Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

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What is the difference between R20 and PAR20 lightbulbs? Are they compatible? What do R and PAR prefixes represent in general? Important decision, need to buy several replacement lightbulbs! <Q> According to this site : R20 bulbs have reflectors that direct light forward and produce more narrow soft-edged beam th...	PAR20 bulbs control light more precisely and produce more concentrated light than R20.
How do I add insulation to my attic? I'm pretty sure my attic needs some additional insulation (it looks pretty sparse and my house is freezing!). Here are some images of my attic: http://imgur.com/a/pdsXF Two questions: There is some existing blown-in insulation (looks like the recycled kind), can I lay down b...	Since it appears the insulation you already have is near the top, you won't see a huge gain in efficiency if you add just another inch or two of blown insulation.
How to finish room with protruding concrete ledge/foundation? I am finishing a basement room and have a concrete ledge which is part of the foundation. It protrudes into the room about 2.5 inches and is about 6 inches high. This ledge is the result of a particular way of pouring the foundation which results (as I am to...	Since the pine will be 3/4 inch thick on the wall, then you have just an extra bump out around the base, with a piece of molding on top of the cement "step" to hide it. I'd start with either a bench seat on part of the perimeter, essentially built-in storage, or a higher cabinet.
How do I run cable through my ceiling? I have a cable that I need to run through the ceiling. I'd like to go under the floor, but I have a split level house, and this is the lower floor, so I don't believe there is room in the bottom half of the wall to run cable. Here's the situation in the ceiling. I think I have a ...	I think I'd look for the outside spliter and run the cable around the outside of the house under the edge of the siding and try to enter as close as possible through the wall behind the TV. There will be a lot of drywall repair needed, and be very hard to match that textured ceiling, not to mention the mudding and pain...
Does wardrobe/closet need doors? I was always told to let the wardrobe doors open sometimes, so "let the air circulate". And I wonder, does the wardrobe actually need to have doors? What would be the problems (other them visual) of let it always open? <Q> The main reason for having doors that I can think of is that UV ...	Having doors also will help to some degree with smells from cooking or smoking.
How can I clean sticky and dirty hand tool's rubber? I have a hand tool - Needle-nose plier that had a rubber that is used as the handle. Currently, I managed to clean up all the rust on the metal and would like to clean up the rubber handle as it is sticky and dirty. Should I use baking soda mixed with a little water...	Rubber can usually be de-gunked with a good dishwashing liquid and a brush.
Why is a single walled pipe not used for wood stove exhaust pipe on upper floors? I've recently been looking into wood burning stoves. Many installations use a stove pipe that goes straight up through the ceiling and out the roof. Most of these use a single walled pipe for the first room (the room containing the stove...	You have to use double walled pipe when going through walls and floors and what not because the double wall and the space between the pipes cools enough that it can come in contact with wall materials. As soon as the flue exits the room, be it wall or ceiling, there must be a thimble or ceiling support box that transit...
Should I be concerned about the repair to a ceiling after water damage? We're in the middle floors of an apartment building and have had some damage done to our bathroom ceiling around the manhole due to some leaking pipes (minor rupture so there was a bit of water). The damage is most visible around the manhole prima...	Long and short: you should be ok but wait until it is totally dry then apply a lot of stain blocker before painting. The damage look really minor and can be fixed as follows. First, let it dry for up to a month.
What is the best way to repair MDF furniture? Our kitchen is made almost entirely from MDF. We have 1 closet where the hinges have pulled out and several drawers where the screws have pulled out. The MDF around the screws has just been eroded so the screws no longer fix in. What is the best way to fix these screws so...	For holes that are the right shape, but worn, add some wood glue, and screw it back in.
Can I use a motion sensor to control fluorescent lights that are plugged into an outlet? In my garage, the light switch by the door is wired to an outlet on the ceiling. I've got two, inexpensive 4' fluorescent lighting fixtures plugged into that outlet. I know that wiring a fluorescent light to a motion sensor directl...	Motion sensor lights can be purchased at Habitat Re-Stores or other re-use stores for a very low cost. Like this one from Hubbell Building Automation, Inc. .
How can I automatically disconnect a coffee maker and space heater without tripping the building's 20A circuit breaker? My small office has a 20A breaker and we have to run a space heater in the winter or else we freeze to death. Whenever someone turns on the coffee maker, the office circuit breaker trips and everyone'...	If your coffee maker and space heater are in the same location, you could plug them into mutually exclusive switched outlets. Lazy but error prone solution: get a power strip with overload protection included. 15A or 20A can work a 3-way switch cable plug (15A or 20A, to match the recep) fittings Most computer users to...
What is the cause of dishwasher vent leak? My dishwasher has a vent in the top of the door which I suppose is opened during the dry cycle to allow steam/moisture to escape. Recently, after running a load of dishes, when I open the door, about 2-3 oz of water leak from the vent and form a puddle on the floor. What coul...	Water was getting in between the inner panel and the door through the air vent and dripping under the door.
