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Home Repair Tutor

Do you need DIY home improvement advice? If you're looking for inspiration and motivation during your daily commute, workout, or "me" time, Jeff Patterson delivers weekly advice. Each podcast lesson shares tips about new tools, supplies, and DIY projects. Home Repair Tutor helps you beef up your DIY skills and get stuff done around the house!
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Now displaying: November, 2015
Nov 30, 2015

Roof leaks can be BAD…real bad. Today we talk about temporary and permanent fixes.

 

But first we talk about a phenomenal DeWALT deal over on Home Depot.

 

Check it out for yourself over on their site.

 

You get 20V Max 1/2 Drill Driver, 1/4 Impact Driver, and Mechanic’s Set for $199.

 

The Model Number for this is DCK240CDWMT75000

 

If you have a roof leak under the vent stack it’s like the rubber boot.

 

You can permanently fix this with a new boot or temporarily fix it using Henry sealant.

 

Listen to the show for the details.

 

Many thanks to Johns Manville for sponsoring today’s show.

Check out their complete line of insulation over at http://www.jm.com/en/

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 192 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

 

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

Nov 29, 2015

Bathroom remodeling can be a pain…it’s nice to have a support group. Today we talk about finding pipes in walls and the tub lip problem.

 

Pipes in walls can be re-routed using standard soldered fittings or SharkBite fittings.

If you have access to the pipes via an access panel I would recommend using SharkBites.

Check them out here

http://www.sharkbite.com/

 

But if the pipes will be hidden in the wall I do recommend soldering instead of SharkBites.

 

I got a second question from Lynda about what to do with the tub lip…should she put building panels over the lip or rest them on the lip?

 

My recommendation is to put panels on top of the lip.

 

Listen to the show to hear why.

 

Here are links to Schluter and Wedi…Schluter makes KERDI-BOARD.

 

http://www.schluter.com/

 

http://us.wedi.de/index.php

 

For more information on bathroom remodeling check out our support group at Bathroom Repair Tutor

 

https://bathroomrepairtutor.com/

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 191 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

 

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

Nov 28, 2015

Holiday lighting is cool. Today we talk about tips to make it easy and safe to install…I had fun doing this with my wife and wanted to share the experience with you.

 

My number one tip for you is to make sure your exterior outlets are GFCIs.

If you need to replace your exterior outlet this tutorial will help

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/outdoor-gfci-electrical-outlet-installation/

 

Here’s the other tutorial I talked about that helps you with landscape lighting and power packs

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/installing-outdoor-landscape-lighting/

 

If you’d like to join a support group for homeowners you’ll love our private Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hrtcommunity/

 

f you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 190 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

 

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

Nov 27, 2015

Garbage disposals get stinky fast…today you’ll learn about 4 easy and natural cleaning tips.

 

I made a tutorial over on Home Repair Tutor

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-a-garbage-disposal/

 

Plus: since this show is technically on Black Friday we talk about 2 deals.

 

The first one is on the Nest Learning Thermostat plus a $50 Amazon gift certificate

Here’s the link to that (this is an affiliate link)

http://amzn.to/1lNPqLJ

 

SmartThings has a deal as well, they’re making their Home Monitoring Kit $50 off thru 11/30

Here’s the link to their site

http://www.smartthings.com/

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 189 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

 

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

Nov 25, 2015

Does your tile and grout need help?

Today I share 3 different cleaning tips that could make a HUGE difference.

You’ll have to listen to the show to get the details.

 

Here are the links I mention

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/clean-ceramic-tile-and-grout/

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/the-best-way-to-clean-grout/

 

We also discuss how home automation can help you keep tabs on your home during the holidays.

 

My latest tutorial over on Home Repair Tutor shows how I use it as a home security system…

BEST PART: no monthly fees.

 

Check out that tutorial

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/the-best-home-automations-system/

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 188 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

 

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

 

Nov 24, 2015

Stinky sink drains are a drag…and disgusting.

Today we talk about how to tackle this problem and remove the smell.

 

The first step is to make sure your P-traps are full of water.

If your tub, shower, or vanity haven’t been used in awhile…run water for 1-2 minutes.

This might solve your problem.

 

The second reason your bathroom or kitchen may stink is due to biofilm.

Unfortunately you have to remove the P-Trap and pipes from the vanity.

Check for gunk in the pipes.

Scrape any sediment from the wall pipe.

Then push several paper towels down the sink drain and related pipes.

The last step is to soak these sink parts in warm water and bleach.

 

Finally, put all the pipes back together and check for leaks.

Then pour a pot of hot water down the drain.

This will put the death nail in your stinky drain.

