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Listen in to hear how to prevent ingrown toenails, raise the height of your outdoor dryer vent, and more!
How to prevent drywall nails from popping out
The homeowner’s house was built in 1954 and she is tired of seeing nails in the drywall.
She asks, “How do I fix it? Can I put the nails in again?”
First, hammering in nails is only a temporary solution – they will pop back out eventually. But the bigger question is: why is this happening?
There is a lot of movement in the home — doors slamming, people walking, etc. All these movements cause vibrations. And, over time, those vibrations will cause the drywall nails to pull.
To fix this problem you will need to remove the nails and replace them with screws as drywall screws are a better option.
You don’t want to just remove the nail and replace it with a screw before checking to see if the nail is in the middle of the stud or near the center. The bar could be the reason it pops out.
So, we recommend that you take a hammer and finishing nail and tap through the drywall until you find the center of the stud.
Once you find the center and pull out the nail, then drive one or two drywall screws an inch or two above the old nail hole. This will hold it tight.
After replacing the nail with a drywall screw, place coupling joint over the screw heads and into the old nail hole, let dry, sand and repeat. Once you’ve filled it and dried it, paint it.
The screws will hold well and hopefully you’ll never have to do this process again!
See: How to replace a drywall nail
How to lift the outer drying hatch
The homeowner’s dryer vent runs through the exterior wall and under the brick veneer. It is installed about an inch above the ground instead of 12 or more (recommended).
He’s having trouble getting rainwater into the vent and now he’s asking, “Do you have any recommendations for me?”
First, it is rare to find a drying hatch so low to the ground. It is possible that when the vent was originally installed, it was the correct height from the ground. However, as time went on, grading and landscaping could be added and the opening moved closer to the ground.
In order for this dryer vent to work efficiently, you’ll want to have as short a path as possible. Therefore, we do not recommend redirecting the existing duct and passing it through the soffit.
Instead, we recommend trying to raise or widen the existing opening upwards, or dig dirt around the opening to give it more room. You can also add a slight twist and elbow to lift it off the ground.
Check your local home center for a 90-degree bender, which will help raise the vent on the outside. There are many options for drying ventilation.
For safety reasons, do not use PVC elbow pipe as it cannot withstand the high temperatures coming through the dryer vent.
Additionally, be sure to clean your dryer vent frequently to prevent house fires and keep your dryer running efficiently.
Clock 2
Listen to learn about garbage disposal rules, how to fix a leaking toilet, how to underlay a tile floor, and more!
What can you put in the landfill?
The owner of the house and his wife have constant disagreements about whether it is okay to throw pieces of meat in the garbage can. They have a septic tank.
He says, “Can you settle this argument?”
It is perfectly fine to have a landfill with a septic tank. However, some septic tanks are really good and others are very marginal. This plays a big role in the functionality of the disposal and what kind of waste it accepts.
So what can be landfilled?
When it comes to trash disposal, you want to use it sparingly, not throw it all away. You want to avoid dumping large items.
The answer to the question would be yes, but only small pieces of meat, and don’t stuff it.
Take care to use and maintain the garbage disposal properly. It is advisable to use cold water to flush the waste down the drain and make sure you don’t put anything in the bin or let it go!
If your garbage disposal gets clogged, use this trick!
How to solve toilet flushing problems
The owner of the house is struggling to completely flush the toilet. He says he has to hold the handle down until the bowl is washed.
He wants to know, “Why is this happening and how can I fix it?”
There are two reasons why she might have this problem. First, there isn’t enough water in the tank, which means the water stops before it gets about half an inch below the overflow pipe. That’s where you want to adjust it.
Next, you want to make sure that when you push the handle down, the flap stays open to allow for flushing and then closes. If the chain is too short or too long, it will prevent this from happening.
Another reason is a blockage in the drain. If there is an obstruction, then you won’t get that flush action because it resists water getting into it.
This is most likely the first problem. This is a very common repair and there are many great repair kits out there. Do this quickly so you don’t waste water!
Although fixing a toilet may not be the most glamorous form of home improvement, it is so important to have a toilet that works and stays in good condition for a long time.
Further reading: A guide to all parts of the toilet bowl
How to install the pad
A homeowner wants to install a quarter-inch underlayment over a tile floor.
He asks, “Should I nail it or twist it? What do I use?”
No, you won’t want to nail or screw it. You will need to glue it. Do your research and find the right adhesive you need, depending on the materials you are using. It will most likely be in a bucket, and you will use a notched trowel to incorporate the right amount.
Be sure to read the instructions to make sure you are using the recommended trowel size. Many people don’t realize that the size of the notched trowel has to correlate with the adhesive in order for it to work well.
To ensure that there is no movement when you put the floor down, use scrap blocks, bricks or heavy objects to weigh it down a bit. Let it dry overnight and dry really well.
There are several options for the base. One of the options is a self-leveling floor. This is like really thin concrete. Apply a thin layer over the tile to create a smooth and level surface on which to lay the vinyl floor.
Further reading: Gluing versus nailing wooden floors
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Simple solutions
Push Broom Paint Prep— Before painting the room, it is important to clean the walls and ceiling to remove all dust, dirt and cobwebs. Here’s a quick and easy way to do it: Wrap a towel around the broom head and secure it with a tie clip or clamp. Then lightly spray the towel with water. Now use the broom wrapped in towels to sweep the walls and ceiling. A damp towel will trap any dust or dirt, leaving behind a clean surface ready for painting. This tip also works great for removing joint dust from freshly sanded drywall joints.
Easily accessible garden tool storage—Most people store their lawn and garden tools in the garage or shed by simply standing them up and leaning them in a corner. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this other than it’s a bit messy and it’s hard to grab one tool without knocking over the other. So here’s a super simple solution to that problem: take three concrete blocks and stack them wherever you want to store your tools. What you end up with are two deep, long-handled tool storage compartments. The blocks are heavy enough that you don’t have to worry about them tipping over, no matter how many tools you put inside. If you don’t have enough headroom, you can use two blocks to raise the tool. This will give you a neat place where your tools are out of the way and easily accessible, and you don’t have to worry about them falling.
Further reading