Is there any feasible way to work with live electrical wiring? Possible Duplicate: How do I install an electrical outlet on a live circuit? I remember back in my college days, having a badly damaged outlet plug on a built-in dresser/vanity right above my bed (the face had cracked away exposing the metal contacts f...	Professional electricians work on live circuits all the time.
How can I upgrade a 3 wire appliance receptacle to a 4 wire receptacle? I have a cabin, wired for 220 and even has a sub-breaker near the outlet. There are 3 wires to the connector (two hots and the neutral). The range-top that I want to hook up is a 4-wire model (2 hots, neutral and ground.) When I put a tester's n...	Latest code asks for these to be 4 wires now. Given that there is a breaker near the outlet and assuming the breaker is in a panel and the panel has a ground bar, he should be able to make the receptacle totally compliant by simply running a protected ground wire the short distance to the panel. Most of the high end ho...
Can an incandescent light dimmer be used to dim LED lights? I have two dimmers which control 500 incandescent lights. Now I need to replace the lights with LEDs. Can I use the same dimmers? <Q> I got my son a good brand of LED A lamps that says dimmable. <S> When we use a regular dimmer they dim, but not like a reg...	There are LEDs on the market that can be dimmed and actually a few that will work with a standard dimmer. Go to a good electrical supply store and they can give you accurate information and some different choices.
How should I hang Christmas lights where I don't have any gutters? I finally got around to hanging Christmas lights this year. I bought gutter clips so I wouldn't have to permanently install anything, but I just realized that I don't have gutters along a pitched portion of my roof. The soffit there isn't perforated, so...	Reviewing the area that you would like to put your lightsI would recommend clipping the lights to the shingles withthe clips you are showing.
Why is my dryer taking longer to dry clothes? I know nothing of dryers... but my dryer is taking longer and longer to dry clothes. I've heard this is very common among dryers and I was wondering what it might mean. Is there a specific part I should take a look at? I've heard the lint-catcher thing might need to be w...	Check for a bunch of lint caught up in the vent near the dryer.
Is there a high temperature glue that I can use on a cook top? We have a 1 year old Frigidaire gas range ( This model or a near sibling, purchased from Lowes). The burner grates appear to be painted cast-iron, while the surface below them is a polished and painted metal of some sort. To protect the lower surface fro...	Sugru is a self-curing, food safe plastic that is relatively high heat tolerant.
What could cause the ground wire on my baseboard heater to burn? On the photo below, you can see that the ground wire as burned. Description of what i know: the wire is connected on a 240V line to my baseboard heater the wire seems to be a AWG 14/2 I don't know about the AMP of the wire. I cannot see it. the brea...	If the wire does not break, you could be in much bigger trouble if the wire gets hot enough to start a fire. Typically the ground should not be carrying current, and so should not be heating up. My advice to you, would be to contact a local licensed electrician.
How can I temporarily partition a large open space to create another room? I'm renting a small apartment which has one bedroom, near the front door there is a large open space that could easily be converted to a bedroom/office with the addition of a partition across a wall. Is there a way I can do this without making ...	The curtain / divider is on a rail close to the ceiling. You can get divider screens that are made of several reasonably lightweight panels connected together with hinges (like the IKEA RISÖR ). Rugs were too expensive, so I used colorful jute---a fabric that has a lot of texture.
What do I need to use one winch motor independently on several different cables (for overhead storage)? I'm almost-nearly-started on installing a bunch of motorized ceiling-storage platforms in my garage. I was researching which winch/hoist to buy when I realized that I'd rather not buy one electric winch motor per pl...	Since you don't want to drive all the winches at once, you'd have to devise a way for the axle to spin independently of each gear.
Best way to keep a PEX run in an attic (above a foyer) from freezing? I plan on running PEX pipes both hot and cold across 16 feet of unheated attic space above a foyer. The foyer is 16' long and is off the kitchen, it isn't heated directly but is part of the house; it is usually colder than the rest of the house, most...	Have an indoor water supply cutoff and an indoor pressure relief value on manifold or below manifold to relieve pressure on tubing during deep freezes; simply allowing some of the water lines to drip may not be sufficient; vacuum may prevent all lines from being relieved of pressure. Run the lines under the insulation ...
How to properly wire a ceiling light fixture? I rent an apartment and a tenant installed ceiling fan that was not well secured to the ceiling. I removed the fan and attempted to re-install the original light fixture after he moved out. I am having issues with the wiring. There are 2 black wires and 2 white wires in ...	Figuring out which wires come from the breaker, and which go to the switch will require some tools.
How can I drill a hole in a small stick of wood? I need to make a few arrow shafts hollow, they're about 1/2" thick. Example: There would have to be enough space in the middle to put iron wire in it (the thickness of an old coat hanger) <Q> This sounds like a long pencil with a wire instead of a lead. <S> There ar...	A possible alternative is a special type of drill known as a gun drill that can drill very deep holes.
