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train · 95.7k rows

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What outdoor materials can be damaged by by ice? I'm relatively new to this snow thing. I also have a new vinyl deck and paver stone walkway I'd like to take care of. I have a basic understanding of how water can get into things, freeze, and break them apart. I'd like to prevent this from happening. For what materials...	I would say the most important thing to do for ice at your house is to install frost-free sillcocks to prevent the lines from freezing and the pipes from bursting in your house.
What natural-wood finish should I use to protect a door from pet scratches? I'm installing a new solid-core wood door in one of my bedrooms. I want the door to have a natural wood look. However, I have a dog who will scratch at the door to open it looking for me / squeaky toys / a quiet place to chew said squeaky toy...	Sorry, but a wooden door is quite a bit softer than your dog's nails, and if that door is like many, it is made of a relatively soft wood anyway. Your best bet is to do something that is easily replaceable, whether that be painting or a quick changeable kickplate. We have done this a few times, now we just leave the do...
How do I refill a fire extinguisher or should I just buy a new one? My fire extinguisher is out of charge and I want to either refill it or buy a new one. Is it better/cheaper to refill it or just buy a new one? (Can I even refill this fire extinguisher?) EDIT: <Q> I used to be a fire extinguisher repair tech. <...	You may also want to check with your local fire department - some of them will refill it for free.
How can I clean the glass door on my fireplace? I tried crumpled up newspaper but that was a joke. Are there any good techniques for doing this? Mine is totally covered with creosote right now and I can barely see through it. <Q> This is going to sound bogus <S> but I just got this tip the other day from a friend and ...	Other than the ash trick, the best way to get it clean is a really hot fire.
Why does my furnace turn off when the thermostat's LCD dims? Recently I replaced an old mercury thermostat with a programmable digital model (a PRO1 T955W ). It is set to operate in Heating mode. The desired temperature is set to 70 and the in-home temperature is in the low 60s. Yet, the oil-burning furnace does not ...	It sounds like you could be using the wrong power to supply the thermostat relay which is usually located on the thermostat (one which is only available when the LCD screen is on and whatever micro-controller in thermostat wakes up).
Should I use foam spray insulation in my crawl space? My crawl space has no insulation. The dirt is wet near one of the walls. There have been termites in the past. I'm thinking of insulating the ceiling (between the joists) and the walls with foam spray. Am I on the right track with this idea? I hear that fibergl...	There are foams that are completely water and moisture resistant as well as mold and vermin proof.
How to spread light more Which one is better for light bulbs in home to get more from light. White board behind bulb? White plastic covering the bulb? Mirror behind the bulb? Any other way? How to get more from a light source? <Q> If you want get more light to specific spot - use "Mirror board behind bu...	If you're trying to focus light into a particular area, you're better off getting a bulb that already does that - there are many different types of spotlights, with different patterns & beams.
Why is my furnace blowing cold air? My HEIL 7000 natural gas furnace has stopped working what are the most likely causes, and how to verify faulty parts? Normal operation routine Thermostat sends "need heat" signal. Exhaust blower starts. Electric sparker lights gas. Once operating temperature is reached, circula...	Bad igniter, faulty gas control valve, or control board failure.
What are the pros and cons of a vented vs unvented crawl space? I find it very confusing to read and hear conflicting advice on crawl space: vent vs air seal, different ways to do insulation, vapor barriers vs not, etc. Mine currently has some moisture and has a 6" square hole in the exterior wall and 2 large 3' squ...	The only time I would seal the exterior walls would be if I also used a pretty darn water tight moisture barrier over the floor, tuck taped to the knee wall at the bottom of the joists.
Why isn't my dishwasher cleaning as well as it used to? My dishwasher no longer cleans dishes as well as it did 5 years ago. Some info: It is 10 years old, a low-end Frigidaire we have hard water here (and no water softener) I have cleaned the food trap at the bottom which helped Any suggestions? <Q> Some deterge...	Inspect the drain line (usually a flexible plastic pipe connected to the trap on your sink or disposal). Consider turning up the water temperature at the water heater. Since you mentioned hard water with no softener, there may just be too much calcium and other deposit buildup on the many internal parts.
How to fix a leaky flapper valve? I bought a house that had been sitting for some time. One of the the issues that I've discovered is that the flapper valve leaks. I've come to this conclusion by turning off the water to the tank and combing back later to see that the water level is lower. I have already replaced th...	Sometimes when a flapper gets old and begins to fail (disintegrate) it can leave a piece behind stuck to the outflow pipe that it covers. As Jeff suggests, you could try cleaning that part, or just replace it.
Plastic Wall Anchors Without a Collar I have installed some new toilet paper holders in my house. They came with cheap plastic wall anchors without a collar on them. I threw them away and used different anchors, because every time I try to use the ones without a collar I push them into the wall. Is there a trick I a...	Tap gently with a SMALL hammer to set the anchor flush to the wall. I use a locally manufactured (I'm outside of US) series of anchors without a collar - their diameter is slightly smaller than that of the hole and they have small relief dots extending from the surface so that the outer diameter is slightly bigger that...
