Hot Water Runs Out Fast

Posted on by Tim Carter
gas water heater

Hot Water Runs Out Too Fast | This is a gas water heater. I'm guessing it's what Arlen has in his home. Who's Arlen? Keep reading, silly!

Hot Water Runs Out Fast - Especially in Winter

Arlen is a subscriber to my FREE newsletter.  He knows I've been a master plumber since 1981 and would have some insight. He shared this with me:

My wife was taking a normal shower last week and suddenly ran out of hot water. I checked the water heater, and everything appeared to be ok. So I just bumped up the thermostat a bit and I took a shower with no problem. Since the Richmond 40 gallon is just about out of its 12-year warranty, I decided to do what you preach and that is contact the manufacturer. The service tech gave me this story about how the water is much colder in the winter and so naturally you have to turn the thermostat higher. I called BS at that point. Yes, the water gets colder, but I have never had to adjust the thermostat in the previous 12 years we've had the heater. So why does my hot water run out so fast? He had to answer to that. I did replace that anode rod and flushed it last summer per your suggestions. When I asked him about adding a second anode rod as you mentioned in your library, he said it was not possible.

When do I need to replace this heater? I don't want to push my luck and end up with no hot water on a Saturday night!! So what say ye?

Thanks, Tim!

Why Arlen's Hot Water Runs Out Too Fast

Let's unpack Arlen's conundrum. There are quite a few things that contributed to his wife jumping out of the shower faster than jack pops out of a box.

An intriguing and important clue he offered up is this has never been an issue in the previous twelve years. Let's assume the winter weather has been the same where Arlen lives, his wife is in the shower the same amount of time, and she adjusts the water temperature to the same heat level during each shower. I know, that's a big bag of assumptions.

If that's the case, there's a somewhat rare possibility the dip tube in Arlen's heater has worn out or has developed a defect.

What Does A Dip Tube Have to do With my Water Heater Running Out of Hot Water?

A dip tube is a long plastic tube that's like a straw but it's about 3/4-inch in diameter. You find these tubes on the cold-water inlet of water heaters. The dip tube directs incoming cold water to the bottom of the heater.

If no dip tube were in place, the incoming cold water could migrate sideways about ten inches and mix with the hot water that's leaving the hot-water outlet. Years ago, there was a spate of dip tubes that were made with an inferior plastic that caused them to disintegrate within the heater.

Was the Richmond Tech's Advice about Cold Water Correct?

If you live where it gets cold in the winter, and are on city water, yes the incoming cold water temperature is colder than in August. I say this assuming your city water department gets its water from a nearby river. If the water source is a deep well, your incoming water temperature should be about the same year-round. 

Your water heater running out of hot water in the winter might have to do with what maybe Arlen's wife did a few days ago.

If the bathroom was colder than normal during below-normal winter weather, it's common for a person to reduce the chill by raising the temperature of the water flowing from the showerhead. This, by default, means you'll use up more of the stored hot water in the water heater tank faster than normal.

Add to this the fact that the incoming cold water is colder and a 40-gallon water heater could struggle to deliver 120F hot water for more than five to seven minutes. It's all a matter of how many gallons of hot water are flowing through the shower faucet.

Why Didn't Arlen Run Out of Hot Water During His Shower?

Arlen was able to use less hot water per minute because the incoming temperature of the hot water at the shower valve was higher. This means he had to use more cold water and less hot water to not get scalded. Once again, we need to assume that the temperature of the water coming out of the showerhead is the same for both Arlen and his better half. This may not be true!

Your Hot Water Runs Out Quickly - What Can You Do?

If your hot water runs out too fast, you can install a tankless heater. I have one and they're magnificent.

state proline xe combi boiler

This is my tankless water heater. It's also the boiler that heats my 4-bedroom home. The box is the size of a piece of checked luggage!

It's important to realize you shouldn't base your decision on buying a tankless water heater to save money. You should read the comments sent in by homeowners like you who have seen an increase in their fuel bills after installing a tankless heater. You can read those comments in a past tankless water heater column. I recommend that you also read my original tankless water heater column because I never received pushback from the manufacturers. That tells you everything I said in the column was TRUE.

How Much Life is Left in Arlen's Water Heater?

Since Arlen added a new anode rod, he might get another 12-15 years out of his heater. If you regularly replace the anode rod, a tank water heater can last for decades.

Get FREE BIDS from local plumbers that will replace your anode rod.

