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train · 95.7k rows

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What is eating my drywall? Something is leaving scars in my drywall and deposits on the outside that I presume to be wood. These deposits are flat, stick out from the wall, an inch or more square, with a gap between the top and bottom layers. The 1st picture is of a groove about 4 inches long in the drywall. 2nd is...	Termites travel in mud tubes and those pictures look like your drywall has lots of mudtubes. They also will tunnel through the drywall to get to the paper between the gypsum and paint on the other side. That bug is a some sort of fly.
How can I cut through brick to add a window? I'm redoing a bathroom and would like to add a window (36x12) in the shower. This involves cutting through brick. A contractor I spoke with said he could cut it with a angle grinder (diamond blade?), but wasn't all that confident. The brick would be cut on the mortar on the ...	I would then use a chisel to remove the halved bricks and either turn them around or replace them with good ones from the removed section. Hammer and chisel will tidy up your opening. I've never used a concrete saw because they are too heavy and too expensive ($120 a day to hire). the best and safe way is to a trady in...
How can I move a toilet sewer drain in a concrete floor? The toilet in one of my bathrooms is too close to the shower. I have room and would like to move it about 2 feet. It is also a 14" rough-in and it's hard to find toilets in that size, that are not ~$500 (Toto). I'd like to make it a standard 12" rough-in. The...	You can use diamond tools to cut your way through the concrete.
How can I modify telephone Cat5 cables and jacks into Ethernet ports? We just moved into a new house and I found out they used Cat5 to run the telephone network in the house. I found the junction where all the network/phone lines come together and disconnected all the wires that were capped together. I put a wire tra...	Also getting signal on all the wires shows something is connected somewhere. Cat5 should be wired in a star pattern.
Does a bathroom exhaust fan have to vent to the outside? Is it normal and/or code compliant to have a bathroom exhaust fan venting to the attic? I've seen this a couple times now, and the first time I saw this I thought it was very odd. But I mentioned this to a couple people around here and they thought it was 'norm...	The excessive moisture will cause condensation on the roof members, insulation and eventually cause mold. Bathroom vent fans must be vented to the out of doors. Also, the environmental company inspector noted that the roof work that was done not too long before we bought the place had left excessive paper and shingles ...
How can I prevent these steel poles from rusting? I have a pole home on a hill, and the steel poles keep getting covered with dirt when it rains, so they've started to rust. I am desperate to do something. I was thinking of embedding the poles in concrete and creating a concrete floor underneath the house. Will this s...	Anything you'd use as a structural member exposed to the elements should have SOME form of protective coating already on it (or be made of an alloy that resists oxidation; stainless steel however is uncommon for major structural members).
What nails should I use to attach Hardie plank lap siding to 3/4" furring strips in concrete wall? I want to attach Hardie plank fiber-cement lap siding to my concrete garage walls. It's a very small surface which requires something like 3 boards altogether. I am only covering it for decorative purposes to hide old ugl...	Anyway, assuming it cannot be done any other way, I'd say that using 1" nails where 1-1/4" is recommended is acceptable; maybe use a few more along each furring strip to compensate for the decreased "bite" of the shorter length of each nail.
Why does my dryer duct have such a long vertical portion? My dryer duct follows this path: Flex duct leaving the dryer Four feet of vertical rigid steel duct down into crawlspace Eight feet of horizontal rigid steel duct, immediately below the floor Outlet approximately at-grade 90% of the vertical portion is ab...	The maximum length of a clothes dryer exhaust duct shall not exceed 45 feet (13 716 mm) from the dryer location to the outlet terminal. They did it anyway because it was easier to run it down through the crawl space then up to the ceiling (where, if this is your garage, they'd then have to build a sealed bulkhead to pr...
What fire hazard considerations are there when creating a cable hole between rooms? Can't believe this hasn't been asked before, but I can't seem to find anything so... I've currently got a very light, very thin 32" TV mounted on the bedroom wall. It's perfect - except for the fact that I'd love to make it a bit more ...	If there were, you'd need fire rated doors that seal to the floor between rooms, fire rated drywall separating sections of the home, spring loaded vents that automatically close to keep fire out of the HVAC ducts, etc. In a single family residence, with the exception of a garage, I don't believe there are any codes con...
What could be causing this electrical issue? The problem occurs within one particular unit of an apartment complex. All other units are fine. The problem has gradually gotten worse. All electricity within the house will flicker on and off. It is most obvious with the lights but TVs, stove, and other appliances are affe...	I would consider hiring a thermal imaging camera. There might be a break in the wire from the meter to the main panel.
How deep should I sink a gatepost for a 7' wide gate in my fence? I am a first time fence builder, which will be 6ft cedar. I need a gate that is 7 to 8 ft wide. I live in Oregon and the frost line is only a foot deep. I was planning on a 7ft gate with a 6x6 post. Would that hold the gate? How deep should I sink it? ...	A 6' fence should be sunk into the ground 3', so you'd need 9' posts.
How can I fix my kitchen sink cheaply? We live in a condo. Our kitchen sink will gurgle a lot. From time to time, there will be bubbles and even an overflow of bubbles and some sediment coming up from the kitchen drain. Someone has suggested that the problem is from the previous owner who relocated the kitchen sink ...	If the sink has been relocated the problem may also be distance of the sink from a main "vented drain" and or what the drain of the sink has been connected into. Either the vent is blocked, improperly located, or not installed at all.