Should I rebuild or just replace worn out cordless tool batteries? I have a couple of older Porter Cable 19.2v Ni-Cd batteries which have worn out. In shopping around for replacements, I've noticed there are a number of businesses which offer to rebuild your existing batteries with new cells. One of the claims that s...	Rebuilding NiCd battery cell packs can be a good alternative to buying new packs.
Can I vent a microwave vent / range hood through wall? I've got a Whirlpool over-the-range microwave that is currently venting back into the kitchen. I'd like to poke a hole through the wall and vent it directly outside. I've read the instructions and it seems pretty straight forward. I don't know much about this, s...	Although most of them adapt to 4inch vent hose, there is no standard to where on the back of the microwave the vent is attached, and this can effect where you need to cut your hole in the wall, especially in 2X4 walls where you won't have a lot of room to offset the vent.
What adhesive or glue should I use to attach velcro to PVC pipe? I have some vertical standing pvc pipes that I want to attach velcro to. I wish to hang some fabric from the velcro, and thus there will be some forces pulling the velcro from the pvc. I've already tried using 3M Rubber & Vinyl Spray Adhesive, and it wo...	You could try riveting the velcro in place using pop rivets--put a flexible washer or sew a grommet on the velcro to reinforce it.
Why would a furnace overheat with a standard density filter? Some time ago I found my furnace (gas, forced air, downdraft) was getting stuck on, blowing cold air. I could reset it, but it would happen again after a while. After calling out a service man, I was informed that the high limit switch was tripping. The fu...	You will also want to make sure the heat vents are open and clear of obstructions, if the warm air has nowhere to go it will not flow properly.
How do I replace oven insulation that has been soiled by mice and smells bad? We've had mice work their way into the oven insulation of our standalone range and now it stinks when we turn the oven on. Looking around on the web suggests that replacing the oven is the most common solution, but that seems extreme! Any s...	Look for a restaurant supplier in your area or a Viking dealer to get a competent tech to do the work and bite the bullet and have it fixed right.
Can a flat and level roof be waterproof? I would like to build a 6 x 8 ft playhouse with a deck covering the top. Is there a kind of roofing material that can (1) withstand a floating deck, (2) is DIY friendly (no blowtorches, hot asphalt, or custom pouring), (3) is reasonably cheap, and (4) will keep the water out ev...	Liquid EPDM rubber is designed to use on flat roofs.
How can I prevent an outside lock from freezing? I store a bunch of the "outside stuff" in the shed for the winter. Mainly things that I only use when the weather is warmer. It pretty much remains locked up for the winter. Occasionally though, I have to run out there to get something in mid winter, and the lock is a...	You might want to look for a lock that has a metal shield over the area where you insert the key to prevent water from getting inside.
How do I avoid stripping paint off of my walls with painters tape? I put that painters tape on the edges by the ceiling and cut in next to it (overlapping the tape with the paint somewhat). A couple of hours later, I pull the tape, and small sections of paint come off with it. How do I avoid this? Is it sufficient to...	Simple use a all-in-one paint tool (or a putty knife) with a damp cloth (i use old t-shirts) pulled tight over the edge, then scrape away the paint that got on the opposing wall. This may sound more difficult, but with a little practice it's not hard to master. As already mentioned, most pros don't use tape.
What's a good cheap sander to sand the ends of wooden blinds? I need to sand down some wooden blinds because they are about a millimeter too wide for the old window frames they are going into. I'm trying to figure out a cheap and easy way to sand down about 6 sets of these blinds. Does anyone know of a good cheap san...	A hand held belt sander will work OK, you will just have to clamp the wood down and hold the sander off the edge, it will be harder to keep it square. As 'cheap' is one of the requirements -- I'd probably go with a random orbit or even just a vibrating palm sander.
How do I lift a fitted carpet without damaging it? We recently bought a house and had a bit of work done rewiring and re-plumbing everywhere. Carpets were fitted around the house before we moved in. However, we have recently noticed in our spare room (after shifting some of the crap sitting there) that not all of the...	( Word of warning: when pushing the carpet back down on the tack strip, use a board to push it down, the tacks on the strip routinely go through the carpet and it hurts like all get out if it suddenly jams into your fingertip)
How do you determine how much electricity is used by a device? How does one go about determining how much electricity is used for a particular device? Where can I find the wattage ratings, and how do I calculate the cost based on my current electricity rates found on my monthly bill? Specifically, I have a computer t...	If you want to find out the real numbers for your setup, you can purchase a power usage meter (e.g. Kill-a-watt ).
What should I do with old furnace filters? I seem to be stock piling used furnace filters, are there any uses for these things once the furnace is done with them? It seems a shame to throw them out; given that I change them once a month, there must be some way to prevent all this waste. This might be a bit off-topic...	I just made a replacement filter for my shop-vac using a 20X20X1 standard furnace filter.
What should I do with an old, unused septic tank in my yard? I have a septic tank in my yard that is no longer used. Can I leave it there? Should I remove it? Fill it with something? I'm not entirely sure of the building material used to construct it; I assume whatever was the customary materials in the pacific NW ...	You'll have to check codes, but I believe the usual procedure is to fill them with something like sand - since it's a septic tank, and since (I presume)
How do I find the source of the water leaking through the ceiling? I live in Minnesota in a single story rambler with full basement. In an upstairs corner bedroom I started noticing some water leaking in the closet ceiling a week or two ago (picture is current, it started much smaller). We've had a record amount of ...	The insulation may have been soaked before you got a chance to clear the roof. If there's significant moisture in the air, it's possible that it's simply condensing on the coldest surfaces it can find. I'd try to get the insulation away from the roof-line, especially if you have soffit vents.