Remodeling A Bathtub

Posted on by Tim Carter
remodeling a bathtub

A homeowner discovered an unpleasant surprise when he decided to remove a platform tub and replace it with a modern giant vessel tub. This black vent pipe needs to be relocated. Copyright 2022 Tim Carter

Relocating a Bathtub - It can be Challenging

Over the weekend, I got Steve out of a big jamb. He lives near Pittsburgh, and his wife decided it was time to tear out an outdated platform bathtub. She wanted a new sleek soaking tub shaped like an elongated giant vessel sink. I must admit, they look amazing as I installed one in my daughter’s new home two years ago. They’re also very comfortable.

I’ve been a master plumber since 1981, and as crazy as this sounds, I love installing plumbing pipes of all types, including traditional black-iron piping for gas lines. It’s my hope that one day you get to spin a cutting die around the end of an iron pipe to create threads. When you experience the deep satisfaction of seeing spiral threads produced on a pipe that was smooth just minutes before, you might understand why I gravitate to this profession.

Steve discovered that I do over-the-phone plumbing coaching. Just six months ago, Zoe in New Mexico got me on the phone twice to help her install the plumbing drain and vent pipes in a house she was building herself. A month before, I had drawn the necessary plumbing plans she needed to obtain her permit. It made me so happy when she let me know her inspection passed with flying colors. Good for you, Zoe!

Where Can Vent Pipes Go?

Years ago, the plumber that installed Steve’s platform tub took a logical shortcut and installed the required vent pipe for the tub drain line on top of the subfloor. There was plenty of space to do this under the platform and it met the code requirements.

It’s important for you to realize the importance of plumbing vent pipes. These all-important pipes are the pathway air must follow when you decide to flush a toilet, use a washing machine, or brush your teeth.

What Do Vent Pipes Do?

Before you turn on a faucet the only water in the plumbing pipes in your home is that you’ll find sitting still in a p-trap under a fixture or floor drain. This water in the trap provides a barrier for vermin and sewer gas from entering your home. When no water is flowing, both the drain pipes and the vent pipes are simply filled with either air or a mixture of air and sewer gas.

As soon as you flush a toilet or run water in a fixture, you introduce water into the drain pipes. This water displaces the air and sometimes pushes it down the drain pipes like a snowplow pushes snow. The air must be replaced immediately and this happens by air being sucked down into the pipe that sticks up out of your roof. All this time you thought that pipe worked like a smokestack just letting gas out, didn’t you?

If enough water travels fast enough through the plumbing drains and the vent pipes are clogged or non-existent, a vacuum will form and the needed air will enter the system via one of the plumbing p-traps.

I Hear a Gurgling Noise in my Sink - What is That?

Perhaps at some point in your life, you may have heard a slurping noise from a tub or sink when you flushed a nearby toilet or a washing machine started to pump water into the system. This gurgling or slurping noise is air making its way into the system. This is not a good thing as the p-traps then lose their ability to stop sewer gas and vermin from entering your home. You want vent pipes to be installed correctly and to be free of debris. There must always be an open pathway up from each fixture to the roof.

Steve supplied me with excellent photos of his situation so I understood how to solve his problem. I described how he could relocate the vent pipe so it was no longer above the floor yet would meet code and function properly for decades and decades using Mother Nature’s toolset.

Should I Use an Air-Admittance Valve (AAV)?

No. I dislike AAVs because they have moving parts. These fail over time. Traditional vent pipes always work if installed correctly.

I really prefer venting plumbing fixtures with pipes that interconnect with one another and eventually exit the roof of a house. I recorded a video showing this in the last house I plumbed for a friend. It’s on my Ask the Builder website.

You can have multiple vent pipes poking up through the roof to save on pipe material. It’s so very easy to flash the vent pipes so you never have a roof leak. I prefer to use a flashing boot made by Lifetime Tool that has a powder-coated metal base and a special silicon-rubber boot that’s far better than the flimsy plain-rubber-boot flashings used by most plumbers.

Should I Clean Out My Roof Vent Pipe?

Yes, you should clean or rinse out your roof vent pipe. Every few years, assuming you can get up on your roof safely, you should put a garden hose down the roof vent pipe and run water down the pipe for a few minutes to wash out any accumulated dust, tree debris, or even bird poop.

If you do this, be sure you put sentries within the house to spot any leaks. Although it’s very rare, it’s possible a vent pipe in an attic or in a wall might have a crack or a fitting was never properly sealed. This might not be a problem for air, but it becomes a big issue when you’re putting gallons of water into the vent pipes!

You need to have someone by the hose faucet handle who can turn off the water immediately if a leak is spotted. You’ll benefit from discovering this leak as it could be the reason you’re noticing a slight sewer gas smell every now and then!