Which floor should be done first when updating a multi-family residence? I'd like to renovate a 3 family rental property but don't know which floor is best to start on. The house was built in 1896. The electrical was recently updated prior to purchasing it in 2008. The kitchens and bathrooms are in dire need and thi...	I would probably start at the highest floor and work my way down if I didn't want to open up walls in the lower floors after they've been finished. In our house we started on the 1st floor with the kitchen
Can I using a 3-phase connection to power 1-phase AC unit? I have preparation for an AC connection with 3-phase 220V 3X16A breaker. I want to install a 220V 1-phase unit, which also needs a 16A breaker. The physical connection has screw-on terminals, so there is no worry about plug compatibility. I have spoken to 3 el...	In virtually all USA locations, separate uses of each phase allows either breaker setup, while use of all 3 phases on the same device requires the 3-phase common handle breaker.
What options are available to hide a TV in the bedroom? I'm having a wardrobe fitted in the master bedroom of our house, and I'm in a bit of a conundrum as to where I'm going to put the TV. The room itself isn't big, when the wardrobe's fitted it will look something like this: The wardrobe isn't going to be big en...	Alternatively, if you're really adventurous, route the wires through the walls (and/or ceiling). First of all, your TV should NOT be in your bedroom. Then it just needs to be connected to either a pipe or square stick that is then welded to a plate on the ceiling (or goes through the ceiling). Since you're on an exteri...
How do I remove hard deposits from my glass shower door? I have a problem with regards to my frameless glass shower door because I don't usually clean it regularly. What happens is that the lower edge of the glass door is already very cloudy and is very coarse in texture. I tried to use some vinegar and water dipped wi...	Try using straight vinegar, right from a spray bottle. Citric acid is far better at dissolving the calcium-magnesium-soap scum mix than vinegar.
How can I create a platform on my stairs strong enough to support a ladder? I live in a two-story condo and need to reach a spot on the wall high above my staircase to do some handy work. A ladder is the only way I can do this (I am stating this explicitly in order to avoid responses of Well, tell us exactly what you...	If you're using an extension ladder, they sell Ladder leveling feet .
How can I troubleshoot a ceiling fan light kit Issue? I have an issue with my ceiling fan light; the light is on, then eventually over time it starts flickering off and on, eventually over time shutting off. I'll switch the light off, and then switch it back on, but no light. After a little while, I can get the light...	To bypass the device, tie the white wire from the light to the bundle of white wires with the wire nut.
Where can I find plans for building a chicken coop? I was hoping to build a chicken coupe for 3-4 chickens. Does anyone know where I can find some plans (preferably free) for building a decent chicken coop? It doesn't have to be the Taj Mahal, but I don't want it to be an eyesore either. Some key features I'd like ...	There are several online repositories of DIY building plans that have been compiled over the years by agricultural extension services.
How to remove bad smell from rubbish chute? When opening the rubbish chute, there is always a disgusting smell. Is there any way to remove it such that when I open to throw my rubbish, I will not smell it? <Q> There are however some things simple and complex you can do to reduce it. <S> First, you need to clean it an...	To some degree, your garbage chute is always going to smell a bit like garbage. You could set up some sort of fan / blower mechanism that creates negative pressure inside the trash chute.
How do I remove a fish smell from my freezer? Yesterday, the electricity was out for a while and I guess some of the fish in my freezer warmed up and juices started flowing out of its bag and into the vent. Now there is a fishy scent creeping up from the back of the fridge. Is this something I can just wait out or shou...	I once fumigated a roach infested apartment with the refrigerator door open. It should just slide out.
What should go between a wood plank sub floor and a hardwood strip floor I am about to install a hardwood floor into a room in my 1905 farmhouse. The subfloor is 8-12" wide 1" thick planks. The floor I am installing is 2-1/4" prefinished solid hickory tongue and groove. Reading books and web how-tos on this a few ha...	The manufacturer claims superior moisture protection (mainly a factor over slabs), presumably from below. I feel it provides a slick surface for adjusting the flooring during installation. 15# felt (dirty due to tar oozing ) and rosin paper.
What is the purpose of a bathroom exhaust fan? Okay I actually do understand the purpose of the bathroom fan; it gets the steam out of the bathroom after a super hot shower, right? Well turns out I never turn it on. I suppose I don't shower in sauna temperatures. Also we tend to shower with the door open. Or, is ...	Probably the biggest use of a bathroom vent fan is to help keep mold down in bathrooms, especially in humid areas.
fixing stripped screw in soft-wood door frame? Possible Duplicate: How do I rehang a wooden door with worn screw holes? As you can see in the below image, the upper screw holding in the lock plate (name?) has stripped completely out of the crappy soft wood frame. The plate is loose, and the door catches on it furt...	For a quick fix I've had luck breaking off wooden match sticks or toothpicks into the enlarged hole and then screwing into that.
Why is my furnace blower noisy when it starts? The blower of my furnace makes a loud noise every time it starts. I understand that a large fan and the movement of large amounts of air will produce some noise. What I am puzzled by is the noise that sounds like a "starter." The noise only lasts for about a second or two;...	The controller circuit for your furnace (usually a little box to the right of the motor with lights, a reset button, and some wires connected to terminals) is responsible for the operation of your furnace. Maybe you have a belt that is slipping.
Acceptable ground to neutral voltage? First of all I'm pretty sure I know the theory behind the effect. I know about the inductive and capacitive coupling, about 3-phase balance problems and about ground bounce, so this question isn't about normality of existence of voltage between ground and neutral line. What I want...	You should start to examine your wiring, if you measure anything near 3V neutral to ground.
How to tell if a house is equipped for a gas stove I live in a townhouse. My electric range died, so I'm looking to replaec it with a gas stove. But how do I know if the house is already set up with the required pipes, etc.? I suspect that I do have at least the gas tank and some pipes, because I have a gas fireplace....	If you already have gas service or some type of gas distribution in your house, then you can add a stove by having a licensed contractor run a line to your kitchen.
How do I crimp an F-connector onto RG-6 cable? My current home project is putting RG-6 in the walls instead of through the cold-air returns and across the carpet between rooms. Thanks to some forethought during previous remodeling projects, laying the cable and getting it in the walls is the easy part. Right now, I am...	With higher-end cable, the connectors usually go on pretty easily, but I've found some cheaper cable to be a bit stubborn. Never use electrical diagonal cutters or dykes to cut cable.
How can I stop the icemaker on a GE fridge from overflowing water? I have a French door stainless steel GE fridge made by Samsung. The water overflows or splashes out of the icemaker andd then freezes in the ice compartment under the bucket, making it impossible to get out without thawing it. This is an icemaker in the...	I removed the ice maker and used a long screwdriver to make sure that the feed tube had no ice blockage. I realize this is an old question, but for anyone else that comes across this: First thing I would check is the house water pressure.
Should I install hardwood flooring under my kitchen cabinets? I'm doing a total kitchen renovation with solid hardwood flooring. Do I go hardwood all the way under the cabinets to the wall or stop just past the toe kick and finish the rest with ply of the same thickness? <Q> In your situation, using real 3/4" hardwood ...	Since it is much more likely to have some type of cabinet upgrade rather than actually needing to remove the hardwood, I would install the hardwood wall to wall and install cabinets over it.
How do I relight the pilot light on my Magic Chef stove? I have a Magic Chef stove (model: 31203KAW) which is not lighting/igniting. We're using a butane lighter to light the stove-top burners (the gas still flows) but I'm nervous about turning on the oven "just to check" (visions of suicidal housewives are dancing in...	I've got a cooktop with a spark ignition system, and it has a special 'light' setting on the gas control - you turn it to 'light', which turns on the gas and starts the sparker.
Why would an outdoor floodlight only work in test mode? I have a new outdoor floodlight that works in test mode. Adjusting the range works. It turns on when you walk in front of it. But as soon as I switch it to 1 minute, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes... the sensor doesn't work at all. The red light is flashing so I kn...	Another possibility is it may need to be reset, sometimes you can hit the switch three times it will stay on that
What are some methods to get rid of and prevent pink mold in the bathroom? I have some pink mold on the seam where the bathtub connects to my wall tiles. There's also some on the grout on some of my tiles. I've tried to clean them with ajax. It doesn't get it all off. I've also tried to spray the tub and the tiles wit...	Hydrogen peroxide poured directly on the pink grime can be effective at removing it, especially if coupled with light scrubbing with an old toothbrush or sponge), should you wish to use a bleach alternative.
How Do I Power A 220 Water Heater Off Two 110 Breakers First off I know this is not the best idea. To start my 200 Amp Main has suffered a partial failure and as it is old (60s) and unusual it will be very hard or impossible to replace it. Since the main breaker has failed only half of my breakers are working as o...	Residential main panels are inexpensive but there is a bit of labour involved to swap it out, and you usually need a licensed electrician do this work. Using two single pole breakers on one leg will still only give you 120VAC. One could also replace the elements in the hot water heater with 120 volt elements.
How can I locate floor joists? I want to use some stop squeak screws that pull the subfloor tight to the joists, then break off beneath the surface of the floor. I am having a difficult time locating the joists: my stud finder doesn't seem to work very well and I am losing my marbles drilling holes through carpeting a...	You can guesstimate where the joist is, shoot a screw on either side, go underneath and measure where the joist is between the screws, go back up and use the measurement to hit it.
How does Thermal Release Device (TRD) work Rheem hot water heaters have a device in the combustion chamber called Thermal Release Device (TRD). It contains a vial filled with liquid that seems to be mounted in a flex metal plate. It is a safety device that is supposed to trip when the temperature inside the combustion ...	In the case of a water heater, it seems the movable portion is used to block the combustion air from entering the combustion chamber.
Should tiles of "stones" be removed from the backing? We had a stone floor installed in our shower. The stones came on 1' x 1' "sheets". The installer kept the stones on the backing, and now you can clearly see lines in both directions where each 1' section meets. I've seen other showers where the stones are randomly ...	Talk to your installer about selectively removing a few stones here and there along the gridlines, and replacing them with different sizes & shapes to break up the lines. You normally want to leave the stones on the backing as they are much easier to handle and lay like this.
How can I extract rusted/painted outdoor screws? We have an outdoor lamppost that is controlled by a switch from inside. Originally the light was burnt out, so we replaced it, and it started working again, but it blew out the light again. So I'm trying to look at the socket to tighten up and/or replace it, but it's i...	If all else fails, you ought to be able to extract a screw by drilling out or attacking the area around the screw with a chisel. A dremmel tool with grinding or cutting attachments may be a good way to go after this guy.
What tool should I buy to cut through very hard plastic? I have this 55 gallon blue drum that I just picked up from car spa, but the top is not removable. What tool should I buy to remove just the top part of the plastic drum so that I can replace it with a wire mesh? Update: I just looked into the Dremel tool, maybe ...	Best choice is likely a small router with a rotozip style cutting-bit.
How to remove the "new carpet smell" (VOCs) from new carpet? My wife is pregnant. We just had new carpet installed in the soon to be baby's room. We didn't realize until after it was installed that the "new carpet smell" is actually a bad thing. From what I've read online, new carpet gives off harmful fumes, which cont...	Another option is to put an air purifier with a lot of activated carbon to absorb the VOC gases. I have used ECOS Paints Interior Atmosphere Purifying Paint for my walls and ceilings (not for humid location application). So, open the windows to allow the outside air to mix in even if cold outside.
Toilet not always flushing fully, what could be wrong? I have a toilet that about half of the time doesn't flush fully, but will always flush fine on the second attempt. It does this regardless of the "contents" in the bowl. I first took a plunger to it, but it didn't help at all. I then came here and read How can I ...	Replacing gasket would solve the problem, but I had to replace the intake valve as my hardware store didn't have the gasket I needed.
How to permanently remedy a patch of mold on a ceiling from a water leak above? I recently discovered that water was dripping from the ceiling light fixture in a first floor bathroom. It turned it was due to a toilet leak (faulty wax ring) in a bathroom directly above. The toilet leak has been fixed, and in fact there...	If the damaged wall is non-porous then you can simply wipe the mold away by using a wet cloth. There are other questions here on how to patch a hole in the ceiling.
How can I plug the gap between a dishwasher and kitchen skirting board? So we have a mouse problem, and our landlords are pretty worthless when it comes to solving it. They're coming from underneath our kitchen units, which are all raised about six inches, with wooden skirting board in front of them. I've closed two sm...	The simplest way to do that is find the holes, and stuff them with stainless steel wool. This method will only work for small-sh gaps though. Once it is dry you can clean it up a bit to be more presentable with a hacksaw blade.
How can I change light bulbs in a fixture located 20ft above the ground? We made the unfortunate decision of having a ceiling fan with lights in our two story family room, so the ceiling fan is about 20 feet above our heads. At the moment, all four light bulbs in the unit have burnt out and need replacing. Safety wis...	Use a pool noodle attached to a paint roller extension pole as long as it is the small bulbs it will fit right in the center of the noodle and unscrew and screw back in You can also buy your own lamps and have the electricians just do the labor only, but if the electrician supplies the lamps then they might warranty th...
What is the proper way to drain a boiler's expansion tank? The expansion tank is supposed to have some air in it, but I'm guessing that mine doesn't. Let's suppose (i.e. I'm making this up in the hope that someone will correct me) that the tank should be half full of air and half full of water. If I just open the tan...	First, shut the valve between the tank and the boiler, or the rest of the system.
How do I diagnose weak water flow from tub faucet and shower? I have a shower that has very low flow from the hot and cold water and also from the shower when you turn the valve to switch it to the shower. All of the other fixtures in the house have strong flow including the sink in the same bathroom. Unfortunately t...	If you get low flow, probably there is a buildup of corrosion inside the pipes.
How do I fix a stuck toilet tap that hasn't been turned in 3+ years? I am trying to close the tap which connects to my toilet tank but the tap will not budge. I don't think that this tap has been touched in more than 3 years. Is there a way to fix it so that I can turn the tap on or off? <Q> Unfortunately there is no...	Buy a new 1/4 turn ball valve and replace it, because that's what you're going to have to end up doing anyway, and just going right to the end and doing it now will save you some swearing, bruised knuckles, water all over the floor, and a second trip to the hardware store.
Is cleaning out the main sewer line a regular scheduled maintenance item? I just had to have my main sewer line snaked, and the technician said it should be done once every 2 years. Is this really the case, or was he just trying to insure he has job security? <Q> However if it "has issues" then you may wish to have it...	It depends, if the sewer is well designed, well built and does not have any issues, and you don't put a lot of fat down it will be ok for a very long time with no maintenance.
Is it OK for bushes to touch the house and fence? I have a house in the Seattle area. A realtor told me to trim all the bushes so that they don't touch the house and wood fences before putting it for sale. Is that really necessary? What's the harm? <Q> It shows a lack of care for the home. <S> Bushes against the hom...	In the Great Pacific Northwest, land of moisture and people that rust instead of tan, anything growing against the side of a house contributes to damp and mold growth.
