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How much weight can I hang from a drywall ceiling? I have a potted plant (approx 5kg/10lbs) that I wish to hang from a drywall ceiling of a window aisle. Unfortunately, I have no idea about what specific kind of drywall plate it is or how it was attached; at any rate there is only a fixed place that I can hang the pla...	If you have the vertical space you could push a piece of wood through a hole near one of the anchors or near one of the joists. The worst case is you just have to patch the hole and repaint; drywall is pretty forgiving like that! 10lbs might be pushing it though, it will depend on the thickness of your drywall and the ...
What is this and can it be used to stop the flow of water? I have a leaky spigot that I am trying to fix. I followed the water line back and found this. Does anyone know what it is? Can it be used to stop the flow of water? <Q> Having replaced a couple of those before in my own home, I am virtually 100% certain i...	You can tell from the bell housing on top that it is what I say it is. Note that the valve has seen some time since installation and trying to completely turn off the water using it, EVEN IF YOU COULD DO SO, will very possibly cause it to completely fail to do its job properly in the future, thereby causing yet a diffe...
What could cause my sink to drain slowly? Sometimes our bathroom sink will drain so slowly (with the water running) that the water will fill it faster than it can drain. However, after shutting the water off and letting it completely subside, it will typically drain properly the rest of the day and for the next severa...	If the sink was not installed by a plumber and has always had this problem, an air vent pipe may not have been installed or was installed incorrectly.
How do I deal with Particle Board Subfloors and Hardwood Flooring? The house I recently purchased, built in 1973, has particle board subfloors. To clarify, this is not OSB and this is not just a particle board overlay over plywood -- the entire subfloor is 3/4" particle board (looks like oatmeal). There are several i...	I had the floors installed over the particle board. It will cost you more right now but it will pay off in the long run. To purchase, go to the pawn shops for good deals. If you cannot get the T&G in, you can block the edges of the plywood, and use regular plywood instead. And doorways, closet doors, etc. I talked to a...
Which tools should not be operated while wearing gloves? Does anyone know of any safety organization like OSHA that gives a list of tools that should not be operated while wearing gloves? It has always been my understanding that a person should not wear gloves when operating any rotating tool because of the danger of t...	Unless it's a low rpm meat slicer, and your gloves are chain mail, you don't wear gloves while using rotational power tools. Check the Owners/Operators Manual for each specific tool you are concerned about. Secure the work in or to a vice, or some other apparatus before grinding, or cutting on the work with a cutting w...
Should I create my own faucet aerator? I installed some new "fancy" faucet , and am quite happy with it, except it lacks an aerator, and water easily splashes out of the sink. Obviously, this faucet is calling for an aerator. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn't sell aerators for this model, and my local hardware s...	I found a company named Neoperl that makes a rectangular aerator which is what I believe you need:
Can I convert a radiator to radiant floor heating in a room? I am purchasing a new home, and designing some renovations to several rooms. The house has a gas boiler and radiators throughout the house. For the kitchen and upstairs bathroom, I will be putting in tile flooring. To save space, I am wondering if installi...	So if you are keeping any radiators, your system will need to support running at multiple temperatures. Electric radiant is available in mats that are layered with thinset between the subfloor and tile. For hot water radiant heat, you'll need to install PEX on the underside of the subfloor.
What is the best way to patch 3" holes in plaster I have a number of ~3" holes in my plaster from where my walls were filled with insulation. (Why did they drill a 3" hole? I have no idea). Obviously I would like to fill these holes in, but they have no lathing behind them, and I'm not sure what is the best way to fi...	If it is unfinished plaster, then fill in with plaster as the finish will be the same.
Can I replace an electric smoke detector with a combined smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detector? My house has electric smoke detectors wired into an ADT alarm system. I'm not using the alarm system but the smoke detectors seem to work anyway. I'd like to have carbon monoxide detectors too. Can I replace the exist...	So, for example, if the only potential source of CO in your house is a furnace and water heater in the basement, you can put a combination smoke+CO detector in the basement and smoke-only detectors in the other hardwired locations. A hard wired replacement is far better than a stand alone battery operated unit, as it w...
Do I need to glue down linoleum flooring? I am installing a new linoleum floor in a small bathroom (approx. 6' X 6'). This is a replacement for an old linoleum floor. The replacement will be a single piece. Talking with the local big box store flooring expert, he recommended not gluing it down. It would be te...	If it doesn't work well, it's easy enough to go back and glue it down with pressure sensitive adhesive.
How can I remove this valve? I am trying to replace the valve connecting the water line to the sink in my bathroom. The piping and sink were installed in 1975. I'm stuck trying to remove the valve under the sink (see picture below). When I try to unscrew the valve it will rotate but it's not actually unscrewing from...	It looks like a compression fitting, in which case, you loosen the nut and pull it off.
Why does the main circuit breaker trip but not the smaller branch circuit breakers? We have one circuit breaker (40 A) where our electrical service enters our house, then it is divided into a 32A line for level one and a 25A for level two.The main circuit breaker (40A) trips every several hours, but the other two circu...	Breakers trip easier the next time after each time they are tripped. Solving the problem may be as simple as replacing the circuit breaker with a new 40 amp breaker.
When I turn on my light switch, there is a delay before the light comes on We have a ceiling fan light. One swith controls the fan, the other the light. When I turn on the light switch, there is a noticable delay (like a full second) before the light comes on. Is it a wiring issue? I notice no blinking, no other pr...	I had this problem with an dimmer switch designed for use with LED and CF bulbs. You may have serious wiring issues.
How do I corner bead around two layers of 5/8" drywall? Here it is: I still have yet to shave down the rough edges from when I scored and snapped it, but, after that, what can I use for corner bead? It's entirely possible that I will end up putting up a second layer perpendicular to these two layers so that I will b...	You could drill diagonal pilot holes and get the screws to engage the stud. Then you end up with a regular, 1 sheet corner. Leave Home Depot, go to a building supply and ask for oversized metal corner paper faced.
What should I do about my toilet flapper sticking open? The flapper valve in the toilet in my apartment was recently replaced, since it had a small leak. The new one has a perfectly good seal, but sometimes just gets stuck open. It looks like it's just gripping a bit too tightly on the hinge - when it tries to close, ...	I ended up just pulling the valve off and sanding inside the snap-on hinge bits.
Why do I need 4-conductor cable to my generator? Why do I need all 4 wires in my generator twistlock? The generator neutral and ground are bonded. I have installed a Siemens 3-pole transfer switch, but would prefer to use 3 wire extension from the generator to the transfer switch. (mainly cause the 4 wire is so big ...	If neutral is bonded to ground before the transfer switch, then all points beyond the point of bonding are now 4-wire, and a transfer switch must switch both hots and also the neutral (not the ground wire).
What should I consider when burying cable? What should I consider when burying standard coaxial cable between the local pole and my house? <Q> If you want to bury the cable directly in the ground then you need to use direct burial-grade cable and not "standard" cable, otherwise you need to use conduit. <S> First you ...	You want to bury it deep enough that you won't cut it with a shovel Their demarcation point should be the outside of your home. Make sure to call your utility company (usually your gas company) and have them come out and mark all burried cables/gas lines BEFORE you start digging -
How can I protect my hardwood floors from water damage? I just bought a home with hardwood floors everywhere, including the bathrooms. While this is nice, I worry that they will be damaged by constant exposure to water. Is there anything I can do to protect them, besides high quality bath mats? <Q> We also have a woo...	Also be careful of leaving rubber backed bath mats on the floor finish.
Driveway expansion joints are rotting wood: What to replace the wood? My driveway was poured in sections with lengths of 2x4 which remained between the slabs as expansion joints. Due to heaving and moisture many of these are in poor shape. I replaced one once by carefully carving a 2x4 on a table saw to fit the oddly...	Use professional grade urethane or silicone caulk for concrete. I have been caulking expansion joints in concrete for 15 years.
My fridge runs way too much - is this because it doesn't seem to be level? My refrigerator runs way too much - is this because it doesn't seem to be level? It doesn't seem to be any other reason. <Q> A fridge motor is controlled by a thermostat - a device that reacts to temperature inside the fridge. <S> So fridge mot...	If it's an old refrigerator, the sealed unit could be leaking refrigerant.
Could a power outlet be ruining hair straighteners? I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this. We've gone through 3 hair straighteners in the past 2 months. 3 different models, 2 different brands. The outlet is a normal outlet (No GFI) and one of the straighteners had a GFI plug. Other things like hair dr...	Most appliances should be able to handle that voltage, but some will not, at least not long-term. Maybe spending more on the receptacle will solve your problem. It's not so much voltage as amperage; the current flowing through a wire will create heat (the "toaster effect"). As always turn the breaker off and check with...
Can I make an existing dog door bigger for our new larger dog? We have an existing dog door that we had installed in the wall for our beagle. We have since acquired a larger dog and she has out grown the door. I'm worried about injuries, so any advice will be much appreciated. Can we make the existing door bigger? <Q> ...	The challenges come when your door has interesting features like inset panels, hardware, etc.
Second layer of drywall on textured ceiling: Do I need to sand down or remove the texture before second layer goes on? I have a textured ceiling similar to this: Some of the texture peaks at 1/8", but it mostly peaks at 1/16". I am going to be applying a second layer of drywall with Green Glue in between and I want ...	When you layout the new layer of drywall, stager the joints so you don't have two non-beveled joints on top of each other. Where you find the preexisting 4' ridges, sand them down. You still need to be aware of the slant of the ceiling to make sure that you don't bump outwards since that's hard to hide with compound.
Why would lights plugged in to lamp holder outlet adapter be testing as live? We bought an old pendant light for our flat, with a two prong plug. Rather than rewiring it in to the existing outlet, I just bought one of those $2 lamp holder outlet adapter. To be on the safe side, I checked it with my contact volt teste...	If a wall switch was added later they may wired the switch by breaking the hot wire inside the fixture mounting box.
