The Handyguys revisit some old issues and discuss some new ones – foamy faucets, cloudy dishes, frog tape giveaway, toilet troubles and bad gas caps on this audio episode.

Topic 1:  The Moen Faucet with foamy smelly water.

Paul discusses his Moen faucet with the pull out braided hose and how it still produces smelly foamy water when not used for several hours.  Moen’s customer service was great but they don’t offer any explanation of what causes the odor or foam. Several listeners contacted the Handyguys with the same issue.  Perhaps they can respond to this post with their experience and offer a work-around to this problem. For now, Paul has not taken Moen up on their offer to replace the faucet with a non pullout head as his wife is hooked on the feature.  They are living with the problem for now.

Topic 2:  The Kenmore Elite Dishwasher revisited (i.e. Whirlpool, Kitchenaid, Kenmore)

Paul’s video of the Kenmore Elite dishwasher where he cleans out the basin has solved a lot of folks problems with frustrating modern dishwashers that don’t do the job.  However, he began having problems with a white film building up on dishes.  The problem is now solved.  Cleaning out the basin fixed the problem of grit and being left on the dishes.  This new solution eliminates the cloudy problems with glasses.

Topic 3:  Frog Tape Giveaway.

We have two frog tape sets to giveaway. Each set has two rolls of frog tape, a t-shirt and a bag. Just make a comment on this post to enter. Listen to the podcast for details.

Topic 4: Incomplete toilet flushes

We followed up on a listener question regarding a toilet that does not flush completely. Like the sewage in question, this is a problem that does not easily go away.  Listen to the Handyguys speculate on possible solutions.

Topic 5:  End of season mower care

Paul discusses his frustration trying to prepare his mower for the winter and confuses airplanes with the spinning things on mowers.

Topic 6:  Gas Caps

Check out the new style gas caps at your local True Value and let us know what you think. They are supposed to be better than some of the older “safe” designs. Brian thinks they are an improvement but still a bit awkward. Some of the newest types may be best.

We were one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program as well as our writing and productions about our experience. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY project. However, as always, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Related shows:

1. Fixing a Kenmore Elite Dishwasher that is not Cleaning Dishes
2. Tween Painting Party And Foamy Faucet Trouble
3. Top 10 Essential Tools For DIY And Duct Tape Uses

The Handyguys will be taking this week off to spend time with our families but we wanted to get a post up to let everyone know whats coming up.

Our contest – There is still time to enter our contest to win a great toolkit. We will pick and announce the winner on December 3rd. Check out episode 87 for details on the contest.

Future shows – In December we will have some information on tiling a kitchen back splash, some painting tips, and a few new gadgets just in time for Christmas. In 2010 we will be doing more videos as well as continuing to answer your questions in our regular podcast.

We would like to take time to thank our listeners and subscribers, those that have patronized our store, and those companies that have sponsored various episodes and parts of the site. Without all of us working together his site would not be possible. Thanks!

We will take this opportunity to provide a few tips for getting the most out of our site

Listener questions – The Handyguys Paul and Brian always respond as quickly as possible to listener questions. We may not use your question in an upcoming show but we will help you out regardless.

Call in number – You always have the ability to call in a question. Please leave your email address on the voicemail if you want a follow-up. We may use your voicemail on the air but we will keep your contact info private. You can click the call me link at the top of the home page and we pay for the call.

Our store – Purchases through our store help off-set the costs associated with producing this podcast. Many posts have links directly to the store or to Amazon. Amazon handles all of the billing and fulfillment for us.

Subscribing – At the top right of the page are links for you to subscribe. If you are an ipod user you click on the “via iTunes” button. If you use any other mp3 player you can subscribe with the “via RSS” button. You also have the option of supplying your email address so you can be emailed when we have a new show. Oh, and you can also follow us on Twitter if you are into that.

Images – When we have a thumbnail image, you can usually click on it to see a full sized version.

Sharing – At the bottom of each post are a series of buttons you can use to ’share’ the content. We appreciate it when you click these buttons. If you like a post, please click on your preferred site:  Digg, StumbleUpon, Mixx, Redit and/or others.

Comments - We welcome comments on our posts. Join the conversation by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of each show’s post.

Search – You can use the search box in the upper right part of the page to search for a show that may be of interest.

Sponsorships – If you have a company or product you would like featured at The Handyguys Podcast please let us know. We can be reached via email or with our contact form. For the benefit of our subscribers we are selective about what sponsorships we will accept where.

