Sources of Sewer Gas

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Tim Carter

wax gaskets on recessed toilet flange laminate flooring

Sources of Sewer Gas - The red arrow points to the white toilet flange that’s currently buried under two layers of laminate flooring. It was supposed to be installed on top of the flooring! Copyright 2023 Tim Carter ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sources of Sewer Gas - It's Easy to Find the Leaks

Two months ago I received a desperation text from a young woman who’s the cantor at my church. All of a sudden she was smelling noxious sewer gas in her condominium. She had moved in just two months before and for weeks and weeks there had not been a problem.

If you’re a new reader, you may not know that in addition to being a builder, I’ve been a master plumber since 1981. I was attracted to plumbing work because drain, waste, and vent pipes along with water lines present intriguing three-dimensional riddles that must be solved as you build a home. I love it when someone poses a riddle, even if the riddle is presented by inanimate objects like pipes!

Not only did this woman with the voice of an angel smell sewer gas, but she also had noticed a water stain in the ceiling above her fitness equipment down in the basement. I made a trip over to her home and within minutes I had figured out the issue.

“Did anything different happen here just before you started to smell the odor?” This is the first question I ask when I begin my sewer gas investigations. Each week I talk to people on the phone or in a video call helping them LOCATE the source of the sewer gas in their homes. Go here to set up a phone or video call with me.

“Well, I had new flooring installed upstairs,” she replied.

“Let’s go up and see what’s going on,” I responded. Once we climbed the stairs, I headed to that part of her condo that was above her fitness room. Lo and behold I ended up in a half-bathroom.

When I asked her if the flooring installers had removed the toilet, she answered, “Oh yes, the installer disconnected the toilet and re-installed it again an hour later once the new flooring was down. He said I might need a plumber to come in but didn’t say why.”

There’s no might about it. The flooring contractor broke the seal between the toilet and the drain pipes which prevents both water and sewer gas from escaping into this woman’s condo. He failed to install a new wax gasket to account for the extra thickness of the laminate flooring he put down. Each time the toilet was flushed, water sloshed around and leaked out through the broken seal. Sewer gas was constantly seeping out from under the toilet.

It took me just ten minutes to fix the problem. But the astonishing thing I discovered when I pulled the toilet up is that the original plumber had made a grave mistake. He had installed the toilet flange directly on top of the subfloor of the condo. I was looking at a toilet flange buried beneath two layers of laminate flooring!

A toilet flange is a special plumbing fitting that is permanently attached to the drain pipe under the toilet. It is supposed to be screwed to the floor and it also has slots that accept brass bolts used to connect the toilet to the flange.

The flange flares out and a flat surface is at the top. Wax gaskets placed on this flange provide the all-important seal between the underside of the toilet and the flange. When installed correctly, wax gaskets can last for hundreds of years never allowing water or sewer gas to escape. It’s mission-critical for the flange to be installed on top of the finished floor.

Just two years ago I had to solve a similar problem. A man in Massachusetts hired me to drive hours a few hours to his home because his wife was extremely ill. Several doctors were unable to figure out why she felt so bad. Her husband thought it might be sewer gas but was not sure.

I met there with a local plumber and a company that does smoke testing. Once I had the smoke tester start his machine, it produced vast amounts of harmless Hollywood smoke that issued from the bottom of two toilets in the house. Both bathrooms had been recently remodeled. A tile contractor installed new tile on top of the old tile.

I oversaw the plumber installing the correct amount of wax rings on top of the toilet flanges and reset the toilets correctly. We did a second smoke test and all was well. Within a day the woman started feeling much better.

After this happened I decided to create a small sewer-gas how-to guide to help folks like you solve your own sewer-gas dilemmas. There are many sources of sewer gas and I explain how to locate them. You can save hundreds of dollars solving the problems yourself instead of calling in a plumber.

Column 1502

The Fog of Complacency – How to Be Prepared

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Tim Carter

Disaster Preparation - 3 Easy Things to Do Now

You might think that everything is rainbows and unicorns at my house. I can see how you might think I don’t suffer from home improvement trials and tribulations. After all, what could possibly go wrong at my house? I’ll answer. All the same things that go wrong without warning at your home.

Several nights ago we had a disaster unfold in the middle of the night. It actually started hours before, but my wife didn’t alert me to a tiny clue she had felt earlier in the day.

As it turns out, a mouse gnawed at a plastic PEX water line that was running from the basement up to a second-floor bathroom. The pipe passed through an oversized hole created by the plumber 20+ years ago. Had the plumber installed caulk to fill the hole, I’d not be typing this.

pex pipe gnawed by mouse passing through top wall plate

It’s important for you to realize I didn’t build the house I currently live in. Had I done so, I can assure you no mice would be inside, and even if they did somehow sneak in through an open garage door, they’d not be able to travel through the walls and ceilings at will as they currently do. The builder of my home was a dunce. I was only supposed to live in this transitional house for two years but now I’m going on year fourteen. That’s a story for another column.