How do I reconnect a ceiling fan light chain? A recent pull of a ceiling fan light chain caused the chain and its connector to came completely out. Is there an easy way to reconnect the chain? Does the electricity need to be turned off completely to avoid a risk of electrical shock? <Q> If the chain is broken inside ...	If it is pulled completely out of the pull switch, then you will have to remove the wire nuts and switch and get a replacement, usually available at any hardware store.
What's the best way to terminate plastic water supply pipe? I am removing a bathroom fixture that was attached to this cold water supply line: I need to plug the pipe so it doesn't spray water when I turn it back on. Previously it had this fitting: I tried this cap, but it leaked quite a bit. I searched through m...	Look for a cap that fits inside the pipe
Why is water leaking near my bathroom's exhaust fan? This weekend when the snow started melting on my roof, I noticed a small water spot developing around all three bathroom exhaust fans in my house. I'm guessing the water leaked in around the exhaust fan flashing on the roof and ran down the pipe. Is there another po...	You may have condensation running down the vent pipes into the fans; given how a vent pipe attaches to the back of a fan, the condensation will tend to run to the side(s) of the fan fixtures. The person above who mentioned a condensation trap is right on the money.
Are new "low noise" whole house fans actually quieter? I've dealt with a number of older whole house fans (10 years and older) and the one thing they all had in common was a ton of noise. Are the new "low noise" fans actually that much quieter than the old fans, and should one expect a premium price for a quiet whole ...	I can't speak to how much better the "low noise" fans are than the old ones, but I have an old one and really don't notice the noise much. Some manufacturers have incorporated ECM (electronically commutated motor) technology into whole house fans.
How do I level a pipe with the ground? I have a drain made of PVC pipe on my back porch. The PVC pipe sticks up from the concrete about an inch or so. What is the best way to cut the pipe down so that it will be level with the concrete? What tools do I need? <Q> But before cutting it you might want to figure out wha...	One of those oscillating tools would be perfect for this. Take a 12" hacksaw blade out of the hacksaw itself, press it flat against the floor and start sawing.
Why is there water in my washing machine barrel some time after a load? I have a frigidaire front load washing machine, and we are finding a few inches of water in the barrel after running a load, but not right away -- it takes at least 1/2 an hour before the water appears in the barrel. I can empty it quickly by runn...	What was actually happening is the water was flowing from the drain hose back into the washer. Shut off the supply valve after the final spin cycle is complete.
Troubleshooting a garage door/opener that "catches" and re-opens when wet My garage door and opener work reasonably well most of the time -- hot weather or cold. Sometimes when it rains, though, the door "catches" a little bit, at about 2 feet from the ground, and it is enough to cause the opener to stop and re-raise ...	2) Check the bracket that attaches the wheels to the garage door. The electronics inside the openerthat detect a jam may bemalfunctioning.
How do I cut and cap copper water tubing cheaply and safely? In my basement I have copper water pipes that look like they hooked up to an old shower. Now they don't hook up to anything. I want to prune these pipes where they come off the main water line (so I can put a deep freezer in their place) but I've never done...	If you really can't face the thought of soldering the joints then you can get push fit end caps that work very well.
How do I put up a roof ladder? What is a safe process for getting a roof ladder on and off the roof? <Q> Ok Walker, here's the scoop. <S> beg, borrow or rent two extension ladders, ladder jacks and a walking pick. <S> (wide plank that fits into ladder jacks). <S> This will form a stable staging a few of feet below the ...	If you tie it to the end of your rope, and if someone helps guide it from the extension ladder, you should be able to pull it up with the rope.
Will an exhaust fan made for ceilings work in a wall instead? Does anyone know whether a bathroom exhaust fan designed to be installed in a ceiling would have any problems if installed in a wall instead? From a mechanical, ball bearings, noise perspective. Not a space perspective. <Q> In my experience, most decent exha...	In some case the shaft may even rub against the plastic body if gravity is not holding it in the correct running location. If your fan is described as a ceiling mount only, it is probably one of many inexpensive units that use plastic bushings instead of sealed bearings. The worse case scenario is that you may have to ...
Can I build a garbage chute that connects the garage for residential use? My current home has the kitchen adjoining to the garage. Most of the really smelly garbage is generated in the kitchen. The big garbage can and recycling bins live in the garage. Is there an appropriate sealed, insulated chute or hatch that wou...	To address possible fumes and fire rating issues, just use a wooden door at the chute bottom with a couple layers of sheet rock on the inside to increase the fire-rating to 1-hr burn (look up how many sheets, thickness) and again use a spring-loaded hinge that closes it, it will open when a bag of garbage drops onto it...
Any recommendations for smoke detectors with wireless remote alarms? I would like to put a smoke detector in my attached garage and barn, with a wireless/remote signal with a a receiver inside the house. So far I have found this one I am assuming that with that one, you buy some number of them (maybe 2 or 3 in m...	I have First Alert Onelink in my home.
How should I go about leveling my basement floor? My house is from the 1920s, with a poured concrete foundation and floor in the basement. The floor dips pretty noticeably downward from the foundation walls towards a drain near one end of the basement. I don't think there's been any significant settling, I think this i...	You could build out a platform and shim it up as you describe.
What do I do with a leaky roof in the middle of January? I removed the ceiling Sheetrock and insulation during a bathroom remodel in my master bathroom on the 2nd floor of my house. I have snow on the roof that is melting and I found two small drips coming from the roof. I can see black decayed plywood that is bowed in...	Don't put off the roof work for a full seasonal cycle tho, or you may find your newly remodeled bathroom drenched next winter. Replace the whole thing at once and do the structural work that is necessary.
How do I fix a door frame that my dog chewed? My dog chewed the bottom part of the doorframe to my bedroom. I live in a rented apartment, so this is not OK. Is there any way to fix it and make it look somewhat presentable (doesn't have to be perfect)? How do I find a matching frame? How do I match the paint? Upda...	The tools that you would need are a Sheetrock knife to separate the molding from the wall without damaging the existing paint or drywall. The other option would be to find similar trim at the store and replace the damaged piece.
Rust spots on water heater -- time to replace? So I noticed today there's some rust spots showing up on the outside/bottom on the water heater. No more than a couple specs. Should I be worried? <Q> Most water heaters have an inner tank surrounded by an insulation material surrounded by the outer shell. <S> If it is t...	If you haven't been replacing the rods (and are long past-due), or if the water heater is old, replacement might be necessary. So depending on where the rust spots are located you may not need to worry about them at all.
When would a paint-roller be considered "worn out"? I am in the middle of a lengthy project that involved numerous skills, one of which is painting panels of wood. I've got a roller and tray, but this is the first time I have had my own painting equipment to look after. How do experienced painters tell when the roller ...	After using a roller enough times it will start to leave more of a textured look than a smooth clean coating.
What products should I use to add sound insulation to a party wall? My bedroom shares a wall with my neighbours bathroom and I would like to add some sound proofing to my side of the wall. Can anyone recommend any particular products? The wall is brick and does not have a cavity. Ideally I want to lose as little space...	Adding some 1x2 or 2x2 framing and a layer of drywall will dramatically decrease the sound transfer. There is a product known as green glue which may help in your situation.
How can I stop Lego bricks from falling in to a register? My kids like to play with Lego bricks on the floor, and sometimes a small piece will fall in to a heating register. Sometimes I can pull them out, but usually they fall too far, and there are sharp edges that like to draw blood. Is there something I can do to b...	I like the idea of a smaller grate, but make life easy and get some regular fiberglass screen material at the hardware store and wrap the register cover with it and reinstall the cover.
How can I protect my kids' toes from this evil grating in the floor? The cold air return in this house is in the floor, in the most-trafficked part of the house. It has a heavy grating over it. My kids' toes are small enough to fit in the gaps, which is very painful when it happens. In the summer I cover the grating ...	Check out the fabric dept at Wally World, bet you can find what you need for a couple of bucks. One thought because my 10yo daughter plays outside in the street a lot is the more your kids run around barefoot, the tougher their feet will be and the grating may not bother them as much when they step on it.
How should I tile under kitchen cabinets? I currently have tile on the floor of the kitchen that just butts up to my cabinets. I plan to change the floors and also change the cabinets. Is is best to rip out all the cabinets and tile, and then tile the entire floor? Afterwards, install the cabinets on top of the tile....	If you're going for the 'european style' (what Ikea refers to as a 'free-standing kitchen' , you need to fully tile first, as it'll be visible once the cabinets are installed.
How should I level (flatten) ceiling joists for drywall? My kitchen ceiling joists are old and at varying heights. I'm trying to make it level, or at least flat, in preparation for drywall installation. Would you suggest installing strips of wood to the side of the joists or stacked to the bottom of the joists in order...	We used steel studs which are comprised of two pieces but we just used one piece (half) of the studs and screwed them to the existing joists.
Is there hard-water deposits inside the pipes in my house? I have a fairly new home, built in 2007, in Arizona. I noticed today that most of the faucets in our house are starting to get hard water deposits on them where the water is coming out. It got me thinking, the pipes must have similar build-ups, and it can't be ...	Your pipes shouldn't have deposits on them because the sediment will build-up on the bottom of the tank when it is being heated (the change in temperature and stagnation are the main reasons for the sediment falling out of solution -- neither of which happens in pipes,) and it shouldn't go out of the top.
Where should I start laying nail down hardwood flooring and how do I make it straight? I'm planning to install tongue and groove hardwood flooring in my living room, dining room, kithcen, hallway, and powder room. The longest unbroken length of floor runs from the front bay of the house (living room) all the way throug...	First, remember to lay your wood perpendicular to the floor joists.
Is there an easy way to make a square hole in plaster/brick to put an electrical outlet box in? I am about to fix a few new sockets, I can run the cables down the back of some built in cupboards, but would rather not use surface mounted sockets. I do not have a SDS drill, just a standard hammer drill. <Q> A Fein Mult...	If you are going to decorate after, it may be easiest to just use a chisel and hammer to cut out a bit more than needed, fit the box, then re-plaster around the outlet box. Some bricks randomly need more persuasion than most. Then clean up the corners.