Thanks again and have a great Thanksgiving

Related shows:

1. Happy Thanksgiving
2. Using Leaf Blowers Vs Rakes And Repairing Leaky Showers
3. Fall Home Improvement Checklist

Leaf blowers, rakes and a question about leaky showers

The Handyguys discuss the contest to giveaway a great toolkit, some possible problems with a leaky shower valve and weather a rake or a leaf blower is the correct tool for collecting leaves. To enter the contest you just need to leave a comment on Episode 87 and let us know what you think a valid use of duct tape is. We will announce a winner during our first show in December. We will take Thanksgiving off so this show is the last show we will discuss the contest. Our next show will come out on December 3rd.

Leaky Shower Valves

Don't let a leaky shower drive you crazy. Listen to the podcast as Brian & Paul discuss some possible fixes for Albert's shower. Note - the picture is NOT Albert, its not Brian or Paul either!

We then address a question about a leaky shower valve. Albert called in and asked us about his leaky valve. He gets water leaking out the shower head all the time. He said it was replaced recently. How could this be? The Handyguys discuss what some of the issues could be. Albert – we have a question for you. Does it leak from the shower head when you are filling the tub or all the time, even when water is off? We discuss both scenarios in the podcast. Likely it drips all the time. If that’s the case the the washer(s) are likely bad. If the valve is new the washers could have been damaged during installation.

If it is new, contact the guy who installed it for you. He could come back and make it right. If you installed it then just replace the washers and you should be good to go.

How do you replace the washers? That will depend on what you have. We recommend you shut off the water and take the parts to your local True Value and they will help match up what you need.

Rakes versus Leaf Blowers

The Handyguys love their power tools. We found this video on YouTube and found it interesting. Is a leaf blower the best tool for the job of clearing leaves? Watch this video and listen to the podcast to get our thoughts.

This video clearly shows the rake beating the leaf blower. If this is true then why is the leaf blower so popular? We think both tools have their place depending on circumstances. Listen to the show for discussion of when you may want to use a rake versus when you want a leaf blower. You can get both rakes and leaf blowers at True Value.

Enter the contest to win this toolkit!

Win this toolkit. Click on the picture to learn how! Hint: Valid use of duct tape wins

Disclosure

Related shows:

1. Fall Home Improvement Checklist
2. Top 10 Essential Tools For DIY And Duct Tape Uses
3. Furnace Filters

How do you get your house ready for the Winter Season?

Win this toolkit. Click on the picture to learn how! Hint: valid use of duct tape wins!

Join the Handyguys in a not-so-methodical checklist for the winter season.  This is not your every day handyman (or not so handyperson) checklist.  We have some extras you may not see on other lists. Listen to the podcast as we discuss these items. True Value had all the supplies we needed to get our houses in order.

• As the days get shorter and darker, it is a good time to check all of your outdoor lights.  Make sure they work.
  

  Paul was able to discover these fancy CFLs at our local True Value. They look great don’t you think?

  Perhaps it is time to install a light with a motion detector to secure your outdoor entrances and windows.

• Also, you can now get some wife pleasing outdoor CFL lights.  You don’t have to settle on the curly cue CFL bulbs

• Watch out for leaks and/or water penetration.
  • gutters/downspouts
  • grade flowing toward house
  • clear insulation around soffit vents to avoid ice dams
• Bring in your outdoor furniture
• Replace the grates and flavor bars on your Grill.  True Value has the parts you need for this.
  

  Why not refresh your busted down grill and enjoy a few more cookouts this season. Paul picked up the new flavor bars and grate at True Value. The steaks came from the cow he bought.

• Winterize your yard tools
• Seal/weatherstrip and caulk around window and doors and latch those windows for the winter
• Insulate your unfinished basement.. especially around the rim joist
• Clean your Dryer Vent before it is too cold to work outside
• Install some heavy drapes on your windows to stop drafts.  That’ s what they did in the old days.
• Last chance for pre-winter fertilizer.
• Final chance for exterior touch up paint
• Is it time to stain the Deck in the fall?  Isn’t the sun closer to earth in the Winter?  Brian says no.  Paul says yes. Which is it?

Disclosure

Related shows:

1. Summer Home Improvement
2. DIY And Home Improvement Book Recommendations
3. Using Leaf Blowers Vs Rakes And Repairing Leaky Showers

Furnace filters are a critical component of your heating and cooling system.

Make sure they are changed regularly. We discuss the myriad of choices in furnace filters in this podcast.

The Handyguys group filters into three different categories, good, better and best. Whats best for one person may not be the best for another. The standard filters are good for most people. They permit the furnace to operate as it was designed. When selecting a filter you would typically replace with one equal in size and type to the filter already install on your furnace. This may be a a non-pleated fiber type filter. This type is also the least expensive, costing about $1.50 or $2.00 at the local True Value hardware store.