What preparation is required for tiling over poorly laid floor boards? 4" hardwood floor boards mounted on a poorly-designed frame made out of whatever wood the constructor had lying around it seems. There's a lot of bounce, some boards even drooping 1/2" when walking on them. I'm thinking of tiling over with 12" squa...	You must reinforce the existing structure to make a sound, fairly rigid subfloor before you put anything else down.
What hardwood flooring is recommended for high traffic areas? I am having a house built and the developer wanted to charge me $10/sq ft for the cheapest $3/sq ft Bruce Oak, and more for anything better quality. There was no charge for Vinyl so, I had them put that in and figured I would get someone else to do the wood...	To make the floors finish last the longest, we suggest using heavy mats outside all exterior doors with small rugs on the wood flooring at all entrances and in front of sinks and stoves. We installed the Morning Star Strand Carbonized Bamboo in most of our house and have been very happy with it.
What to keep on the wooden table to make the surface heat resistant? Oven manual says - keep it on a heat resistant surface. I have a wooden table. What should I keep on the wooden table to make the surface heat resistant, so that the oven can placed on the top of it? Paper sheets won't work? Thick cloth? <Q> When w...	Something like a granite or other stone tile might work.
How to tell if my new, unfurnished apartment has bed bugs? I just signed the lease on a new apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I did so after looking up the address and seeing that it had been listed twice in the bed bug registry. In 2009, a tenant said a few units had been infested. In August 2010, a tenant said bed...	Bed bugs are hard to see.
How should I go about fixing a faulty 240 V Electrical Outlet This afternoon, my wife and I noticed a peculiar smell coming from the garage. We localized it to a faulty 3-wire 240 V outlet. Something got really hot resulting in part of the rubber melting on the socket: Upon further examination, it looks like the...	An electrician would, at the very least, cut off the damaged insulation, and replace the outlet. Note that although the left wire looks melted the right one looks just fine although they usually carry equal currents. The heat would have caused expansion, which could increase the resistance further. What it looks like t...
How do you secure wood framing to a concrete basement floor? I'm using Pressure treated lumber for the bottom plate in a basement finishing project. What should I use to seperate the wood from the concrete? What are ways to secure the bottom plate to the floor? <Q> Pressure treated "PT" lumber is made for damp areas...	Use something impermeable to water to separate the wood from the concrete.
Cheapest way to heat and cool a converted garage? I'm converting my two car garage into a home theater and was seeking some advice on the cheapest way to heat, cool, and dehumidify the room. Here are some details: Garage was once a model home office so the walls, ceiling, and garage door are insulated. Dimensions a...	If your current AC is not adequate to extend to the garage area, then a ductless mini-split wall mounted AC unit is probably ideal for your situation.
What's the best way to shore up a ceiling register that is loose? I have a few ceiling registers which are not flush with the ceiling since the duct has loosened over time. What's the best way to get them flush with the ceiling? I thought about driving several sheet metal screws into them but they would go into drywa...	I cut thin strips of cardboard (small enough to fit in screw hole) and poked them in the holes.
How can I stop my washing machine drain from overflowing? When my washing machine drains it sometimes comes up and out of the open pvc pipe in the service closet where the water heater would drain. I've found lots of posts where people speak of the washer standpipe overflowing, but can't find any info on what would cau...	The drain must be properly vented for it to withstand the rush of water from a washing machine pump.
How can I reclaim heat from an enclosed furnace room? Our home has two furnaces (oil fired hot air) and an electric water heater in an enclosed room (approx 6'6" x 9'). Three walls of the room divide it from the remainder of a finished basement, the fourth is an outside wall that includes a vent for combustion air int...	Any use of a fan could, as suggested, introduce CO into your living space, or worse damage your furnaces if the exhaust is not allowed to exit properly.
How do I unscrew a broken aerator? My bathroom faucet was spewing water at odd angles. The aerator was obviously old and plagued with mineral deposits. So I attempted to remove the aerator to clean/replace it. With WD-40 and vice grips I was able to get it to unscrew about a quarter turn, but when I tried to repositio...	Finally I tried to remove the broken aerator thread with a drill bit and it worked.
How can I sound proof bathroom walls? I'm trying to figure out the best, least intrusive way of sound proofing the walls of a bathroom. The bathroom shares a wall with my bedroom, and my 3 yea old's bedroom. The main problem is the sound of water running (plus every bump on the counter and everything) echos loud and cl...	Then, fill the void with sound deadening insulation. It's always best to just bite the bullet and take the bedroom wall down and do it right. And consider adding an automatic door bottom to seal the space between the floor and the bottom of the door. I wouldn't tear the bathroom wall apart... Then there's the carpet......
Finishing drywall: How do I finish over screws that refuse to recess/dimple into the drywall? Update 10/30/2012: See comment I left under gregmac's answer I just finished installing QuietRock 525 over existing walls. Half a sheet of 525 is heavy backer board and I am thinking that's the reason why several of my scre...	Try longer screws, which should get a better grip on the studs behind so once they start going in, they'll go in as deep as you need.
How to hide light-colored wires in a dark-colored cabinet? I'm installing some LED lights in a particle-board cabinet. The cabinet's walls have dark-colored veneers (nearly black), while the wires to the LEDs are beige, and would stand out quite prominently. Routing the wires on the other side of the walls is not an o...	Ultimately, you could simply wrap the wires in electrical tape, although that would be a pain. Slide the wire inside, peel off the sticky, and bury it in a corner.
