central air conditioning, elements in the furnace can freeze up. If you have dirty coils and a very humid day, the moist air won’t be able to pass through the coils fast enough to allow them to “warm up”. So they freeze. Usually this can be fixed by cleaning the coils. It’s also important to check the refrigerant level in the unit. If it is low, it can also contribute the frost over.
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Short Cuts - Hardwood Hints
Sometimes unexpected surprises can be a good thing with your remodel – like finding hardwood floors under wall-to-wall carpeting. For the best results on shining up the original finish, rent a floor buffer with sanding screens. Then, mop on an oil-based polyurethane finish with a lamb’s wool applicator. Use several thin coats and try to avoid heavy traffic on the floor for a few days after the finish is applied so that it can fully harden.
Another option is to paint – yes paint – your wood floors! You can paint a checkerboard pattern, a border, a design, even a faux rug right on your wood floors. Proper prep is key. Make sure you sand and prime both bare wood or previously varnished floors. After painting, seal the paint with water-based polyurethane.
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Copyright 2007 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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