Column 1439

DIY Wood Window Restoration

Posted on by Tim Carter
Window has seen better days

Window Restoration - This window has seen better days, but it’s not yet ready for the landfill. You can fix it with minimal skills. Copyright 2022 Tim Carter

Window Restoration

A fellow amateur radio operator sent me a photo of a wood window that’s in his girlfriend’s bathroom. The window is suffering from some rot and the sash frame is starting to separate.

While I don’t have the epic enhanced observation powers exhibited by the Shawn Spencer character in the popular and funny TV series Psych that is now in reruns, I was able to determine looking closely at the photo what caused the issue. That photo is shown at the top of this column.

Jeff’s significant other’s problem should put your head on a swivel because of the raging inflation that’s gripping our nation. A year ago, I broke the glass in one of my own up-down sash wood windows while cleaning it. I discovered it’s cheaper to buy a new sash from Andersen Windows than to go to all the hassle of ordering a custom insulated glass pane, remove the broken glass, install the new glass, and then try to match the custom exterior color.

What Does a New Window Cost?

Much to my surprise, the simple small window sash I need costs in excess of $350.00. I decided to wait until the glass starts to fog up before I replace it. The odds are it’s now approaching $400 for the sash. Jeff’s girlfriend could have stopped the wood rot, as well as the mildew on the sash, by doing one simple thing each day.

When I looked closely at the photograph, I could see a depressed part of the sash profile in the lower right corner. Water vapor from hot showers no doubt condensed on the glass pane, it then rolled down the window, and finally found a tiny crack to enter the wood at the sash corner.

Does Glass Cause Wood to Separate?

The problem has been going on for some time is my educated guess as the weight of the glass pushing down on the lower horizontal sash frame caused the two pieces of wood to separate it the corner. As the crack got bigger, more water entered faster and deeper accelerating the rot.

Fortunately, I feel my radio buddy can salvage this sash with a small amount of effort. Although it might be nice to wait for warmer weather, a repair can be initiated in the winter if he has the skills to cut a piece of plywood the same size as the sash so he can pull out the damaged sash to work on it. In warm weather, I’d just use a piece of thick cardboard to close up the opening while I’m repairing the sash.

How Do You Restore a Wood Window?

The first thing that needs to be done in my opinion is to clean the mildew off the sash and try to use a fan to dry the wood at the corner. Once the wood is fairly dry, I’d use a long squeeze clamp to see if a moderate amount of pressure will close up the gap between the two pieces of wood that make up the corner.

Get FREE BIDS from local handymen that can restore your wood windows.

Just in case you’re able to draw the corner tight with the clamp, I’d squirt some yellow carpenter’s glue in the crack and use a Popsicle stick or other thin piece of wood to spread it around in the crack. I’d then start to tighten the clamp hoping the corner draws up tight. If it does, I’d leave the clamp in place for a few hours.

It’s important to realize I’d place the bottom pad of the clamp about 1 inch from the outside corner of the sash. I’d want to be able to drill a pilot hole in the bottom of the sash about 1/2-inch from the outside corner so I could install a 3-inch-long stainless-steel wood screw up through the horizontal sash frame member into the vertical frame member while the clamp is in place. Carefully drill the pilot hole so the screw stays centered in the wood frame.

If you can’t draw the corner tight with the clamp, the crack can be filled with wood epoxy. I’ve got two videos on my AsktheBuilder.com website that show how to mix, apply and sand this wonderful material.

How Do You Avoid Wood Rot in Bathrooms?

This rot problem could have been avoided. All the woman had to do was place an old towel in contact with the bottom of the window glass each time she showered. The towel would capture the dripping condensate before it could get to the wood.

After getting dressed, she should then use the towel to wipe off the glass pane to ensure it’s dry. Any other visible liquid water on the window should also be dried off with the towel.

The towel should then be hung up to dry. The door to the bathroom should be left open to lower the overall humidity in that room as rapidly as possible. The reason bathrooms like hers have plentiful mildew growth is simple. There’s a great chance that condensate fog is forming on all the walls and surfaces as you see on the mirror.

The mirror in the bathroom is probably the same temperature as the walls and ceiling. Condensate fog forms on all the surfaces that are the same temperature, or cooler, than the mirror. You can’t see the fog because the walls and ceiling are opaque, but trust me, it’s there. This condensate is the water mildew needs to grow and thrive.

Column 1438

eTape16 Review

Posted on by Tim Carter

eTape16™ Review - It's Superb

etape 16 electronic tape measure

This is a superb small tape measure perfect for a homeowner. Be sure you get the generation 2 one with the silver function buttons.

I've tested countless tape measures in my life. You'd be surprised at the differences between them.

The eTape16™ immediately got my attention as soon as I tried it out. Two different models were sent to me. The eTAPE has evolved over the past few years getting better and better.

The eTAPE16™ was featured on the February 1, 2022 LIVE video stream.

You can also purchase the eTAPE16™ direct.

Did Anyone Else Test the eTape16™?

As soon as I used it, I thought, "Wow, this is pretty cool." I was stunned by the accuracy as it measures how much tape has exited the body.

I then decided to put it to the REAL test. I handed it to my 29-year-old daughter and didn't say a word.

She looked at it, noticing the screen, pulled out the tape, her eyes got BIG, and she said, "Dad, this is amazing. I want to buy this from you."

It was now time to put it to the ultimate test, She Who Must Be Obeyed - my wife of 47 years. I did with her what I did with my daughter handing it to her not saying a word.

My wife had THE EXACT SAME REACTION as did my daughter. But Kathy didn't offer to buy it from me.

Is it Hard to Read the Measurement on the eTAPE16™?

No. All you do is pull it out and read the crisp display. Watch this how-to-use the eTAPE16™ video:

Here's how hard it USED TO BE to read tape measures!

Watch this decades-old video I recorded to show you how to read tapes BEFORE the eTAPE16™ was even a glimmer in the eye of the inventor:

What are the eTape16™ Features?

  • Large LED display that is easy to read in full sunlight or a darker room
  • Inside and Outside measuring capability
  • Three memories
  • US/Metric Conversion
  • Centerline Calculation

What Else Can You Share about the eTAPE16™?

The backlit display makes it very easy to read, even in sunlight. A professional finish carpenter might like to try this tape out to see if it doesn't increase his efficiency. I feel for a person who's uncomfortable trying to figure out how to read a conventional tape measure the eTAPE16 will save time and money. It's a great tool for younger people who might not be getting a great math education in school. I hale from an older generation where fractions were a major part of our grade school math class. I'm not sure that's the case today.

etape max 16 tape measure

It appears there are at least two models of the eTape16. Note this one has red buttons to activate its functions. This model also has a locking button I found very difficult to get to lock.

etape 16 electronic tape measure

This is the easy-to-read display of the eTape16.

etape 16 electronic tape measure

Here's the eTape16 in action. I've extended the tape 1.5 inches and you can see that on the display.

etape 16 electronic tape measure

This is the better tape-locking button. It takes little effort to lock the tape when you push down the top of the slide.

January 30, 2022 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Newsletter Issue 1167

Is this your first issue? You're in fine fine company! Guess who else joined the party this week? Here's a partial list: Audra, Benjamin, Maggie (May?), Don, Charis, and so so many more. It appears more than 150 new subscribers are here today. Wow! I'm humbled by your trust!

It's all about friends and family at the end of the trail and I hope you and I become great friends.

With that said, your first issue may have been #179. That issue was published just before I was invited to land on the deck of the USS George Washington. I did a sleepover aboard the enormous ship as it was doing night qualification landings for new pilots. I think you might enjoy reading about my adventure and tour on that aircraft carrier.

This is a very unusual newsletter. It's light on home improvement and heavy on life lessons. I hope you like it.

My Friend Marty

Speaking of friends, a few days ago I had the good fortune to talk with a very dear friend from Cincinnati, Ohio - Marty Hovey.

Marty and his sweet wife Denise live in a wonderful neighborhood called Pleasant Ridge (PR). My second house was in PR and I lived there from 1976 to 1987. The Carter casa was about one mile from Marty and Denise and even closer to other friends I have there.

BTW, for the record, I'm also friends with Denise!

I can't recall how we met as their kids and mine were not the same age. Our friendship stretches back over forty years! Marty is a very talented graphic artist and helped me right out of the gate when I launched AsktheBuilder.com in September of 1995. I'm super grateful for his help and guidance.
marty hovey marathon man
That's Marty being weighted down by two heavy medals. The giant one with the gold seahorses signifies his recent finish of the Hawaii Maui Oceanfront marathon just two weeks ago!

Denise is hanging the one medal that impressed me the most - the one with the red, white, and blue lanyard.

That one signifies Marty finished 50 marathons - one in each USA state! HOLY TOMATO!

I've known for decades that running was Marty's hobby and recall conversations of him training in the dark decades ago on icy mornings in Cincinnati.

Denise has run a few marathons as well and worked for years, I believe, in the front office of Cincinnati's Flying Pig marathon.

Marty, you're an inspiration! I can't think of a better example of the three Ds:

  • diligence
  • discipline
  • determination

How many thousands of hours do you think Marty invested to achieve this rare goal? How many pairs of worn-out running shoes did he consign to the landfill? Wow!

You can see a list of all of Marty's marathons and his times right here.

Look at the powder-blue background of Marty's home page. That tells you all you need to know about his passion. Be sure to watch the short video from a local news station that features Marty and Denise on the home page.

