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In this episode, Danny demonstrates how to handle some of the most typical problems found inside the home including:

  1. Keeping an interior door open. (Watch Video)
  2. Eliminating water stains on ceilings. (Watch Video)
  3. Repairing drywall nail pops. (Watch Video)
  4. Fixing a towel rod that pulled off the wall. (Watch Video)
  5. Unclogging a bath drain. (Watch Video)
  6. Repairing a leaky faucet. (Watch Video)
  7. Fixing a running toilet. (Watch Video)
  8. Replacing a cracked tile. (Watch Video)
  9. Dealing with stained grout. (Watch Video)
  10. Stopping squeaks in floors. (Watch Video)

Producer's Notes from Allen Lyle

Leaky Toilet

Our show’s director likes to call these episodes “themed” shows. I like to refer to it as a hodgepodge of useful information. There are so many common repairs to try and tackle. We could literally do a few of these episodes each year and not hit on the same repair. That’s one of the things that made this show so fun to work on. The ten areas we focused on in this show are very common, but we hope to hear more from people across the country as to what other problems they’d like to see Danny demonstrate.

Although we demonstrated the “tapping of the door hinge pin” solution, I think it’s important to caution anyone who does this to understand that what they are doing is bending the hinge pin. Yes, this will create some pressure on the hinge, which is what holds the door in place. However, you can put too much of a bend in the pin which will result in you not being able to replace it in the hinge. In other words, you could do more damage if you’re not careful. Follow Danny’s advice and tap the pin gently only once or twice. It doesn’t take very much to accomplish this quick fix.

It’s pure luck if you are spraying a sealer on the ceiling to remove a water stain and the color of the sealer blends with the existing ceiling. Truthfully, I think you have better odds of winning the lottery. If you have water stains to remove on the ceiling, I think you need to be prepared to have to paint the entire ceiling, too.

With an acoustical textured ceiling, or “popcorn” texture, you may think that you have to rent a sprayer to apply the paint. Not so. You can easily roll a textured ceiling. The key is purchasing a roller cover with a thicker nap. The nap is the thickness of the fibers. Most paint jobs are done with a roller having a 3/8” nap. For popcorn ceilings, use a roller with a nap of at least 1/2”. Some of the texture will come off, but not that much.

It’s tedious work and tiring on the arms, but it’s better than having to pay for the sprayer, covering everything to protect from overspray and having to clean the sprayer afterwards.

I love the Drain Stick. Three and a half bucks for a prickly-ended piece of plastic, but what a great tool. I happened on it by accident. It was buried on the shelf, still packed in the box that held a dozen of them. If you don’t find any them where you are though, you can accomplish a lot with a small plunger. You can buy little plumber’s helpers that are about 12” long, which is perfect for sinks and tubs.

The tool we used to stop the squeaks under carpets, Squeeeeek No More, is truly amazing. It works like a charm, but I was shocked to hear one of the associates at Home Depot tell me that they would likely discontinue carrying it because hardly anyone was buying it. Take my word for it, it works. It can be a pain in the backside trying to locate the floor joist, but locating screw that comes with the kit definitely comes in handy and once you do locate the joist, it’s a piece of cake. If you have multiple floor levels with wood decking, you’ll eventually have squeaks. Go buy this tool before you can’t find them any more! We bought two!

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Workshop Calculator Protection

Calculator in plastic bagCalculators are a great tool in the shop, but dust, finger grime, and humidity can easily clog up your calculator’s key pad. To keep this from happening, put the calculator in a plastic zipper bag to seal out the grime. The bag is clear so it’s still easy to see and operate the buttons. Attach a clip to the bag and you can easily hang it on the wall where you’ll always know where to find it. (Watch This Video)

Best New Products with Danny Lipford:
GE Double Oven Stove

GE Double Oven Stove

This new range from GE gives you two ovens in one single unit combined with a cook-top. That means you can cook several items at different temperatures at the same time or you can use both ovens for something like cookies so you don’t have to bake in shifts. On top, the range has five burners. This large oval burner in the center would be great for larger pots and pans and it’s interchangeable with a non-stick griddle for cooking things like pancakes. The GE Double Oven is available at The Home Depot.

Around the Yard with Tricia Craven Worley:
Renting Garden Tools

Renting Garden Tools

If you’re not one of those people that has every outdoor tool, gadget and gizmo, you might consider renting what you need for your outdoor projects. Think about how often you’ll need to use a particular outdoor tool and let that help you decide whether to rent or buy. Anything from pressure washers and aerators to chain saws and de-thatchers can be rented from a home center or rental store. And remember, when you rent, it’s not your responsibility to manage the upkeep and maintenance of the equipment. (Watch This Video)

Editorial Contributors
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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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