Advice for replacement/repair of an HVAC with a cracked heat exchanger? My townhouse has a downflow 1994 Rheem 2.5 ton HVAC unit on its roof (combines both A/C and heat). We have had two issues with the unit and have been in the townhouse for a little under two years. In this latest case, the contractor noticed there w...	You may be able to get at least some money from the manufacturer, or a credit toward a new unit of the same brand. Assuming its not covered by warranty, then yes I think the contractors advice to replace it with a new unit is correct.
How can I attach two pieces of wood in an invisible way? I would like to attach a thin tree trunk to a flat smooth piece of wood, in order to create support for a very heavy shelf. Any suggestions on how to do it, while leaving a minimal outside marks? Basically my question is how to attach the tubular part in perpend...	I'd recommend using wood glue to supplement the joint strength.
How do you replace a section of cast iron drain pipe? circa 1929, Boston The kitchen sink connects to cast iron inside the wall. Just below the connection the section of vertical cast iron pipe is rotten and leaking. A couple of feet above it ties into the vent and right below it connects into a hub, part of a ginormo...	I would cut above and below where the K sink drain comes in and replace everything back to the sink with ABS. You can get rubber connectors (fernco) for the transition.
How do I optimally cut a bolt to length? Once in a while I need a bolt of exactly the right length and it is not one of the lengths available in stores. So I get a longer bolt and cut it to length. Here's the procedure I follow. I screw one or several nuts onto the bolt so that they are between the bolt head and the f...	If you have a bandsaw with a stock holding vise that can be squared to the blade, run a single nut on so the hexes will hold the bolt in place as straight to the blade as possible.
What is the cheapest way to brighten a basement workshop? I have a bare concrete block unfinished basement. I have zero moisture problems (it's a 2007 construction with exterior waterproofing applied to the concrete along with a buried perimeter drain). The point is, I am not concerned with adding waterproofing to th...	If painting the walls and ceiling white isn't enough and you don't want to be using electricity to light your garage throughout the day, then you may want to consider building yourself a light pipe .
Should pegboard be part of the workbench or attached to the wall behind the workbench? Is it better to buy a workbench with the pegboard back included or to buy an inexpensive workbench and install the pegboard back on the wall? <Q> Pegboard attached to workbench will likely vibrate like crazy while you're trying to fi...	If there's a wall available, and if you might use the bench for large projects, then attach the pegboard to the wall.
Paint got ripped off when trying to remove double-sided foam tape I was trying to remove a picture frame which was adhered to the wall with some double-sided foam tape. Unfortunately, the foam tape was so sticky and ripped some of the paint off the wall (see pictures below). I would like to know how should I fix th...	To begin - scrape the loose paint along the edges until the remaining paint is completely adhered to the wall. After it dries you can spackle and it won't bubble up.
Fixing a large (1/8"-wide) crack in a wood exterior door panel This is a follow-up to my previous question: How can I fix a hairline crack in a thin wood panel of an exterior door? While getting ready to apply wood glue (actually a mixture of wood glue and sawdust/sander dust) to the "hairline" crack in the door, I s...	I would try the Bondo Wood Filler or there's a Minwax High-Performance Filler that is similar.
Electric requirements for gas stove I am buying a new house (new construction) and it currently has an electric stove. One of the changes we've put in the contract it to 'remove the electric stove and adapt the stove cavity for a gas stove". We're not having them install the new appliance - we're buying that separate...	Something else to consider though, is placement of the gas line stub.
Do I need a rain\snow cover on this furnace vent? Just bought a house that had a new furnace installed this summer. Vent number 1 in the image is for the furnace (2 is the water heater and 3 is sump). As you can see in the image, 2 and 3 both would require water (rain/snow/whatever) to travel up before getting into the...	I turn off the electricity to the furnace and post a big note over the switch to remind me to remove the foil before turning on the furnace. What I have done is take a piece of plastic screen, and hose clamped it over the end due to a couple of 5 year old hooligans that run around my back yard and find such outlets ver...
Decent Brand Names for Beginner Carpentry I have done a few small projects but nothing too extravagant without a table saw. I would like to get more into woodworking but the one tool I don't have right now it's a table saw. All the rest of my tools are craftsman, but I have seen other brands like Genesis and Rockford...	Always buy the best tools you can afford.
Why did a gate post rot after just 6 years? My friend put a 4 inch treated wood gate post in the ground and we filled the hole with concrete. A neighbor built a fence around the same time, using similar-looking posts. Six years later, the post rotted out but the fence is still going strong. Did we do something wrong...	The most common failure with posts in concrete is "collar rot", where the post rots right at the point where it exits the concrete at the ground line.
