Hour 1
Knocking Water Pipes
The pipes in Don’s house make a hammering sound when he shuts off the water. He wants to know how to fix the problem. That hammering sound is caused when the fast-flowing water suddenly stops and increases pressure inside the pipes causing them to rattle.
Installing a water hammer arrestor in the water supply line will help absorb the extra pressure and reduce the banging. Making the pipes more secure with additional strapping or by cradling them with spray foam will also help the situation.
Medicine Cabinet with a Mind of its Own
Janet’s medicine cabinet door wants to swing all the way open anytime it isn’t fully closed. She wants to know how to correct this because when it swings open it bangs into the mirror on an adjacent wall.
This situation occurs when the medicine cabinet itself is not perfectly plumb. The solution is to clear the cabinet and loosen the screws inside that attach it to the studs on either side. Tilt the cabinet in the opening and use a level to determine when it is perfectly plumb. You may need to add spacers, or shims, before you re-tighten the mounting screws.
Hour 2
Driveway Drainage
David’s asphalt driveway comes all the way up to the foundation of his house. He wants to know if he should cut it back because he is concerned that this might cause drainage problems and leaks in his basement.
Having a driveway adjoin the foundation is not a problem as long as the drive slopes away from the house so water flows away from and not toward the foundation. If there is a gap, or crack, between the foundation and the drive it’s a good idea to fill it with an asphalt caulk or sealant.
Falling Insulation in Crawlspace
The insulation in Mac’s crawlspace keeps falling because of excess moisture in the area. He lives near the beach, so the humidity is high under the house even though he has foundation vents and a vapor barrier in place.
The extra moisture caused by the home’s location may require some extra effort to properly ventilate the crawlspace. Adding an exhaust fan to the crawlspace vents which is controlled by a humidistat switch will help keep air moving through the space and reduce the moisture.
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Simple Solutions
Spray-Foam Tip—After using a can of expanding spray foam, such as Great Stuff, remove the plastic spray tube and clean it with WD-40. Squirt plenty of WD-40 into the spray tube to dissolve the foam and ream out the tube with a length of wire cut from a clothes hanger. Repeat this process one or two more times until all the foam is gone.
Nail Apron Liners—Make interchangeable liners for a nail apron or tool pouch from a clean one-quart plastic motor oil bottles. Cut off the spout, fill the bottle with nails or screws, and slip into apron pouch. Make several so you can quickly change them without having to dump out the apron.