How can I protect my hands when using power tools? When doing many DIY projects there's a strong need to protect hands against cutting by sharp part edges. Gloves seem a natural solution. However recently I was mounting a countertop and wearing gloves and I needed to drill a hole in the countertop surface. I held my h...	Give me a good pair of properly fitting leather rigger's gloves any day. The wearing of gloves can be a terrible idea when using many power tools. Use a push stick or block on table saws. I use proper push blocks and hold downs where appropriate.
What software should I use to visualize a major renovation? We are going to make major changes in our new apartment (remove walls, construct new walls, new windows, new doors, new kitchen, new bathrooms, paint, fake ceiling, new furniture etc.). Where do I find a good software to visualize the changes, preferable in 3...	I'd probably try Sketchup, but several years ago, I used 3-D Home Architect. Sketchup might seem a little intimidating at first, but it is very easy to learn and use.
What kind of bulb should I use for a recessed can? I just installed a Halo 5" IC remodel recessed can with the 5000P open trim. I installed a 15W R30 CFL bulb, and it hangs down about an inch below the trim. Not very recessed! I have the trim configured properly for R30. I'd like a bulb that won't hang down past th...	You might look for incandescent bulbs of the proper type.
How should I add lighting to a low ceiling basement? I have a basement ceiling that's around 6'6" high and currently the lights are standard bulb outlets that are attached to the beams so they sit down at eye level in the room. This means when you're walking around you tend to accidentally back up into exposed lightbul...	The solutions to lighting rooms with low ceilings is often to use indirect lighting around the periphery of the room.
How do I use 'surface shims' to level out a sloping floor? Asked a question about leveling my floor here earlier this week, and one of the options suggested sounded appealing, but didn't contain enough detail for me (a not-too-handy, not-very-experienced-with-home-repair guy) to move forward on: Assuming jacking is...	You'll need to secure your shims and make sure they are all level before you try to lay plywood over them. Cut these to the smaller purlin dimension, that will be fine. Leveling individual points across a large area is not something that is easy to do. This process is actually quite easy and doesn't require any advance...
What is the proper wiring for a NEMA 14-30 240v receptacle? We moved into a resale home, the previous owners had a Gas Dryer, we have an Electric.The laundry room has a NEMA 14-30 receptacle installed. I hooked up our brand new dryer and it didn't get power. Went to the Panel and checked the breaker, 30AMP Double Pol...	If the ohm meter reads 0 ohms, or the continuity checker beeps, then you have found the correct wires. To find the "loose" wire a tone generator/probe is very handy. As a side benefit to fixing this you've also made your home safer: using a 30-amp breaker to supply current to a 15- or 20-amp circuit is a major fire haz...
Is there a wall outlet power meter that I can interface with from a computer? I'm wondering if there is a wall outlet power meter that I can somehow interface with from a computer. I'm aware of all the google power meter products, but those are for an entire house. I'm trying to measure the electricity usage of a singl...	If you're willing to do a little modification, you can use a Kill-A-Watt and hook it up to your computer.
How to get sink off of countertop? We are getting new countertops, and we need to remove the sink before they install them. The sink is attached with a hardened glue. We can't seem to get the sink off without bending the metal. How can I get the sink off? <Q> First check and make sure that you have removed any fasten...	Take Dremel multi tool and run the scrapper attachment around the sink while applying pressur between sink and formica to remove it. A heat gun or hair dryer may also be able to soften the adhesive.
How should I deal with an animal in the attic? My tenants tell me that they hear an animal (possibly a raccoon) in the attic. This is an old (1880s) three story row house with a flat roof and a pretty low (2 ft average, maybe) attic. The house was totally renovated 10 years ago and I'm not very familiar with the atti...	Also, raccoon hunting season ends January 31, but shooting them inside the attic is perhaps out of the question. :) court is to hire a pro. Animals carry lots and lots of nasty things, not just rabies (as if that isn't bad enough). If you trap it you risk injury, if you poison it then at some point you have to remove t...
Should I agree to have more insulation added to my attic? I have a 6 year old home with about 12 inches (R-30) of blown-in insulation in the attic. Recently door-to-door sales representatives for an insulation company offered a free inspection and quote to add additional insulation. The pitch was that the R-value at th...	Adding more insulation to your R30 is not a bad idea, however I have a few questions for you. I would also seek quotes from a couple of reputable energy conservation/insulation contractors in your area. First off, there is no "code" requirement that would mandate adding insulation to a 6 year old house.
Should I pursue building my own wind turbine? The area where I live suffers heavy power outages (in fact the whole country does!!) so I am considering building one of those wind turbines (with PVC pipes) but am not sure whether it's windy enough here for it to run (A Google result says its just 1.8m/s). So, is this pro...	You can build inexpensive small turbines for the wind portion but the battery tends to be the expensive part of the setup.
