The Money Pit is a nationally syndicated, call-in radio show that helps listeners with their home repair and improvement problems. The show has consistently been named among "America's 100 Most Important Radio Shows" by Talkers magazine. It's been on the air for over ten years, and is now carried on over 300 radio affiliates across the nation, as well as on iHeart radio.
Each week, Tom and Leslie take dozens of calls from listeners who ask about everything from pest problems to deck dilemmas. Their combined experience and expertise allow them to offer solutions to a wide range of problems immediately. If they aren't sure how to help, which is rare, they can always point callers in the right direction. Call us at 1-888-MONEY PIT or post your question in our home improvement community. Our call center is manned by a live person 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Pros and Cons Homeowners Associations
Wash Carpet Without Damaging Particle Board
Find out why it's OK to use a carpet cleaner on a carpet with particle board underneath. The machine pushes water into the carpet but sucks it back out almost immediately. The particle board may become damp, but that won't cause warping or mold
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Don't Forget to Recycle These 5 Things!
5 items commonly forgotten about that can be recycled.
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How To Sound Proof Your Apartment
Apartment living can include noisy neighbors! Learn how to create a sound barrier to reduce noises from others apartments and the outside world.
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Home Improvement New Years Resolutions
Tips on home improvement New Years Resolutions ideas.
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How to Insulate and Ventilate a Cathedral Ceiling
With no attic space to work in, insulating a cathedral ceiling is difficult. Learn the best options for insulation and ventilation to save energy.
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#2583 – Preventive Maintenance | Common Homeowner Mistakes | Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off
SHOW NOTES:
Welcome to the final episode of The Money Pit, where we celebrate more than 21 years of helping you turn your house into a home you love. In this bittersweet finale, Leslie Segrete and Jim Kenzie reflect on our many years of offering floorboards-to-shingles advice while honoring the legacy of our late friend and long-time co-host, Tom Kraeutler. Thank you for more than two decades of The Money Pit. And remember: you can do it
yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone.
- Preventive Maintenance: We emphasize that consistent home maintenance is the most vital habit for any homeowner, because small
tasks like cleaning gutters or changing filters prevent the most expensive
disasters. Remember, a home is a living thing that requires constant care and attention to truly reward its inhabitants.
- Common Homeowner Mistakes: We do a review of the most common
homeowner pitfalls we’ve seen on The Money Pit, such as the temptation to hire the cheapest contractor, which often leads to poor quality and higher costs in the long run. We also hear from listeners about water and moisture issues; make sure you address those, because they will never resolve themselves and only grow more destructive over time.
- Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off: We detail home improvement investments that pay off every time, such as prioritizing
energy efficiency through insulation and smart thermostats to increase comfort and reduce bills. Additionally, we recommend focusing on lighting upgrades and safety essentials like smoke alarms and secure railings to ensure a home is a place where families can thrive.
Q & A:
- George in Arkansas dealt with a chilly bedroom despite a 72-degree thermostat setting. We advise him to add 15 to 20 inches of insulation in his attic and use the back of his hand to find and seal drafts around window jams and outlets.
- Cliff in Nebraska wanted to know how to make new wood picture frames look like weathered barnwood. We suggest burning the wood with a propane torch and using a wire brush to remove the soft char, creating a "driftwoody" texture before staining.
- Lori in New Jersey asked how to treat a garage floor coated in thick oil and grease. The answer is to pressure wash the floor with a TSP solution and then apply a durable, two-part epoxy floor finish.
- Lisa in Texas inquired about the safety of older two-prong outlets in her 1960s home. We explain that while they can be safe with adapters, it is much better to hire an electrician to upgrade the wiring to a modern, grounded system.
ASK A QUESTION:
Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.
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Cleaning Windows
How-to tips on cleaning windows.
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Heat Pump on the Fritz
Find out why a green switch, which means your heat pump is wired into the power company grid, could be causing the erratically high temperatures in your home. Learn why this is a problem with the control circuit, not the thermostat, and why you should
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New Year's Resolution Design Trends
What's Hot
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