I know two famous people!

Tim Messages Tim

Late yesterday I received a very nice email from another Tim who's been a subscriber for many years:

"Hi Tim,

I took you up on the opportunity to purchase the full ATB Digital Library for the insane low price of just $49.99.

First, let me say, wow! That’s a lot of really good stuff. It’s a lot more than I anticipated. I’m not sure that I got a sense of the quantity of quality material from the advertising emails. In the future, you might want to literally list out what a consumer receives when purchasing that package."

I haven't done what Tim suggested in the past month because I was AFRAID I'd get too many unsubscribes. It's a HUGE LIST of over 100 items!!! I was hoping you'd just go to the page in the shopping cart to see all you get.

Please go to my ATB Digital Library page, and SCROLL DOWN - KEEP SCROLLING - to see ALL YOU GET!

Tim's correct - "WOW!"

Ask the Builder Academy

I was in a video call late Friday with some friends. After the call ended, a crazy idea - some call these random thoughts butterflies - floated around in my head. I thought you might want to participate in a similar video call with me about different home improvement topics.

Each video call would be about one topic. Think back to your high school days.

The goal would be a fun and interactive environment where I'd share my experiences and what I know about different topics. I could share photos, drawings, etc. during the call. It wouldn't just be me blathering on and on.

You could submit questions BEFORE the video call. You can raise your hand just like in class. You could CHAT to me during the call.

You'd have the ability to recommend or request topics for future video calls. I'm trying to tailor-fit this to your needs and desires.

My thoughts are:

  • you don't need any fancy software - just a regular browser lets you into the video call
  • if you're shy, you don't have to appear on video or even be heard - you can just attend anonymously
  • the call is RECORDED - you can watch it unlimited times in the future
  • if you weren't part of the call, you could also watch it in the future

Think of it as Ask the Builder Summer School held all year long. The good news is no Latin or Algebra would ever be discussed on a call! That said, I often include a little easy physics in my one-on-one consult phone calls.

The attendance during the call would be LIMITED. You'd be in a very select group of individuals that want to expand their home improvement knowledge.

Keep in mind, it's a rough idea at this point and I need your input to make it happen. I'm trying to design something that would be attractive to you.

Please take this FAST survey to help me decide if I should go forward. I don't ask for your name or email address.

Let's see if you have interest in this nutty idea. The last question is a magic wand one. You'll love it.

Get FREE and FAST Bids for ANY work on your home.

Going to the Top

My lovely wife Kathy gave a rifle case to our son for Christmas. It was made by Plano. They've got a pretty good reputation and my son asked for this specific case.

It arrived weeks before Christmas and we never took it out of the shipping box. The shipping box looked perfect exhibiting no exterior damage. On Christmas Day when our son opened it, one corner of the case was shattered.

The next week, Kathy reached out to Plano using email, the phone, and a Contact Us form on their website. She got no response. Not good!

I then said I'd try. I filled out the Contact Us form and heard crickets for a week. It was time for me to roll out the heavy artillery.

I reached out to my friend John who's a power user of LinkedIn asking, "John, can you share with me who is the CEO and President of Plano?"

John got back with this:

"Looks like Plano Molding is part of Plano Synergy which was bought by Pure Fishing in 2021. Pure Fishing is owned by the Private Equity firm Sycamore Partners.

Harlan Kent - CEO at Pure Fishing
Dave Bulthuis - President at Pure Fishing
Corporate Headquarters

Pure Fishing, Inc.
7 Science Court
Columbia, SC 29203"

I then proceeded to write a traditional short letter on paper and signed it with my wonderful Pilot fountain pen.

I sent the letter to Harlan and a copy to Dave sharing the saga. It was not an angry letter. Just a matter-of-fact presentation of the facts using as few words as possible. Harlan and Dave just want facts, not opinions. I just asked for a new case or a refund.

Here are the two letters just before handing them off to my trusty rural mail carrier. Do you like those cool sun stamps?
Letters to Pure Fishing
Harlan and Dave got right on it, and had the VP of Customer Service reach out to me.

The bottom line is a new rifle case showed up yesterday in perfect condition.

In this day and age of electrons, I'm suggesting that a polite letter created with atoms carries far more weight. The recipient at the top of the food chain knows you put lots of effort into the communication as it's so easy to send an email.

What's more, your issue is seen by the top people in the company, not some low-level employee that might not be as heavily invested in the company's future as the leaders.

Try this next time you have a problem. Let me know how it works for you.

That's quite enough for a Sunday.

Did I help you today with anything? If so, consider a small donation to keep the boiler lit at Ask the Builder!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Hilton Hotels Uses - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Muff WX - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. What do you think is the BEST insulation to use in a crawlspace? My guess is you might be wrong. Look what I think is the best crawlspace insulation.

