#2580 – Winter Safety Check | Hanging Holiday Lights | Décor Tips to Warm Up Your Space | Insulation

SHOW NOTES:

Welcome back to The Money Pit! In these final festive weeks of the year, Leslie Segrete and Jim Kenzie delve into essential winter home projects, share crucial safety tips, and continue to answer your calls. Join us for these home improvement topics and expert DIY answers!

- Tips for Hanging Holiday Lights: We discuss the simplest and safest ways to hang holiday lights, both indoors and out, without damaging your home. You should use damage-free hardware like gutter clips for the exterior or removable adhesive hooks and suction cups indoors, specifically avoiding damaging staples, nails, or drilling.

- Winter Safety Checks: We share important early winter safety checks to keep your home and family protected through the cold weather months. This includes testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, checking the charge and expiration dates on fire extinguishers, and cleaning lint buildup from dryer vents.

- Décor Tricks to Warm Up Your Space: To instantly warm up your space for the holidays without a full redesign, we suggest simple décor tricks. Focus on adding texture through chunky throws and faux fur, switch out harsh overhead lighting, and create small, inviting winter vignettes.

- Insulation in Older Homes: When improving efficiency in older homes, we recommend focusing on the attic insulation and floor insulation before focusing on the walls.

 

Q & A:

- Pete in Arizona called about his 18-year-old tar patio roof, which was cracking and missing pieces, and asked if he should repair it using Flex Seal. We explain that patching would only postpone the inevitable, as the roof was likely past its expected lifespan, and recommend installing a new roof.

- Diane in Minnesota asked for help with her apartment bathroom exhaust fan, which was failing to effectively remove steam. She should contact her building super to determine where the fan exhausts, as the vent may be obstructed or blocked, preventing it from functioning correctly.

- Brad in Illinois was renovating his 1948 bungalow and wanted advice on whether to repair and restore his original single-pane, double-hung windows or replace them. We offer the choice of restoring them by adding weather stripping and installing storm windows or opting for replacement windows that fit inside the existing frame.

- Kenny in Ohio asked for advice regarding the visible outlines of his ceiling joists on his downstairs ceiling. We confirm that it’s “ghosting” and recommend sealing the area by priming and painting with a good-quality, washable ceiling paint.

 

ASK A QUESTION:

Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask.

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