Cost-Efficient Methods for Controlling Crawl Space Moisture | Ep. 159

Crawl space moisture control is a constant worry for people living in high-humidity areas. Moisture in your crawl space can lead to bigger home problems, like warped floorboards and mold, so it’s important to keep it under control. Sometimes natural groundwater migrates up into your home, and other times there’s a drainage issue you might not be aware of that could be contributing to your crawl space moisture. Flowerbeds and other landscaping can end up damming rainwater and routing it under the house. Next time it’s raining, put on your rain gear and look around to see where that water is going when it comes off the roof or through your downspouts on your gutters.  Encourage the water to move away from the house by redirecting your downspouts. Listen to the Today’s Homeowner Podcast to learn more about this topic.  Also on this episode: Swapping Tub and Shower Locations Soil Combinations for Flower Gardens Dealing with Condensation in a Tiny Home Reducing Dust When Sawing Concrete Best New Product The O-Cedar Easywring Rinse Clean Microfiber Spin Mop ensures no shortage of clean water. Simple Solutions Filing System for Owner’s Manual — Here’s a quick, efficient way to organize owner’s manuals for all your tools. Rather than storing all the manuals in one box or drawer, place each one in a zip-lock plastic bag. Then, clip together the individual bags with a binder clip and hang them a nail above your workbench. You can even organize each group of bags into separate categories, such as portable power tools, hand tools and accessories, stationary machinery, and lawn and garden tools. The bags keep the manuals clean and you can easily see through the bags to find the manual you’re looking for.  Fast Furniture Assembly — Assembling kit furniture often requires the use of a hex-key wrench, also known as an Allen wrench, which is painfully slow. Here’s how to speed up the process: Secure the hex-key wrench in a vise and cut off the shorter end of the wrench with a hacksaw or grinder. Then, chuck the long straight section into a cordless drill. Adjust the drill’s torque setting to the lowest number, and drive in the fasteners in mere seconds. Question of the Week Q: We just bought a 1,200-square-foot condo that was built in 2010. It has popcorn ceilings throughout, which are in perfectly good shape. I don’t really mind the popcorn, but my wife hates it. Can I remove the popcorn myself or should I hire a contractor?  Listen for the answer!   Other Products and Links Mentioned National Gypsum Gold Bond Sound Break XP Wall Board Homax Ceiling Texture Scraper for Popcorn Ceiling Removal Armstrong Popcorn Ceiling covering products Black Kow Compost Miracle-Gro Expand 'n Gro Concentrated Planting Mix Hilti brand concrete saws