Thanks For The Extra $50!

Posted on by Tim Carter

If you're a new subscriber in the past few hours or days, this is a very unusual email. Hang in there for a normal newsletter next Sunday.

It's Just $50...

I want to thank you in advance for the extra $50 you'll be giving me after 6:01 PM Eastern Time tonight (January 23, 2022) if you wait until then to purchase my heavily discounted Digital Library (92% +/- discount).

Look below for all the items in my library. I have them all listed. I GUARANTEE you that you need no less than FIVE of them, probably ten.

As of this moment, you can get my entire digital library for a one-time price of just $49.99. But in less than five hours, the price JUMPS to $99.99.

The retail price of all the items in my digital library adds up to just over $1,250.00 should you purchase them A' la carte'.

A list of the contents of my entire library is just below. That's what you get for just $49.99. It's INSANE.

The extra $50 you're going to be giving me later tonight or tomorrow will come in very handy because of an unexpected business expense that just got dropped on me ten days ago. But I digress.

Why Are You Procrastinating?

A few weeks back, you could have purchased my entire 112+ digital products for pennies on the dollar. Then all this past week you could have bought them for about 50 cents apiece.

In just FIVE HOURS, you'll see a 100% INCREASE in price. The price is going to jump from the current $49.99 to $99.99.

But heck, maybe money is not an issue with you. You could have lots of sweet moola.

But It Gets Worse - UGH!

Next Sunday, the price jumps again - to $129.99. Then on February 6th, the price goes to $149.99.

So if you wait two weeks, you'll be giving me an extra Ben Franklin. I'm good with that if you are too!

This is not a scam. There's no malware or spyware in the digital files.

CLICK or TAP HERE to purchase my Digital Library and keep that extra $50 for yourself. Go out to dinner with your sweetheart and order tasty halibut.

Here's what's in my digital library:

Drainage and STOP Wet Basements

How to Install a Trench Drain Video Series

Linear French Drain Streaming Video

Popular eBooks

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Tar and Chip Driveway eBook

The Real Truth About Energy Savings Methods

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Cleaning and Sealing Your Deck eBook

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Repair Your Asphalt Shingle Roof

Deicing Salt Guide

Fixing a Stripped Wood Screw Hole Guide

Drywall Tips and Tricks

Trex Decking & Mushroom Problems

Grout Floor Tile & Slate

Mortar Recipe for Stone Veneer

Recipe for Super Strong 4500 PSI Concrete

How to Make a Plumbing Loop Vent

Do I Need a New Roof

Deck Ledger Flashing Detail And Notes

Best Plumbing Practices for Installing PVC Drain & Vent Piping

Concrete Sidewalk Drawing and Specifications

Chimney Crown Specifications

White Residue & Fuzz on Wood Decks

Packaged How-To Video Series

Shed Building Videos - Full Set

Site Clearing Videos

Layout Videos

Builder's Level Videos

Concrete Pier Layout Videos

Excavation Videos

Concrete Piers Videos

Pouring Concrete Piers Videos

Wood Posts & Beams Videos

Floor Joist Videos

Floor Foam Insulation Videos

Plywood Subfloor Videos

Wall Framing Videos

Wall Sheathing Videos

Window & Door Framing Videos

Roof Framing Videos

Roof Sheathing Videos

Ice & Watershield Videos

Roofing Drip Edge Videos

Sun Tunnel Videos

Roof Shingles Videos

Skylight Videos

Flat Sun Tunnel Videos

Soffit & Overhang Videos

Siding Weather Barrier Videos

Window Flashing Videos

Window Installation Videos

Door Installation Videos

Siding Installation Videos

Overhead Garage Door Installation Videos

Rough Interior Stairs Videos

Home Repair Videos

New Front Door Video Series

Wood Rot Repair Video Series

Deck Stain Test Results

New Window Installation Video Series

Good Luck.

Time is of the essence. You have under FIVE HOURS NOW!

CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ORDER.

Tim Carter

January 23, 2022 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Wait a minute! It now makes sense why you're over there rubbing shoulders with Sal, Ky, Mona, Lin, Judy, Kristina, Byron, and well over 100 other new subscribers. You don't know what's in store and there's safety in numbers. Welcome and let's get started.

Here's your first Ask the Builder tip:

Remember, rubbing is racing!

But you, yes you, it's quite possible your first issue was #34. (I believe this is issue 1166.) We've come a long way, haven't we? I know, I know, it's time to share some sweet tips.

Happy Harmonium Music

How would you like to do a jig in your kitchen or living room next to the couch? I've got just what you need.

lafawnduh and kip at bus stop in idaho

Please go to my Versions of Music of a Found Harmonium page and read how I just made a discovery last week.