Best practice for oily rag safety? Most everyone's heard about piles of oily/greasy rags igniting. Linseed oil seems to be a popular culprit for it, but I've also recently heard claims of common automotive oil being involved. I've run across a couple recommendations, but I have no idea if there are any better ways to...	You can avoid heat buildup from curing (as mentioned by Tester101) by spreading them out or hanging them on a clothesline (remember to properly ventilate)
Should I insulate a finished basement if there is only 3 degrees difference? We are finishing our basement and I'm wondering if it is worth putting in insulation if there is only a 3 degrees temperature difference from my upper floors to my basement. This is during the winter months. The temperature in my basement stan...	If you have heat ducts in the floor of the upper level (i.e., the basement ceiling), you may be losing heat into the basement; insulating them (and especially sealing any leaks) may prevent heat from being "wasted" by warming the basement.
How can I keep a door closed without a damper? Got a door which does not have the spring lock which locks the door when you close it. Leave the door closed, and it'll soon be wide open even with a little gust of wind. Currently we're wedging a handful of paper between the door and the door frame, so that it'd stay clos...	A Pneumatic Door Closer can cost you less than $10.00, and is easily installed with 5-6 screws.
What are the pros/cons of installing floors before doors? I've heard contractors say to install doors first then flooring, and others suggest the opposite. I'm installing new 3/4" prefinished flooring and new doors/closets (prehung wood/ primed white). What are the advantages/disadvantages to installing the doors after...	It’s human nature to seek the easier softer way, but it only makes common sense that you install floors first then have a skilled carpenter to put door frames on top of floor, then trim around door last.
How do I connect a stranded wire to a bus bar? A typical bus bar has this design: and connecting a solid wire to it is more or less easy. But how do I connect a stranded wire? I expect the following to happen: when I drive the screw in, the screw splits the strands and so I end up with the screw driven in and the str...	If this is going to be carrying household current (i.e., this is the bus bar in your panel), I'd terminate the stranded wire in a jbox near the panel and use a length of NM to the panel itself.
How high I should install a 52 inch TV on the wall? I'm going to hang my TV to the wall and I want to know how much from ground is standard for 52 inch TV? <Q> First, sit on your couch in the ideal viewing position (ie: where your butt imprint is). <S> The bottom 1/3 of the TV should be at eye level when mounted. <...	I think I would go for the center of the TV at the eyeball height of an average person.
Is a duplex outlet's max amperage rating for each socket or the whole unit? If you have a duplex outlet thats rated for lets say 20 amps, is the whole unit rated for 20 amps, or is each socket rated for 20 amps? Edit: So if I had a circuit that had a 40A breaker on it, could I have 2 devices that both draw a max of 20...	Therefore, if you only have one device on the circuit, it can draw up to 20A from any one outlet.
How do I shift a door's latch hole and strike plate up or down half an inch? I have a few interior doors that do not latch closed because the bolting mechanism and latch hole are vertically misaligned. If I remove the strike plate I can extend the size of the latch hole, but then one of the screw holes of the strike pl...	Use a spade bit for the latch hole (3/4" or 7/8" or 1" - use the whatever is closest to the size of the strikeplate hole).
How do I remove permanent marker from a solid hardwood table? A black permanent marker was used on my kitchen table. My daughter is 3, my bad for leaving the marker out! An image of the damage: The top circled area shows one mark. The bottom circle is where my wife tried to scrub another black mark, and unfortuna...	The one product I found that really worked well when all else had failed is the "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge" Available at any supermarket. For the lower blemish in your picture that resulted from sanding, I'd suggest checking your local paint stores for a matching stain marker.
How to adjust strike plate in a metal door jamb My bathroom door isn't latching properly and it seems that the strike plate is not seated properly in the jamb. It's a 1950s apartment and all the door frames are metal, so I can't just chip away some wood. What else can I try? <Q> The strike plate sticks out from the jam...	Since the door jamb is steel, filing the striker plate to a larger size is your only option as long as the hinges are not causing the door to sag.
How to fix stinky bathroom sink? It smells like really musty water, but the water itself does not smell or taste bad at all. Only happens when I run the water, so it doesn't make the room smell, just when you fill something up or wash your hands. I tried drain-o and it didn't do anything and there's GREAT flow so it'...	If this is the problem, you can ameliorate it with some foaming pipe snake; pour it down the overflow drain and it will clean out any caked-on gunk which contributes to the smell, and which may be trapping the water. FINALLY , someone suggested that I clean my dishwasher.
Can a grounding issue with newly installed light fixtures cause a short circuit/blown fuse? I have installed three lights (60 Watt Bulbs) on the same line (wire) connected to one light switch. The fuse blew when I hit the switch. I’ve connected all of the white to white and black to black. I believe the problem may...	Without seeing some pictures or diagrams, my best guess is that one of your white wires is actually a hot (and someone didn't mark it as so), so by connecting the whites (which are supposed to be neutral) together, you've created a short. I would start by disconnecting your work, verifying the fuse doesn't blow in this...
Can two circuits share a neutral? I'm finally implementing the advice given in this question , I've managed to run the wiring up to the junction box, but I'm a bit confused by the contents of that box. There are three circuits entering the box, but it appears that two circuits are sharing a single neutral. Everyth...	If you were to share a neutral with two breakers on the same leg of a panel, both circuits could draw the breaker limit (lets say 15A) making the shared neutral as much as 30A return current! In newer houses The two circuits must be on a double pole breaker for the smallest gauge wire used in the two circuits (e.g., 14...