How do I drill a mortise and tenon joint so I can reinforce it with a dowel? I want to make a mortise and tenon joint that will be held together with a dowel instead of glue. How can I drill the hole in the mortised stock and the tenon so that they line up accurately and produce a tight joint? <Q> The simplest solution...	Basically you drill the hole slightly off-center in the tenon and then chamfer the inside end of your dowel.
Who to call about sinking porch and mud room? I live in Massachusetts and have a porch and mud room that are sinking. I was stupid enough to think they had "settled" when I bought the house, but now I can see that they're still sinking, which is causing some damage to the inside of the house (cracks in drywall, etc). I...	You'll want to call a licensed contractor to handle it.
How can I color concrete? I'm going to be using a mold to pour a concrete pathway and I was wondering about coloring options. I've done this previously with this quikrete product . It worked and turned out okay, but one bottle only does two bags of concrete. The cost of color adds up pretty fast. On TV I saw some DIY...	The big-box stores also sell concrete stain that isn't really a stain, but rather a top-coat that will just wear. There are dozens of stains and dyes available.
Where could all these flies be coming from? Now is the transition from spring to summer. The house I am now living has some strange things happening. In the daytime of one day last week, I found many flies gather on the inside face of the window in the front living room. I then opened the window and drove them out. T...	If you can't find anything and the flies persist, then as others have mentioned you could have something in an attic, chimney, flue, basement/crawlspace, roof eaves, etc. Each time it was because a bird had died outside our condo. Bingo - a fly had laid eggs in old coffee grounds that were sitting in the bottom of the ...
How to deal with Mice coming into the Baby's Room Possible Duplicate: How can I get rid of a mouse in my house? Our first child is due any day now, and we've got a mouse infestation. We noticed it for the first time at my girlfriend's baby shower (lots of cakes and crumbs out), and since then we've started seeing ...	3 basic things to do: get rid of food access (put cereal in plastic tubs, grains in glass jars, etc.) trap existing mice (I'm a fan of the glue traps...though they may not be the most humane, they do work) Call an exterminator, or if you rent, insist your landlord call an exterminator.
WR outlets; is it trying to tell you which way is up? I know about this question (I posted an answer to it), but this one's a little more specific. Consider a weather-resistant outlet, like the ones below: Notice the first picture has the plug in what most of us would call "right-side-up" orientation; the blades ...	If the ground on an outlet is at the bottom it will not put a strain on the cord. Actually Leviton puts their WR - TR - WR/TR like a GFI, where you can read the WR correctly no matter how you mount them. Also, I've had issues with night lights in ground-side-up outlets.
Is it safe to run a USB cable inside a wall? I need to extend a USB device from a corner of my room to the above the fireplace. Since I'm already going to be installing some HDMI and audio cables through the wall, I'd like to have my USB device run through the same wall plate ; I'm not having any luck determining if ...	You can not run just any speaker wire in the wall, it has to be in-wall rated. If you are using USB 2.0 and your run is more than 16 feet, then I would suggest not to run it. The reason I like gregmacs answer is that cat5, with the right connectors can be used for a multitude of things. You could release toxic smoke or...
What should I do with leftover sulfuric acid from a sump pump battery backup? In our new house, we found that a previous owner installed a sump pump battery backup unit, which is nice. The battery in the system is like a car battery, but it's the kind where you initially add sulfuric acid to, and then periodically top ...	Gather together all the acid you need to dispose of and put on some sort of concrete pad. You can try an auto supply store or battery specialtyshop to see if they will take it or anyplace that recycles metal as most take batteries.
What are these large pieces of plexiglass? I found these large, heavy pieces of plexiglass while cleaning the shed on the property of a house that I just bought. I have no idea what they are or what they are used for. They are about the size of a kitchen table and if there wasn't 6 of them back there, I would have gu...	Perhaps they were "windows" in a set for some old play, then removed and saved after the set was torn down.
Risk from installing a "Nest" thermometer without shutting off home power? I'm trying to install a new Nest-brand thermometer in my parents' house (unscrewing a thermometer from the wall and screwing on the new one. The first instruction in the manual is to shut off power to the house. What is the risk of not shuttin...	Shutting off the house seems extreme, but you could easily damage the furnace control board if you let the wrong wires touch during the installation.
Who to call to fix electric oven? My electric oven stopped heating. The range works fine. The digital controls work fine. The oven light works fine. But neither the element at the bottom of the oven nor the one at the top heat up at all.I've run my fingers over both elements, and there don't seem to be any burnt or rou...	Call any local appliance sales place and ask for a recomendation on who to call.
Can I clean my under-the-floor dryer vent? Our laundry nook is smack in the middle of our house. The dryer vent goes into an interior wall, turns 90° downward, soon turns 90° back the way it came, and goes straight for four or five meters until exiting a tube near the ground on an exterior wall. I'm a new homeowner an...	They make Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits for this very purpose: This will intercept much of the lint, but enough will still get through, and the many bends in this vent make the air slow down enough to cause problems. All it is is 4 pieces of flexible plastic rod that screw together, so I can make it as long as I need it. Wh...