How do you bend a sheet a drywall into a curve? How do you bend a sheet a drywall into a curve? I tried wetting the back surface with a paint roller, letting it soak for 30 minutes, then scoring the back paper in parallel lines about an inch apart where I wanted the curve. When I screwed it to the studs, though, one of...	You could also do it the old way, with wet plaster. There are flexible drywall panels , though I've never seen them in the stores.
Why is there so much metal-clad wiring in my house? My house was built in 1893. I was recently doing some electrical work in the attic, adding some light fixtures. While doing that, I noticed that several of the upstairs outlets were wired with old, worn-looking metal clad wiring. Since I wanted to replace the outlets ...	Rodents DO in fact chew through wiring insulation that could either lead to circuit failure or fires. If you live in the Chicago area, "Romex" or nonmetallic cable has never been permitted. The flexible armored wire you are seeing is often referred to as AC or BX cable. While there may well be "no codes requiring it in...
How do I remake my floor using hardwood such that it will not squeak at all? I have carpet in my bedroom that when you walk on certain spots makes lots of noise. I am tossing the carpet and putting down hardwood flooring. I am using 3/4 in prefinished oak in widths of 3 1/4 inch. I dont want my shiny new floor to be s...	Another way to eliminate the squeaking would be to add screws to the subfloor-to-joist mounting that is already there. Also, adding finish nails at opposing angles (in a "V" shape) over the squeky area can help.
Why is my Lennox g40uh series furnace not turning on? I have a Lennox g40uh series furnace and it just stopped working today. I can reset the furnace and can see that on the control board both LEDs (green and red) are blinking together which indicates the furnace is operating correctly. I can also hear a small click wh...	What ended up fixing the problem was cleaning off some build up on the flame sensor (for me, a short metal rod that sticks into the middle of the pilot light).
How do I secure a canvas garage? I picked up one of those cheap canvas garages from Costco, to keep a few things out of the weather. It's 10' wide, 20' long, and maybe 11' high at the peak. Our area is a bit prone to windstorms. I'm in the woods, so it's largely protected from the wind, but I still want to make sure i...	After assembling the structure we ran eight lengths of stainless steel cable under the beams and up over the first row frame cross bracing as added wind protection.
How can I fireproof a room? I have a need to build a room that is resonably fire resistant. I have played around the thought of adding fire resistant panels underneath the dry wall, but if they heat up too much, they themselves with catch anything behind them on fire. The room is in the basement, so the floor is on the...	Perhaps you should also look into a fire suppression system--not sure what the initial source of flame is (what might be burning other than building components), but sprinkler heads tied to a detector might be a good idea. Add a double layer of Type X drywall, along with a fire rated door.
How do I seal my baseboards from drafts? Some rooms in my house have a pretty bad draft along the edge of the floor, where it meets the outside walls. But I am less than thrilled (to put it mildly) about the prospect of ripping out carpeting and moldings just to seal the draft. Is there any simpler solution out there? ...	There is really no quick fix to a problem like this. Installed higher grade insulation as well.
What are the main options for fastening MDF to MDF? I am interested in building boxes and cabinets from 3/4" MDF (I know, I could buy plywood. Bear with me.) What are the main types of screws and fasteners I can use to do this? I am aware of glue serrated screws drywall screws confirmat screws pocket holes b...	I generally use Course thread dry-wall screws - because I feel they bite and pull MDF the best.
How bad is it to have wet insulation? With this recent blizzard we recently saw our ceiling lighting fixture leaking water (slow, about 1 drop every 5 minutes) I got up in the attic and saw that some snow had been apparently blown into the attic through one of the vents. I removed about 2 handfuls of snow from on top ...	If your insulation is damp, chances are good it could freeze or stay damp for a while. If not too much is involved, it would be a good idea to remove it to a warm place to dry out, or simply replace it.
How often would a chest freezer need to be defrosted in a very humid tropical area? Approximately how often would a chest freezer need to be defrosted if I live in an area that has a very high relative humidity and dew point. Relative Humidity: 73%Dew Point: 70 degrees I read on the web that most people need to defro...	It depends on how often the freezer is opened and if it has any air leaks, you can go forever without having to defrost if the freezer is never opened and does not have any air leaks.
How do you insulate your pipes to protect against freezing? So, my pipes froze in my house today, and it made me realize that I should better insulate them for the rare days that it gets in the teens here... What should I do to insulate them? <Q> Something like this foam pipe insulation should do the job: Source - U...	As well as straight lengths of pipe insulation, you can also get insulated pipe wrap, which may be easier or harder to use in some situations.
How many "zones" should my underfloor heating system have? We're putting underfloor heating in our new apartment. On top will be a wooden floor for most of the apartment, stone/tiles in bathrooms and probably also in part of kitchen. The constructor said that three zones would be enough: Red zone (office and dining...	In this case I think your contractor has given you good advice. Independently actively controlled zones with their own timers and thermostats are only of value to the extent that you will control them , also the common advice for well insulated (new) homes is that you don’t save much by only heating some rooms.
How much clearance is required around a kitchen island? How much space should at least be around a kitchen island? <Q> So enough room for two people to stand side by side across the gap or pass comfortably. <S> If you have to cater for people with mobility problems you will probably need to make this gap wider to accom...	42" is my personal requirement. Ideally, there should be enough room for a person to get by while there is someone standing at the island working.