What is this soft, sticky wood finish and how do I remove it? We have a second-hand table with a mysterious finish. The wood underneath is pale, possibly pine. With the finish, it's a slightly darker and "warmer" colour. The table is not antique; I'd guess only about 20 years old. The finish is soft, so you can easil...	I'ld be scraping it off with a paint scraper: One of these ones: Then sanding it down once the bulk was gone, (save gumming up a ton of sand paper) The best thing I've found to be the option for good results is 91% alcohol (Walmart brand) and a scraper.
How to remove closet shelf clips and brackets without damaging the wall? The previous owner of my new house installed ClosetMaid shelves in the closet. I removed the shelves, but had a really hard time with those clips and brackets (pictures attached). Seem like they were hammered into drywall anchors. How can I remo...	I used a flathead screwdriver that was a part of my computer repair kit from RadioShack.
Plywood floor gets inexplicably wet, what could possibly be the cause? House is on piers with insulation underneath. We had a plumber come look at it and he says he sees no pipes there, has no idea, cannot help. Every day there is about a 4 ftx4ft area of light water, with outlying smaller patches of water or moisture ...	Try leaving a few windows open for a few days to ventilate the house and see if the problem clears up.
Can my apartment's electricity harm my computer? Is there an easy way to test the electricity? I live in a (rented, 1980 built) row townhouse in the USA with slightly suspect electricity: A few of the outlets and light switches in the house (in various rooms) don't work at all. (Even allowing for some switched outle...	If turning on a light in one room makes the light brighter in another, you have an open neutral. The electricity problems you describe are absolutely intolerable and I would request the landlord repair them immediately.
Where can I find computer readable RGB values for brand name paints? Where can I find computer readable RGB values, or equivalents, for brand name paints such as Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Behr paints? [Edit] My interest was not so much about the specific color model of RGB, I basically needed some kind of ...	You can buy Pantone swatches (I think their pretty expensive though) and then use Photoshop or something to find the equivalent RGB value.
How should I run wiring for my above-fireplace mounted TV? I'm going to mount my 47" LCD above my fireplace. I'm not looking for arguments against this decision. I'm looking for wiring solutions. The diagram below should help explain the situation. _________________________________________________\| \| \| \| \|...	I actually ran all the wiring in the attic .
How can I mount speakers that don't have mount adapters? How can I mount a pair of speakers to my apartment walls? Specifically, how do I mount speakers that have no mounting points? They are from a turntable set from the 80's most likely before the standard was to include a screw hole or wall mount. What's the best...	If you check out a home theater/audio site like Parts Express , you'll find oodles of different ways to wall mount a speaker.
What methods can be used to make a dark colored window become opaque? Currently, I have some problem regarding some windows, which are dark-colored. During the day time, people outside the windows cannot see people inside the windows. However, during the night time, people outside the windows can see people inside the ...	The darkening of the glass only reduces the light that comes out the window, and at night there is no reflection to drown out the light, so the light from the inside can still be seen although it's reduced. They could even be completely set aside diring the day if desired.
What is normally done to bridge skirting boards around an opening with different floor levels on each side? I have to attach some skirting boards on recently plastered walls and openings. The issue is that the floors on each side of the opening are at different levels, therefore the opening has a step on it. What usual...	You could even cut an angle into the top of the transition, for a different look. I used door trim to break it up in a similar situation.
How far apart should nails be when installing baseboards? I am using a nail/brad gun to install baseboard. How far should I space the nails? I want to make sure I hit some of the studs, but don't want to take the time to find exactly where all the studs are, so it seems better to space them a little closer. <Q> We us...	I would hit every 16" on top with about every 24" on bottom as long as you know you are hitting the bottom plate.
Can I apply water based polyurethane over oil based polyurethane and vice versa? I can see brush strokes on a dining table from a previous application of polyurethane. I want to sand these and re-apply polyurethane. I do not know whether the previous application was a water-based or oil-based product. What should I ...	The general answer to your question is yes, you can apply one over the other - with a caveat - since oil and water don't mix you'll need a sealer coat in between the two.
How to secure a doggy door from intruders? I installed a doggy door so that our dog can go in/out when it has to go to the bathroom while we are at work/away. It lets him out into our fenced in backyard. The gates are deadlocked, but obviously this does not completely secure the house from determined intruders. If so...	Once I put up a dog run attached to the house and a similar doggy door system, NO more weirdos in my garage.
Why is my washing machine so loud during the spin cycle? I have a top loading washing machine. It is sitting on the bottom of a rack. The dryer is sitting on the top shelf of a rack. (The rack was made to stack these two units on top of each other). During the spin cycle the washing machine is really loud. Is this t...	I think its quite common, especially top loaders (the physics means its harder to dampen vibrations) and older washing machines.
Determining the correct depth of a well My wife and I are looking to buy our first home and have found some promising prospects. One of the homes we like is in what use to be a rural area. Since this house was in a rural area when it was built, it uses a well and septic instead of the city's water system. Upon further...	All that matters is if the well is deep enough to draw sufficient water for your needs. I'd think the easiest way to determine if the well will supply enough water is to ask the neighbors who are already using it.