How can I replace a sliding glass door with a broken seal? I have a sliding glass door and the glass is etched around side; the seal broke and dust has come in and I don't know how to fix it. <Q> If repairing the glass as RQDQ suggests does not pan out, you have three options: Order replacement glass. <S> Manufact...	Typically a company that specializes in glass replacement would measure the panel, order replacement glass, and install it in the fixed or moving panel from your door.
How do I fill in around waste pipes? Broke the concrete in my basement to run new pipes for the basement bathroom. The plumber put sand under the pipes to support them at the correct angle. I asked him not to glue the vertical sections as I'd probably have to disassemble them to build the wall there. My question is no...	Just pick up a few bags of cement from the home store, mix it up as indicated in a wheelbarrow, and trowel it in. Make it reasonably flat, but you need not be a perfectionist if this is simply a storage area.
What primer should I use to paint over nicotine stained walls? What primer should be used before painting over nicotine stained walls? <Q> I would just use a good stain covering primer like Kilz . <S> I have used both KILZ 2 <S> ® Latex Primer and KILZ® Premium Primer , the Premium version is noticeable better th...	My favourite primer for difficult situations is white pigmented shellac, like the B-I-N product mentioned, but there are generic off-brand versions that are cheaper.
How can I connect two indoor ductless A/C's to one compressor? I have one Hitachi i-clean split AC 2ton unit installed in my home. I want to connect another indoor ductless unit to the already installed outdoor compressor. I only need to use one indoor unit at a time. How do I connect two indoor units to a single comp...	You need to install two T connections at the IN/OUT of compressor.
What to expect when tearing up carpet? What should I expect when I tear up carpet? My brother's dogs have stained my carpets with their pee and poop, he also has tracked in grease from his work boots and stained it with tattoo ink. I want to tear up my carpet and do something different on the floor. Was thinking just p...	For a more finished looked, hire someone with a concrete grinder to grind off the bad top layer of glue, dog pee and what-have you. but I think some unknowns would be whether it is stained or not, and whether there are any big cracks in it from the foundation settling. Since you live in Florida, laying new carpet is no...
How do I drill a hole in a shelf without going all the way through? I need to drill a hole in a shelf that's half an inch deep but I don't want to drill a hole through the shelf. What's the best way of doing that? I have a drill and i was thinking of showing just a half an inch of the drip bit. This way, I can force th...	The easiest and cheapest way that I have found is to use a drill stop on your drill.
Why is my A/C condenser fan motor wiring backwards, and how can I fix it? I've just replaced my condenser fan motor on my home A/C unit with this unit: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/GENERAL-ELECTRIC-Condenser-Fan-Motor-2PRA6 The HP, RPM's and amp ratings all match. The old one was CW only and the new was CW/CCW. I...	I pulled the dual capacitor out and found the wires had been connected wrong.
Are there any good videos available that teach basic carpentry? I apologies if this was already covered but I could only find a thread on books, and it was geared towards someone having some basic skills already. While I am far from useless, I never had a reason to learn much about home repair when I was around people...	For video instruction, The Wood Whisperer is one of my favorites; he gets into what tools are used for, how to set them up and tune them, and has some videos dedicated to safety. HomeDepot/Lowes has youtube channel and DIY tutorials in their website that cover a wide range of home improvement tasks from fixing a leaky ...
How can I make these bath valves easier to use? I'm looking for a way to make the valves in the pictures below easier for my mother to use. She has a bad case of arthritis in here hands, so this was suggested by a nurse. I would really prefer any ideas that don't require opening up the walls and replacing any plumbin...	As shoemaker said lever handles are a lot easier for the elderly to use, you may want to consider changing to ceramic disk lever handle taps( the whole top assembly) as this don't get harder to turn off as the washer wears out because they don't have one.
Do external faucets have an indoor shutoff valve somewhere indoors? Spring is here! So I decided to see if I could draw some water for watering the plants outside and... no water and no pressure at my outside faucet. I just bought my house (1948 victory house in Canada). so I'm wondering if perhaps houses normally hav...	In most areas where the temperature drops below freezing at some point throughout the year, it is common to have a shut off valve inside the house.
How can I repair/replace tires on a hand cart? I have a few small hand-carts. One of them is the two wheel hand-truck/dolly, and one is a larger one on four wheels with an upright handle. Both have leaky tires. Some of the tires have a slow leak that I need to pump up every time I need to use the cart, but one tire w...	Plugging the hole If the leak is in the tread, you could try a tire repair kit like this
My house has steel "2x4s" in the walls, can I hang cabinets, a TV, or some other heavy item from them? The question is pretty much all in the title: My house has metal "2x4's" in the walls. Can I hang cabinets or a TV directly on these metal studs? If not directly, is there something special I must do? My experience w...	Now for fully articulate mounts you MUST reinforce the wall. Also, since you are hanging a TV on the wall, you might be cutting a hole behind it anyway to run wires through, so you can cut a piece of 2x4 and put it in the hole and fit it in too the stud to spread out the load.
