Need help fixing or making something? Not sure what tool to use or how to go about it?

Question: Michael, do you know anything about tankless water heaters and how they hold up and function versus tank heaters? I’m thinkiing to change once this one goes out and just could really do without something that takes up so much room.

Answer: Yes, I do have some experience with the on demand type. We used a Rinai for our domestic and our radiant floor heat at our cabin. I installed the entire system myself and can tell you that it works just fine with a few exceptions. Needed to get a separate hot water heater for heat as it did a sub-par job doing both domestic hot water and heating simultaneously. We also had some experience with cold water flashes during hot water usage (such as showering!).

I would inquire about the tank-less system and ask about the flashes of cold water. They definitely take up much less space and our designed to save water – just be sure that it performs the way you need it to. You might want to look into a “munchkin”. I’ve heard great things about them. Please keep us posted and in the meantime, I’ll see what else I can find out for you.

Question: Michael, .I have this shed door that is cracking and warping at the bottom. On Roy Underhill’s (Woodrights Shop) he was saying that doors that have a floating inner panel shouldn’t be sealed because they need to contract & expand. (He was showing this on an INTERIOR cabinet door, however). 1) Is that true for exterior door, as well? I did seal it with some caulk and paint after I’d had it for a few years, thinking it would start rotting, but am wondering if caulking it is what did this damage. 2) Do you have any suggestions on how to fix it without getting a whole new door? Should I get rid of the caulk?…Thx!

Answer: If it’s a floating panel, then leave it alone. The idea is that it can expand and contract. Caulk will hinder this process and can trap moisture at the same time. As a rule, only caulk tight joints. So, I would remove the caulk, let it dry, sand it down and then apply an oil to soak into the wood. Unless it is painted, then just allow it to dry out and sand it smooth. If you send a photo I can advise on the warping a little better. Hope it helps.