The mischievous rodent ended up nibbling through the plastic pipe just enough to create a silent leak that reacted to gravity. The water soon ponded under the hardwood floor in our bedroom causing it to swell. My lovely wife felt a new bump in the floor as she walked on the oriental rug that covers the floor but didn’t think too much about it.

Hours later in the middle of the night I had a nature call to the bathroom and felt a much larger hump in the floor that had never been there before. But in my zombie sleep-walking state, I noticed it but crawled back under the covers thinking I’d inspect later to see what toy the cats might have shoved under the edge of the carpet. Once up at dawn, I immediately saw we had a serious problem. By then, the water had traveled to a basement bedroom ruining the ceiling and laminate floor down there.

Even though I couldn’t see the leak, I engaged my critical-thinking skills and knew the water had to be leaking above the master bedroom. The only water above that room was a second-floor bathroom. I raced to the basement and immediately turned off the cold and hot water valves on the manifold in the boiler room stopping all water from going to that room. By then the damage was done. I know It could have been so much worse.

Your Fog of Complacency - Make it Dissipate

What is the teaching moment here for you? It’s a number of things. I want to dissipate the fog of complacency that has enveloped you no doubt. Let’s get started.

Where is Your Water Shutoff? Does it WORK?

First and foremost you need to know how to shut off the water in your home should you have a leak. Just knowing the location of the valve is not good enough. When was the last time it was exercised? I’ve been a master plumber since 1981 and can tell you that valves need to be exercised just like your body. You need to turn them on and off at least twice a year. You may discover that when you go to turn it off, it doesn’t turn or you break the valve.

In my case, my wife and I were lucky that one-of-a-kind irreplaceable and sentimental items were not destroyed. Will that happen to you? Do you know where the hidden water lines are in your home? Where do they run across ceilings? If a water leak happens, what will get wet below? Now is the time move things to a new location where water, heat, or sunlight will not damage some of your family treasures. Think about placing extremely valuable things in waterproof containers.

Can You Get Emergency Plumbing Repairs Done?

What happens if you can’t get a plumber to come to your rescue immediately? Based on the email I receive from homeowners like you it’s getting harder and harder to find workmen who will respond at a moment’s notice. Are you able to make emergency repairs to your water lines yourself? My guess is you would say you have no idea how to solder copper waters lines.

The good news is you don’t need to know how to solder copper. Or, if you have PEX tubing like me, you don’t need to have special tools for the most part to stop a slow or catastrophic leak.

No-Solder REPAIR Connectors

Should you have a catastrophic full-pressure leak, you can cut the copper pipe, slide on an open ball valve and use a press tool to crimp the valve onto the copper tubing. It takes seconds. Once crimped you turn the valve handle and the water stops flowing. The only issue is you have to have the valve on hand and you need the special expensive crimping tool. They can be rented, but hundreds or thousands of gallons of water could have flooded your home before you get back from the tool-rental business.

Believe it or not, there’s an even easier way to repair a leaking copper, PEX, PE-RT, and CPVC water lines. You can cut the pipe, remove any burrs and push onto the end of the pipe push-to-connect fittings. My go-to choice are TotalFit™ ones made by Uponor. I have Uponor PEX in my home.

If you can put the cap back on a Sharpie permanent marker, you can install these magic push-to-connect fittings.

uponor totalfit connectors adapters fittings

These are just a few of the Uponor push-to-connect fittings. You should have an assortment on hand at your home for EMERGENCIES.

It’s key for you to have an assortment of them on hand as well as the correct tool to cut the pipe cleanly. You might also get the special inexpensive de-burring tool. Once you see how easy it is to make an emergency repair, you’ll sleep like a baby.

Column 1501

Stop Getting Scammed by Contractors

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Tim Carter

new vinyl siding being installed on a home

How To Stop Contractor Scams - True Stories

This is a milestone column for me. It’s my 1500th weekly column. For weeks leading up to this day I’ve wanted to produce a column that will save you vast sums of money, prevent confrontations, sleepless nights, and arguments. My goal is to empower you with all you need to know so that you have the same friendly relationship with your contractor for many years as I had with Matt and Ginny Motz and almost all of my clients.
Based on my five decades of work experience, I know you’re in one camp or the other. What are those camps or tribes? Ponder these true stories and decide for yourself.

Twenty years ago my future son-in-law came into my office as I was doing some HTML coding on my website. He asked about it and also wanted to know exactly what my Ask the Builder business was all about. One thing led to another and we started looking at my incoming email messages from homeowners like you.

This was the moment in time I discovered he was a brilliant young man. After looking at six emails in a row, he said, “Mr. Carter, you may not realize this but you’re in the life-preserver business. Each one of those homeowners is yelling at the top of their lungs for you to throw them a life preserver. You’re not in the how-to-swim business as you just told me.”

He was referring to the fact that all my previous columns had been focused on sharing how to do this or that so that work is done the right way. Apparently, 95 percent of the people I was getting emails from weren’t paying attention to that messaging. They were drowning in DIY nightmares or jobs gone wrong with contractors. I’ve never forgotten that day and should have hung a life preserver on my office wall as a stark reminder.

Roy's Trust Buried in His Basement

To prove this point, just two weeks ago I received this dreadful email from one of my newsletter subscribers. Roy has read each of my weekly newsletters for over ten years. He wrote, “Thanks for sharing the story about Angel who built a dormer with your advice. What an inspiration!

I wish I had called you before letting a con man steal my money and not finishing my basement. The worst thing is the relationship and mental/psychological stress, not the money. Being taken advantage of when ‘you should have known better’ and ‘how did you not ask for advice’ has taken a huge toll on me.

The money is a factor, obviously, but it can be replaced. The others may take years, if ever, to overcome. Finding out from our local permits department that this happens EVERY DAY to people was of no relief. It especially hurt me knowing that I am a subscriber of yours and could have asked for guidance, but I fell into his trap and got tunnel vision.”

There are a handful of reasons why Roy got into trouble. The contractor could have been a pro at using powerful seductive psychology to persuade Roy to sign a contract. I’ve written extensively about this psychology in past columns and newsletters. Roy may have put far too much trust in the contractor. I could go on and on.

Laurie's Move to VT

Just days ago Laurie hired me to help her. She lives in Texas and is about to buy a lot in Vermont where she’ll build a new timber-framed home. She’ll end up just about 100 miles from where I live in central New Hampshire. She had a list of very good questions. She wanted to know about how to purchase 10 or 15 acres that would require no blasting of bedrock ledge. She wanted to know about septic design.

Her list of questions also included what it might cost to create a driveway into this wooded lot. Perhaps the biggest conundrum was separating the responsibilities of the timber-frame company and the actual builder. You see, the timber-frame company just sets their custom wood frame on a foundation provided by others.

The difference between Roy and Laurie is as stark as night to day. Laurie sat and put thought into quite a few of the very important issues that she’s about to confront. I informed her that I could offer lots more assistance and even drive to Vermont to help her choose the best lot if she wanted. After all, my college degree is in geology with a focus on hydrogeology. This means I know how to build houses that don’t have water leaks.

Reviewing Mike's Siding Contract

Just before writing this column, I sent a list of eleven items that need attention to Mike down in Florida. He’s getting new siding on his home and wanted me to review the proposal his contractor sent to him. Mike and Laurie are in the same camp. They put the brakes on before breaking out the ballpoint pen. You should do the same. Engage your critical-thinking skills and stop trusting contractors. Get advice from someone that doesn’t have a dog in the fight or research the best way to install things.

Go here to have me REVIEW your bids or contracts. My guess is I can help prevent scams and save you BIG MONEY.

Column 1500

Red Pilling People

Posted on March 26, 2023 by Tim Carter

Red Pilling People - Wake UP!

It's time for you to wake up. While you may not think you're a slave, it's pretty much true.

"It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth.

What truth?

That you are a slave, INSERT YOUR NAME."

Angel Builds a New Dormer

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Tim Carter

Angel Builds a New Dormer - With a Little Help From a Friend

One of the most fulfilling moments of my career happened just a few days ago. It’s a story worth sharing for so many reasons, not the least of which it should inspire you to do something up until a moment ago you thought impossible. It’s a tale of the three Ds: diligence, determination, and dedication mixed with a heaping spoonful of courage.

Just before dinner, the perky tone of my phone indicated a text just arrived. I looked at the screen and it was from Angel Lovings, a 28-year-old mom of three mischievous boys, four if you count her husband. They live in Schenectady, New York.

Just before Christmas of 2021, Angel purchased a consult phone call from me that would change both of our lives. She typed, “I am trying to build a dormer and wanted to know if it would be possible for you to give me step-by-step instructions of what I need to do and a list of materials…I really need your help.”

Having completed thousands of phone calls like this in the past, my responsibility is to assess a homeowner’s skills and expectations in the first few moments of a call. The last thing I want is for you to get into a situation where a contractor will swoop in and pick your bones and savings account clean. Angel’s burning desire to complete this project was more intense than the largest bonfire I’ve ever stood next to. Five minutes into the call I knew her boys were going to have a bright and delightful attic playroom made possible by their mom’s sweat and sore back.

It’s important to realize when I looked at the text I saw a photo of a completed dormer poking out of a steep slate roof of a 100-plus-year-old home. Angel wrote, “Hi friend. It’s Angel… the dormer went really well…no leaking and we made it through the winter pretty good…”

I was bursting with excitement and replied, “…No leaks!!!! VICTORY! I’m so proud of you!!” I shared this news with my wife Kathy and she was just as excited as I was. I decided to interview Angel so you could tap into her inner strength. Using some of her inspirational nectar, you’ll be able to tackle a project and save yourself tens of thousands of dollars.

Once on the phone, I discovered much more about Angel. She and her husband both work full-time. They have three sons, although Angel had hoped her last child would be a girl but God had other plans.

When I dug deeper into how much DIY experience she and her husband had she said with no hesitation, “We didn’t know how to do anything. We built bed frames for our kids.” Let that marinate in your brain for a moment and then try to picture cutting a hole in your roof that measures ten feet wide by 12 feet long.

Angel was quick to offer up, “We didn’t hire a contractor because the bids were too expensive and in our immediate metropolitan area no one could do the job.” I know you’re likely in this situation. I get about fifty emails a week at my website complaining about high prices and contractors that won’t return phone calls. Angel didn’t let that huge obstacle stop her from reaching her goal. Nor should you.

Sixteen months earlier on our first call Angel shared she had gone to the library to read books about framing and building dormers. I wanted to know what finally gave her the confidence she could start to take slate off a steep roof. She surprised me saying, “I read a lot of books about how to frame and build dormers, but they left many questions unanswered. The most important thing was being able to get in touch with you.”

I wondered about fear because it can be paralyzing. When I asked Angel about this she replied, “My biggest fear was what happens if something goes wrong. Having someone like you to talk to knowing you have my back allowed me to contain my fear.“

As the conversation unfolded, Angel told me they only bought a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and a nail gun to build the dormer. They already had a 4-foot level, a tape measure or two, and a ladder. Believe it or not, you only need all of that and a few more simple tools to build a dormer.

I was curious as to what Angel would have done differently if she could go back in time. As we all know hindsight is 20/20 and she didn’t hesitate to say, “I would have started earlier. We let the summer and dry weather slip by. Once we cut the hole in the roof it rained every day and we kept the house dry using a big tarp. Had we started two months earlier it would have never rained a drop on the job.” You’re preaching to the choir, Angel! Rain is something most contractors fight on a routine basis.

I congratulated Angel at the end of the call and once again told her how proud I was of her and her husband. We said our goodbyes and I sat and thought about what she had done in just four months' time working on the weekends. An hour later, my phone rang and there was Angel’s excited voice saying, “Tim, guess what? I just found out I’m allowed to do all of the electric and plumbing too! I know you can help me and you’re going to save me an additional $10,000.00.”

Indeed I will. Along the way, Angel is going to become even more confident. I wouldn’t be surprised in several years she decides to build her own home like I helped Zoe do in New Mexico two years ago. Trust me, you can do things you think are impossible!

Column 1499

A Canadian Remodeling Nightmare

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Tim Carter

illustration of exterior door installation in frame wall

A Canadian Remodeling Nightmare - Betrayal of Trust

I’d like to share a story with you. This saga transpired over the past six weeks and I feel it contains a valuable teaching moment that is guaranteed to save you thousands of dollars, allow you to sleep at night, and go to dinner with your remodeling contractor at the end of the job.

This is a tale about trust, honor, and betrayal. Perhaps you’ve been betrayed in the past by a friend, a lover, or a contractor. No matter who it is, it’s always painful.

Weeks ago a woman who lives in Ontario, Canada purchased one of my short consult phone calls. She was upset about a new exterior door that was installed in the basement of her home. The purpose of the call was to get my opinion as to whether it looked okay and if she was just being too persnickety.

As I always do, I asked for her to send me as many photographs as possible so I could get a handle on the situation. Fortunately, she sent great ones that allowed me to see every aspect of the job.

This job was very complex. The homeowner had decided to build a new patio beneath a deck. The basement of the house was only partially below grade and the door was installed in the exterior wall in the basement under the outdoor deck.

To install the door, the contractor had to excavate the ground beneath the deck to be able to install the patio. This patio extended to the outer deck support columns. The contractor may or may not have known but the footing piers under these columns would have to be sunk lower into the ground as they no longer would have enough soil cover to protect against frost heave.

I immediately saw a grave error in one of the photographs. The contractor had cut a notch in the foundation to accommodate the new door. But the top of the notch was 6 inches above the basement floor!

Other photos indicated that he had already installed the new patio outside and it was also above the basement floor. I couldn’t tell if the patio was sloped away from the house so as to direct water away from the basement.

The notch in the foundation was not wide enough. This meant it was impossible to position the door far enough back in the wall in line with the wall framing that sat on top of the foundation wall.

But it gets worse. The contractor had not created a slope on the horizontal part of the notch in the foundation. This slope was necessary to shed water away from the underside of the door threshold. Without this slope, there was a very good chance water would leak into the basement under the threshold.

I told the distraught woman that I could make a simple color drawing showing exactly where the door frame should be in relation to the exterior of the concrete foundation and the existing wood-frame exterior wall. I also sent her several links to great illustrations and cross-sections that I found on the websites of top exterior door manufacturers.

Furthermore, I sent her links to several YouTube videos, including one of mine, that showed how to install a new exterior door in an existing wall. I believe she watched them, but it’s possible she didn’t comprehend all the information.