Are hot water returns worth putting in? Once I saw on an episode of This Old House that they were putting in hot water return lines: pipes that recirculate idle hot water back to the heater so you get hot water right away, instead of wasting time and water. My wife and I are looking to getting our first home and I ...	The big drawback I see is that you will need to make sure that all your hot water lines are well lagged to minimise the inevitable heat loss that will occur with the hot water sitting in the pipes.
Why would an iMac computer cause lights on a circuit to flicker when it goes into sleep mode? Background My wife has an iMac computer that is approximately 3 years old. When the computer goes into sleep mode the lights on the circuit the iMac is plugged into flicker. My house was built in 1963 in Missouri. The ho...	A bad junction somewhere, or a physically damaged wire, or wires that are too small for the current draw (and the fuse or circuit breaker!). A few things that can cause this: Faulty iMac supply.
Is this fluorescent light fixture a major electrical problem / fire hazard? (I am a new homeowner.) I went to replace a some fluorescent tubes that looked like they burned out, but after disassembling it a little to get the tubes out, I saw something a little alarming: There was a black sticky substance on the inside...	You didn't show the ballast, (the black boxy thing with all the wires coming out of it in the fixture) so my guess is that it went bad and some of the potting insulation around the coils of the ballast over heated and melted. It looks like the black on the cover is a tar type residue It is sticky and a mess to get off...
What type of underlayment should I use for an above ground pool? I recently bought a non-inflatable, steel frame above ground pool (12 ft diameter, 3 ft depth). I want to set it up on a slab of concrete, but I have a couple of concerns about the wear on the bottom liner of my pool: Joints in my concrete may stretc...	Then the key is to create some sort of smooth pad in between the concrete and the bottom of the pool.
How to remove rusted tank bolts We have a really old toilet in one of our bathrooms which has started to leak around the tank bolts. I was going to replace the bolts and washers but the nuts are completely seized and rusted to the bolts. Due to placement I can only get about a 1" draw on a hack saw (which doesn't rea...	First, try an old-fashioned mechanic's nutcracker
How easy is it to fit a garage door opener? My wife is desperate to have a garage door opener, and she's found this kit at B&Q. Can anyone advise on how easy/straightforward these things are to install? It'll be me (and most likely my Dad) installing it, and I think between us we're reasonably capable, but I haven'...	Fairly simple to install if you follow the instructions.
How to cut off an old swing to get rid of it I need to dispose of an old swing in my yard. Problem is some screws are so rusty they can't be unscrewed and the whole swing wont's pass the door. Is there any simple way to cut this thing into a few pieces ? I guess the rods are hollow so perhaps it's not too hard. Any s...	Use a reciprocating saw - a "Sawzall" to cut it into manageable pieces.
How should I wire a GFCI outlet and a switch to isolate the switch but provide GFCI protection further in the series? I am replacing the outlets for my garbage disposal/dishwasher circuit in my kitchen. Currently on that breaker there is one non-GFCI outlet with a pigtailed switch controlling the garbage disposal and o...	This is accomplished by using the leads on the combo switch & GFCI to feed the garbage disposal. If there are no wires between the combo switch & GFCI then you will have to pull some romex between the two. The only reason I give Leviton is because I know the part number. To be protected when you touch the garbage dispo...
Drywall screws for subfloor Are drywall screws suitable for attaching a 3/4" tongue-and-groove plywood subfloor? In this case, joists are 16" O.C. and no glue will be used. <Q> By "drywall screws", I think you are meaning 1 5/8" blued screws. <S> I do not think that they would be a good choice. <S> We usually shoot do...	The drywall screws have a lot of thread to hold the drywall itself, but have very little shear strength.
Replacing a hot water heater: tank or tankless? We've lived in this house for 20 years and the hot water heater (tank style) was 2 years old, as was the rest of the house, when we moved in. In the last year or two we've started to have occasions when we run out of hot water. At first we put it down to volume - we have ...	I would check the operation of the heating elements.
Vampire Power Draw and Power Strips Can a standard power strip (when switched off) stop vampire power draw from electronics?? I'd rather not buy one of those new-fangled "smart" power strips for $30 - $40 if a standard one will do -- I don't have any problem flicking the switch. I gave my father a Belkin watt-meter...	Yes, every "standard" (non UPS, non "smart") power strip that you buy, will stop that "vampire draw" when it is switched off.
How much can you do as a homeowner in Texas without requiring a permit/inspections? Backstory: we recently added some furniture to a previously-unused room to make it a quickie guest bedroom for some upcoming family visits. On a whim, I got my electrical tester and plugged it in to a bedside outlet to make sure it work...	Granted, just because something requires a permit, it doesn't mean one was pulled. But where I've lived, it's generally acceptable for homeowners to do most work themselves.
How can I reconnect home ethernet that has been terminated outside? I recently moved into a newly re-wired house where the electrician terminated the ethernet wiring outside of the house. Wires are coiled/zip tied into a box on the exterior wall. The same box that the cable company patches their coax into. What is t...	Build a proper wiring closet inside the house somewhere, forward whatever your internet provider gives you to that wiring closet, place all the routers/switches/ I would encourage you to re-wire completely as much as possible, so it doesn't loop back outside.
What would cause air to be pushed into pipes from a well tank? The faucets have been hissing of air for the passed few months, and it has been getting progressively worse. It is usually worse in the morning when we get up and in the evening when we get home. We have a Well Mate VM series tank. At first I thought maybe...	Could be a bad foot valve combined with a leak somewhere that is allowing the water on the pump side of the check-valve up top to partially drain out.
