In this TV segment we followed a sound proofing specialist through a home, testing it for problems, and indicating some solutions. Elsewhere in this database you will find more through discussions on soundproofing various parts of your house.The photo shows the use of Z-bars or resilient bars on...
John in Thunder Bay has moved his gas burning fireplace from the centre of the house and he is moving it to the side of the basement and wants to run it up the outside of the house. He was asking if there could be any problem with downdrafting by doing this. The answer is that this is the worst...
Joan from Windsor, Ontario has one of those large square floor drains with a heavy metal grate over it that are so common Ontario eastward. There are under slab pipes that come in and out of this collection box. The concept was designed as a drainage system for an empty storage space called...
Just about any chemical can be a hazard if it is in the wrong hands, or gets used wrong. But here we are talking about things we throw away that are still corrosive, explosive, flammable or toxic. These things should not go into the recycling boxes. Store it carefully until your municipality h...
Here are some home made non-toxic cleaners:Copper Cleaner -- Salt & VinegarSilver Cleaner -- Tooth pasteDrain Openers for Grease -- 1 cup Baking Soda; 1 cup vinegar; 1/2 cup salt 20 minutes later slowly pour boiling water down the drainFurniture Polish -- 1 tlb spoon mineral oil or almond o...
Mould will form anywhere you have moisture for a long period of time at a warm temperature. Some moulds grow and feed on organic materials including drywall paper, wall paper glue and of course wood. Other moulds simply grow on the surface, which means that moulds can grow wherever they can...
Chris from Welland, Ontario has problems with his leaching field plugging up. He has cleaned out the roots, but how can he keep them from growing back.The problem is that anything that would kill the roots will at the same time kill the bacteria that is necessary for the septic tank to work. Th...
To get some adhesion on the top of ice you can of course use sand, but cat litter and fireplace ashes work as well.Of the commercial de-icers, the finer power like ones will tend to go down slowly and do better at thinning the ice. The more rock style will cut their way down to the bottom quic...
Leon Spurrell from National HVAC Consultants Ltd. in Toronto came onto my TV show to talk about heating systems, and their differences across the country.One important point he made, was that heating, ventilation, filtration and air conditioning all work together as a single system. When the...
Brad Gates from AAA Wildlife in Toronto talked about the hazards wild animals can present to the health of your home and yourself and he showed how he traps or exits the animals.One critical and poorly known health item is that Raccoon feces often contains worms that can be fatal to humans! T...
