Table of Contents
Hour 1
To Clean or Not to Clean Ductwork
Mike owns a home built in 1963 which he’s lived in for 16 years. The house has central heating and cooling, and he is curious about whether he should have the ductwork cleaned. He wants to know if there are any real benefits and whether it is safe.
The truth is there is a fair amount of ambiguity surrounding the topic of duct cleaning. Even the EPA stops short of issuing a blanket recommendation for the process saying that duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. They do however suggest considering it if the following conditions are present:
- There is substantial visible mold growth inside the ducts.
- The ducts are infested with rodents or insects.
- The ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and/or particles are being released into the home.
Around the Yard-Paving Pointers
If you plan to build your own outdoor living space, you might consider using pavers. Paver projects are DIY friendly because the tools and skills required are easier to access than the ones required for pouring a large concrete slab. And unlike concrete, there’s no “clock” on a paver project. Pavers also have more character than a big, flat piece of concrete.
Here are some things to consider if you’re going to tackle a paver project yourself. First, start with a good base of three to six inches of compact-able crushed rock as a base material. You can find this paver base material next to the pavers at the home center. Grade the base flat and compact it with a plate compactor before covering it with a one-inch layer of sand. Finally, the pavers are laid in the sand and secured around the perimeter with plastic edging strips which are anchored into the ground with long spikes.
Hour 2
Patching Rough Concrete
Flaws in existing concrete floors can make renovation difficult if you want to apply a decorative coating, paint, or vinyl to the surface. To address this problem Daich Coatings developed a product called ROCK PATCH that’s designed for exactly this kind of situation.
ROCK PATCH is a pre-mixed polymer and stone formula that is designed to fill, level, and resurface cracks, shallow holes and pitting on concrete surfaces up to half-an-inch deep. The pre-mixed, cement-free formula requires no dusty mixing process. It can be applied with a trowel or a squeegee, depending on the size of the repair area, and it dries within 24 hours. The result is a smooth, hard surface in a neutral dolphin gray color. You can seal it and use as is or apply a paint or decorative finish over it.
Plumbing Problem Solutions
Hair in sink drains is a big cause of clogged or slow running drains but it is preventable. Adding an inexpensive strainer* or drain screen* will allow you to stop the hair before it creates a clog.
If you do have a clog, one of the best ways to clear it is a drain snake or auger. You can buy your own at The Home Depot* or you can rent one from their rental center.
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Simple Solutions
Nontoxic Weed Killer—Make a simple, effective, nontoxic weed killer by mixing together one gallon of white vinegar with two cups of Epsom salt and a quarter cup of Dawn dish soap. Pour the mixture into a garden sprayer and apply it directly to lawn and garden weeds. The salt and vinegar will kill the weeds within a day or so while the detergent helps the solution stick to the plant.
DIY Shoe Rack—Make a shoe rack for the garage or mudroom by laying a 1×4 on a flat surface and setting cup hooks in it. Space the hooks about four-and-a-half-inches apart. Leave a five-and-a-half-inch space between each pair. Next, mount the board to the garage wall, about 16 inches off the floor. Shoes hang from the hooks, off the ground, allowing them to dry out more quickly.