Money Equals Power

The good news is she was still in possession of well over $30,000. I had told her under NO circumstances to release another dollar to the contractor until such time as the door was installed correctly. She followed this advice.

But just a week ago she texted me sharing that the contractor was putting all sorts of pressure on her to pay him a large sum of money even though nothing had been done to correct the door installation.

This woman also got a call from the contractor’s family divorce lawyer demanding money from her. Can you believe that? You might now understand why the contractor was trying to get his hands on money.

The bad news is the woman told me she was about to hire an attorney to sue the contractor. I told her in no uncertain terms, DO NOT HIRE A LAWYER. I wrote a column about why not to do this about two years ago. That column is on my www.AsktheBuilder.com website.

The simple reason is you have better odds of winning money playing blackjack in Las Vegas than suing a contractor. First and foremost we already know this contractor has no money!

Avoiding Nightmares

How could all of this be avoided? The woman should have had superb drawings showing exactly how everything was to be installed. There should have been fantastic written specifications. She should have then talked to the general manager(GM) of the best traditional lumberyard in her city to find out the names of the contractors the GM would use to remodel his house!

How to Find the BEST Contractor

I recorded four videos showing you exactly how to find the BEST contractor in your city or town. GO HERE to watch all of them.

Column 1498

Plumbing Riser vs Stack

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Tim Carter

Plumbing Riser vs Stack | You're looking at a cast iron riser and a cast iron stack. Can you tell which one is the riser? Hah, they're both the same! Do you need a riser diagram? CALL ME NOW. 603-470-0508

Plumbing Riser vs Stack - They're the Same Thing

A plumbing riser is a vertical pipe. You can compare it to a smoke stack which is usually a huge round tube made from steel or masonry.

Plumbing risers can carry wastewater or air. Air is transported through a riser down from the roof.

Where Can I Get A Riser Diagram?

You can try to draw your own riser diagram but it's not easy. A riser diagram shows all the pipes in a plumbing system. The pipes MUST BE sized correctly and more importantly, the pipes must connect according to the code. Do you know the plumbing code backward and forward? I didn't think so. If you did, you would already know a stack is a riser.

Plumbing Plans Consultation | You'll need a master plumber to draw a riser diagram like this. CALL ME to draw your riser diagram. 603-470-0508

How Fast Can a Riser Diagram Be Drawn?

I draw riser diagrams that show drain and vent stacks. For an additional fee, I can draw them in less than 24 hours if you need Sonic Rush service. I've been a master plumber since 1981.

Call ME now so I draw your riser diagram! 603-470-0508

Tim Carter has been a master plumber since 1981. He knows all about plumbing fixture schedules. GO HERE to order your riser diagram now.

What is a Riser in Plumbing

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Tim Carter

Riser in Plumbing| Here are two risers in plumbing. A 4-inch no-hub cast iron plumbing stack is at the bottom of the photo. On top of it is a 4x3-inch cast-iron wye. Two 3-inch risers branch off to two different full bathrooms. I installed this in my daughter's Bar Harbor home in 2019. CALL ME if you need me to draw your riser diagram. 603-470-0508 Copyright 2023 Tim Carter

What is a Riser in Plumbing - It's a Vertical Pipe

A riser is a vertical pipe in a plumbing installation. Plumbers also call them stacks. Think about a smoke stack and how it's a vertical tube.

Do You Need a Riser Diagram?

You may want to know about a riser in plumbing because you need a plumbing permit. Building departments often require a riser diagram so they know that you know the correct-sized pipe to install for each riser.

If you don't have the correct one, you can have significant clogging issues later after the drain pipes are in use.

Look at all the risers! | You'll need a master plumber to draw a riser diagram like this. CALL ME NOW so I can draw yours: 603-470-0508.

Can You Draw a Riser Diagram?

Yes, I draw riser diagrams each day. I love doing it. To me it's like solving a 3D crossword puzzle.

Call ME now so I can help you! 603-470-0508

Are You a Master Plumber?

Yes. I've been a master plumber since 1981.

Tim Carter has been a master plumber since 1981. He knows all about plumbing fixture schedules.

Ancient Ice House Technology

Posted on March 4, 2023 by Tim Carter

Ancient Ice House Technology - Cold Air is Heavy

Watch this video and dust off the memories from your high school physics class.

Ed Dowd Interview

Posted on March 1, 2023 by Tim Carter

Ed Dowd the Number Cruncher Shares Facts

I shared this video with my 25,000 newsletter subscribers on March 1, 2023. The sole intention was to provide my subscribers with information they previously might not have known about.

As you'd expect, there was both positive and negative feedback. The email content of what I sent to my subscribers can be found below the positive feedback.

The negative feedback was very predictable. Based on the lack of logic and the data sent back to me that didn't directly relate to what Ed said during the interview, it became immediately apparent that most likely not one of the naysayers took the time to watch the video.

