AsktheBuilder.com Issue #1290 (I think)

July 28, 2024

Dear ,

It's been a hot summer here in New Hampshire. A normal summer might have six or eight hot and humid days spread out over July and early August. 

I'd say we've had no less than 20 days so far where we've had to employ the window AC units. The lake water temperature is perfect for swimming.

Speaking of AC units, is yours on its last legs? If so, you'd do well to use my AC Checklist BEFORE you call for estimates. GO HERE to get it.

DeWALT Push & Flip Knives

I get to review tools as part of my job. A few weeks ago DeWALT sent me a box containing four of their newest products.

Here's one. This dandy knife could come in handy if you're attacked by a giant squid. The subscribers who are treated to my stories in my Adventures & Advice newsletter will soon be reading about the Game of Squid. If you're not a subscriber to this very upbeat newsletter, you're really missing out on some funny stories. GO HERE to subscribe.

Two of the products are box cutters that you'd might use to score drywall. One is sleek with no onboard storage for extra blades. The other has storage and is a tad bit wider.

The other two are pocket knives, one with and one without a serrated blade. The knives are very comfortable to hold. Not all knives are comfortable. You'd do well to try one out.

Here's a short video I created showing all four.

You can purchase these now. GO HERE to get yours.

HOT 🚙 Car 🚗 Hack

I was skimming YouTube for videos to share with you the other day. I did discover a very interesting one showing all sorts of mistakes an inspector found while doing a framing inspection.

Then I stumbled upon one that I couldn't believe. This woman claimed you can magically get all the windows of your locked car to roll down at the same time. 

This is a handy feature if your car is out in the blazing sun. You do know that when this happens your car fills with some very toxic fumes, right? The plastic in the car is off gassing.

That gas then condenses on your windshield, windows and rearview mirror. Those micro particles of plastic are what cause the nasty fog or haze that obscures your vision at night when headlights strike it or when the sun is low in the sky. Surely you knew the fog was caused by the plastic in your car, right?

I'm obsessive when it comes to clean windshields and glass as I loathe glare of any type. I wash the inside of my truck and car glass with soap and water at least three times a year to get rid of the haze.

I tried the hack on my 2021 Volvo XC-60 and by gosh it worked. Not only did the windows roll down, but the ventilation fan turned onto HIGH to move air around and out the open windows!

The hack didn't work on my 15-year-old Ford F-250.

I shared this with my ham radio buddy Wayne. He replied, "Well, in my car it also opens the sunroof to ventilate the bad fumes and heat. Once you're in the car you can get all the windows to close at once by using the same hack."

So what is the hack? It's so easy. Be sure your windows are closed before you try it.

Take your fob and press the UNLOCK button twice in a row. Then immediately press the button again and HOLD it for about 3 seconds. Alakazam! Do it again to get the windows to close.

You're welcome.

Money-Saving Stories

Over the past two weeks I estimate I saved a small group of wise homeowners about $35,000. Do you need to save money or are you WORRIED about losing money when hiring a contractor?

If you can't afford to LOSE ONE DOLLAR with a contractor, then do what each of the other homeowners did.

Each one invested in a short phone call with me.

A woman on the East Coast was plagued by water seeping into her 200-year-old house causing the old timbers to rot. My college degree in hydrogeology allowed me to share exactly how to stop the water from entering her house.

A man needed to run a sewer line from a new ADU in his backyard to his existing septic tank. An ADU is an additional dwelling unit. They're the new rage.

Someone told him he needed a pesky pump to do it. Not only that, he was told he needed new septic tanks. That was EXPENSIVE bogus information.

I determined he had enough capacity in his existing septic tank AND he had enough fall to reach the existing drain line employing good old gravity. All he had to do was cut in a wye fitting into the existing drain line.

I believe he's going to arrange a second call so I can walk him through installing that wye fitting. There are a few secret tips one needs to know about how to do this.

Finally, I spoke with another woman who wanted to know what is the best roof ventilation. She was told that a ridge vent was the way to go. I shared with her that for hot air to get out of an attic through a ridge vent it needs to GO DOWN to escape the confines of the attic.

That's how ridge vents work. Air must flow up to the peak of the vent and then magically it needs to go down to escape out to the atmosphere.

Hot air rises - it doesn't go down. I sent her a photo of my daughter's roof that has, in my opinion, the best ventilation of all.

Did you know  I offer TRANSCRIBED phone calls?

Yes, there's NO NEED for you to try to remember what I say OR to take notes. Within an hour of us talking, I can often send you a transcription of the entire conversation you can print out.

Pretty cool, right?

Do you need me to come to your home? I can do that too.

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"Yeah, right. That's the way it is. It's down there and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.

Andy Dufresne just before he escapes from Shawshank prison.

CLICK HERE to see this classic movie scene.

#DoNotComply

Once bitten, twice shy...

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

The BEST Love Story of all time - well, maybe a close second.

That's enough for a Sunday morning.

Peace out.

Tim Carter (PhD, FullyAwakeology)

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Electromagnetic Adventures: www.W3ATB.com

My Pronouns: Told/You/So

Do It Right, Not Over!