Is there such thing as a 4-way dimmer? I have a 4-way switch I want to replace with a dimmer. I understand I can put the dimmer at one of the other 3-way switches, but they're more out of the way. Does such a device exist? If not, what are my other options? <Q> Have a look at some of the remote control systems for lig...	If you want to control a particular light that wasn't originally wired up as a three-way, its easy to do.
Is it safe to use heat tape on a drain line (p-trap)? Background/Problem: The p-trap for a drainage line (PVC) from one of my showers happens to be outside the house in an area that isn't protected from the cold/wind (yeah, I know) so when it freezes outside the water in the trap tends to block the drainage and back up...	Heat tape will work fine, it doesn't get hot enough to melt things.
What is the best way to condition and protect a hardwood floor under heavy use? We rent an old house with hardwood floors and the area under one of our office chairs is now brittle and dull. What are our options for conditioning and/or protecting the wood (especially to prevent splinters)? We would prefer to do this ...	you can use office chair casters for hardwood floors, they are made of a soft Polyurethane material and they protect the wood floors, any ways I recommend to clean them every few weeks because the dust stick to the rubber and that can produce scratches on the floor. Nothing like a conditioning of the wood is going help...
Contractor suggests caulking cracks in chimney, is that the right solution? The mortar in our 25-year-old chimney is starting to crack and now leaks into our home if it rains hard. I assume we're probably in need of repointing, but a contractor that has done roof work for us before says that caulking in some silicon i...	You need to get the brickwork properly repointed. Never even think of using silicone-based compounds for anything like a chimney unless they are specifically declared to be fireproof.
How can I mask water damaged ceiling drywall with faux painting? My tub upstairs leaked a large portion of water directly above the middle of the kitchen ceiling. The ceiling drywall doesn't have a hole in it, and the paint isn't bubbling. However after I fixed the leak and dried the ceiling I noticed the drywall had b...	To seal water spotting or other stains on drywall, use a pigmented shellac primer such as BINS Bullseye. I'd doubt that any sort of cover-up will be satisfactory.
Why did my electric bill climb suddenly? So we had a little mishap a couple of months ago involving some flooding. We had some folks come in and "dehydrate" our house. It involved lots of fans running for a couple of weeks. We expected the electric bill to be very high that month. But it has continued to be high ev...	So for a small fee get together with your neighbours who are also receiving higher than normal bills, hire a qualified electrician to inspect the ceiling area for illegal wiring jobs. You might ask your electric utility if they have been getting meter readings every month or if they have been estimating.
What is the difference between an impact driver and an impact wrench? Obviously impact drivers and impact wrenches are designed for different purposes, but since they both work on the same principle is there some overlap? Is a small cordless impact wrench just a slightly scaled-up version of a cordless impact driver, w...	There are manual impact drivers and there are electric impact drivers.
Adding insulation to basement that already has vapor barrier I have leftover insulation from doing my basement, little bits and pieces. In between the joists on my basement ceiling it is insulated with vapour barrier already from when the house was built. Will condensation form if I put all the extra pieces against t...	If you put insulation on the wrong side of your barrier, the moisture will form in the insulation, and as Shirlock said, if you create TWO layers of barrier, you create a potential moisture trap.
Gas heater not turn on, but fan-only still works when switched on from thermostat my up-level heating system (gas heater) stopped working if the thermostat is at auto; fan can be on without warm air if switch the thermostat to ON from Aotu. Is this a thermostat problem or heat pump? <Q> My first guess would be that th...	It may be a problem with the limit switch on the furnace or something like that.
Is there a way to simply splice in an additional length of 12/2 NM-B cable? Is there a way without using junction boxes to simply splice in additional length of 12/2 NM-B cable? Can I use twist caps? I'm putting in a dog door and as it so happens, there is some 12/2 right in the way of the location I've chosen. There'...	These aren't dummy-proof enough for concealing except in extremely limited situations, that do not include J-boxless cable extensions. If the connection is poor enough, this could generate enough heat to create a hazard. Splices have to be in a box, and there must be access to the box. The NEC says that all electrical ...
How can I stop a desk from vibrating when I type? Yesterday I finished building a corner desk for my home office. I have no previous experience with woodworking, but I thought it would be a fun project. The end result is actually pretty good, the desk looks nice and is very close to what I was expecting. Here are a cou...	You might also try some diagonal bracing, as a little give in any of the bolted holes will allow some pretty significant movement at the feet. A better way is to deconstruct the desk, and put thin rubber washers at every point where you have joined the steel support frame to the tabletop.
What to do with an apartment with only 2-pronged outlets I just rented an apartment (Colorado, for what it's worth RE code) that has 2-pronged outlets throughout the place except for two GFCI's, one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen. I bought the $.30 2->3 adapter and screwed that extension piece of metal into t...	You can mitigate the effects by keeping related equipment close together to minimize the amount of electrical wire between them (like plugging them into the same duplex receptacle) but, depending on exactly what equipment you have, you may still run into problems.