Be sure you watch a few of the videos to hear the different versions of the song. Absolutely watch the top one in the stack as that's where I first heard the song.

Don't miss the stunning attractive tall ginger in the black dress wearing pearls in the fifth video down in the stack. Watching the last part of this particular video might convince you to start taking monkey squeeze-box accordion lessons. Who knows!

Surely you agree that professional women musicians look drop-dead gorgeous in black dresses. Even if you're not a professional woman musician, I'm sure you look beautiful in your black dress too!

The last video in the stack has got some great hand-held drum solos. Wow!

If that song doesn't put you in a good mood, I don't know that anything can!

Restoration Projects

Old Man Winter has plopped his you-know-what down here in New Hampshire. Yesterday it was a balmy -7 F as I was creating this newsletter for you.

This is a great time of year to roll up one's sleeves and do some indoor restoration projects. Here's one thing I'm tackling in a few days:

matchbox 8 wheel crane toy

I'm holding a 50 or 60-year-old toy in my hand. It's a Matchbox Series 30 8-Wheel Crane. I bought it on ebay for $5.

A month ago, I acquired an identical one for my son as a Christmas gift. It's a very long story as to why this made a great gift. I knew he'd either frown or get a big smile when he opened it. Fortunately, he loved it. As I type this, the restored crane is on his desk where he can see it all day everyday.

Both cranes had seen better days and needed new paint. I did a pretty good job on my son's crane. That said, I need to do a better job of getting a perfect mach on the green paint this time.

Restoring my son's crane was so much fun I decided to get my own and add another 50, or more, years to its life. Maybe one of my grands will get it as it's passed down.

It's not too hard to custom-blend the oil paint to get the correct colors. I use a few fine artist's brushes to do the painting.

Lorene, one of my new friends from my LIVE streaming videos each M-F at 4 PM Eastern Time, told me to watch a few YouTube videos about restoring Matchbox toys. I found several about this actual crane and felt they ruined the cranes doing the restoration. Judge for yourself if you watch the videos.

I discovered you can buff the axles and mushroom caps with a Dremel tool and just repaint the toy carefully to get the same, or better, results as tearing the toy all apart. What's more, the other restorers had many hours in their projects and I did my son's restoration in less than an hour.

I'll share some great before and after photos possibly next week. You can let me know if you feel the toy looks new or almost new. I added two things to my son's crane and will do the same on mine. Let's see if you like them.

I'm also doing lots of restoration work for you on the AsktheBuilder.com website. I think you'll discover it will be easier to locate things, pages will be easier to read, information will be updated, and all-in-all the website will be more user-friendly. It's a months-long project and I should finish in time just before the black flies arrive.

Stop Stainless Steel Sink Noise

Frances visited my Ask Tim page and asked this question:

"Our stainless-steel sink seems to be be thin and rings like a bell! Very disappointed. Any advice or tips to strengthen it, or should we just replace it?"

undermount stainless steel sink in granite top

What would you suggest she do?

Here's what I wrote back:

"I would get a few cans of Great Stuff spray foam and create a 1-inch-thick layer of FINISHED foam on the entire bottom and under-sides of the sink. The foam will strengthen the sink and really cut down on the vibration that's creating the ringing noise.

Wear old clothes, old small clothes, or no clothes when doing this. Any foam that might drop down on you while you're on your back under the sink will ruin your clothes. WEAR GOGGLES and a shower cap.

Be sure to use the long straw nozzle to get the foam in the tight spots. Read the instructions on the cans so you know how much the foam will expand. Don't spray on too much for goodness sake!

Please let me know what happens. The foam will cost you less than $10. I can't wait to hear your success story."

Frances shared she was between 65-75 years of age, so I felt my no clothes suggestion was safe. She and I might be the same age and birthday suits for us old goats and goatesses are no big deal at this point. We've seen it all multiple times, right?

I've got some great stainless steel sink care tips here for you.

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Man Shoveling

Digital Library Price Increase ^^^

Did you know there are over 110 products in my digital library? Most can ensure that you don't get taken to the cleaners by a contractor.

The price of my entire digital library goes up from $49.99 to $99.99 Sunday, January 23, 2022 at 6:01 PM. Act now.

Phone Consult Smelly Crawlspace

I did a 30-minute phone consult call with John two days ago. He lives in a 100-year-old home about ten miles east of the Golden Gate Bridge.

John and his family are bothered by a musty smell in the crawlspace under his home. He sent me great video and photos of the situation. These allowed me to give him solid advice as I discussed all his options.