 

See these tips in action over on Home Repair Tutor

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-a-stinky-sink-drain

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 187 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

 

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

Nov 23, 2015

Cantaloupe light? Yes, I found a pendant light made in the shape of a cantaloupe.

You can make this yourself by watching HomeMade-Modern’s cool YouTube video

https://youtu.be/_c4rVAh3t9I

 

Today’s Deal of the Day is on fire pits and patio heaters.

They have fancy heaters that you typically see at restaurants.

The model number of the one I like is 67515BOND

Type this model number into the search box over on Home Depot’s site

 

This Old House shared 5 Quick Fixes you can do yourself before Thanksgiving

I share all of them in the show but here’s the link to their post

http://trib.al/Hvqbkps 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

Remember, we have 186 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

If you want me to feature a cool Deal of the Day or project send me a quick email

jeff@homerepairtutor.com

We record the podcast every day, so I’m up for sharing your great idea

Nov 22, 2015

Milwaukee is having a FANTASTIC tool deal!!! Their 9-piece 18V kit is 40% off…more on that in the show.

2695-29 is the model number over on Home Depot.

 

PLUS: we discuss how to make straight cuts every time with a door board.

Nick Ferry is a YouTuber and woodworker who shared this great project.

Use 2 pieces of 1/4 plywood or MDF to make a cutting board that can be partnered with a circular saw.

Here’s Nick’s project over on YouTube

https://youtu.be/5E1v-qPQJvs

 

 

Finally, if you need repair parts for your appliance I recommend you check out RepairClinic.com

I bought replacement dishwasher arms on their site and have been pleased with their prices.

Here’s the link to their site

http://www.repairclinic.com/

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

Remember, we have 185 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 21, 2015

Hanging a pre-hung door can suck.  A $5.25 product can make it so much EASIER.

My buddy Adam Verheyen used the Quick Door Hanger brackets to install pre-hung doors.

I think these look awesome and wanted to share Adam’s tip with you today.

You can find the Quick Door Hangers (Model 201) over on Home Depot’s site.

 

Today’s Deal of the Day is Craftsman’s Extreme Grip 6-Piece Diamond Tip Screwdriver Set

They used to be $39.99 and now are $19.99.

Great gift for anyone.

 

At the end of the show I go off on a tirade about crappy bathroom tutorials…

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

Remember, we have 180 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 20, 2015

Is your toilet driving your nuts? Today we talk about 3 easy steps you can take to stop a toilet from running.

 

These tips can be done in less than 1 hour and will save you $90-$120.

We have a full tutorial over on Home Repair Tutor

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-fix-a-running-toilet/

 

Do you hate having a cold head?

Instructables has a cool 6 step tutorial on how to make a DIY carbon heated beanie

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-carbon-heated-beanie/

Anyone can make this.

 

Today’s Deal of the Day is Ridgid’s 18V 4.0Ah Lithium-Ion Battery 2-pack for $99.

Pretty awesome.

The warranty on these batteries is 3 years.

Check this out over on Home Depot’s site using model number AC840087P

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

Remember, we have 180 podcast shows

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 19, 2015

Get 5 awesome tips that’ll make it run like new.

Today’s show has all the details but if you want to see the tips over on Home Repair Tutor check them out here

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/dishwasher-not-cleaning/

 

DeWalt is having a great deal on their 15 Amp Double Bevel Miter Saw over at Home Depot

It used to be $349 but is now $299.

Check it out before the deal goes away

The model number is DW716

 

DeWalt is having a second AWESOME deal at Costco

You can get their ToughSystem Bundle for $200 instead of $315

Check that out here

http://toolguyd.com/dewalt-toughsystem-deals-h2015/

 

If you love Star Wars you’ll love Bob’s cool Giant Light Saber video…way cool

https://youtu.be/MIymFB2uHXc

Nov 18, 2015

Today we talk about how to clean a bathtub or shower fast. These tips come in handy if you’re looking to cut down on cleaning time.

 

The Mother’s PowerBall is meant for polishing cars. But it’s perfect for cleaning bathtubs and showers.

 

You can attach it to a drill for powerful cleaning.

 

Here’s my tutorial on how to use the PowerBall

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-a-bathtub/

 

Ridgid is having a bonus deal over on Home Depot

 

You can get a 5.5 Amp trim router with free 1/4” sheet sander for $99.

 

Here’s the model number R24011

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 180 podcast shows

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 17, 2015

Want oven cleaning tips? Today we discuss 2 natural ways to cut the grease and grime.

 

But for the love of Pete…don’t use the self-cleaning option before Thanksgiving.

 

BIG MISTAKE!!!!