What's a good way to customize or recess a lightswitch? I saw this etsy project: Working Arcade Light Switch And while it's pretty cool, I'm not huge into arcade or fighting games, so I was going to make my own, and change the buttons. How would be a good and easy way to do that? I don't want to make my own switch...	Modifying a switch could invariably invalidate those safety features.
Do I need a box-spring for my bed? I've moved into a smaller room and would like to maximize my space. I've decided to build a new bed frame, but for that to work how I would like I would need to eliminate my box-spring as it would make the bed too high. I currently have a standard mattress, with a box-spring, on a me...	So, if you want to buy a firmer mattress, just remove the box spring instead.
How can I mount a tablet on a wall? Expanding my music set-up, I'm planning to mount a tablet in my kitchen mostly as remote-control (for music playing on the server), but as it can also show websites and movies, it might get -sporadically- used as a 'real' screen too. I've done all the things I'm comfortable with (se...	You could get some aluminum C-channel (available at most hardware stores) and mount it on the wall at the top and bottom and slide the tablet in from the side.
Spacing for recessed lighting in bedroom Tonight I'm installing recessed lighting in my bedroom and have a question on how to space the cans. The room is 12' x '12. How many cans should I put in the bedroom and how should I space them? <Q> There are a number of variables you need to consider in order to space them corr...	Bulbs with a wider spread will cover a larger area but light will be more diffused. In fact, in my childhood bedroom (approximately 12x12), the wall switch controlled only two recessed lights in front of the closet door (the type that angled towards the closet). Also take into consideration the position of ceiling jois...
Solutions for a moist basement? I live close to the water and there is a high water table around my house. Therefore a lot of water vapor passes through the basement walls. I would like to be able to store stuff in my basement and ideally finish it and not have to worry about mold. There are a range of options I have ...	Make sure the any doors and windows are relatively airtight and don't open them if outside is warmer than inside. If it's ground water, the issue isn't water vapor, but rather just plain water. Dry it from the outside - dig down the outside of the wall, a trench about 60 cm wide, let it dry, paint with bitumen and fill...
Circuit breaker trips every couple of weeks I have a 15A circuit breaker in my electrical box tied to the media room. Every couple of weeks, it trips. I bought an amperage/wattage load tester . Readings show 4 - 4.5A total in my media room...way under 15A. I suspect a malfunctioning device. To complicate matte...	They are "Time over current" trip devices, meaning the more current the fault is, the faster the breaker will trip. First I would figure out exactly what loads are on the circuit, add the nameplate currents (or wattage) up. Unless you have an older house with breakers that are obsolete, then the breaker should be relat...
Why are my wall hooks ending up crooked? I have a power drill and sometimes use it to make holes to put up hooks, etc. in my brick+plaster wall. But no matter how carefully I line the holes up and measure them, the hook always ends up at a crooked angle. My method: Hold the hook against the wall Use a thin pencil t...	Make sure that the drill bit is sharp and the correct one for the material being drilled into. The answer to this question (and many others) is: Make a jig or paper template.
How can I eliminate play in a water tap? My hot water tap in the bathroom has had half a turn of play for as long as I can remember. That is, after increasing flow it takes half a turn before the flow will start going down again, and vice versa. It's a relatively minor problem, but it's a pet peeve of mine. The cold wa...	In theory, the valve seat can be removed and replaced, but it is usually so well corroded to the tap base housing that forced removal will likely damage the whole fixture, requiring total replacement.
How do you calculate if it's worth it to insulate? We live just north of NYC, and the house was built in 1906. We're putting on a new roof and trying to figure out if it's worth it to insulate too. It's a cathedral ceiling on the inside, and we do not have vented soffits right now. The contractor says it might not b...	Insulating the roof will be worth it - you will save significantly on heating and cooling, and doing it while the roof is open is the best time.
What could be causing my water heater inlet pipe to corrode? There is corrosion forming on the inlet and TP valve connections to my water heater; the outlet seems to be fine. More specifically, the nipples are what is corroding. I have read the copper pipe and galvanized steel will cause this, and I assumed this was ...	Your "dialectric" nipple has an ABS plastic coating inside a galvanized steel pipe.
Inferring wire gauge from cable size Is there any way to infer the gauge of the wires inside an NM cable from the size and shape of the cable? I reckon a round cable is generally -/3 W/G and a flatter cable -/2 W/G, but I do not know how to distinguish 14/2 W/G from 12/2 W/G without readable markings. I am mapping hou...	Take note of the diameter and overall appearance of the cable, and then check the wires themselves.
Are there any other reasons to use 130 volt halogen light bulbs instead of 120 volt bulbs? I recently had PAR30 50W Halogen light bulbs installed. I would have gone with 75W, but 50W is the max wattage supported by my light (shallow 6" can). I'm very disappointed with the how dim the lights are. They should be about 60...	Places that had a lot of incandescent would save more money using 130V lamps when brightness is not a great factor by saving energy and having to change bulbs less than 120V lamps, like an apartment complex.
