On the Wire - Worry-Free Winter Haven
Take a few extra steps now to batten down the hatches before winter¡¯s chill sets in.
Seal the deal A leak here and a crack there may not seem like a big deal, but when precious indoor warmth is using them for escape hatches, you can be sure that your energy dollars are making the same exit. Now is the time to tighten up your home's building envelope with a sealing treatment like GE Silicone II Window & Door. Unlike acrylic-based caulking products, silicone won't crack or shrink, and it provides the best seal against water and the elements. Silicone lasts a lifetime, so you'll only have to go through the application routine once. All it takes is about four tubes of GE Silicone II to seal windows, doors, electrical outlets and other air escapes around the average home - a minimal investment when compared to the hundreds of energy dollars you'll save in the coming year.
Maintain a comfortable indoor climate During the hot, sticky days of summer, you know your home would be unbearable without a central air conditioner. But during up to 40 percent of the entire year, humidity levels can be high enough to make you feel uncomfortable even at moderate temperatures. Mild fall and spring days, morning and evening hours when temperatures drop, and rainy, overcast conditions are just a few of the times when your air conditioner typically won't be in action to help control indoor humidity. So adding a whole-home dehumidifier like Aprilaire's Model 1700 to your central heating and cooling system can provide improved comfort, health, and protection of your home's structure year-round. As a result, rooms won't feel stuffy or sticky, harmful allergens and fungi don't have a place to thrive, and molds and mildew won't take up residence in fabrics, furnishings or millwork. Learn more about home dehumidification and other helpful HVAC add-ons at www.Aprilaire.com.
Brush on beauty and water resistance Rainy weather often reveals the leaks and other moisture problems lurking in basement spaces, so anything you can do now to waterproof your underground bonus area will preserve its comfort and character. A great way to finish off a below-grade space in water-resistant style is with BEHR Basement & Masonry Waterproofing Paint. Developed with Nanoguard technology, this new surface solution uses tiny nano particles to fill the voids created by larger ones, helping to prevent water penetration and moisture buildup. BEHR Basement & Masonry Waterproofing Paint is formulated to prevent water penetration and moisture buildup in both above- and below-grade walls, masonry and retaining walls, cinder and concrete blocks, stucco and brick. This smooth, flat finish is water-based and available in 32 custom colors and limited computer color matching selections. Look for it in both gallon and five-gallon containers at your local Home Depot.
Safe and secure shading Window shades make for a great year-round privacy and climate control solution, but their dangling lift cords can be a hazard for curious children and pets. Taking that safety concern to heart, Levolor now offers the only line of cordless Roman shades on the market, providing a clean, uninterrupted silhouette for windows up to 144 inches wide. Adding to the convenience of the cordless lift system is a top down/bottom up feature that allows you to simultaneously provide coverage on the bottom of the window while letting in natural light at the top in such rooms as bedrooms and master baths where privacy is key. You can also give a room a style lift with a color, texture or traditional stripe pattern from among Levolor's 90 Roman shade varieties. Start designing a safe, stylish view of the winter season with a visit to Levelor's Roman Shade gallery.
Tune up outdoor tools before hibernation It has been a busy summer for you, your lawn mower and the other accessories you use to keep your yard and garden looking great. As your helpers head to the shed for the winter, take time to tune them up so that they're ready when you and your chores are next year. A good cleaning is a start, and you can now get advice and help with more complicated care issues through John Deere Mobile Service and their Ready To Mow Mobile Maintenance program. Your local Ready To Mow rep is a factory-trained service professional who brings his "service center on wheels" to your home or business for standard maintenance and diagnosis of problems with lawn, commercial or hand-held outdoor power equipment. Any brand is fair game for this 14-point maintenance and inspection service, and because regular care has been shown to increase the life of most mechanical equipment, Ready To Mow is a convenient way to protect the investment you've made in your landscape maintenance arsenal. Get acquainted with this service now through the dealer directory at www.ReadyToMow.com, and you'll be thanking yourself come spring.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Fire Safety 101
This week's question comes to us from Archie in Austin, TX. Archie asks, "We recently moved into our current home. Although there is a smoke detector on every level of the house, I am really not sure if the detectors are working or even how old they are. What would you recommend to make sure we are up to current safety standards?"
The National Fire Prevention Association reports that roughly 70 percent of home fire deaths result from fires in homes without smoke alarms or working smoke alarms. Since one-quarter of all fires start during typical sleeping hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and more than one-half of all fire related deaths occur during this periods, a working smoking detector might be the only thing that averts tragedy. One on every level is a good start, but an extra one or two, especially near bedrooms couldn't hurt. Also, consider combination CO and smoke alarms.
Smoke detectors do wear out. If the ones you have are more than five years old, it might be time for a new one. If you aren't sure how old yours are, err on the side of caution and just replace them. The benefit of newer models is that they have updated features that you may want to consider, such as photoelectric sensors that are more sensitive to slow, smoldering fires. For about $35, dual sensor detectors are also available that combine the older ionic sensors which ¡°see¡± fire with photoelectric sensors for greatest protection
Another convenient feature on newer detectors is the reset or "silencer" button. This allows you to shut down the detector for approximately 10 minutes during a nuisance alarm, like burned toast, then goes back to full alert. Resetting your detector is a much better idea than removing the battery, which you may then forget to replace.
Hardwired detectors, those wired directly to the home's electrical system, can also wear out and need to be regularly checked. Check that the red light status light is flashing at regular intervals and use the "test" button to make sure the unit is still working. For more tips and information, contact your local fire department.
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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 - Wimpy Shower?
Can't stand a wimpy shower? Is low water pressure getting in the way of your morning routine? On the next Money Pit radio show, find out how to get that strong refreshing spray you miss back to your shower head. Find out where to tune us in or download our Podcast at www.moneypit.com.
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Dot Common Sense - The Evolution of Power
Power tools have evolved. The minds who brought you the revolutionary Ryobi One power tool system have created a force so advanced, it has the power to make your current One system tools, even more powerful. Introducing 18 V Lithium Ion power tools from Ryobi – it's the next, state of the art addition to the Ryobi One system.
This innovative new Lithium Ion system works with any of your One system tools. It will not only charge your new tools with twice the power, and twice the run time, but you can also use it to charge any of your current Ryobi One NiCad tools as well. They are also 20% lighter, so they are easier and more comfortable to use. The new tool designs focus more on weight and balance than any other tools in the past, and they come in a hot new green color to make them really stand out.
The lithium ion batteries hold their charge four times longer with extended periods of non-use. AND a battery power fuel gauge lets you know exactly how much juice you have left while you are working. You will be able to charge ANY One tool, NiCad OR Lithium Ion, in one hour or less!
And the great thing about the One system is that you only buy what you need. If you already have a great One power tool arsenal, but want the power of Lithium Ion, you can purchase an upgrade kit that will boost the performance of your current tools. Or a great intro to the new system is the two-piece drill kit. Or go all out and get a four-piece Lithium Ion combo kit. With these additions, Ryobi has the largest Lithium Ion system on the market. Available exclusively at The Home Depot. Visit www.RyobiTools.com for more info.
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Short Cuts - Baby Steps
If you don't have a big budget to take on a major home improvement, there are ways to break up big jobs into more financially manageable chunks. In other words, take baby steps. For example, if you're considering replacement windows, but don't have the budget for the whole house, don't completely reject the idea. If your budget is limited, begin by replacing windows on the side of your house that takes the worst seasonal impact. Easterners start with northeastern windows¡¦ southerners, replace southeast windows first, and so on. Then, you can replace the rest as your budget allows.
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Copyright 2007 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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