 

We also talk about how to cut holes in ceramic and porcelain tile.

 

This question was asked in our support group Bathroom Repair Tutor

 

In addition: Home Depot has a special deal of the day on a survival back pack that.

 

The model number of that back pack is 70385.

 

Today is the last day for our latest giveaway over on Home Repair Tutor

 

Watch our latest video tutorial on how to insulate walls to get the scoop…it’s pretty cool

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-insulate-walls-and-ceilings/

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 180 podcast shows

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 16, 2015

Grease is disgusting.

 

I found a great product that removes it…Super Clean.

 

It costs about $5 and can be found in the automotive section of Walmart.

 

Check out this tutorial I made

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-clean-a-greasy-kitchen-hood/

 

Plus: today we talk about how to get great deals on patio furniture over on Home Depot’s site.

 

Tomorrow is the last day for our latest giveaway over on Home Repair Tutor.

 

Watch our latest video tutorial on how to insulate walls to get the scoop…it’s pretty cool

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-insulate-walls-and-ceilings/

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 179 podcast shows

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 15, 2015

Should you buy a battery powered chainsaw?

 

Today we talk about DeWalt’s new 40V Max chainsaw and other cool stuff.

 

The thing about battery power is it eliminates the mess of storing gas powered lawn tools.

 

if you’re not aware…gas doesn’t last forever and it can gunk up your power tool motor.

 

That’s one benefit of battery powered tools.

 

We also talk about Samsung’s new SmartCam HD Pro camera and how to fix a sticking door.

 

I know, lots of things to talk about in one show.

 

Plus we talk about the solar powered deal of the day over on Home Depot

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 178 podcast shows

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 14, 2015

Do you want a warm home?

 

Today we discuss the different types of insulation.

 

It’s not a bad idea to explore your options.

 

And that’s what we do.

 

My last recommendation on spray foam is kind of a DIY horror story.

 

Worth a listen.

 

 

PLUS: the deal of the day is 40% off portable heaters.

 

You should check that out if your house is chilly but only in one room.

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 177 podcast shows

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

Nov 13, 2015

Do you hate being cold?

 

Right now is a perfect time to insulate your home.

 

If your walls are open you should add batt insulation.

 

If you only have access to your attic, you should start there with insulation.

 

It will make a HUGE difference in your heating bill.

 

Listen to the show for several tips on how to insulate your walls and ceilings.

 

Here’s the link to Home Repair Tutor, you’ll see how we insulated my buddy’s walls and ceilings

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/

 

 

PLUS: Home Depot is having a 40% off sale on certain vanity cabinets.

 

I tell you the details… this is an awesome opportunity

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 176 podcast shows

 

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

 

If you like the show please give us a rating and review over iTunes, thank you

Nov 12, 2015

Laminate flooring is on big time sale at Home Depot.

 

$1.79 a square foot for this laminate instead of $2.99.

 

Laminate flooring is easy to install, seriously a weekend project anyone can do.

 

One of my biggest pet peeves is cutting metal trim pieces at eye level.

 

This is bad.

 

If you’re installing metal trim in your bathroom to end a tile run, make the cut close to the floor…NOT at eye level.

 

More on this in the show.

 

 

 

If you liked today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 175 podcast shows

 

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

 

If you like the show please give us a rating and review over iTunes, thank you

Nov 11, 2015

DeWalt announced their new impact driver.

 

It has 3 different speeds!!

 

This gives you a lot of different torque options as well.

 

Which is great for installing drywall vs. cement board.

 

IMO every homeowner should have an impact driver…literally has saved me hours of my life.

 

 

Plus: today we give a great tip on how to install glass tile mosaics over KERDI-BOARD.

 

If you today’s show please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

Remember, we have 174 podcast shows

 

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

 

If you like the show please give us a rating and review over iTunes, thank you

Nov 10, 2015

Do you want instant hot water in your bathroom?

 

You should check out point of use tankless electric instant water heaters.

 

Initially I didn’t think this was an interesting topic.

 

But not having hot water in the bathroom is a super common problem.

 

And these instant water heaters are a HUGE solution.

 

They’re on sale today at Home Depot for about 40% off.

 

Btw, HD isn’t paying me to announce these deals. I figured you don’t have time to find the deals and thought it would be cool to announce them on the podcast.

 

Check out the deal of the day by searching for ATMOR Tankless Electric Instant Water Heaters.

 

 

If you liked this Deal of the Day please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

 

PLUS: we discuss how to fix loose door hinges…

 

,,,remove the loose screws, apply wood glue to toothpicks or a golf tee, shove these into the holes in the jamb, screw a longer screw into the hole…DONE.