Why do the burners on my stove turn on and off while in use? I've got a Whirlpool RF378LXPB0. The two front burners (that can heat a smaller, inner burner, or both the small and larger around it) do not heat up all the way. When turning them on HI, the elements heat up red but then turn off after a few seconds. Onc...	The heaters are probably thermostat controlled and what you see is a normal behaviour of the thermostat maintaining a target temperature.
Which nails should I use for shoe molding installation? I'm about to install shoe molding all over my house. The baseboards are hung for carpet, but we're replacing the carpet with vinyl. So I have a pretty good sized gap to cover. I'll probably use 11/16 quarter round. The store display calls for 2.5 inch finish nail...	Some finish nailers will shoot both trim nails and brad nails. Could also check out Harbor Freight , their stuff is definitely cheaper quality, but maybe that is ok for your situation and usage.
Can I use drywall screws to stop floor squeaks? I've got an old squeaky hardwood floor with access to from below. I can feel the hardwood boards moving under my feet when they squeak so I just plan to drill up through the subfloor into the hardwood. Would drywall screws do the job? I noticed they're cheap, which is g...	The Counter Snap screws mentioned in the previous answer are great devices, but commonly used to secure squeaky sub-floors under carpet.
What is involved in installing a free-standing electric oven range? My current oven just plugs into a big outlet in the wall. It's a giant three-pronged outlet. But all I need to do to get the oven to work (when it works) is to plug it into the outlet. I am now ordering a new oven online, since the old one has broken....	In most cases when you purchase a free-standing electric range, you'll be required to purchase the appliance cord separately.
Does this 3 prong 250V outlet in the Philippines have two hots and a neutral or hot/neutral/ground? The plug claims to be 12A 250V, so I think its a NEMA 6-15R or 6-30R which handle 15 or 30 volts respectively. Here is a picture of the outlet: <Q> It looks like the Philippines uses a system similar to Europe, so it...	If you are in the rest of the country, it will be single-leg 230V hot-neutral-ground, with one pin near ground and the other 230V from it. The round pin is intended for a protective earth or ground connection though in some cases it simply isn't installed. The Philippines generally use North American receptacle standar...
Is it possible to anchor a cabinet to a wall without damaging it? I have purchased an approx 2m high by 35cm deep dispay cabinet seated on a carpet floor. This is not fully stable (the cabinet rocks a bit when you exert force on the doors to open them), and it was suggested to me that we anchor the cabinet to the wall ...	Well, if you REALLY don't want to damage the wall or cabinet, you could roll the carpet back, pull up the tact strip.. get a new one, then sandwich a tie-down strap between the floor wood and the tact strip.
Easiest way to cut, shave, or chisel bottom 8" of posts to fit footings I got some 6x6's and deck post brackets that are similar to the picture below, except they're 8" high: Come to find out, the 6x6 is slightly too large to fit inside this bracket. Now I see how this makes sense. It is better that the bottom of t...	You could install a Dado Blade in your table saw, set the depth to remove a very small amount of material.
How do I connect a dryer with a four prong plug to a three prong socket? I've just moved house and my clothes dryer has a four prong plug but on the wall there's a three prong socket. Do adapters exist for this? Or do I need to get a new cord for my dryer? Or is there another solution? <Q> You could replace the cord on...	The cheaper option would be to replace the plug on the dryer. So, depending on your dryer, you may not get a separate ground even with a 14-30 connector.
How can I find out where a door is sticking? Possible Duplicate: Doors are sticky and noisy when opened? We have several old doors in our house, with possibly a great deal of paint build up on them. As a result they are very difficult to close solidly (and then open) - they stick a great deal. Is it better to "w...	My preferred method of resolving Use a straight edge to mark the door where it's sticking, drawing a straight line down (or over) to where the gap is a reasonable size.
How do I determine if adding an air conditioner will overload a circuit? I'm going to take advantage of some Memorial Day sales and pull the trigger on a portable AC unit for my "basement-ish" (bottom of windowsill is mid chest, rather than head height) apartment. Before I do this, however, I've been researching onlin...	The only way to know what load a device draws is to put the device in to service and measure the load.
How can I locate the entrance of a wasp nest, and prevent wasps from entering? While I was out gardening, I saw a wasp fly through a small hole beside my basement window and into my basement. Then later, I saw five more enter through two other holes (two in part of my AC, three in my fireplace exhaust area.) The exhau...	I would say that if there are wasps (or bees, or whatever), and multiple of them, going into small holes, then there would be a nest of some description.
How to drill a hole in a space too small to fit a standard manual or electric drill? I have a very narrow kitchen cupboard I'd like to make some changes to (add shelves maybe). Almost any change will require drilling holes though, and there's not enough room for a standard electric or manual drill, so the first problem...	If you are going into wood or drywall, you might be able to use a Bradawl , which wouldn't be much larger than a standard screwdriver.
How can I determine why my A/C runs all day? I have a Bryant AC/Furnace unit. My house is 10 years old. A heat wave hit this weekend & temps got up to 95°F outside. I had my thermostat set to 75°, and it ran all day. The thermostat never dropped below 80° during the day & eventually cooled down towards the evening....	Another likely problem is that your system needs the coolant recharged.