If you desire a replacement filter that has a higher MERV or MPR rating (see below for definitions) there are several choices at True Value. Go into the store with your measurements and pick one out. A higher rated filter will catch and filter more particulates from the air.

The high end filters will have electrostatic capabilities and can actually filter microscopic bacterias, smoke or other fine particulates from the air.

The industry provides ratings for filters.

MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, is a number from 1 to 16 that is relative to an air filter’s efficiency. The higher the MERV, the more efficient the air filter is at removing particles. At the lower end of the efficiency spectrum a fiberglass panel filter may have a MERV of 4 or 5. At the higher end, a MERV 14 filter is available.

MPR is a term used by 3M and stands for Microparticle Performance Rating. It is actually part of the MERV rating, and measures how efficient an air filter is at capturing particles between 0.3 and 1 micron in size, which make up 99% of the air’s particulate matter. Smoke, bacteria, and smog particles fall within this size range, so if filtering these out of the air is important to you, MPR is a good standard to examine. MPR is used to compare furnace filters to one another, and cannot accurately predict how a furnace filter will actually perform in your particular home environment. The higher the MPR, the more efficient the filter is at capturing these small particles.

Lastly – Don’t forget about our contest. We are giving away this awesome toolkit. Check out the details on how you can win by listening to Episode 87 of The Handyguys Podcast.

Win this tool kit!

Disclosure

Related shows:

1. Fall Home Improvement Checklist
2. Using Leaf Blowers Vs Rakes And Repairing Leaky Showers
3. DIY Drama, Old Tractors And New Counters

In this show The Handyguys discuss their top 10 starter tools and announce a contest to win this toolkit!

Win this tool kit!

What is included in a first time home buyers tool kit? Screwdrivers of course!  But what else? The Handyguys went shopping at True Value to assemble a quality starter set of essential tools for the typical home owner.

Our Kit Includes:

The Handyguys will take your questions via the phone at (818) 804-TOOL. Leave an email address if you want an immediate and direct response.

• Tool Bag
• Carpenter’s Pencil
• Speed Square, Orange
• Pliers Set
• Screwdriver Set
• Pry Bar
• 16-Ounce Claw Hammer
• Tape Measure
• Safety Glasses
• Hearing Protection
• Utility Knife

In the podcast we discuss our rationale for each of the tools and why we picked them. There are certainly other tools that could be added to this list, but this would make a great starter kit.

How to win this toolkit!

To win this toolkit you must Listen to the podcast for details. Essentially all you need to do it help us come up with a LEGITIMATE use for duct tape. Give us your duct tape idea by commenting on this show post. In this podcast, we discuss some not so legitimate uses of this ubiquitous tape. We want our listeners to provide us with some valid users of duct tape and we will award the tool kit our favorite suggestion.

The winner will be announced December 3rd, 2009. Suggestions after December 3rd are still welcome of course but you will not be in the running for the toolkit.  So leave a comment below and be sure to provide an email address so we can contact you if your duct tape suggestion is our winner.

An illegitimate use of duct tape!

Photo Submitted by DJ Goodfellow

Disclosure

Related shows:

1. Using Leaf Blowers Vs Rakes And Repairing Leaky Showers
2. Fall Home Improvement Checklist
3. Furnace Filters

The Handyguys Discuss upcoming fall show ideas

The Handyguys have a short show for you this week. We are taking this opportunity to discuss some of our show ideas and to solicit feedback from our listeners for show ideas.

Some up-coming topics:

• Head to Head tool Challenge, Circular saw
• The Home Inspection process and and interview with ASHI
• How to save money on your energy bills
• Devices to save electricity and/or monitor electricity
• Ways to cut down on heating bills
• Insulation
• Weatherization
• Other Head to Head tool Challenges

We want your feedback!  Do you need a recommendation on a tool? Do you want us to put a particular tool through its paces before you buy it? Is there a new gadget on the market and you want to know if its worth the money?

We will continue to answer DIY questions privately and possibly on the air. Feel free to let us know if you think our shows are too long, too short, too boring, too funny, too much detail, not enough detail, etc.

We will be giving away an original Handyguys Podcast shop apron to the first four legitimate show ideas we get. Feel free to call in your show idea to (615) 676-0877, to email us at us@handyguyspodcast.com, comment on this posting or use our contact form. Do we have enough ways for listeners to reach us? I think so.

To comment on this, or any post, just go to the bottom of the show post and click comments. You can see others comments and add your own. That’s a great way for you to participate in the discussion.

If you want the shop apron make sure you include your email address so we can contact you to get your ship to address.

Thanks to all our loyal listeners and sponsors that make this show possible.

Related shows:

1. Episode #1 – The Handyguys Kickoff show
2. Fall Lawn Care Tips
3. Fall Home Improvement Checklist

Can You Sell Your Home In a Downturn Market?  The Handyguys Say “Yes”!

This show is sponsored by Basement Waterproofing

First off, Brian and Paul discuss the Wall Street Journal article entitled “Will Upgrading Your Home Help You Sell It?”
The Handyguys agree with the author,  M.P. McQueen, that a big ticket upgrade will not pay for itself when re-selling your house. If you want to add on or upgrade your home, and you can afford it, then go for it. If you want to DIY the upgrade you may be able to re-coup your costs if the upgrade is done well.

There may be a possible benefit to an upgrade that is indirectly related to costs and that is time on market. If you have a finished basement, for example, and none of the other similar homes in a particular market have that, then your house may sell first or be more attractive to buyers as long as its priced similarly.

The Handyguys also discuss the negative impact of a bad remodel. When the housing market was hot many buyers overlooked bad renovations. In today’s market buyers can take longer to make up their minds and be more discerning. A poorly executed remodel will turn away buyers so make sure your remodel is up to snuff. Remember, you can always ask The Handyguys if you need any help.

It is certainly no fun trying to sell your home in a buyers market.  In some areas of the country there are dozens of homes for sale on every block .   To be sure, you won’t fetch the price you would have received a couple of years ago.  And you may be better off not selling at all if you can help it.  However, if you need to sell now, here are some tips.

 Curb Appeal

Pictures compliments of Triton Builders

The Handyguys recommend doing everything you can to make your house stand out form the minute potential buyers step out of their car.  Clean up your landscape.  Remove that broken down old car on cinder blocks.  Tear old old, overgrown shrubs.  Scrape off pealing paint and repaint.  Make sure siding is clean using a power sprayer.  Update outdoor light fixtures.  Repair any rotted wood.  Get your lawn looking good. Do anything you can to make your house more presentable.

Declutter the Inside

Pictures compliments of One Bag Nation

In addition to cleaning the inside of your house, make sure that you declutter.  Kitchen counters should be clear of everything.  Closets should be clean and free of junk.  If your closets are stuffed with clothing, remove at least a third and store elsewhere.  Remove or reposition furniture to make the house look more spacious. Consider using Merry Maids, a top cleaning company if you want help de-cluttering.

Update fixtures

Improving light fixtures and plumbing fixtures can help your presentation.

No last minute Cheap Improvements

A downturn market is not a time for updating your kitchen with the cheapest cabinets possible.  It is not a time for shoddy work either.  In this market, buyers are taking their time, looking over houses.  They will not overlook bad products or shoddy work that was done at the last minute to try to make a house look more presentable.

Correct any structural problems, including leaky basements or cracked foundations.

You don’t want to scare off potential home-buyers with a house that could cause them headaches.  Correct the irritating problems caused by leaky basements.  Be sure that your structure is solid.  Many potential homeowners are willing to make the cosmetic changes in a new home but they do not want to deal with major issues to the foundation.

These are just a few areas to address.  Listen to our podcast for more information.

Time running out on the eclectic products wood glue and tool bag giveaway.  See Episode #25 for details.

Related shows:

1. Americas Top Home Inspector
2. Home Security, Home Surveillance And Home Automation&
3. Fall Home Improvement Checklist

The Handyguys revisit a bit of advice on keeping your lawn green and discuss various types of glues, in particular, EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive

Read on and listen to the podcast for details of a wood glue and tool bag giveaway from Eclectic Products.

First off – Good advice or bad advice

The Handyguys re-visit keeping your lawn green. Is the advice for making sure your lawn gets an inch of water a week sound? Yes, of course. What happens if you don’t follow this advice? Listen to the podcast to find out.

The Handyguys then discuss different types of glues

Common types of glue discussed are:

• Epoxy
• Hot Glues
• Household glue & paste
• Polyurethane glue
• Wood Glue

The Handyguys review a new wood glue from Eclectic Products. The glue is a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) wood glue called EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive. Before making a recommendation and giving away a sample, the Handyguys did an informal test.

The Handyguys selected a piece of cherry wood for their test. The same glue-up was performed with a regular yellow wood glue and EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive. The documentation says to wait 24 hours for 100% strength on both the yellow glue and the EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive. The sample boards were properly jointed, prepared and glue applied. The test pieces were clamped for over 24 hours.