Ethernet cable instead of Thermostat wire? I need to pull new wire from my furnace to my thermostat and was wondering if there would be any problems in using an Ethernet cable instead of standard thermostat wiring. The reason being is I have left over cat6 cable and figured the wire should suffice in place of spending...	Ethernet cable should work fine since thermostats use low voltage and low current. Don't do it. But it should only be solid core (riser cable), not stranded.
Is it ever safe to have 14 gauge wire anywhere on a circuit protected by a 30 amp breaker? I was doing some work in an old house I recently moved into, and found that my dishwasher and garbage disposal (and some outlets near them) are on a 30 amp breaker. However, some of the electrical wiring going between the dispos...	The circuit breaker is required to be sized to protect all wiring in the branch circuit it feeds to (and the receptacles, too). More likely it is starting to fail, and "the last guy" upsized the breaker rather than deal with it. In your case it is to replace the undersized segments of the wire. A disposal is a motor lo...
What are the differences between SDS, SDS Plus, and SDS Max drills? Basically I had to use a breaker last weekend, it was clear I did not need the “heavy duty” as I did not have 6” of solid concrete, but the descriptions of the other options confused me. <Q> The SDS chuck system was the original developed by Bosch. ...	It sounds like for your application, SDS Plus would be the way to go, given that they are generally less expensive, and you don't have really tough masonry work to do.
How to finish wood in the winter? If you want to stain and varnish indoor wood furniture during the winter, how do you do it? It's below freezing outdoors, but I don't want fumes to accumulate in the house. <Q> In general, once I've closed the can and am only waiting for the piece to dry the fumes tend to get much les...	In the past what I have done is to isolate 1 room, generally in the basement, increase the heat to that room and open the window while running a fan.
Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical cables? I am building a new house and am planning to hardwire network cables into each room. Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical wires without introducing any general safety issues or losing much in connection quality? Wiring runs for up to 25 metres from pat...	While a shielded Cat5/6 cable is designed to protect itself from outside interferance, it isn't recommended to run them side-by-side to your electrical wiring. As others have mentioned, there could be some interference.
Is urethane-based grout worth the cost for bathroom tile? We are beginning a project to tile the master bathroom. The local tile shop where we are purchasing the tile is recommending a urethane-based grout (specifically Bostik TruColor Pre-Mixed Grout ). I am sure there are other brands as well. It is like 4x the c...	I, and many tile pros, aren't fans of the pre-mixed urethane grouts.
Can I hang a bathroom shelf with command strips or something similar? I'm currently living in an apartment that doesn't allow me to put anything larger than a finishing nail sized hole in the wall. I have a small bathroom shelf that I would like to put up that consists of a lightweight metal frame with three tempered g...	Unfortunately there is no way to anchor something to the wall without proper anchors. My point is that if anyone decides to try using Command strips to hold up shelving, you'll need to place at least a few strips at each mounting point. Make sure you get the Command™ strips that can hold the most weight possible, just ...
Trying to wire a 240v line-voltage thermostat I am trying to replace my old 240v line-voltage thermostat with a modern version. The problem is that after wiring the new version in like the old it doesn't work. I have (2) 12-2 wires coming out of the box and they are both hot. Any advice? <Q> Simple "line voltage" T sta...	If you have 240V when checking both wires together, and only two wires on switch, there is something wrong with the new fancy switch.
What happens if I shave a little sliver off electrical wire with a utility knife? I needed to replace an electrical wire with a longer one so I could move an electrical outlet. When I went to cut away the outer rubber cover of one of the wires with a utility knife (yes, dumb, I know), I accidentally shaved off a wee l...	If the wire flexes a lot, it is more likely to break at this point, which is potentially a dangerous condition (e.g. if the hot wire breaks, shifts, and makes contact with the body of an ungrounded appliance.) Hot enough and it will start a fire. I agree with lqlarry in that if it's just a small splinter/nick then ther...
What could cause my toilet to 'Gurgle'? The last few days the toilets in the house (2 toilets) are making a gurgling noise. When I go and look, I can see the water is standing very low. When I then flush the toilet, the water either keeps rising (not going down the pipes) or flushes normally. And then there's about a 5...	The gurgling noise and the low water level in the toilets is because the pressure in the sewer line is lower than outside.
How do I fix a hole in drywall? There is a hole in my drywall from a doorknob repeatedly hitting it, is there a straightforward way to fix it? <Q> Small holes - As @Oscilatingcretin says just some spackle, sand, and paint you are done. <S> Medium holes - A fist size hole or bigger is harder. <S> Cleanup the hole ar...	Depending on the size of the hole, there are different methods to fix. It is thin enough that you just stick and then mud.
How can I replace pull switch lights with wireless remote receivers / switches? does anyone have experience with the Lightning Switch or Illumra or recommend any other remote switches for replacing the pull switch light fixtures without having to rewire the house. The tech looks pretty cool, but I want to get a few opi...	Something like the Carlon HW2162 screw-in wireless remote switch can do the job.