 

I explain this a bit better in today’s show.

 

 

Remember, we have 173 podcast shows

 

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

 

if you like the show please give us a rating and review over iTunes, thank you

 

Nov 9, 2015

Being without power sucks.

 

Today’s Deal of the Day stops that from happening.

 

Home Depot has a sweet Westinghouse generator on sale for $699 instead of $949…

If you’re keeping track that’s about $250 in savings.

 

The model number for this WH7500E.

 

Look it up over on Home Depot’s website.

 

If you liked this Deal of the Day please give us a rating and review on iTunes, thank you

 

 

So, how did I save $2000 with one phone call.

 

I’m not gonna tell you in the show notes.

 

You gotta listen to the show…

 

…but I promise you’ll learn a great tip about how to save money on your HVAC system.

 

 

Remember, we have 171 podcast shows

 

You can listen to all of them for free over on iTunes or Stitcher.

 

If you like the show please give us a rating and review over iTunes, thank you

Nov 8, 2015

It has saved me hours.

 

Here’s an Amazon link for you to check it out

 

http://amzn.to/20EmRAk

 

I don’t care if you use the Amazon link or not, just wanted to give you some way to see the rake.

 

Plus, one of my fans is planting tulips and gave me this great idea:

 

…use a plant auger.

 

You can attach it to your drill and drill holes in the ground without bending over.

 

Cool.

 

Here’s the link to that nifty tool

 

http://amzn.to/1kCJhBc

 

Again, just wanted to you to have the reference, don’t care if you use the link to buy

 

 

Hope you have a great day, I’ll talk with you tomorrow…remember the podcast is pretty much every day at this point.

 

And if I go on vacation you can always listen to the other 169 shows.

Nov 7, 2015

We have a ton of projects coming up…in fact, our to-do list is two months out.

 

So today I’m going to tell you the deal of the day and let you know what’s happening over on Home Repair Tutor.

 

Home Depot has the FloorMate Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner on sale.

 

It use to be $249 and is now 20% off at $198.

 

This sales is only thru 11/7/15.

 

Good reason to listen to the show, haha.

 

The model number is BH55100.

 

Over the next few weeks we’re going to be doing videos on insulation, home automation, walk-in shower installation, tool reviews for DeWalt-Porter Cable-FEIN, and more.

 

Plus we’re going to have a ton of great giveaways.

 

Listen to the podcast and visit Home Repair Tutor to stay up to date on all these videos.

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/

 

 

Do you need help with a bathroom remodel?

 

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out where to start.

 

Or what materials to use.

 

I created Bathroom Repair Tutor to tackle these problems.

 

If you want a custom consultation video we can do that, too.

 

Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor

Nov 6, 2015

Your fridge is likely the most expensive hunk of metal in your house.

 

I found an awesome deal over on Home Depot for a stainless steel fridge.

 

It use to be $1799 and is now $998.

 

If you’re good with math that’s a cost savings of $801.

 

Here’s the model number RF26HFENDSR

 

 

Last week we revealed our Part 1 of How to Install Schluter Kerdi Board on Home Repair Tutor.

 

People couldn’t believe how easy it is to waterproof a shower or tub with it.

 

Today we released our Part 2.

 

You can check it out at

 

http://www.homerepairtutor.com/how-to-install-schluter-kerdi-board-part-2

 

 

Do you need help with a bathroom remodel?

 

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out where to start.

 

Or what materials to use.

 

I created Bathroom Repair Tutor to tackle these problems.

 

If you want a custom consultation video we can do that, too.

 

Check out Bathroom Repair Tutor

 

 

Nov 5, 2015

Do you want a warm toilet toilet seat?

 

Me too!!!

 

Brondell makes the LumaWarm toilet seat and it gets 5-Star reviews over on Home Depot.

 

The LumaWarm plugs into a GFCI and also has an LED nightlight.

 

The model number is L60-EW and costs about $110.

 

Listen to the podcast for the Deal of the Day.

 

Remember, if you spot a cool product or Deal of the Day send me an email

 

My address is jeff@homerepairtutor.com

 

 

ALSO: Did you like today’s show? leave a review for us on iTunes, we’ll give you a high five

 

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

You can also subscribe via Stitcher

 

WOULD YOU LOVE A NEW BATHROOM?

 

We believe you can remodel a bathroom yourself.

 

And you can do it just as good as a contractor.

 

We can teach you how to renovate your bathroom so that you’ll love using it every day.

 

Sign up for our free 3-Part Videos Series because it’ll help you get started.

 

Click this link to get the videos

 

Free 3-Part Video Series

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