1. On the Air - iPod, uPod, We All Pod!
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Bring Back the Bubbles!
3. Short Cuts - Clean Screens
4. Fun Fact - Lawn Mower Maintenance
5. Dot Common Sense - Termite Tracking
6. On the Wire - The Silent Killer

ON THE AIR

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ASK TOM & LESLIE

This week's question comes to us from Shannon, who recently bought her first home. Shannon says, "Although we are loving every minute of our new home, there are a few projects that need to be done. The previous owner was disabled so certain rooms were adapted to his needs - including a large shower stall big enough for his wheelchair to fit into. This is nice but there is no other tub in the house and sometimes a girl just needs her bubble bath! Is there a way to replace it with a tub? If so would you suggest a one piece or a tub and sides separate?

Shannon, needless to say this is a BIG job. If the old stall is a one-piece, it will probably need to be cut out. Then the walls, floors and plumbing prepped for the new plumbing. And then, the new tub installed. We would recommend a two-piece unit with tubs and walls installed separately, or just install a tub and tile the walls. Frankly, it is a lot of work either way. But, the good news is that baths give you one of the best returns on your investment dollars when it comes time to sell. So, in your case, you'll end up with both bubbles and some bucks!

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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. Weíll get back to you with the answer ñ 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.

FUN FACT

Spring is the perfect time to inspect door and window screens for tears. You can often repair small tears using a kit from your local hardware store. You can easily patch most small holes. It's only when a hole exceeds about 3" in diameter that the screening itself needs to be replaced. Measure hole sizes and purchase ready-made, snap-on repair patches or cut them from new screening. A patch should be at least 1/2" larger in diameter than the hole. For bigger holes, the patch should be as much as 1" larger. You can patch small holes-1/4" to 3/8"-with a small amount of household cement. This glue patch will be next to invisible.

To clean screens, first try vacuuming them while installed. An upholstery nozzle usually does the trick. In some cases, airborne dirt cannot be removed simply by vacuuming. Then the screens must be taken off and washed. With luck, a hard spray from a garden hose will do the job. In other cases, you'll need to scrub the screens. Do this with a stiff-bristled brush and a mild detergent solution, and finish by rinsing with the hose.

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FUN FACTS

You wouldn't jump in your car and tear down the driveway if it had been sitting idle all winter would you? The same is true for your lawnmower. Here are some tune-up tips before you hit the turf:

• Give your mower a good cleaning. Scrape off bits of dirt and grass clippings and consider painting the underbelly with a rust-resistant paint if it's metal.
• Check your oil. As a rule, a mower's oil should be changed twice a year.
• Check the gas tank. The mower should have been stored with the tank drained. If it wasn't, drain it now and add fresh fuel.
• Check the spark plugs. Disconnect them and look at the contacts. Rusty ones should be replaced.
• Check the blade. Remove rust with steel wool. The blade should be able to cut a piece of paper cleanly. You might want to have it professionally sharpened if it doesn't pass this test.

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DOT COMMON SENSE

It's termite swarm season, so now is the time to see if you can catch these sneaky and destructive pests before they head underground to make a meal of your home. Swarm season is the part of a termite's life cycle where they fly off and reproduce. When this happens, you'll either spot the swarm itself or find the clear wings termite swarms leave behind, typically near windows or on sills. Unfortunately, this is the only time you'll even catch a glimpse of these little buggers. Termites typically enter your home in areas that are difficult to spot, like inside dark crawlspaces or basement. Other telltale signs of termite infestation include soft wood in the home, mud tubes in the interior or exterior of your home often near the foundation, and darkening or blistering of wood structures. But by the time you notice the signs of an infestation, the damage has most likely already been done. To avoid a surprise attack, have your home inspected for termite damage. An annual, professional inspection only costs about a hundred bucks and is the best prevention to avoid termites and other wood destroying insects all year long.

Visit www.PestWorld.com for frequently asked questions and resources to find a qualified Pest Management Professional in your area.

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ON THE WIRE

Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths each year. Hundreds of people die every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. About 94% of U.S. households have one or more smoke alarms, yet less than half of those have carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless and tasteless gas, and it can cause illness - or death. Carbon monoxide comes from anything that burns fuel, such as gas furnaces, stoves, water heaters, barbeque grills, wood-burning fireplaces, alternative power sources and automobiles. It is a by-product of incomplete combustion and can easily build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed areas throughout the home.

Signs of CO poisoning include flu-like symptoms: headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. The best way to protect yourself from accidental CO poisoning is to install CO alarms throughout your home. First Alert recommends installing at least one CO alarm per level of the home. If residents sleep with their doors closed, it's also a good idea to install CO alarms in their rooms. Alarms should be at least 15 feet away from potential CO sources, such as furnaces, hot water heaters, gas stoves, clothes dryers, fire places, etc. It's also a good idea to have CO alarms with battery backup for power outage situations. Maintaining CO alarms is not difficult - it simply requires sticking to a periodic maintenance schedule. You should replace batteries at least once a year or more frequently if needed. Changing batteries at one or both of the Daylight Savings time changes is a good habit to get into. In addition, you should test alarms at least once a month by pressing and holding the test/silence button until the alarm sounds. If an alarm signals a malfunction, first check to see if the battery is installed properly in battery-operated and battery-backup units. If this does not fix the malfunction, replace the alarm. All CO alarms should be replaced every five years. For more information, visit www.FirstAlert.com.

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