The Handyguys then scratch their heads for a way to test the strength of the two glues. Obviously the test is not a purely scientific one. The goal is to ensure that the new EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive is stronger than the wood itself. We then spanned the test pieces between two boards and applied weight directly to the joint. We had a bit of fun finding heavy stuff to apply weight to the glue joint. We added a 50lb battery, a case of shotgun shells, a drill press and Paul’s weight on the glue joint. Neither the yellow glue nor the EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive joint or boards broke. Brian, being a bit heavier, was able to break the yellow glue sample board while holding the drill press and the car battery. The EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive sample board still did not break.

Finally, to break the EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive sample board, Brian reached for his Estwing framing hammer and gave the glue joint a sharp rap. The board broke into three pieces but the glue held strong.

The Handyguys also tested scraping excess dried glue from the joint. The excess dried glue scraped off the same as traditional yellow wood glue. The Handyguys were very satisfied that the new EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive will perform as well as a traditional yellow glue yet have lower VOCs.

OK, The Handyguys admit their test isn’t very scientific. Below are the results of two tests performed by Eclectic Products. Click on the thumbnail image to see the results full size.

 ASTM D 3164-03 Lap Shear Test	 ASTM D-903 180deg Peel Test

The Handyguys then go on to discuss a giveaway contest

Eclectic products will be sending some samples of EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive to one of our listeners. The giveaway includes two containers of wood glue, a sample board and a nice portable tool bag. This is an entirely free giveaway.

To enter the contest, you simply need to subscribe to our email notification of new podcasts. To subscribe, just enter your email in the box just below where it says “Subscribe and get the new shows in your email inbox” on the right side of our home page. You will be sent an email asking you to verify you really want to subscribe. Just click the link in that email to confirm your subscription. The Handyguys never spam. You will only get an email from us when each weekly episode is published. We will also use the address on occasion when we have other announcements.  The emails will usually arrive in your inbox every Thursday between 5PM and 7PM Eastern time. A winner will be drawn from the list of people who have signed up for our weekly notification. If you already receive our email notifications you have already been entered. If you get our episodes via iTunes or some other delivery method you will need to come to the site and provide your email address. A winner will be announced on our home page on August 7th.

Thanks for listening and good luck.

Related shows:

1. How To Repair A Porch Post And Choosing A Jigsaw
2. Choosing A Fiberglass, Wood or Aluminum Ladder
3. Choosing a Sawzall Reciprocating Saw

In this show, The Handyguys detail the basic Handyguy Toolkit that every homeowner should have. We also have our first free giveaway contest. Listen to the podcast for details.

But first The Handyguys discuss a new Mantis Cordless Reel Mower. This new battery-powered mower weighs only 25 pounds and is powered by a 24-volt NiCad battery, which provides enough power to mow up to 2,500 square feet of lawn. This mower runs quietly and is environmentally friendly, according to the company.

But what do The Handyguys think of this product? We have to be honest, we haven’t used it and aren’t exactly sure how it works. However, when he was a kid, Brian used a traditional reel mower to mow almost an acre of grass at his grandmother’s house. Sure it was hard work, but he did not do any damage to the environment with it. (But what about those chemicals you spread on the lawn Brian?)

Check out the Mantis Cordless Reel Mower before spring, or check out this no-carbon producing reel mower to satisfy even the pickiest environmentalist requirements.

Since the grass is dormant in most parts of the country, we should be discussing tools, not mowers. The Handyguys tackle the job of listing the essential tools that should be in every homeowners toolbox.

Listen to the podcast for details.

The Handyguys starter toolbox:

1. Assortment of Phillips-head and flathead screwdrivers
2. 16oz hammer
3. Bosch drill
4. Adjustable wrench
5. Pliers (needle nose, diagonal cut, regular)
6. Vice grips (Made in USA)
   
7. Alan wrench set
8. Tape measure (25′ )
9. Utility Knife
10. 2′ Level
11. Wonder bar crowbar
12. Leather gloves
13. Stud finder (Electronic) or (Magnetic)
    
14. WD-40
15. Flashlight
16. Bucket Boss
17. Duct tape!!! (or is it duck tape?)

Let us know what you recommend for the basic Handyguy Toolkit. We may mention it on our show.

Finally, the Handyguys have their first contest. We will be giving away something for free. All you need to do is listen to this podcast to find out what it is and how to enter our contest to win.

Related shows:

1. Top 10 Essential Tools For DIY And Duct Tape Uses
2. Ideal Water Pressure, Fixing A Damaged Wall And V-Jaw Pliers
3. Fall Home Improvement Checklist