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Cleaning, Home Improvement Library
The odor eliminating products are made by Fresh Wave and they are great. They are available at Bed Bath and Beyond, Ace Hardware, Whole Foods, The Container Store and on their website. I think you will like them as I do. They are made of plant extracts that remove...
Home Improvement Library, Plumbing
I suspect a blockage in two probable areas prone to problems with disposals. My first suggestion is to check your P-trap pipe below the disposal and sink, and clear it of any solid waste that may be caught there. The second place to check for blockage is a hole on the...
Basements, Home Improvement Library, Windows
As to window brand quality, we’ve learned that how a window is installed is as important as the type of window. Meaning, the best quality window will fail if installed wrong, while a low-priced window can perform great if installed correctly. We have installed...
Home Improvement Library, Water & Moisture
Great question! We are very passionate about proper vapor barrier methods for this very reason, and it is our belief that the plastic is an incorrect method for our region. According to section 318 of the 2006 IRC code our zone (4) being St Louis and surrounding...
Electrical, Home Improvement Library
I urgently advise you to get your aluminum wiring checked for arcing and fire risk, NOW. The static on your AM radio may be a warning of wiring problems. This is serious and may be a fire warning for you. Aluminum wiring is a problem at the connections to the devices,...
Brick & Masonry, Home Improvement Library
The mortar mix you see in those bags or tubes is probably not going to match your existing mortar in color and strength. This is especially true if your house was built prior to the 1950’s. Houses built prior to the 1950’s “usually” used site-mixed mortars...
General Construction & Repairs, Home Improvement Library
For door jambs with the metal spring strips, simply rub wax or bar soap on the metal. This will let the door slide easily during operation. For the rubber gasket type, I recommend polishing the rubber with floor wax, WD 40 or an ArmorAll type product as used on car...
Home Improvement Library, Water & Moisture
The reason mold accumulates only behind pictures on the exterior walls is due to condensation caused by the interior of your home being cool with a relatively high humidity level and the exterior being warm during the summer months. It works in exactly the same way...
Home Improvement Library, Plumbing, Rid-X
Q: How can I safely clean the pipes in my house? A: We have found an additional user for Rid-X Septic Tank Cleanser: as a safe and natural way to keep the insides of all plumbing lines clean. Rid-X is a bacterial enzyme that breaks down waste in septic tanks, but it...
Home Improvement Library, Remodeling
Yes, we offer the consultation service to help you determine if a home you’re interested in buying is a good fit for you. There are so many variables to consider when making such an important decision, and we take into consideration your current lifestyle,...
Home Improvement Library, Painting
Currently there are federal laws that mandate the proper removal of paint containing lead which affect contractors, landlords, and child care providers, but not individual home owners, specifically. We are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to...
Home Improvement Library, Siding, Windows
This situation is an unfortunate side effect caused by the following factors: Rather than insert a charge of inert gas (like argon) between the panes of glass, some manufacturers choose to draw a vacuum inside the window panes. This will sometimes cause the glass to...
Cleaning, Home Improvement Library, Plumbing
FOR FLUSHING ISSUES Turn off the water to the toilet, flush the toilet to minimize the water in the bowl, and pour in a gallon of vinegar to remove scale and mineral deposits. Leave the vinegar in the toilet for 24-48 hours. This may improve the flushing. The goal is...
Home Improvement Library, Insulation
I would automatically assume that there is probably not any insulation in the walls. If there is, it is probably vermiculite granules which settle over time, leaving a large void at the top of the walls. This was somewhat common in that era. The easiest way to see...
Concrete, Home Improvement Library, HVAC
First, use expanding foam to fill the ductwork below the floor at each register. Just foam block the area near the floor hole with foam. Then mix up some pre-mix concrete and dump it into the hole in the floor into the ductwork. Fill the duct register hole with the...
