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Frequently Asked Questions:
posted 3/4/2010 - by Linda Bayer
Question: JIm, You once did an inspection on our home. We recently purchased a home for my parents and are trying to prepare the house but I can't put them in it till the odor is gone. When we viewed the house prior to purchase, it was summer and had the smell of fresh paint. There was no mold, and no issues of any import structurally. About a month after buying, we noted an odd odor in the house. Sort of like an oily smokey acrid scent. I have tried all sorts of remedies to get rid of the smell with no luck. I have scrubbed walls, ceiling and floors with various industrial odor removers. I have used odor eliminating things on the vents, left windows open for days on end. I have kept the air circulating even though it is a vacant house. Any suggestions on what else we could try? Thanks, Linda
Answer: Hi Linda, Did you have the home inspected prior to purchase?? if not or even if, have it inspected by someone you trust. Was there a fire at one point? Did you ckeck the attic?
Jim
posted 2/24/2010 - by Nancy Everdyke
Question: Hi Jim,
I have a questions regarding painting a basement floor.
Several years ago we painted the concrete floor in the basement. To freshen it up, we cleaned, primed some areas and repainted recently. The problem that I am having is that in some areas (small areas but several) the paint seems to not be sticking. As I said these are small areas but it is not like the paint is flaking off in one piece, it's like broken into small pieces like shattered glass! The rest of the floor is fine. These are areas that I primed first, but not all of those areas are doing this. Do you have any ideas?
Thanks, Nancy
Answer: Hi Nanc, Its all about the moisture! Water wicks up through the bottom of the floor in spots and pushes the paint off in little pieces, like fracturing, my guess. Remember its all about the gutters and grading!
Jim
posted 2/13/2010 - by david
Question: I have a walk out basement with the whole back wall exposed. I had a company come fill the wall with injected foam. I saw on the internet and they said it can be done on the main house walls. they remove part of the siding and drill holes and fill with form. what are your thoughts on this. thank you
Answer: Hi David, I think if money is no object for you go ahead and have that done. However, window upgrades, attic insulation and air sealing of the band joist is much more effective and is best to do first.
Jim
posted 2/9/2010 - by Tom
Question: My mother has a combination thermometer/ hydrometer (measures humidity)which says that normal humidity is between 455 and 65%. I understand that the humidity should be kept at 35% or below. Which is the correct level of humidity in the home?
Thanks,
Tom
Answer: Hi Tom, Ideal humidity should be around 40 to 45%. Humidity should be kept below 50% at all cost.
Jim
posted 2/6/2010 - by Dave
Question: Jim, You had a couple of questions over the past several weeks on the show relating to hot air furnace noise. I thought I would share my recent experiences.
I moved into a new house and experienced 2 furnace noises that annoyed me.
The first was a drum-like thump when walking on certain areas of the floor. I could tell it was metal duct noise, so had my wife rock on the suspect areas while I was in the basement [a ranch house]. I actually could see the cold air return sheet metal flex like a drum with just that minor joist flexing. I cut a piece of 1x2 x 17 1/2 [use whatever length the joist spacing requires], put a thick bead of caulk on one side, put that against the problem duct and screwed it up with a deck screw at each end. No more thunk when we walk there!
The second was a LOT of air and fan noise from one supply duct in particular. Turns out that duct came right off the top of the supply plenum and was only about 10 feet long. I called my HVAC Contractor [HiQual Heating of Spencerport / Bill Hill] who immediately recognized the problem as primarily being due to the run coming right off the supply plenum. He suggested that I remove as much of the 6" round duct as I could and replace it with 6" insulated flex duct. I took out about 8 feet and taped in the flex duct. You cannot believe the reduction in noise, both from the "roar" of the fan and from the air movement itself!
Regards,
Dave T
Answer: Hey Dave, Great stuff ! Thanks ! Jim
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