#2576 – Warm Up Without High Bills | Winter Floor Protection | 2026 Home Improvement Predictions

SHOW NOTES: Welcome to this week's episode of The Money Pit! It’s almost the first weekend in December, and while we know you’re running out of time for holiday preparations, we are here to help you manage your home projects before the festivities begin. - Warm Up Without High Bills: We share simple ways to keep your home cozy, such as hunting down drafts around windows and doors, changing air filters, and installing programmable thermostats to save up to 10% on heating costs. - Winter Floor Protection: To protect your floors from muddy boots and cookie crumbs, we recommend placing mats at every entrance and using specific cleaning methods for hardwood, tile, and carpet to prevent winter wear and tear. - 2026 Home Improvement Predictions: Looking ahead, we discuss top trends for 2026, including a heavy focus on energy efficiency like heat pumps, "mini-makeovers" for kitchens rather than full remodels, and multifunctional outdoor living spaces.   Q & A: - Fred in Delaware built a walkout from his basement and needs to know if he requires double handrails. We advise installing two for safety. - Barbara from Rhode Island says her upstairs toilet makes a gurgling bubbly sound. We diagnose this as a venting obstruction and suggest using a toilet auger to clear the trap since plunging didn't work. - Bill from Texas scraped the popcorn texture off his bathroom ceiling and wanted to know how to seal it. We recommend using a primer like Kilz, but strongly advise against adding new texture in a bathroom due to moisture and mold risks. - Kent in Kansas has a recurring stain on his bathroom ceiling. We determine the issue is likely a deteriorated rubber boot on the plumbing vent flashing, and suggest replacing the flashing before cleaning, priming, and painting the ceiling. - Kay in South Carolina is looking to renovate a home that has been vacant with no utilities for over seven years. We recommend hiring a professional home inspector to check all systems once the utilities are on and consulting an architect if she plans to change the layout. - Tamara in Georgia explained that metal rails were cut near her walkway, leaving rust stains on her pavers. To avoid damaging the pavers with a pressure washer, we suggest using lemon juice or vinegar with a wire brush, or a rust-removing product like Iron Out.   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