November 4, 2014 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips

A week from today the stent that runs from my bladder to my kidney comes out. If you're a new subscriber, I had a surgical procedure just about a month ago to remove a 7mm kidney stone.

Conversation summary with my urologist last week:

"So tell me, Doc, about the stent removal. Are you going to sedate me?"

"No. You're going to tough it out."

Gulp.

I rummaged around in my garage yesterday for an oak dowel I can take to bite on while the snake goes looking for the stent. Sorry for that graphic, but that's what happens. We're all adults here.

Enough about plumbing, well wait, I've got a new column for you about how easy it is to work with pex pipe and fittings.

You'll see that link below.

Tip of the Week: Additional Test When Buying an Existing Home

Did you read about Nugent family who bought a home in an Indianapolis, IN suburb? They've had serious health issues since moving into a nice quaint home. I know what you're thinking - mold. Nope, it's not mold.

Who would have thought that a $50 test could have warned them about what had happened in the house before they bought it?!

If you know someone who's buying an existing home, you opens in a new windowSHOULD READ this story!

Must-Have Power Tool

Pretend for a moment you had to make a choice of only five power tools you could have and use for the rest of your life. What five would you choose?

I can tell you one of the one's I'd pick.

Discover WHY I'd not be caught dead without this tool by clicking the four special links below. Do it now and tell me if you don't agree this is a must-have power tool.

Think versatility.

opens in a new windowLatest Model Has Vast Improvements

opens in a new windowGerman Technology Trumps Others

opens in a new windowAmazing Grout Removal in Seconds

opens in a new windowAccessories You'll Drool Over - I Guarantee It

Now, after you go to all those pages, would you like to WIN ONE?

I thought so…..

opens in a new windowCLICK HERE to enter the secret power tool contest.

Deluxe Chewable Nugget Ice Machine Video

I'm an ice connoisseur. Yes, that's pretty pretentious, but it's true.

My favorite ice of all time is chewable nugget ice. Not all restaurants have it. Growing up in Cincinnati, all the Frisch's restaurants served this ice. Oh my, the cherry cokes tasted so good with this ice!

When you get chewable nugget ice, it's a delight. It absorbs the liquid from your drink so the ice has a flavor to it.

You can now have this ice in your home! You can install this ice machine in just a few hours! It only requires moderate plumbing skills.

Surely you have 15 inches of space in your kitchen, laundry room or garage if need be.

I installed the magical opens in a new windowScotsman SCN60 nugget ice machine last week at my home. My kids love this ice and everyone in the family is as happy as a clam on ice. Pun intended.

opens in a new windowWatch this video about the amazing Scotsman SCN60 ice machine.

Order one of these machines now for your Thanksgiving and Christmas parties. Your friends and family will revel in the wondrous ice!

My Twin Mario

Suffice it to say I have no plans of traveling to Casselman, Ontario, Canada soon. That's where Mario Musal lives. It's a town about halfway between Ottawa and Montreal.

I might get thrown in jail in case my twin does something wrong. And he should probably not come to central New Hampshire in case I go on a crime spree!

Are you sitting down? He's a subscriber to this newsletter and has been in the construction industry for 30+ years!

They say everyone has a twin. What do you think? Do you think we could pass for each other?

Mario, thanks so much for sending in your photo and allowing me to publish it. Pretty scary isn't it?