DEAR TIM: Our house has an usual chimney made with irregular stones. The existing cap is in poor shape and I'm worried about damage. Each contractor I talk with has a different solution and none of them are even similar. What's the best way to install a cap on a masonry chimney, no matter if […]
There seems to be some confusion about the new water heater rules. It pertains to both electric and gas heaters. It depends on the size of the heater. After April 16, 2015, manufacturers can no longer make the old style heaters. They can sell all the OLDER technology ones until they run out. The new […]
Andy Shogren's sliding door out to his deck is leaking water and rotting his subfloor in Bakersfield, CA. Let him tell you what's going on. "I've subscribed for a long time to your FREE newsletter and have found some helpful hints over the years. I have a two-story house and the master bedroom has a sliding […]
Jim Carter, no relation to me, lives about an hour's drive north of Sacramento, CA. He thinks he wants to replace the wood siding on his house because it looks bad. But he's worried about the cost and his tight budget. Here's his story: "Hi Tim, When we moved into our house, it needed the […]
Karen Bloom is a subscriber to my newsletter and lives in Austin, TX. However, she and her husband also own a home in Memphis, TN that's having major issues with ice dams around her dormers. Here's her full report: "Hi Tim, I get your newsletter and really enjoy it. We have a house in Memphis, TN in […]
February 2015 is almost in the record books. Time is flying. I went on a short hike two days ago on a snowmobile trail with a buddy of mine. It was a sunny day with the temperature about 32 F. When standing in direct sunlight, it felt like 65 F after the past month! Spring […]
The USA Federal Government has decided it needs to make residential water heaters more efficient and has put new water heater rules in force as of April 16, 2015. After you discover how it's going to impact your bank account, you may have to take an extra blood pressure pill. This message was so important, […]
Ada Wilhelm has a gorgeous rectangular tile floor in her house in Hernando, FL. She wrote to me with a very simple question: "How can we darken a grout that is too light?" Well Ada, I'm wondering why you want to lighten it after looking at the photo you sent below. The grout, to me, looks […]
I primarily build and repair houses, but I am a little bit of a shade tree mechanic. My wife's car is a wonderful Volvo XC90 that was made in Sweden in 2004. Do you want to know how to check the transmission fluid level on your XC90? Read on. The other day, I noticed a […]
Tim Carter tests out the Quiet Technology Craftsman Snowblower. This snow blower is equipped with a new quieter engine. The blower was tested after a 6 to 8-inch snowfall in central New Hampshire. It was a cold day with temperatures in the mid teens F. When you see a close up of the muffler, the […]
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