Connect PEX Pipe - So Very Easy and Fast DEAR TIM: I've got a major bathroom remodel I'm jumping into and luckily I'm allowed to do the plumbing work myself where I live as long as it meets code. My inspector says I can use pex pipe and it seems too good to be true. […]
Quick Column Summary: Is furnace smell dangerous Carbon monoxide is odorless/dangerous Dust accumulation causes smell Clean furnace and ductwork Jane, who lives with an old octopus gravity-feed (probably) furnace in Roseville, MI, has an odor issue. Let her describe it: "We moved into a home that has an old octopus furnace - it is labeled […]
My guess is there are countless older homes within miles of where you live, many of them have ancient clay pipe sewer lines extending from the houses out to the city sewers. These clay pipes, with their mortar-filled joints, are notorious for allowing tree roots into the pipes. When that happens, the tree roots feast […]
Simple Common Roof Rafters Quick Column Summary: How do you create a roof rafter You need 4 simple tools and geometry How to determine your roof slope DEAR TIM: I'm now retired and starting to attack a huge list of projects. One of them is building a simple shed and I have no clue how […]
Septic Tanks and Oxygen Facts Myths about septic systems Facts about septic systems Oxygen is needed in all septic systems There's a big misunderstanding about how septic tanks work and whether it's a good or bad idea to add oxygen bleach to a septic tank. Let's clear the tank, er air, now about all this […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Some topics really get a rise out of people. Splitting wood is one. Certain people have a very strong opinion of what’s best. It has to be all the testosterone that’s surging through their veins as they smash the splitting maul down into a log! I’ve split wood using every imaginable tool, […]
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Snowblower Quick Start Guide For most of my life, I had never used a snowblower. I lived in Cincinnati, OH, and it just didn’t snow much there. Then I moved to New Hampshire. I shared a driveway with a born-and-raised New Englander. Within a month of moving in Dave said, “Go buy […]
3-Way Switch Quick Start Guide DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: 3-way switches confound many people. I remember years ago messing up the ones in my parents home. I thought my mom would be happy with new clean switches, instead of the ancient ones we had. I had no clue how to get them to work properly again! […]
Are you a new subscriber in the past week or so? If so, you're about to get very confused. You thought you signed up for a home-improvement newsletter and what you're about to read has nothing to do with fixing up your home. Be patient. That's just around the corner in 2014. It's all about […]
Painting stucco might not be the best idea to cover up or remove black stains. The stains could be caused by mold or mildew. A good cleaning with oxygen bleach might clear up your stucco.
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