How do I determine which phone line goes where, without any special tools? I have six (6) phone lines running from my rooms into the basement. They are not terminated as this is a new build. I need to determine which line corresponds to which room. Is there a way to do this without purchasing a line tester? <Q> The si...	When you hear the dial tone, you know what line you've connected. As @lqlarry said, you could do this with a 9V battery
How can I install a window air conditioner in a metal window frame? I'm trying to install a window unit air conditioner, but most of the installation instructions don't seem to work with this window configuration. A little bit about the setup: The apartment is the 5th floor of a pre-war walkup building that has gone ...	The system requires you to screw the platform into the window sill (which may or may not be possible in your situation), then simply rests against the outside of the building to support the A\C unit.
How can I install a dishwasher under a 23 inch deep counter space? We want to install a dishwasher in our kitchen, however the cabinet box is only 23" deep and dishwashers are usually 24 inches deep (as I understand). This would pose a problem when opening a bank of drawers that are perpendicular to the dishwasher. T...	My plan to get the dishwasher I already happen to have in is to cut out the back of the cabinet (just enough for the back parts of the dishwasher to go through, perhaps adding some horizontal and vertical strips around the hole to reinforce the cabinet) and maybe even the plaster wall, then cover the cracks between lat...
What is a good wood to use to build a base for a heavy antique table top? So my gf has a really sweet antique baker's table top. It has what I believe is a porcelain but may be ceramic finish. I've never tried lifting it (it was here before I was) but she tells me it weighs a ton, or more precisely: "You'll need anoth...	So long as it's furniture grade lumber, and adequately designed to support the weight of the tabletop, it doesn't much matter if it's pine or mahogany.
How can I repair my damaged kitchen counter? I made a stupid mistake and placed a hot pan on the kitchen counter top directly, which made a small burn and a bigger bump filled with air that cracked after a little while. I don't know much about kitchens, and I can't tell what the material is. Is there a way to fix thi...	You may want to try to use a repair compound like SeamFill or FormFill Laminate Repair - Now, unless you have access to a postform machine (which is basically a big really hot table) and unless you want to pay to get it re-laminated, there is only one thing you can really do, cut it out.
What should I do about a receptacle with 2 circuits going through it where white wires are hot? I have a receptacle that has 3 white wires and 1 black. The black wire is hot and 2 of the white wires are hot but on a separate circuit than the black one (2 bedroom's outlets on separate circuits but tied to this one rece...	It's possible to safely have two circuits feeding one receptacle, if you have a hot/neutral pair for each segment. To fix this, you need to determine which hot is associated with the same cable back to your circuit breaker as your effective neutral, and disconnect the other hot. (One of the black wires may be feeding a...
How do I remove stickers and residue from a wooden door? When I was a kid I put a ton of stickers all over my wooden door. In addition, I also taped on posters and pictures. I tried removing the stickers and with some of them having been there for more than ten years they leave behind some paper backing and some stick...	As for the tape, you could try heating it up with a hair dryer to soften the glue and try to remove. For the really stubborn stuff, GooGone + a plastic scrub pad (regular duty, not one of the heavy duty ones). I highly recommend "De-Solv-It", a citrus based stickum remover.
What kind of gloves do I need for working around electrical wires? What kind of gloves could I wear before manipulating electric wires if I really want to be safe even after having turned off house electricity? And where to buy them? <Q> If the electricity has been turned off, and you have confirmed it's off via a non-...	That said, if you are sure (you have tested and you're really sure) that the wires are disconnected and not energized you can just work on them without special gear - however some basic tools and gloves to protect you from cuts would not hurt.
Is there a way to trace water pipes through walls? I recently purchased my house and I am trying to find my internal valve to turn on my external faucet . Unfortunately the previous owner put in a bathroom in over where the water line enters the house and it also covers the area where the external faucet enters the h...	Wall ScannerIt can detect through 3 inches and it shows what's actually behind the wall as well. If your water pipes are made of metal then you can use simple metal detector to detect route of your pipes. If you have to rely on cutting into the drywall, make sure you perform what is called a pumpkin cut, explained at 3...
How to reattach a tub overflow pipe that is offset from the tub I recently discovered that the overflow drain that is supposed to be connected to the overflow outlet on my bathtub is...well, not. Taking off the cover of the overflow outlet, I see the pipe freestanding and disconnected, a couple of inches away from th...	First install a new gasket and then starting with the long screw, screw it down until it bottoms out.
Is an LED light strip safe to use under a bed? I see a lot of RGB LED light strips being sold on sites like Amazon etc. The lights appear to be of decent quality, run off of 12V but do need up to 5-6 Amps to power. This is a lot of current, so I'm wondering if they are safe to use under my bed. Two concerns that I hav...	The LEDs will not give off enough heat to catch on fire or burn your bed, ever. They come with the power supply already mounted inside and also include multiple outputs along with built in fuses for each one.
What is the typical water pressure for a sprinkler system outside a home? What is the typical water pressure for a sprinkler system outside a home? <Q> Not clear what the reason for the question is. <S> However, nominal water pressure for most residential homes is in the range of 40-70 psi (pounds per square inch). ...	It can vary due to the distance from the home to the water source (such as a water tower), how much water is being used by surrounding homes (higher usage will lower the pressure), the capacity of the water company to maintain pressure as usage varies, etc.