How do I secure a vinyl window to the wall? When installing my vinyl windows should I put a nail into every little hole around the window? It has a flange that has many little holes around it. Also what size nails would you recommend? Finally do I need to secure the window to the inside of the rough opening, as you do ...	Yes put a nail into every hole. I looked over my new vinyl windows in my sunroom and there are no attachment points on the inside of the window.
Can two circuits' neutrals be tied together (not a single neutral wire, but two that have been connected)? Related to but different from this question , I have two three-way switches in my house, which are in multi-gang boxes at the top and bottom of the staircase and control lights at the top and bottom landings. I k...	But if one of the neutrals were to get disconnected at or near the breaker panel (loose screw or accidental damage to the wire itself) then the other neutral could end up carrying the current for two circuits and overheat and cause a fire. The additional neutral will only share the current in both circuits. However to ...
How do I connect to a dishwasher bushing? I just bought a new dishwasher for a newly renovated house that I just bought.I am trying to install it myself. My sink drain pipe has one of these sticking out the side above the U pipe thingy like the bottom right most example. Do I just go to town on the end of that with a...	Just cut off the end as near to the cap as you can reasonable fit a saw, and slip the hose over it.
What to do about clogged downspouts? A picture is better than words... That's water shooting up from the connecting point during a heavy shower earlier due to the pressure. <Q> Disconnect the down spout. <S> This may require you to remove screws and/or rivets. <S> Screws are easy, just use the appropriate driver and ...	Clear the drain You might get lucky here and be able to clear the drain by hand, or blow the clog out using a garden hose.
Is there an ideal height for a workbench? Is there a universal standard height that people try to go for when building workbenches? Should DIY tabletops be tailor made to the height of the user and how does the ideal height of the tabletop correlate to the person? <Q> I don't think there is specific universal height as...	I used the "fall drop" rule to size my generic workshop surfaces.
How can I hang a large but light poster on a concrete pillar? I have a large (est. 5'x7') sheet of plastic foam with a poster printed on it. It weighs maybe 3 lb and is reasonably stiff. I'd like to hang it on a solid rectangular concrete pillar about 2' wide. The pillar is rough but flat and is covered with paint. Ev...	You could also try tying a 1x2 inch board to the pillar. Depending on how artistic you want it to appear you might try some wide ribbon available at sewing supply store.
Can I sense filter replacement need based on filter pressure drop? I should first point out that the system I'm referring to will be a self build DIY project. Fan and Filters being the only items purchased complete, And I'm still in the design phase but I'm not a HVAC expert at all. USA has forced air more commonly tha...	By way of example, a brand new filter element could indicate need of replacement if the fan speed were increased, resulting in a pressure differential increase to whatever level deemed to constitute the service limit of the filter.
How can I stop mice from chewing garage door bottom weather strip? I noticed that there was a 1" gap between the edge of either side of the bottom rubber weather strip on the garage door and the door frame. Now I see that it is 3-4", and likely being chewed by mice. I don't have a serious mouse problem because they ...	Putting down traps and poison just lure them in.
How do I remove THIN layer of carpet glue from concrete? The folks who owned this house before us were the cheapest people around. They glued carpet to our concrete floor with a very thin layer of glue. Now, I'm having a terrible time scraping it off. I tried using some adhesive remover we got from Lowe's, but it doe...	If it's just spotty you can probably use the hand sander. Tool rental places probably rent concrete grinders for big jobs like refinishing concrete floors and then you can use a sander that get get into corners. That will make it much less messy to get up. Then get a 4-inch floor scraper with plenty of blades and go to...
What could be causing GFCI breakers and receptacles to trip? I have a two wire system and after installing GFCI outlet in kitchen I realized there is a problem with some type of inconsistancy causing the GFCI to trip as soon as power is sent to it. Thinking the problem was in an older GFCI outlet I attemped to reuse I ...	With your GFCI breaker installed, turn off all other breakers.
How can I add a closet to an existing room? So I am looking to add a closet to an existing room. I want this to be a built-in because where I live real estate listings do not count a bedroom with a free standing closet. However I can't ever recall seeing someone's house with this and I can't help but think it will look...	So my end analysis is that a closet jutting into the room across from a doorway is fine.
Options for fixing outside cement staircase? We have a below-grade basement and a exit door. There are concrete steps to the door, parallel to the house (so on your right is the house) and on the left is a brick wall. The steps appear to have been poured as one unit. However, over time it appears the whole assembly ...	There are some low spots, so another layer of concrete on top should allow the water to escape to a drain below the steps.
Which way should a door between the garage and basement swing? Looked everywhere for proper answer. We have a 2 car garage attached to the basement. This house is old, built in 1968, we purchased this 2 years ago and were renovating here/there. We just finished got the wall replaced (fire-rated) also vents removed, ...	From a security standpoint, having it swing into the basement would be more secure as the hinges will be inside. To validate anything do a home tour of a newly built home, which must meet today's local codes.
