Tip of the Week

There are few routine household maintenance chores that pay off more than keeping a maintenance schedule for your air conditioning unit. Not only will you give yourself the best chance at staying cool all summer and avoiding emergency breakdowns, but you’ll also save money on your energy bills.

A well maintained AC unit will run more efficiently, use less energy, and cost less money to run. A properly maintained system will also last longer before needing to be replaced.

Check out Five Easy Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips for details.

Hour 1

Don in AL
I would like to know what is the best wood to replace my fence. I have bought treated wood from Lowes and it just does not last any length of time. The post, boards and 2×4’s do not hold up at all. Can you help?

Diane in FL
I’ve enclosed my garage and extended the AC vents, but that room gets warm. Will it help if I put in insulation? What kind?

Catherine in AL
Our kitchen window leaks inside the window sometimes when it rains really hard. We’re not sure if it’s coming from the bricks, from the roof or where. We’ve had it caulked and had some chinks in the bricks filled in and had it repaired once, but we’re still experiencing the problem.

Sara in GA
I have an extensive amount of skim coating to do with a current wall paper removal project. I read I need to seal some raw paper before a skim coat, to prep it for drywall compound. What should I use?

Lisa in MS
How can I replace rotten flooring under my hot water heater with out removing the water heater completely?

Ian in OK
About a year ago we purchased a wooden door from Home Depot. It’s starting to show signs of weathering. Before it gets any worse I’d like to know how to treat it and/or reseal it.

Nancy in CA
We replaced our kitchen faucet. Since the new faucet is in we’ve had really low water pressure on just the kitchen faucet. Why?

Linda in AL
We need you to please help us with our front porch. The water runs right onto the front steps and is washing under them. When it rains the water is running down beside the steps and coming out at the bottom.

Kileen in MD
How do you prep knots in the wood where water can puddle on the deck surface?

Hour 2

Henri in TX
My AC drain line outside the house is located about 9′ up on the back of the house. The outside AC unit is on the side of the house. I believe the drain line is connected directly to the furnace on the second floor. The condensation is forming a puddle outside the house with algae. The back side of the house gets very little sunlight.
What do you suggest to reroute the water?

Brenda in WI
Our dog has managed to scratch up every window sill in our house. How can we repair our do we need to replace? The scratches are pretty deep.

Diane in FL
How do I protect my wooden carport beams that are buried in the dirt from the constant hitting of the weed whacker string. They are getting damaged and I want to stop this.

Joe in MD
I would like to add insulation to my attic. Currently, I have fiberglass batts that are faced with a kraft vapor barrier. I would like to pull then up and add foam board and closed cell spray foam (say 2-3 inches). Would that suffice as a vapor barrier? When I lay my R-30 faced fiberglass batts over top of the closed cell foam and foam board, should I remove the kraft paper or leave it?

Vera in GA
When the garage door opens and closes, it sounds like the roof is caving in when sitting in the bonus room. What can be done to tune down the loud sound?

James in AL
We want a new entry door to replace the original one with side lights. We no longer want the side lights. We have the new door unit but what to do to fill the 6 inches on both sides?

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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