Is there a device that will allow a bathroom fan to run for 5 minutes after it is switched off? There is one switch that controls the lights and fan in the bathroom. Users turn the light/fan on when they enter, and off when they leave. I'd like for the bathroom fan to run for a time after they leave, after turning of...	You are looking for a "delayed off switch" If your fan does not have one it is normally just a case of replacing the fan itself as the timer is normally built into it.
Is there a filter-reminder thermostat that uses run-time instead of total time? My HVAC filter is in my crawlspace and is a hassle to change. I don't want to change it more than needed. "Change it every month" is bogus advice because in some months (like May) we don't have to run the HVAC at all. I'd like a thermostat...	Some programmable thermostats do base their filter reminder on run time.
Why won't my new water valves turn on? Alright I just replaced my bathroom sink and faucet had some problems but managed through. Turned my water back on and the went back to the bathroom sink to turn the valves on but they won't turn. The valves are brand new quarter turn Sharkbite stop valves. What could I have do...	The 1/4 turn valves from my experience are often affected by water pressure and shutting of the main, and draining the lines a bit will often help.
Which type of paint would allow the easiest touch ups? We rent out a flat and wish to be able to touch up the walls between tenants. I have used paint from the same tin to do the touch-ups but it is lighter then the paint that has been on the walls for 3 years. (The paint in the tin still looked OK after that time...	If the paint has faded significantly, I'd just repaint the entire wall.
Is it alright that I did not turn off the power while installing my thermostat? I just installed the Nest thermostat , I forgot to turn the breaker off everything seems to be working fine. Is it safe to assume it is ok? <Q> Did you get shocked? <S> If it turns on, it's likely fine; modern electronics have fuses to ...	It's "ok" in that if it works, you're probably in the clear.
Can I use leveling compound between plywood and cement backer board? I'd like to install slate tiles over a pre-existing plywood floor. The plywood floor is 3/4" and sits on joists. There's a dip about 3/8" deep by 2 feet wide by 5 feet long. My plan was to fill it with self-leveling compound, before installing the ce...	If you are putting backerboard over the leveler then that is an easy answer: all the screws will just bust the leveler and will not work!
After installing expansion tank, massive buildup of pressure then a trickle? I am completely stumped. You guys helped me out a lot with my previous question here: What could be causing water to drip from the relief valve of my new gas water heater? Turns out the expansion tank bladder was filled with water and neede...	If you have full pressure upstairs, but just not enough flow, then you may have a blockage in your pipes.
How do I choose a circular saw? I've made do with hand tools for everything including the rare plywood job for several years now and I want to buy a good circular saw. I will not use it very often, but when I do it will be for serious work like plywood sheets or stair treads. Is there any specific features or brands...	If you are going to be doing a lot of cuts, you likely want a worm-drive one. Blade size is also important, the standard being 7 1/4". I WOULD SAY READ THE REVIEWS OF SAWS IN LIKE FINE HOMEBUILDING,WOOD,HANDYMAN,TOOLS OF THE TRADE
How can I improve hvac air flow to my attic? Two years ago I converted the attic of my 1.5 story house into a livable space. It had no HVAC ducts going up, so I ran some coming from the basement where the furnace is. Air flow to the attic via the ducts is really low. I would say it's at least 10 times weaker than the ...	The ideal solution would be to make the attic ducts much bigger and put dampers on every duct so that you can rebalance your airflow when you switch from cooling to heating and back. Get someone to feel the air coming out while you're pushing the baffle all the way to one side or another. First, realize that with a sin...
What exactly is doorskin? I've used it in a boat-building workshop, but I'm not clear on what "doorskin" is. Is it just plywood made of a single ply? What is its intended purpose? Is it sold at building supply stores that have plywood? The one suggestion I've seen for DIY house work is to use it when building a rippin...	Door skin is also used in theater set building.
Why would there be a 50 amp plug on a 30 amp appliance? I have an old conveyor dryer, which my office purchased used some time ago, just sitting in storage. The dryer is for silk screen t-shirts and has a large heating element and a variable speed conveyor that runs underneath, rather like a small pizza oven. I'm inter...	a 50 amp plug is probably appropriate for a 30 amp equipment... If you are not confident enough to switch the plug your self to one that is compatible with your supply outlets (and meets the spec for the equipment) then an electrician should be able to do it for a very reasonable price (and he could inspect the used eq...
How do I clean gutters? I am trying to clean the gutters of my house. Is there any special ladder that I need to use to do that? Do I also need some other tools? Any reference link or pictures will be highly appreciated. I don't want to hire gutter cleaners as it looks pretty simple job (but still that could be my misu...	I have cleaned gutters at multiple one-story houses by kneeling down from the roof, but I wouldn't risk it on a two-story house.
How far apart are studs? I'm using a stud finder to find studs behind dry wall and so far I've found 2 and they are 16" apart. Does that mean that there will be a stud every 16" or might the distance change between studs? Is 16" the standard for stud centers? <Q> Yes, in most US residential construction they are 16" ce...	In a load bearing wall they are normally 16in on center. In a non-load bearing wall they can be 24in and if using 2x6's they can be wider apart as long as plate and/or rafter tie-ins are used and exterior or interior sheathing, not drywall, is used to stop horizontal shear and

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