August 7, 2013 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips
Earlier this week I took two mini vacations. I was invited to go sailing on Lake Winnipesaukee here in New Hampshire with two sailing pros, Dick Christopher and Jim Cluett. Both are members of my ham radio club. Dick was the founder of our club and we were in his 30-foot boat with a mainsail and a jib. His boat equipped with a cabin that sleeps two.
We sailed up in the northwest quadrant of The Broads. This is the wide-open part of the lake where you'll find the most open water.
The red circle in the photo is where we went back and forth. The red arrow points to the harbor where the sailboat is moored. It can get interesting out there when the wind's up. I got to sail the boat and had a blast.
Yesterday, I spent the greater part of the day hiking up and down Belknap Mountain. Those who live near BIG mountains would laugh at this hill, but it's called a mountain around here. I combined ham radio on this expedition doing my first SOTA activation.
SOTA is an acronym for Summits on the Air. You hike up to the top of a registered mountain, use a radio not connected to commercial power, tune it to a simplex frequency, and try to connect with four separate people who are not on the summit with you. Do that and you can score points.
If you like hiking, this may help you get interested in ham radio as you can combine the two hobbies. What's more, the ham radio you take with you, and you can now purchase one for less than $50!, may save your life one day if something happens to you on the trail.
Remember, you can't count on cell phones to work when you're out hiking. Plus, the average cell phone only transmits at 0.5 watts. The average handheld ham radio is ten times more powerful. Think about that. It's easy to get your ham radio Technician's license and you can get a radio for less than $50.
But now, it's time to get back to work!
Guess what I plan to do in two weeks? If the weather co-operates, I'm going to tape an authoritative video series that will show you how to cure wet basements or crawlspaces.
This is a video series you absolutely will want to watch. I'll have a SPECIAL OFFER on it for you, so be sure to open upcoming newsletters as I'll announce when I'm taping that video series.
INSTALL A NEW WINDOW VIDEO SERIES
Speaking of video series, I finished editing the How to Install a New Window videos. I used a great Simonton AAMA-approved vinyl window for this job. The window matched the existing windows on my home perfectly and it was very easy to install. It's energy efficient, it opens and closes smoothly and it's going to last for decades.
The step-by-step videos of me cutting the hole in the wall and installing the window are ready to view online if you want. If you prefer to watch the videos offline, you can purchase a DVD.
I've lowered the price of both of these items, BUT starting in two days the price is going to ratchet back up to full retail. Every two days you procrastinate, you'll pay more if you don't buy it NOW.
Does that make sense? For the next 48 hours, you'll get the LOWEST price. Starting on Friday, the price will go up every two days until it hits the regular retail price.
I recommend you just go right now and just get it over with.
Save money and discover the right way to cut into a wall!
CLICK HERE to get online Instant Online access.
CLICK HERE to purchase the autographed DVD. Yes, I sign your DVD!
TIP OF THE WEEK - CONCRETE BLEEDS! ACCCCCKKKKK!
Have you ever poured concrete? Would you like me to do a quick video series on how to pour and finish a small slab? Let me know.
But in the meantime, did you know that concrete can bleed? It bleeds water not blood. If you make a mistake while this is happening, you can RUIN the upper surface of the concrete.
Watch this video I just uploaded to discover something new about concrete. I should have used this for my new I Didn't Know That feature. Oh well, I'll teach you something else new just below!
NASHVILLE TN MEET UP
I'm going to be in Nashville, TN next week on a quick editors event. I'll be at the Jet and Powermatic new tool expo.
I've carved out 90 minutes for you next Wednesday, August 14th, right as work ends. Let's you and I meet at 5:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel on Commerce Street. We'll hang out and chit chat.
If you want to attend, reply to this email and change the subject line to Nashville Meet Up. Let's meet in the hotel lobby at 5:00 p.m. I need for you to let me know if you're coming to the meet up.
UNEVEN AC AND HEAT
Les, from Marlton, NJ, wrote to me:
"I have uneven heat/AC in my home. In the summer it's cooler downstairs than upstairs. In the winter it's warmer downstairs than upstairs. It really sucks in the winter because it's so much cooler upstairs than downstairs."
Les, if it's any consolation, you're not alone when it comes to poor temperature control in homes.
I've written extensively about uneven heating and air conditioning. Often the two problems are related.
Here are a few past columns of mine that will help you identify and SOLVE the problem. If you're building a new home or room addition, you can AVOID the issue following this advice:
Link to ALL Past AsktheBuilder.com Air Conditioning Columns
DISHWASHER DETERGENT DAMAGE UPDATE
Two weeks ago, I polled you to see if your glasses and china are experiencing damage from dishwashing detergents.
NEVER in the history of my newsletter did I get a bigger response to a similar question.
I'm compiling the comments and I'll be publishing the answers I received from a top Procter and Gamble employee as well as their public relations firm.
I believe you're going to be shocked by what I reveal.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!
Last issue, I asked you if you knew how to patch blacktop so the patch doesn't pop out of the hole.
Surprisingly 38 percent of you knew that you need to undercut the hole like a dentist does to your tooth before she / he inserts an amalgam. If I were a betting man, I would have bet that less than 10 percent would have known this secret. Kudos to you if you had that kernel of information in your noggin.
If you were in the 62 percent who discovered a new tip, congratulations to you for expanding your knowledge base.
This week, I'm going to amp it up. Well, I'm going to try! You're a smart crowd!
What I'm wondering about is:
Do you know EXACTLY WHERE you can connect to an existing plumbing vent pipe?
Watch my Plumbing Vent Tips video.
After watching, come back here and VOTE:
Tim, I'm not a dolt. I KNEW THAT!
Tim, I'm a lowly plumber grasshopper. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!
Do you like this new I Didn't Know That feature?
If so, can you *please* let me know?
Reply to this email and tell me why you like it.
More tips and news next week!
TIM CARTER
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Do It Right, Not Over!