I replied to many asking them if they had invested the time to increase their data set before spewing their snide and sarcastic remarks. One was a dear Cincinnati friend. Not one of them got back, even with a lie that they had watched it.

That is exactly what I was talking about in my original email. Their egos blocked them from consuming additional information.

They were afraid the castle walls around their core beliefs might crumble when challenged. Such a sad mistake.

truth vs lies graphic

A very small number of subscribers sent back respectful negative replies. While they were concerned about my reputation, they were quite clear that I was spreading misinformation. What an interesting word that's cropped up over the past three years.

As for misinformation, who is the arbiter of that? It's simple truth vs. lies as you see above. A great example of this is what just happened in March of 2023 when 14,000+ hours of video surveillance footage was released to Tucker Carlson. If the January 6th Committee was SO SURE that what they were doing was TRUTHFUL, then they would have made all that footage public for you and me to see. But since they were telling LIES about what really happened on January 6, 2021, they didn't want their narrative CHALLENGED.

Kenny Chesney had a hit song years ago that tells you when we'll discover if Ed Dowd is right or wrong. It's a fantastic song and you'll find it at the bottom of this page.

The first group of detractors was my ultra-tolerant subscribers. They beat the tolerance drum all day telling everyone but themselves to be more tolerant. You know the type, right? They tolerate only those things they agree with.

The second group was the SHUT-UP-and-SIT-DOWN group. They didn't hold back and commanded me to stop exercising my God-given right of Free Speech. It was fine for me to share home improvement information but other than that, SHUT UP and SIT DOWN!

The third group was the gulpers. They ranted about all sorts of political diatribes that had nothing to do whatsoever with what Ed discussed in the video. Over their lives, I estimate each one of the gulpers has consumed about 14,000 gallons of Kool-Aid. Jack was in this group and it's possible he's glugged down 50,000 gallons, maybe more! How much is 14,000 gallons? It would probably fit in this tanker:

tanker trailer

I think my favorite negative response was from Lee. You would file Lee's email to me in the SIT-DOWN-and-SHUT-UP group. Sadly he had not read Mikki Willis's Plandemic book and thinks that what anyone says in an Amazon book review or in some webpage Google puts at the top of its biased search results (misinformation) are God's word and undeniable truth. Lee also injected his bias and lack of open-mindedness in his last sentence. I highlighted it in red. Here's what Lee sent to me:

"I'm a numbers guy, too, with a Physics degree. You should really stick to your consulting business instead of spewing your anti-vax propaganda. Readers expect more from you - maybe we shouldn't do so any longer. Please do more research than just watching a Tucker Carlson episode. This is a factual and refreshing review of Dowd's book on Amazon."

I had to respond to Lee to share with him that his argument would not fare well in court or in front of a jury of his peers. I replied:

"I'll see your physics degree and raise you 20 years of expert-witness work with my last job having me crawl around on the Brazilian Ambassador's roof on the island of Antigua.

#1. Howard, the reviewer you link to on Amazon, could have made up the statement about the One America CEO. Is Amazon going to fact-check that?

#2. The only way to discover the TRUTH as to WHAT the One America CEO said is to have been on the stock analyst call.

#3. You can't rely on a RECORDING of the call because it's child's play to SPOOF one, change what the CEO said, delete parts of the call, etc. I know this because I used to do this 20+ years ago with one of the top audio engineers at the third-largest radio station in Cincinnati.

In closing, you should follow your own advice to me and read this book, After all, you told me, "Please do more research than just watching a Tucker Carlson episode." It's time for you to do more research.

Let me know when you finish the short book. Reach out and I'd be happy to get on a phone call with you to discuss the points chapter by chapter.

I'm willing to bet you $50 right now that you'll not read the book and you won't jump on a phone call.

P.S. Be sure to watch Mikki's Plandemic 2 video so you then know to start to dig into WHO is the Howard guy on Amazon. Are you sure Howard read Ed's book?"

Lee might end up reading this and my guess is he now wishes he would have gone to the One America website and looked on their Press page for recent press releases.

Why is this important? If you were the CEO of One America Insurance and something very important you said on a stock analyst call was misrepresented or taken out of context in a popular book about a topic that is directly connected to your underwriting business, you'd probably come out in public with a statement to that fact. I couldn't locate this press release.

You also might do some research to see if One America Insurance has RAISED their rates on these throw-away policies to young people. If so, WHY since the shamdemic is now over?

i see stupid people meme

Here are some of the most poignant positive responses:

"Tim, Thanks, as this was just the info I was looking for. I came this close (pinch your finger and thumb together) of getting the jab, but my wife begged me not to. Since then, I have been wondering if that was the right move. This video solved that issue. Unfortunately, one of my daughters, that is in the 25-44 age range has had complications as a result of getting the shop. PSW-Your emails are so informative and entertaining, Keep it up." Mark

"Keep up the good work. You speak the truth!" Donn

"I'm glad you are spreading this information, Tim. It needs to be heard. Some people who might not receive this information, thinking it is a "conspiracy theory", will receive it from someone who has, over decades, earned their respect. If they feel you are credible in areas of construction, they might more easily feel you are credible in this." Donna

"Thank you for this email. I agree with you 100%. Bless you and your loved ones and all the world." Jean and Radha my cat

"Thanks, Tim I look forward to your newsletter each week. Common sense is in short supply in the media. Kicking myself for being pressured into getting the Covid shot. Keep up the good work." Susan Susan donated $25 to my newsletter. If you want to donate, do it here.