Can I use alcohol for cleaning tables? For some reason, an unpleasant scent wafted into my room on Sunday, and coincidentally, it was a rainy day that day. As a result, the scent is now stuck to my table, and anything that I put on the wooden table 'carries'/gains the same unpleasant scent. I've tried using water and...	alcohol can remove some (rather uncommon) finishes. Delicate wood could be bleached a bit though so I'd test under the table 1st. We typically used an industrial grade cleaner for smoke damages but this may be a little overboard for your purposes.
How can I tell if these pipes are gas lines or water lines? I recently moved into an in-law unit of a large old house. In the kitchen, there are two pipes coming out of the wall (one protruding out a little more than the other). I had assumed they were gas lines to connect my stove. But since the stove only connects...	If it's hissing when both cold water and hot water taps are on, then it could be the cold water intake for the boiler. You should be able to tell by the color, and connections used. Compare the pipes coming out of your water heater (at the top, where the water side is) to the pipes coming out of the wall. Go back and l...
How do I determine where lead paint was used? I just bought a new house. The inspector told me that the entry way paint is cracking because a previous owner painted over lead paint without using the proper primer. How do I find out which walls have lead paint before I move in? I plan on painting all the walls. <Q> They...	As a certified home inspector and licensed EPA Lead renovator, I question the method your inspector used to determine that there was lead paint present.
How do I determine if I need attic insulation to keep cool in summer? How can I determine if I need more attic insulation to keep cool in summer? I live in the desert of southern California so it can get pretty hot in the summer (110+ is not uncommon). I would like to lower my electric bill but more to the point I ...	I would recommend installing Berger AccuVent baffles over every soffit vent before adding more insulation. As a DIY alternative to an energy audit, get a non-contact IR thermometer and walk around your home on a hot or cold day.
Natural ways to keep the ceiling cool during summer I live in the single floor independent house in South India with the ceiling exposed to sun. In summer it gets really hot. I am not an expert but was wondering if there is a traditional/natural way of cooling the ceiling. Sometimes, inside the house, we feel like l...	If there is a space between the ceiling and the roof, its going to get pretty hot in there. You open a window, then turn on the fan. If you live in a humid area, then forget it because swamp coolers cool by putting a cool dampness in the air, nothing wet but on a hot dry day a properly sized cooler can cool a 2000 squa...
Is it possible to convert a truss attic into living space? What are some options for converting a trussed roof into living space? My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that the following needs to be taken into consideration: proper floor joists need to be installed/sistered. Knee wall supports need...	I think you could remove the cross members if you go to a roof designer.
How can I remote control a switch for a pool pump? I want to be able to start and stop two pool pumps by remote control, independently. Each one works at 220V, 1 kW (i.e. around 5A, expect a current spike when starting.) Do you know an off the shelf solution for this? If not, any DIY solutions are welcome. Expect th...	Wire up both pumps as if you was wiring up two single-pole light switches. I also looked at a pair of single relay wireless receivers ready to be plugged into a wall socket. There are equivalents to Insteon in other technologies (both wireless and power-line carrier) such as Z-Wave, UPB and X10 (though X10 is very poor...
How do I seal a cracked pipe using epoxy putty? So, I have a broken pipe exactly on the L join on the wall. It's a huge crack but no big gap, just a curved crack along the pipe. At first I thought of replacing the pipe, but it means that I have to take out the tiles and probably destroying the wall which must cost me ...	Once you remove the tiles then cut out the backer board enough to get to the fitting-pipe.
How can I make low ceilings appear taller? I am having my basement remodeled. The ceiling is about 6'6 recessed lighting has already been installed. I would like to know what I can do do make the ceiling appear taller. <Q> Generally speaking, a room with a light-colored ceiling will appear taller than a room with a dar...	Painting a gradient between the wall color and ceiling color, that begins on the wall and ends on the ceiling, will give a somewhat forced perspective that makes the room look taller. Possibly you can paint them black for the "city coffe shop" look.
What's the suggested standard gauge wire for a given current? I'd like to see a reference to an US or EU standard that lists in a table the suggested wire gauges for AC/DC and volts / amps. <Q> I cannot speak for the US system. <S> In Europe there is not one system <S> , It is not a continent wide electrical code. <S> ...	It really depends on the type of wire, along with the application.
How do I maintain air quality in a newly finished basement of a 1925 home with no ductwork? I just bought a house built in 1925 but it has just been professionally renovated, including finishing the basement as living space. The home has a boiler for radiator and baseboard heat. There is no duct work for ventilation no...	Adequate ventilation is required for good air quality. Also, since this is a basement, other tests such as testing for Radon as @mikes mentions would be adviseable as well.
Is it legal to connect a combi expansion pipe to a drainpipe? Is it legal to install a combi boiler in a cupboard in a bedroom and connect the expansion pipe to a cast iron drainpipe? The person who has done it ownes one of the four flats in our house. Recently during heavy rainfall a back-up occurred and water from th...	Fuel burning appliances must not be installed in sleeping rooms, with the exception of direct vent appliances which draw combustion air from outside. First step would be to contact a lawyer about the damages the boiler caused in your property. The local building authority would be mandated by law to ensure buildings an...
