- On the Air - Listen to Us Anytime, Anywhere
- Ask Tom & Leslie - Foundation Crack
- Short Cuts - Cool Comfort
- Fun Fact - Energy Efficient AC
- Dot Common Sense - Bracing for the Storm
- On the Wire - Take the Bite Out
ON THE AIR
The Money Pit is pleased to now offer our listeners a Podcast stream. Not sure what that is? That's OK. It's a new way to listen to the show, whenever and wherever YOU want to listen. All you need is an iPod, iTunes, and a computer with an Internet connection. In addition, you'll need a small piece of software that reads our Podcast stream.
On your Mac or PC, you install this software that reads Podcast RSS feeds. If the feeds are set up properly, and ours certainly is, they will download audio and put it directly into iTunes. iTunes then syncs up with your iPod and boom! You are all set to listen.
You can easily set it up to check our Podcast feed as often as you like. We suggest weekly as our newest show is up and ready for download each Saturday morning. If you don't have an iPod you can still hear the newest show online or check out our station locator.
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ASK TOM & LESLIE
This week's question comes to us from Jamie Roberts who listens to The Money Pit in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Jamie says, "My mother in law is getting water in her basement. There are two
cracks, on opposing walls. We have had several estimates on repairing, but are still unsure what to do. One company said to just seal the cracks with an epoxy injection, which he would gurantee for life, and two other companies said to dig up inside the basement, and install a new drain system and sub pumps. One company wants to seal the cracks, and put carbon fiber reinforcements on the walls. Both cracks are vertical if that matters, and the foundation is poured concrete not block and mortar.
Jamie, this does NOT sound like a serious problem. Vertical wall cracks in poured concrete foundations are common and generally due to shrinkage. First, let's eliminate the water at the source. Look OUTSIDE for that, not inside. Makes sure the gutter system is clean and that downspouts extend away from the foundation. Next, check the grading. Soil must slope away
from the foundation to keep water from collecting and leaking in. Lastly, the epoxy repair makes sense. Epoxy is a great compound for foundation repair. It sticks well and won't fall out. As for the contractor that wanted to dig up the foundation and install pumps, the only thing that will
do is give you a real soaking -- in your wallet that is!
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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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SHORT CUTS
Cool Comfort
Does your AC system seem sluggish? Dirt is the number one cause of cooling system failure. Clean or change the air filter in your heating and cooling system according to the filter's instructions, generally once a month. Keep it clean to keep it efficient. Schedule an annual maintenance check-up now with a licensed contractor to ensure your system is operating efficiently and safely - check-ups can identify problems early. Make sure you don't neglect your cooling system and it will perform better for you!
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FUN FACT
Energy Efficient AC
If your cooling system is more than 12 years old and needs replacing or if you have an old room unit in need of replacement, consider an ENERGY STAR model. AC and heating systems that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating are at least 10 percent more energy-efficient than standard models. In fact, if just half of all American homes were cooled with ENERGY STAR qualified products, the change would prevent nearly 70 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions of nearly 6 million cars.
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DOT COMMON SENSE
Great web sites featured on the radio show.
A very active Atlantic hurricane season is underway, and with more storms projected, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) increased the number of storms for this season's outlook. NOAA expects another 11 to 14 tropical storms now through November, with seven to nine becoming hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes. Here are some tips to help you prepare in the event of a hurricane in your area.
- WEAK WINDOWS - If you live along the coast, homemade plywood or professionally built shutters are a must when storms are imminent. Buy ˝ inch plywood stamped "CDX" and cut sheets to fit the outside of each window. Pre-drill 1/8th inch holes every 12 inches and secure to windows with screws. To minimize cosmetic damage, mark where each shutter goes. Next time, you'll be able to use the same screw holes and have fewer repairs to fix after the storm passes.
- HURRICANE TIE-DOWNS - Roofs often go first in severe storms. Simple metal "tie-down" straps can keep roof rafters tied to the top wall of the house and prevents uplift during high winds. Straps can also secure walls to floors and keep floors tied tight to foundations. While this improvement takes some specialized skills, it's simple and inexpensive to accomplish, even with professional help.
- BRACE GARAGE DOORS - More homes are "blown-up" in storms then "blown-down". The reason? Weak garage doors blow into the house during a storm. When this happens, wind pressure fills the house with air and causes severe damage. Investing in a sturdy garage door or bracing the one you have makes sense. For a quick reinforcement, secure two 2x4's across the inside of the door by attaching them to the side jambs of the garage door opening in the exterior wall.
For more great storm tips, check out our very own, newly re-vamped website at www.moneypit.com.
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ON THE WIRE
Take the Bite Out
While we all know mosquitoes are really-annoying pests, but what most of us don't know about these little buggers is that ttypically, they weigh less than 1/1,000th the weight of a single dime, they fly through the air at only about a mile an hour, and they only live for two to three weeks. Yet in spite of all these limitations, mosquitoes spread many deadly diseases, like malaria and West Nile virus. Now before you panic and start emailing all your friends about the latest virus that's on the loose, keep in mind that here in North America, the danger is way less serious than in other places around the world. But even so, mosquitoes are a major pain, so we ought to do everything we can do get rid of them. Here are some tips from Organic Style magazine to keep your yard a no-fly zone for skeeters:
- Get rid of standing water. To lay eggs, mosquitoes need water. Or to be more precise, to lay eggs mosquitoes need standing water that's been there at least four days. So your job is to search out every bird bath, every cat or dog's water dish, every potted-plant saucer, and every kiddie-pool in your yard and make sure the water in each gets changed at least every other day.
- Clean your gutters. You know all those nice, wet leaves that are clogging your gutters and storm drains? You think they're nasty but to mosquitoes, they're heaven sent. And if you don't have time or the physical ability to rid your gutters of those leaves yourself then call someone who can do it for you.
- Mow that lawn. Adult mosquitoes like to rest on plants so you can turn your yard into a "no-resting" zone by cutting your grass often, and pulling all the weeds.
- Teach your neighbors how to be mosquito-beaters, too. Even if you mow your lawn, pull your weeds, clean your gutters and remove every drop of standing water from your yard, it's not going to do much good if you're surrounded by neighbors with yards that are full of long grass, leaf-filled gutters, and old water-filled tires, potted-plant saucers, and birdbaths. So why not share your new-found knowledge with your neighbors and get them to mosquito-proof their yards, too?
- For more information, check out the latest issue of "Organic Style" magazine for more mosquito beating tips!
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Copyright 2005 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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