Problem: Disposal Will Not Turn On (no noise) Ok, before you call out a repairman to diagnose the problem, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem on your own. This might save you a few bucks. You can thank me later. If the Garbage Disposal will not turn on … Read more

Sounds a bit crazy, but the reason is the paint forms a seal around the lid.  This will help the paint last longer when you store it.  Just make sure to place a mat, plastic wrap, cardboard or drop cloth on the bottom in case it leaks a bit (which it might).  Also, storing them … Read more

Most people don’t pay an attention to their Water Heater or know where it is located in the house.  Your water heater uses about 14-25% of your electric bill.  I call it the Rodney Dangerfield of appliances because it typically “gets no respect.”  It is constantly working even when you are not at home, on … Read more

Your Refrigerator uses 13.7% of your electricity bill. A 2009 Energy Star refrigerator model will save you up to 40% in energy use over refrigerators manufactured as recently as 2001.  It might seem wasteful to get rid of that 2001 model, but it makes good financial sense.  Just make sure it is labeled as an … Read more

There are a few answers for this one and I see lots of it living here in San Antonio, Texas.  First, your foundation could be moving or settling a bit.  Don’t be alarmed.  Most foundations will settle over time and a crack in the drywall isn’t necessarily a big deal.   Simple taping and floating can … Read more

So your remodeling your home and painting yourself, huh?  You don’t need to wash out your paint roller if you are going to use it again tomorrow.  This is assuming you are going to continue painting the walls or ceiling the same color. with the same paint roller Simply spread out about 18″ of plastic … Read more

When it comes to choosing the right kind of paint finish you should first educate yourself on the many different types of sheens.  I remodel homes in San Antonio, Texas and most of my clients don’t know what kinds of painting finishes to use and where.  Flat and matte paint finishes have no real sheen … Read more

Well, it’s raining here in San Antonio and some of you are bound to have a leak in your roof. And unfortunately, some of you may even need a roof replacement.   Roof leaks are a gradual occurrence, for the most part. Unless heavy winds or hail storms have occurred, it generally takes a while … Read more

A big source of problems and complaints for all wood finishes is over-application of the coating. Many do-it-yourselfers and even some painting contractors believe that when it comes to coating, more is better. This is simply not the case and is particularly a problem for decks. Most deck finishes are designed to penetrate the surface … Read more

Radiant Barrier is material that is installed in attics to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. This reduces building heating and cooling energy usage, saving money on monthly energy bills.  The potential benefit of attic radiant barrier is primarily in reducing air-conditioning cooling loads in warm or hot climates.like we have here in … Read more