Homeowner Forum / Repair / May 2006

We are in a relatively new house with a heat pump system.
The upper level is on average 5-10 degrees warmer than the lower level.
Upper level has an air return which takes air from the master bedroom
and the hallway.  What suggestions/tips to help better cool the upper

Howdy-
My InSinkErator Badger 1 garbage disposal died on me.  I'd like to get
a replacement that's a little better  (reverse & a little more power
would be nice).  I want to make this a simple swap out with the

I have an annoying vibration in a Lawnboy mower that that can be felt in
the handle.
I have 2 lawnboy mowers.  The older one (D engine) runs perfectly
smooth.  The newer one (F engine) has the vibration.  If I run either

I need to drill a number of 1/2" holes through the concrete slab of my house
in order to poison the resident termites. The swarmers came out in three
places in the center area of the house.
How can I avoid water and drainage pipes in or under the slab? Are these

I have a fireplace in my family room that I would like to remove.  I have
removed half (top) to build in a TV shelf but find that without any
insulation behind it it is just too cold for me.  Removing the fireplace
will allow me to frame and insulate the wall.  I would then build ...

can someone tell me the source of this type, or brand, or carpet
padding? it's apparently made from old tires, and is -very- near an
eighth-inch thick. good, clear pic's of it posted at
http://machines.awardspace.com/mystery_carpet_padding/

Not my problem but a lady at work was telling the story...
Her husband was away and she was leaving for the weekend.  He told her
to shutoff the well pump.  Also, since the pump we would be off he told
her to take out the two fuses for the water heater.

I recently had a water service installed on Cape Cod. My plan was to
finish the connection after the meter pit was installed by the water
company. They left a piece of black polypipe connected to the meter
pit outlet, but the pipe itself was a little different than what I am

Last night we turned our 1 year old a/c system on for the first time
this year. It felt great and we slept great. Today we were out all day
at a memorial day picnic. We came home about 6pm and when we came in
the house there was a distinctly abnormal smell. It's almost like a

Last night our hot water was REALLY HOT!  Then, this morning we had no
hot water at all.  We have lived in our house for 6 months and the
house is only 1 1/2 yrs old..we are the second owners.  The hot water
heater is a "State".  PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Howdy,
Can someone tell me what this is?  Also, is $100 per foot excessive to
replace it due to water damage?  I am in Columbia, SC and my house is on a
slab.  Thanks!

What would be a fair price for 242 linear feet on a house with a crawl
space.  Thanks!

I have acquired a roll of aluminum that is about 12 in. wide.  The tin
shears we inherited are not sharp at all.  What I want to do is cut it
into strips and would love to find a way to lay it flat and cut it with
sharp knife or something.  Husband says he doesn't think that will

Okay, so now that I've heard enough suggestions that pipe dope is the way to
go, what good is teflon tape?  Where it is used that pipe dope isn't?

I was told that ordinary glass cleaner (Windex) would dull granite.  Is
this true?  I have a product that was given to me when I got the counter,
and its almost gone.  Was wondering if I have to re order some of it or I
could get something at the local HD.