Why won't my AC system turn off after I flipped the breaker? We've got a central cooling air conditioner that was installed in 1984 with a thermostat from that same year. We are replacing the thermostat with a new programmable one (which has a 100% compatibility guarantee). Following the instructions from Home Depot I...	There might also be a breaker in your meter box protecting the unit in addition to the main breaker for your house.
best way to install a flat wall fixture on a sightly curved wall In our rental property, the kitchen walls are all ever so slightly curved (as are a lot of walls in our house) We want to put up a knife magnet. Obviously we are keen for this not to be wobbly in any way as this could lead to the blades falling, not good...	A more difficult solution would be to "hollow" out the back side of the board using either sand paper or a saw, to fit the contour of the wall.
How do I make a fake rock finish for a water feature? I would like to create basin for a water feature. It would look really cool if it can have a fake rock finish. How would I go about creating it? What material would be recommended, I have seen a couple for sale and it seems to be made of fibre glass. I can buy...	There are several types of silicone molds that can be filled with regular concrete.
How can I temporarily soundproof my apartment ceiling? Currently I'm living in an apartment that has poor soundproofing. My upstairs neighbors get up at 4:30 am to go to work. They have two dogs. So there's a lot of noise between 4:30 am and 5 am. Like any sane person, I don't want to wake up at 4:30 am. I've had man...	A permanent solution would be to add a false ceiling of "sound proof" plasterboard with possibly additional sound absorbing material between it and the real ceiling.
What size of ceiling joists should I use We started remodeling the 2nd floor this last fall, starting with a spare bedroom, but between our day jobs and the holidays, we ran out of time, stopping short of dry-walling - the room is sealed and insulated but it's still "open". After we had gutted the room, we noticed tha...	Also if you add more load to the roof (such as additional insulation, more drywall, etc) you need to know that whatever it is resting on (probably the same walls as the 2x4s) can take the extra load. In the UK you would need to submit your plans to “building reg” to get them approved then pay building regs to make a fe...
How do I prevent ice stalagmites from building up on the furnace exhaust? I have a high efficiency furnace that exhausts via a pvc pipe out the side of the house, the trouble is the moisture from the exhaust forms an ice stalagmite in my driveway in the cold weather. Are there ways to prevent this ice from building up...	If sags develop in the exhaust pipe, condensate moisture will pool in the low spots, creating enough blockage in the vent to trigger a shut-down. Incorrect sizing of the exhaust pipe. Install J hook/eye bolt above exhaust pipe. Fill container with salt.
How can I keep a rug from moving? Not sure if this is the right place for this question but.... I have a rug that is about 15x20 feet. My problem is that every three weeks or so I need to take everything that is on top of it (coffee table, couch legs, entertainment center etc) off and straighten it out because it eit...	I have used a carpet liner or pad to keep a rug from sliding. There are many types, but I recommend natural fiber that is colored the same color as your carpet underneath.
What is a good way to cat-proof (or child-proof) kitchen cabinets? Our 6-month-old kitten has figured out how to reliably open kitchen cabinets at floor-level, by standing on his hind legs and grabbing the knob. What are some good ways to make it harder for him to get these doors open wide enough for him to walk in an...	A simple, no-modification approach that may work for you is to put rubber bands on pairs of knobs, thereby holding two doors closed. There are magnetic knobs that require you to place a magnet over the catch before it's released.
How can I make a bedroom with lots of windows darker? I'm moving into a gorgeous new house with one wrinkle: my bedroom has two full walls of windows, plus skylights. Most of the day, this is great, but at night, I really want it dark where I sleep. I am coming up with a few options, all of them mediocre, and thought ...	Having custom-fitted blackout blinds might be worthwhile, even if it's just for the bedroom. no fancy, automatic opening things, just plain, simple, curtains. It may solve your problem (if you can tolerate it) and is by orders of magnitude the cheapest solution…
What could cause the water from melting snow off a roof to be yellow? I noticed today that there is a nice long yellow line of snow below my eaves. It stretches for several yards, and seems to have been caused by the melt coming from our roof. Aside from thousands of squirrels having urinated on my roof (doubtful) wh...	So sounds like either leaching from the asphalt under the roof, or could be soot from a wood stove (or fireplace possibly) if you or a neighbor has one.
How do I smooth out spray paint drips on a metal monitor stand? I purchased this monitor stand . However, I did not like the color. So I sprayed painted it semi-gloss black with this spray paint . Suffice to say, I'm not very handy. It ended up un-smooth on the curved edges because of paint drips. How should I go ab...	Once it's smooth enough for you, you can polish with rubbing compound, et al to get the gloss back up. Wet sand the runs w/ 400 to remove as much of the runs and drip accumulation you can. Move smoothly and fairly quickly across the area, then go past the end of the work before stopping the spray.
Is my shower drain leaking under the slab? My wife & I renovated our master shower a couple years ago. About three months ago, we noticed the baseboards in the guest bathroom (on the other side of the wall from the master bath) were getting water damage (similar to how they were getting damaged a couple years ago, thu...	Obviously it is a leak where the drain opening and tile meet, the seal is somehow bad.
Why is our brand new dishwasher not draining? So, some background on this issue first... our old dishwasher seemed to work fine when we first moved into this house, but within the last year it started having a drainage issue. Water would be left standing in the bottom of the dishwasher after the cycle finished which w...	The flexible drain hoses tend to collect grease over time, and will eventually cause the hose to become completely blocked.

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