Is radiant heat in a concrete floor unpleasant in a super-insulated house? While reading about superinsulation, I came across the idea that a radiant concrete floor is a poor choice if you have really good insulation. The reasoning goes like this: In a regular house you heat through walls, ceiling, windows, etc., so t...	Installing radiant heat in the floor will help to cancel out the cooling affects of your floor.
Does it make sense to try mounting the jigsaw onto the table? I'm trying to get my shop completed for hobbyist woodworking. I own a jigsaw that's very useful, but I'd like to be able to attach it to a table-like surface (still don't got a pro-table, I'm using a few boards of hardwood glued together). What I'm hoping ...	Mounting a jigsaw in this way could make it easier to force the wood, which could lead to binding, flexing, and even cause the blade to break (which could be deadly). I've done it (there used to be router-table plates sold for this purpose), and found it less useful than it might appear.
Cannot figure out wiring of most basic Honeywell thermostat (heater only) I live in an apartment with central heat. It's controlled by a round Honeywell thermostat. The heater ticks really loudly and annoyingly when it heats up and cools down (probably a topic for a separate thread), and the Honeywell thermostat caus...	If you really do want to measure voltage, make sure the thermostat is not requesting heat (set it all the way cold), and set your meter for AC first... if you do get a reading, you can test again with DC to see whether you have an AC or DC source.
Should a post in a circular concrete form go through the bottom? I am replacing a fence post that was in a circular 2-ft form. The old one had rotted where the concrete and post meet at the top - the next one will have the concrete above water level!But - I noticed that the old post was sticking out of the concrete on...	The correct way to prevent rot coming up the post is to set the tube, pour a little bit of concrete to the bottom, lift the tube a few inches allowing the concrete to "mushroom" out around the bottom of the tube, then set the post and pour the rest of your concrete.
What could cause bubbling toilet when the shower or sink is running? One of the two toilets in my rental house is bubbling when the shower or sink in that master bath area are on. In the past, about 6 months ago, I have had plumbers and rotoruter out and they could find no blockage in the line. Before I spend more mone...	Depending on other aspects of the design, like the relative order of the sink, toilet and shower in the drain line, water pushing past the tee to the toilet may be enough to force some air through the toilet's U-bend.
The main water valve won't open fully after I closed it. How do I shut off the water to replace it? Basically the title says it all. I turned the water for the house off to replace some leaking washing machine shutoff valves, and install stop-cock valves for a laundry sink. When I tried to turn the water back on, it ...	Call the local water municipality, they will be able to shut the water off either at the meter or before it.
Convert Light Switch to Light Switch + Outlet Combination I have a serious lack of outlets in my garage and that is a problem for a beginner carpenter. I have a light switch by my workbench and was curious if I could change it to a combination outlet + switch? <Q> The DIY answer is absolutely not. <S> Why? <S> Run...	If you have the feed in the switch box, then you can easily add a switch - outlet combination. The Regulated and safest answers is No. How easy you are able to accomplish this would depend on where the power is fed. The DIY answer is maybe . At least put a breaker 5amp(@220v = 1000Watts) after the light switch stop ove...
How freely should a central A/C condenser fan spin? Last year my home's central air condenser fan motor stopped working. When I noticed the house wasn't cooling down I went outside to investigate and found there was a humming sound coming from the unit, but the fan wasn't turning. After researching the problem online,...	If the fan turns at all without forcing, it should spin when powered up.
Which should be first, pressure reducer or backflow preventer? Question pretty much says it all. I'm installing a sprinkler system in the yard, and discovered the pressure is too high (valves were leaking when on, and kick when turned on/off). I can see whichever device comes first reducing the work of the second dev...	The backflow preventer must be installed before any point in the system where the line becomes "open" to the introduction of pollutants that would make the water unsafe for drinking (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, animal wastes, bacteria, and other things you generally find in your topsoil).
What is causing my gas water heater to squeal? I have a gas water heater. Starting yesterday, when the flame is on, the unit makes a squealing noise of moderate volume. The noise stops immediately when the flame turns off. This means it is not caused by water pressure in the tank, which would take at least a moment t...	The other thing it might be, depending on the tank's proximity to your gas meter, is that the gas reg on the meter (which steps down pressure from the gas main to a level suitable for your home's appliances) is starting to fail, and the heater, being closest to the gas reg, is picking up a vibration through the gas lin...
How to make a swing swing straight? I don't know if this is "home improvement" since it is about an item in my garden but it is not about "gardening and landscaping" either so I am going to ask it here in the hope that, since it I think the skillset required to answer questions here probably overlaps so here goes... I...	Try moving the anchor points on the limb closer together - this should give you a more even swinging motion, but might make it more liable to twist.
How do I determine if the energy savings are worth replacing windows for? I have a house with an east-facing wall which is mostly windows. In the winter, during the day I almost never have to run the furnace because of how much the sunlight warms my house. During the summer it's hard to keep cool for the same reason. I...	Maybe the increase in heating in the winter would be offset by a larger decrease in heating in the summer, but like you, I don't know for sure how to calculate that. Get a bid on what the new glass and installation will cost you and try to figure out how long it will take you get your money back.

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