Do I really have to fasten interior-wall electrical wire to a stud to keep it from moving? I am fresh out of cable staples and would rather not go all the way to Lowe's just to get a box. What are the implications of not fastening loose electrical wires to a stud? It's not like there's going to be that much vibrati...	Unless is it impossible to reach, secure the cable as per NEC requirements. See 314.17(C) for support where nonmetallic boxes are used (B) Unsupported Cables. Tidy work is quality work.
What does "1 Gang", "2 Gang", and so forth mean when talking about electrical boxes? What does a "1 Gang" mean when talking about electrical boxes? Example: CARLON 1-Gang Metal Adjustable Electrical Box (Lowes.com) <Q> It refers to the width of the box. <S> The idea is that you can "gang" up electrical components i...	A 1-gang box is wide enough for a switch or duplex receptacle.
How to determine the screw size (No.)? I have multiple "Damaged Screw Remover" bits. I have another instance of the screw in my hand. The bits are designed for specific screw sizes (No. 4 to 7/No. 8 to 10). How do I determine the "No." size for the screw? <Q> If you have an identical screw, you can probably take it to ...	If the threaded bolt is stuck in something you can use the gauge to compare the size and that would give a close guess.
What size breaker and wire do I need for a 220 volt circuit to an electric fireplace and an electric heater? I want to run a 220 volt circuit from panel to an electric fireplace (12 amps) and an electric heater (15 amps). What size breaker should I use and what size wire? <Q> 10 gauge wire is the largest I like to us...	So for you I would go with a 15 amp and a 20 amp.
How to widen a chain link I'm trying raise a swing. A chain is attached to both sides of the swing seat and the topmost links are wider than the others to allow a carabiner to be used to attach the swing to the pole overhead. How could I go about widening one of the lower links so I could raise the swing? I tried stic...	In many cases you can simply grab the links above and below the one you desire to open; although in practice that might open the adjacent links slightly.
Do Old Houses Have a Pre-determined Lifespan? Taking into consideration the building supplies that were available in that time period for that particular geographic area (say, a major metropolitan city in the mid-western United States), do homes built in the late 1800s have definite points in time that they reach where...	I don't think it is much of an issue with individual materials. So if the house was properly kept then I don't think it has a pre determined lifespan. It's mostly a combination of: materials construction quality maintenance/upkeep climate
What are the advantages of various bathtub materials? We're going to be putting in a new tub, and I'm not sure what to get. Cast iron? Enameled steel? Acrylic? My concern with the cast iron (other than lugging it up the stairs) is the rust problem. How well does acrylic hold up? <Q> Cast iron tubs are very heavy and ...	Cast iron is the most desirable for a bath tub.
Should I leave the drain open on my compressor for storage? I just got a new air compressor for occasional finish nailing and tire inflation. I understand that I need to open the bottom drain to let out any condensation (i.e., this question ) after each use. Should I also store the compressor with this valve open? Is...	The general rule was to always leave a minimum amount of air pressure in the vessel, when not being used, so that moisture, or anything else, could not get into the tank.
How can I fix a bathtub that was not set properly? I think the floor was not prepped correctly. The tub creaks a lot and there is a great deal of vertical play when standing and moving around. The tub does appear to be level, so I don't think that's the problem. It doesn't seem to be such an issue when it's full ...	Another option to support the bottom is sand and gravel -- I wouldn't use self-leveling cement.
How can I install ceramic tile over vinyl tile? I'm trying to install ceramic tile in a friend's bathroom, appox. 45 sq ft.The current floor in the bathroom is vinyl squares over the base cement. There is no subfloor or anything like that. The bathroom is in the basement. I tried pulling off the vinyl but it's leaving...	You might also want to call up a flooring shop and see if you can rent a floor scraper-- that can make quick work of removing the vinyl, which is definitely the better way to go. Another possibility, if you are OK with raising the floor and fixtures (including raising the toilet flange), would be to mechanically fasten...
Why energy saving bulb flashes when the switch is off? I have a energy saving spiral light bulb in my kitchen. In exactly every 27 seconds, the first segment of the bulb faintly flashes when the switch is off. And not once, repeatedly every 27 seconds. This weird situation occurs for more than half and a year. What can...	Or for switches without light button the reason can be the parasitic capacitance + leakage resistance of the cable which is producing small parasitic current through the lamp.
Can a hand drill drill 1/4"-1/2" holes into 1" thick aluminum? I'm making some baseplates in my home for a custom camera system and I'll need to be drilling many holes into plates of aluminum. I'm planning to use 6061 aluminum and need to drill holes anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2". And later will be tapping them. Is a han...	When you ask a drill to cut too much metal at a time it will bend, wiggle and give you a poorly shaped hole.
What is the easiest way to stop a door from catching on the floor? When I open and close my bathroom door, it catches on the floor. This makes it hard to open and close it, and also makes a really annoying sound. What is the easiest way to stop the door from touching the floor? <Q> If the condition has developed over ...	Put the door back on hinges and you are done. There is also a planer attachment for the dremels which works pretty well for light jobs, and in some cases you can even do it without removing the door.

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