Concrete in a Bag Question #1: Hello Tim. This summer I’ve got a few outdoor projects that involve pouring small amounts of concrete. I looked into having a ready-mix truck do it, but the cost is so expensive. I’ve seen the bags of concrete in stores. Is it any good? Have you used it? Can Read More »
High efficiency furnaces can save money and they help conserve our natural resources. Before you think about junking your good furnace, keep in mind that the high efficiency furnace can cost up to $1,000.00 more than a standard one. Be sure you can reap enough savings to make it worthwhile.
You wake up on a frigid morning or come home from work and your house is cold, yet the heater or furnace is on. You might mumble out loud as you shiver, "Why is house cold with heating on?" This is the column Tim asked in his January 3, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter if you would Read More »
High efficiency air filters trap dust, pollen and mold floating around the house. Compare dust sizes with this particle size chart.
Water in heating ducts is more common than you might imagine. Some houses built on top of concrete slabs have the heating and air conditioning ducts buried in the ground under the concrete. Water can enter these heating ducts when it rains heavily as the water table starts to rise and pushes water up into the soil under the slab and then into the ducts. It is easy to remove the water and to permanently stop the water from entering the ducts. You have to divert the ground water away from the house with a special outdoor trench drain.
Metal ductwork, plastic piping and any other object that might expand and contract can rub against wood framing. The movement, in almost all cases, creates annoying noises anytime of day or night.
Laminate Floor Over Concrete TIPS Laminate floors must be on solid and smooth floors WATCH my Laminate Floor Video Series BELOW! Concrete is a solid base and excellent Use self-leveling compounds to make concrete smooth and level CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: I’m renovating a 1969 ranch home that’s over Read More »
DEAR TIM: I’ve read about electric floor heating and wonder if it will really do the job. Growing up I lived in a home that had electric coils in the ceilings of the rooms. The house was never really comfortable so I’m skeptical of the claims of the radiant floor mat manufacturers. If they do Read More »
Tim Carter in this video explains why houses feel cold even when the furnace is operating properly. Tim explains some of the reasons for heat loss in his December 28, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. In his February 21, 2016 AsktheBuilder Announcement, he explains the perspective differences in temperatures. He has a 47 degree swing in one Read More »
Kathy Burke now lives in a noisy house in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. She caused the problem, but didn't mean to. A cold-air return vent makes noise. Here's her full report: "We have a small 950 sq. ft home with two return vents. We have never covered this one vent since living here as it was behind Read More »
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