In this episode, Danny and Chelsea help Houston couple John and Donna Howard with some flood fixes following Hurricane Harvey.
“I was diagnosed in ’97 with MS (multiple sclerosis); I was told I couldn’t have this kind of house,” John Howard, a retired homebuilder, said of the couple’s two-story home.
That didn’t deter John, who got the dream home that he and his wife wanted.
However, during Hurricane Harvey, 50 inches of rainfall surrounded the couple’s home and created some challenges. Water submerged their two air conditioning units and damaged insulation under the home.
Those added to another challenge: John started building a ramp that would make it easy to roll up and down his riding lawn mower and scooter, but he can only do so much, little by little.
Not to worry — Danny, Chelsea and some local helpers can fix these issues!
The Projects
HVAC REPLACEMENT: Choosing a contractor to replace the air conditioner units was simple enough because Donna works for a local HVAC company called Fresh Air Inc.
John hand-picked a top-of-the-line Carrier system to replace the damaged units. Fresh Air’s guys have to remove all of the old equipment and most of the ductwork to make way for this new, more efficient system. In addition, they installed motorized dampers to divert airflow.
After all the hard work is finished, John and Donna have the easy part: They just control the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled thermostat from their phones or from the wall-mounted device.
NEW RAMP: Next, the team took a look at the ramp John started building out back. It’s amazing to see what this guy has accomplished all by himself!
“John is very strong-willed and he always loved the challenge anyway,” Donna said.
Chelsea cuts the wood boards, including 2×6 stiffeners to keep the handrail steady, and Danny nails them to the ramp.
The pair finishes installing joists for the ramp and then attaches the handrail posts.
INSULATION REPLACEMENT: The Howards’ insulation underneath the house is damaged from flooding, so we install Rockwool, a product made from a rock-based mineral fiber.
This insulation is moisture resistant, yet vapor permeable. If it gets damp, it will maintain its original performance characteristics after it thoroughly dries.
To install this insulation, you just squeeze up and it fits between the joists. We then added tension wires to ensure it stays in place.
Rockwool is inorganic, so it provides no food source for mold growth.
Other Tips from This Episode
Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Make this Mini Greenhouse to Jump-Start Planting Season
Want to get a head start on the planting season? Just start planting from seeds indoors. Watch the video.
Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
This Versatile Tote Keeps Tools Organized and Within Reach
With 12 pockets and a cell phone holder, the Dead On Tools Tool Tote sets you up to get some work done.
Watch the video.
Watch and Learn:
What to do When Your AC Floods
Stormwater doesn’t have to claim heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Taking just a couple of precautions could save your AC units during severe weather — or prevent additional damage. Watch video.