"It's a dreadful burden knowing what we know and not being able to share with normies who 'can't handle the truth' and think we're 'conspiracy theorists.' Rest assured, we are winning, but there WILL be additional collateral damage in the meantime (more 'accidental' toxic train derailments, 'mysterious' food processing plant explosions, and, of course, 'died suddenly'). What you are doing here with your humble newsletter is nothing short of HEROIC. But heads-up: attracting the attention of the perps can be bad for your health. Steady as she goes." Charlie

"Mike XXX here in sunny Spring Hill FL. Just finished watching the video of Ed Dowd, I'm at a loss for words! I will say "thank you" though for bringing this to our attention. I assume few will take the time to view it, as it is a bit off track from your expertise, and that many will regard it as baloney. Too bad for them! I will selectively send this along to those in my group that I believe, with my endorsement, will carve out an hour of their time to have their eyes opened. Thanks again. Simply amazed." Mike

"Thank you so much for this!!!! To me, another sign (not a statistic) that the Wall of Deceit is crumbling... PS and thanks for your work." Rick

"Just watched the video with Ed Dowd. Thank you so much for sharing. I would have never known. I so agree. I always look forward to your emails. Ronnie

"It is great that your eyes have been opened, I for one was never on board with the kill shot, I told my CEO, "enforce the shot and I am gone". He assured me he would not do that and he was true to his word. However a lot of people were not as fortunate as me and my fellow employees. I dug into the narrative from the start and did not like anything that was happening. Now it is all coming out and you are so correct, people don't like being wrong and have a hard time eating crow! My hope is the people who pushed this bs will be held accountable. Thank you for waking up and sending out this email. Kudos to you!!" Bill

"Many thanks for the video.....It is a must-view for everyone and I really like the idea of always telling yourself: What are they lying to me now?. Being cynical is a good thing." Henry

"VERY interesting video. Many facts I didn't realize about all this and am really glad I refused to get the "shot". One of the best videos I have ever listened to and watched is this one. I think our current administration and the one we had two administrations ago are to blame along with China and it's about population control and with the group that wants a one world government which Bill Gates is a member of and also Obama. Many others are included from other parts of the world in that also. How so many people can be so blind as to what's going on with the death rate going way up especially with young healthy people. Thank you for having the guts to post this." Gary

"Thank you so much for using your platform to inform people of the truth. It hurts my heart that the data doesn't lie, and much of what the so-called conspiracy theorists (I call them forecasters) have tried to shout since the beginning is coming to fruition. I, like so many others, have damaged and dead friends and family, many in various stages of denial. This is likely the most impactful betrayal they've ever experienced. All the best to you and your close ones! Thank you, thank you for sharing facts." Stacy

"Hello Tim, Thanks for this "side road" - BIG road email. I lost my low-wage job for not taking the poison, yet I have no regrets." Vladan

"Thank you, Tim, for speaking the truth and trying to awaken others. We've been lied to for years and finally, the truth is being revealed. God is shining his light into the darkness for all to see. God Bless You." Tim

"Hi Tim, Ed is spot on and if you look at other sources of data it all matches up. Robert Malone just addressed the Mexican Congress and he had a great summation of events."

"Yes, Tim the vaccine in reality is a bioweapon that they actually developed back in 2015. Funny thing is, a lot of people make the case that America's DOD was involved in the process. I don't trust our Rockefeller big pharma medical criminal establishment so I did not partake in any of their nonsense. I did not even wear a mask. What's really sad is that so many people did fall for it out of fear and will suffer the consequences for years, if they survive that long. Fear is a major motivator but I have the good Lord to protect me and He gave me discernment so I was able to detect their bullshit from day 1. I sure hope you and your family are safe."A fellow Cincinnatian, Jaycie

"Hi Tim, Thanks for pointing out the Tucker/Dowd interview. Dowd is so impressive. I just hope the Republicans bring him to Washington to explain things. His book will be on my nightstand shortly." Jeff

"I have spoken to you on the telephone some years ago and have been enjoying your emails for almost as long as you have been on. I just took the time to listen to this video and to be honest, I decided that there would be no more shots for me before seeing the video. Thanks, Tim." Bob

"Tim, I'm with you on this vaccine disaster. You can't argue with the facts in Ed Dowd's book which I downloaded free to my kindle. Thank u for sticking your neck out in support of his research. I actually believe that not only did China develop the deadly virus but deliberately spread it. Big Pharma and individuals are still making money off the vaccine. The United Nations's Agenda 21 included the need to reduce the world population by a significant percentage due to their environmental agenda. It's a scary world we live in." Sandy

