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The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast

The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast

By: Leslie Segrete
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About this listen

 Does your home ever feel like “a Money Pit?” It doesn’t have to be that way! As host of The Money Pit Podcast, a money pit is not a disaster – it’s a home you love! Whether you’re dealing with a repair or dreaming about a reno, consider me your coach, helper or home improvement therapist for all things remodeling, decor or fix up! From bathrooms to basements, demolition to décor and gardening to garages, I'll share non-biased expertise to help you tackle your to-do’s with confidence. Taking care of a home can be a combination of love, pride and heart-stopping fear - but I promise to help you plan, save you money and spare you from snafus. Join me for new episodes every Monday and Thursday, just in time to plan your next home improvement adventure!© Copyright 1999-2025 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
Episodes
  • #2583 – Preventive Maintenance | Common Homeowner Mistakes | Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off

    #2583 – Preventive Maintenance | Common Homeowner Mistakes | Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off
    Dec 29 2025
    SHOW NOTES: Welcome to the final episode of The Money Pit, where we celebrate more than 21 years of helping you turn your house into a home you love. In this bittersweet finale, Leslie Segrete and Jim Kenzie reflect on our many years of offering floorboards-to-shingles advice while honoring the legacy of our late friend and long-time co-host, Tom Kraeutler. Thank you for more than two decades of The Money Pit. And remember: you can do it yourself, but you don’t have to do it alone. - Preventive Maintenance: We emphasize that consistent home maintenance is the most vital habit for any homeowner, because small tasks like cleaning gutters or changing filters prevent the most expensive disasters. Remember, a home is a living thing that requires constant care and attention to truly reward its inhabitants. - Common Homeowner Mistakes: We do a review of the most common homeowner pitfalls we’ve seen on The Money Pit, such as the temptation to hire the cheapest contractor, which often leads to poor quality and higher costs in the long run. We also hear from listeners about water and moisture issues; make sure you address those, because they will never resolve themselves and only grow more destructive over time. - Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off: We detail home improvement investments that pay off every time, such as prioritizing energy efficiency through insulation and smart thermostats to increase comfort and reduce bills. Additionally, we recommend focusing on lighting upgrades and safety essentials like smoke alarms and secure railings to ensure a home is a place where families can thrive. Q & A: - George in Arkansas dealt with a chilly bedroom despite a 72-degree thermostat setting. We advise him to add 15 to 20 inches of insulation in his attic and use the back of his hand to find and seal drafts around window jams and outlets. - Cliff in Nebraska wanted to know how to make new wood picture frames look like weathered barnwood. We suggest burning the wood with a propane torch and using a wire brush to remove the soft char, creating a "driftwoody" texture before staining. - Lori in New Jersey asked how to treat a garage floor coated in thick oil and grease. The answer is to pressure wash the floor with a TSP solution and then apply a durable, two-part epoxy floor finish. - Lisa in Texas inquired about the safety of older two-prong outlets in her 1960s home. We explain that while they can be safe with adapters, it is much better to hire an electrician to upgrade the wiring to a modern, grounded system. ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • #2582 – 2026 Home Project Planning | Timeless Design Upgrades | Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist

    #2582 – 2026 Home Project Planning | Timeless Design Upgrades | Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist
    Dec 25 2025
    SHOW NOTES: Welcome to the final broadcast of The Money Pit, a very special episode marking the end of our incredible 21-year journey of helping you make your homes safer and more beautiful. While our live show is coming to a close, we are finishing strong with the essential advice you need to plan a successful year of home improvements ahead. - 2026 Project Planning: We outline a home project plan that prioritizes safety and efficiency first, followed by maintenance and finally beautification. - Timeless Design Upgrades: Leslie shares tips for choosing finishes that won't feel dated, such as using neutral paint colors and focusing on functional kitchen upgrades like deep drawers. The key is to design your home around your actual life rather than fleeting social media trends. - The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist: We review the "backbone" of home care, emphasizing that cleaning gutters twice a year and servicing HVAC systems are critical to preventing major repairs. Adopting a "maintenance first, repairs second" philosophy is the best way to protect your investment over the long haul. Maintaining a home is like maintaining a ship; if you ignore the small leaks in the hull or skip the routine engine checks, you might find yourself sinking just when you're trying to enjoy the view from the deck. Q & A: - Tom in Daytona Beach, Florida, asked for advice on replacing toilet shut-off valves. We recommend using a handheld pipe cutter for a clean, square cut and installing compression valves for a reliable, leak-free fit. - Robert in Tennessee sought security solutions after his workspace was broken into numerous times. We suggest installing motion-activated LED spotlights and considering high-tech monitored camera systems that allow guards to interact with intruders. - George in Connecticut inquired about the best way to keep concrete pavers from migrating. We advise using flexible border edging secured with stakes or ensuring the base material is prepped wider than the finished walkway to prevent edge collapse. - David in Texas wanted to restore the original "wet look" to his faded, stained concrete patio. We recommend applying a heavy-duty epoxy clear coat or exploring resurfacing kits that use real stone for a durable finish. ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • #2581 – Winter Indoor Air Quality | Warm Up Chilly Spaces | Kitchen Organizing | Toxic Holiday Plants

    #2581 – Winter Indoor Air Quality | Warm Up Chilly Spaces | Kitchen Organizing | Toxic Holiday Plants
    Dec 22 2025
    SHOW NOTES: Welcome to The Money Pit! This week, we’re delving into more crucial home maintenance topics for the season and helping you fix up your home sweet home as we prepare for the end-of-year happy holidays! - Indoor Air Quality: We share easy and affordable ways to significantly improve your indoor air quality, even when windows stay shut during the winter. A key step is checking your HVAC filter, which captures dust and allergens without overworking your system. - Warming Up Chilly Spaces: We tackle how to warm up those stubborn, chilly spots in your home without replacing your heating system. Simple weekend projects like applying removable rope caulk or window insulation films to seal drafts and installing foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switch plates on exterior walls can make a big difference. - Kitchen Organization: With the holidays approaching fast, the kitchen is about to become your busiest room, so we offer quick kitchen organizing tricks to make cooking and cleanup easier - Hazardous Holiday Plants: We conclude with Leslie's Last Word on holiday plant safety, noting that many popular festive plants are far more toxic than commonly thought. Plants like holly, mistletoe, amaryllis, and paper whites can be dangerous if ingested by children or pets, making it crucial to keep them out of reach. Q & A: - Scott in Illinois called with a question about his crumbling 13-year-old aggregate driveway. We advise that driveway replacement, possibly with a tough concrete surface that has adequate traction for the pitch and the snowy Illinois climate, would be a better option than repeatedly trying to repair the rough aggregate, which has likely reached the end of its lifespan. - Annette in Mississippi asked what causes condensation to appear on the surface of her ceramic kitchen floor tiles. We explain that this is caused by the warm, humid air inside her home striking the cold floor surface, and suggest she install a whole-home dehumidifier to remove the moisture. - Mary from Alaska wanted advice on switching from her traditional electric water heaters to a tankless system. Leslie notes that electric tankless technology is less efficient than gas-based systems, but Mary could upgrade to a high-efficiency heat pump water heater. - Pete in Pennsylvania had a question about an area of vinyl siding that felt floppy after he repaired a piece that had blown off. We reassure him that vinyl siding is meant to be put on loosely to allow for expansion and contraction during temperature changes, but if the pieces are disconnected, he can use a "zip tool" to reconnect the siding. ASK A QUESTION: Need help with your own home improvement or décor question? We’d love to help! Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here: https://www.moneypit.com/ask. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins
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