I suggested he try a very inexpensive DIY method that I felt has a 99% chance of solving his problem. It involves using a high-performance vapor retarder.

cheap varor barrier next to good barrier

You should read that column above if you have a similar issue or if you're about to pour a basement or garage concrete slab!

That's enough for a frigid Sunday. I know, I know, it might be 80 F where you are. Blah blah blah...

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Hilton Hotels Uses - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Saves Lives - www.W3ATB.com

Newsletter Issue #1166 (I think...)

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. What do you know about whitewash? I'm talking the REAL whitewash, not the crap thinned-down paint some TV idiots claim is whitewash. I'll bet there are three things you didn't know.

January 19, 2022 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

V8 DUH Epiphany

If you subscribed after 5:00 AM this past Sunday, this won't make much sense. Bear with me, or is it bare? No, I'm going with the first one...

Are You One of These?

Visitors to Christmas Gift Page
I know you might be. Those are the 6,020 people that read about my Christmas gift and actually visited this page of my shopping cart.

However, you decided NOT to take advantage of the offer. You may have walked away and backed out of the shopping cart for a host of reasons.

Please understand I'm trying DESPERATELY to SAVE YOU MONEY, TIME, and FRUSTRATION when dealing with contractors.

Part of my Christmas gift was my offer of allowing you to own my entire Digital Library for a tiny fraction of what it sells for full retail.

If you were to buy ALL of my digital products now in the cart separately, you'd spend OVER $1,250.00.

Do you understand that? I'm trying to SAVE YOU $1,200.00.

I know, you might be thinking, "Tim, I don't NEED all the products today. I'll just get them one at a time as I need them."

Do that and eventually you'll spend $200, $300, or who knows, maybe $700.00.

BUT over the past 18 days, I let you down. Big time.

That giant 6,020 number is SCREAMING that I failed to answer these two questions swirling around in your head:

"What's in it for ME, Tim? WHY should I purchase your ENTIRE digital library?"

Horror Stories

After looking at that 6,020 number for a few days, I had the V8-forehead-slap moment.

DUH!!!!!! I wasn't explaining to you how you WOULD, not could, LOSE HUGE MONEY if you weren't using the products.

I'll share a few reasons what's in it for you - WHY you should purchase my Digital Library before I RAISE the price:

Let's say you would like to build a new home, you hire an architect for about $15,000, or more, you get the plans, go out for bid and discover the house is $300,000 over your budget.

Now what do you do? Redraw the house for another $10,000? We know for a fact you just wasted $15,000. You could have avoided this LOSS if you had purchased my New Home Construction Estimator Tool.

Let's say you're like my ham radio buddy Aleda. She got a bid of $19,702 for her tiny house in New Hampshire. The handwritten bid was on a crap piece of paper with an incomplete description of what the roofer MIGHT do.

Had she handed my sleek Roofing Checklist to all the roofers, she would have gotten back bids around $4,000.

Jim Richardson of Woodstock, NY used my Roofing Checklist and had this to say:

"Morning, Tim. Just wanted to share my opinion with you. I purchased your Roofing Checklist Bid Sheet. I have to say you knocked the ball out of the park. I found the pro right away and got a fair price. Thank you for an excellent job, my gain."

I could go on and on and on giving an example of how EACH of the 112+ products in my Digital Library will PREVENT FINANCIAL DISASTER.

You can get ALL 112+ of them for just $49.99!

It's INSANE.

Over the past two weeks when you went to the shopping cart, did you bother to scroll down this page to LOOK AT ALL THE PRODUCTS in the library? Did you see how no less than TWENTY, or more, of them are in your future?

My gut says you didn't. DO IT NOW for goodness sake!!!

Lose Even MORE Money - OUCH!

Here's the rub, you're about to lose even MORE money by shrugging your shoulders and not investing in this offer that's about to disappear.

Currently you can purchase my entire Digital Library for $49.99.

However, that price VAPORIZES on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at 6:01 PM.

At 6:01 PM, the prices goes UP to $99.99. That's another $50 you're about to lose.

Stop procrastinating. ORDER NOW.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Very Last Call Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Kathie Comment - Digital Library

The $29.99 price for FIXED-INCOME folks goes away FOREVER in ONE HOUR.

At 6:01 PM Eastern Time on January 16, 2022, the lowest you can purchase it for will be $49.99.

Kathie wrote to me:

"You are truly priceless, Tim---as is your advice. Thank you for this very generous offer. I am sure we will thank you many times over as we continue to tackle "issues" in the 44-year-old home that we built ourselves."

CLICK or TAP HERE to order it now.

Thanks.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

P.S. I should get Kathie and my Kathy on the phone. For all the obvious reasons. (fingernail-buffing soft noise... :-> )