"Hi Tim, I sincerely thank you for all the things you are speaking about starting with electric vehicles and global warming fear-mongering. At risk of losing subscribers, you continue to enlighten the ones who have been having their heads buried in the sand. This latest newsletter speaking of the criminal conduct by so many governments and businesses in coercing people to get vaccinated with an experimental shot is a brave stance that I feel more people need to speak out about that have audiences like yours. Yes, many fell for the lies. Evil (Satan) is behind all this and the more we see happening in ways we could not fathom in our lifetimes. Thank you again for your courage, God is on our side." John

"Hi Tim: Funny you should mention this book. I recently snuck this book in a birthday gift with other things to my sister. My college-educated sister (lives far away in a very blue state) texts, "What is this book saying? I can't figure it out." I had to think for a long time before responding. I know it's hard to hear something that goes against what you believe." Karen

"Thank you for enlightening me about a fact I was unaware of. I have felt that this virus was overhyped for a while but to think we Americans have been misled by a political agenda to this degree is disgusting. Thanks again." Joe

# # #

Here is the content that I shared with my newsletter subscribers:

Dear Tim,

I've waited many months to have this conversation with you.

It's very important for you to realize that I've been a numbers guy my entire life. I'm entranced by them and know that accurate numbers don't lie.

That said, many people have a hard time agreeing with accurate numbers. I'm talking about numbers that make a past decision look dreadful. There are a host of reasons for this, not the least of which are: ego, ignorance, fear, apathy, etc.

Ego is perhaps the biggest one. Why, you may ask?

As you get older your heart tends to get harder and your ego gets very very fragile.

You simply can't handle the truth, thanks Jack!, for fear that you'll look weak, stupid, or fill-in-the-blank in front of your friends, co-workers, children, etc.

I get it. I see this ego-blocker - that's what I call it - all the time in my Ask the Builder business with homeowners. I'm currently dealing with one right now in Ontario, Canada. A woman simply can't deal with the fact that she was dupped. She is stinging from the fact that the trust she placed in someone, in this case a contractor, was not reciprocated with honor and truth.

Have you had that happen to you with a contractor, a lover, or a friend? Someone who betrayed your trust?

How many times in the past three years here have I told you that I felt that you've been played?

Five, ten, or more?

For the past two years I've been laying low. I didn't have the numbers to support my own personal theory.

I was waiting for the numbers to crystalize.

First, you need to know that my retired brother-in-law was a mortician. I know a bit about that industry. I know that they keep fastidious records.

I also have friends in the insurance industry. Talk about number crunchers!

I've been waiting for this industry to step forward and sure enough on investment calls they've started to report what's going on.

It's deeply troubling. You'll see some numbers in just a few seconds that should shake you to your core.

But will your ego get in the way? That's the question.

Here's another one:

Are you a person who can't rationalize facts because your position is based on emotion(ego)?

The tipping point for me happened about a month ago when I was watching a late-season Cincinnati Bengals football game. In the opening moments, Damar Hamlin died.

You do realize when your heart stops beating, you die, right? That's what cardiac arrest is.

I'm sure in the past you've heard the phrase about the Vice-President of the USA being one heartbeat away from being the President.

Well, after minutes of on-field CPR and being zapped with a defibrillator, medical technicians gave Damar a second chance. They stole him back from the Grim Reaper while he wasn't looking.

Ninety minutes ago I started watching an hour-long video that finally put forth the numbers I knew were out there. Numbers I knew some other numbers guy like me would excavate and expose.

That number-crunching guy is Ed Dowd. Here are a few words from his latest book - Cause Unknown:

As Ed says on the video, it's time to have a frank discussion about the world's largest murder scene. The facts and evidence are now available.

It's time to unroll the yellow Crime Scene tape.

crime scene tape

It's time for you to deal with your decision about getting jabbed.

It's time for some people to be brought to justice.

It's time for you to suck it up and be brave.

It's time for you to admit that a decision you made TRUSTING others caused you harm - just like the poor woman up in Ontario.

I want you to know I take NO COMFORT in knowing I was right all along. I feel rage typing this. I'm angry at all those involved in the conspiracy. It was, and is still, an ONGOING worldwide Game of Thrones.

GO WATCH THE VIDEO and let me know how you feel.

I'm so sorry if you're having health issues because of being played.

I happen to know of at least one dear dear friend of mine who's very sick right now because of the experimental biological agent and the conspiracy surrounding the past three years. That's exactly what it was and if you got jabbed you were part of the largest human phase-one trial in history.

Such a sad mistake as Queen Cersei said.

Tim Carter

P.S. Let me know if your ego gets in the way. I can handle the truth. The question is, can you? If you've got MORE TRUTH to share with me, reach out to me with it.

A glass of water helps red pills go down.

red and blue pill decision graphic

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