SHOW NOTES: This is the Money Pit! Fall is officially here, and we've got a lot of exciting projects to tackle today, both indoors and out. Give us a call with your questions at 888-MONEYPIT, but first, here are the home improvement topics we’ll be sharing in this show: - Preparing Your Trees for Winter: Fall is the perfect time to prep your trees before winter rolls in. We’ll share the best ways to trim, tidy up, or even take down a troubled tree. - Tapping into Home Equity: Many longtime homeowners are sitting on a gold mine of equity, sometimes totaling six figures of untapped value. We’ll break down how to put that equity to good use, whether through a refinance, a home equity line of credit to fund renovations, or by strategically downsizing. - Hottest Fall 2025 Design Trends: If you want to give your home a fresh fall feel without a full-blown renovation, we’re breaking down the hottest Pinterest design trends. - Seasonal Home Safety and Efficiency: As we head into the heating season, we offer quick tips to keep you safe all winter long.   Q & A: - Beth in Pennsylvania shared a story about a home fire where the insurance-recommended contractor ruined her home and took materials she paid for. We advise her that since the theft of materials is a criminal matter, she should file a theft complaint with her local police department! - Randall in West Virginia has a half-underground basement that felt damp after flooding, and he asked if he needed to vent the space. We explain that venting is not needed for a full basement, and the dampness is likely a drainage issue that can be solved by cleaning gutters, extending downspouts, and installing a heavy-duty dehumidifier. - Linda in Tennessee noticed black particles coming out of the water in her toilets and bathroom sink in her 100-year-old rental home. The solution is twofold: installing a whole-house water filter after the main supply and cleaning the aerators at the base of the faucets, where black particles may be trapped. - Jerry in Vermont said his furnace serviceman recommended switching from his old oil system to a heat pump due to discounts, but Jerry worried whether heat pumps could handle cold Vermont winters. We confirm that modern heat pumps are very efficient and suitable for cold climates, but he must weigh the full costs of the new system, permanently abandoning the old oil tank, and leak testing before making the investment. - Rich in Florida wants to know how to break up his concrete slab foundation floor to install a safe inside a closet. We advise against cutting the slab, suggesting instead that he secure the safe by bolting it directly onto the concrete. - Lori (via email) asked for an inexpensive band-aid fix for a rotting wood window frame in her tub surround before a planned tear-out next year. We suggest scraping out the rotted wood and filling it with a wood replacement compound.   ASK A QUESTION: Do you have a home improvement or decor question? Call the show 24/7 at 888-MONEY-PIT (888-666-3974) or post your question here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices