1. On the Air - Congratulations to Our Weekly Winner
2. Ask Tom & Leslie - Copper Pipes Deteriorating
3. Short Cuts - Savings By the Yard
4. Fun Fact - Lawnmower Maintenance
5. Dot Common Sense - www.servicemagic.com
6. On the Wire - The Silent Killer

This week's question comes to us from Ellington Churchill of Baltimore, Maryland. He says, "I have a 30 year old home with a private well and septic system. The water is hard. I continue to experience pinhole leaks in the copper piping. I have investigated having a water conditioning system installed for the water to the house and a separate purifier for drinking water. No system is apples to apples for comparison. What recommendations might you have for water systems?"

Ellington, your problem gives us great concern. Water deteriorating copper pipes usually has to do with the mineral content - specifically aluminum - that may be contaminating your water supply. The FIRST thing you need to do is have the water thoroughly tested by an experienced lab. Tell the lab to test for aluminum or other minerals that can react with copper. Once you get those tests back, you should be able to select a water treatment system that is designed to eliminate whatever contaminates are found. You won't need two systems. One system installed where the main water line comes into the home from the well will treat all the water - including the water you drink.

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.

Here are some quick tips to help keep your lawn lush this summer:

Reduce your grassy area by planting low maintenance shrubs like junipers and barberries. You can ask for suggestions at your local nursery. You'll save on water and fertilizer. Rent an aerator, a machine that pulls up small plugs of earth to let air in and make your lawn healthier. It's best to use in the early spring and/or fall. Water your lawn in the morning so water doesn't evaporate before it has a chance to soak in. The soil should be moistened to a depth of six to eight inches. Don't mow your grass too short, it will weaken the blades of grass and invite weeds. Bring a sample of weeds to your local nursery so they can be identified and you use the right weed killer the first time. Finally, leave the clippings where they are. They'll break down and add nitrogen to the grass, a natural - and free - fertilizer.

FUN FACT

Before you rev up your mower for the first time this spring, take a few minutes to check it out. A few minutes of maintenance could save you time and money in the long run. Here's what to do:

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.

DOT COMMON SENSE

Check out www.servicemagic.com to find prescreened, customer-rated service professionals in your area, including painters, remodelers, plumbers, architects, cleaning services and more. This FREE service does the work for you, no playing phone tag and no hassles. You select from up to four prescreened member professionals. Once servicemagic.com confirms the availability and interest in your project, you'll get an email. And with the website's service guarantee, you can be sure that the job will be done to your satisfaction, even if servicemagic.com has to intervene to help resolve any concerns. They will even pay up to $500 to have the job done right. Learn more at www.servicemagic.com.

ON THE WIRE

About 94% of U.S. households have one or more smoke alarms, yet less than half of those have carbon monoxide alarms. So far this year, more than 30 people have died nationwide due to accidental CO poisoning in the home and more than 200 people have been sent to the hospital. 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. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can mimic other illnesses. 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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Copyright 2005 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.