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How can I figure out why my washing machine is tripping the GFCI receptacle? I have a Kenmore 80 Series (Model No. 110.24872300) washing machine which up to this point has been working fine. Since it is near a sink, the outlet it is plugged into is a GFCI outlet. On the last load I came back after letting it run for so... | If there isn't anything downstream, then plugging the washing machine into another GFCI outlet, or simply swapping out the outlet for a known good GFCI outlet, will identify if the outlet itself is faulty.
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What are my options for installing 240v receptacles in an attached garage? My workshop (attached garage) is currently wired with 120V receptacles fed from the main panel in the house by #10/3 with ground (1 black, 1 red, 1 white, 1 ground) attached to a double-pole 30A breaker. I'd like to power a 13A, 240V table saw,... | If you do use 20A for the 120V receptacles, make sure you use receptacles rated for that amperage and #12 wire. It will allow easier access to cut power in an emergency, and it will offer better protection of the wiring. In which case: use a 30A main breaker (10ga wire) and size the panel breakers as described above. I... |
Trying to identify this box on the outside of my house This was under a small panel. Don't know what it is, or what it's used for. <Q> If this is somewhat new construction, these might be anti-pest defense tubes. <S> Liquid pesticide is shot via CO2 at the exterior junction box and the liquid will travel throughout the... | The exterior box resembles "Tubes in the Wall" pest defense system. It was probably used to terminate the last mile leg of telephone/cable on the outside of your house, and then often there is an interconnect to connect it into the household wiring (
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How can I figure out why my garage door opener won't close the door? I detached the the door arm from the carriage to see if the opener would work properly, but it did not. The carriage goes down a half an inch and then goes all the way back up. I also adjusted the safety reverse to all possible configurations and that... | If it's doing this without the opener connected it sounds like the torsion springs need to be adjusted to balance the garage door properly.
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How do I remove floorboard nails from joists? How do I remove floorboard nails from joists? The nails are ~3-4mm diameter with no heads. I've tried claw-hammer and wrecking bar with no success because without nail-heads, I cannot get purchase. I guess I could attack them with a hacksaw and leave the lower part embed... | If you absolutely need to remove the nail, then get a large channel lock plier, grip the nail tight, and roll the pliers on their head to pull the nail.
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What can I do to a chain link fence to make it dog proof? I have a chain link fence which is pretty high but my neighbors' pit bull constantly climbs the fence to get over to my yard. I am scared of this dog and the Law Dog has been called numerous times about this. I would really like to put something across the top... | A Coyote Roller is a patented ribbed roller that mounts to the top of your fence.
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Laziest/Quickest way to smooth a wood-grain-textured door? We have some ultra-cheap hollow-core doors in our upstairs. They aren't real wood but this synthetic laminate with a raised wood-grain texture. Ugly things. But, I'm cheap, and am trying to salvage them with paint before I throw in the towel and buy new ones. ... | maybe you could drill a few small holes into the grooved area, so that the resin can take a good hold. Clean the doors with an abrasive cleanser like Comet, Ajax, etc.
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For pine shelves, do I need to stain before applying polyurethane? I built some pine shelves. They're pretty, but I don't want them to darken. I'm told I can apply polyurethane to ensure they stay nice and bright. My question is this: do I need to apply some kind of stain, even "natural," before polyurethane? Or can I... | Staining won't do anything for you and will just take more time.
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How can I install a pre-hung door when soundboard has been installed? Normally a 2x4 wall has a finished thickness of 4.5" (2x4 + 2x 1/2" drywall) I have 1/2" soundboard under one side of the drywall so my finished thickness is 5" I know that I can custom-order pre-hung doors with this jamb size, but is there way to... | You could also install a standard pre-hung door with the jamb on the hinge side flush to the outer edge of that wall.
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Can I run an extension cord through my crawl space? I have a lack of plugs outside my house and was wondering if it's okay to run an extension cord through my crawl space (from the garage, underneath my living room and through a crawlspace vent). Edit I'm looking to add power outside for Christmas lights/ low voltage ... | Sizing extension cords at about.com Safety groups generally caution against using extension cords in a permanent capacity, or installing inside ceilings, crawlspaces, etc. Drill a hole through the wall.
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Under what circumstances is 5/8" drywall required? From what I understand the code usually discusses things like fire rating (not specific thickness) as they relate to required material, and also the fastener pattern and what thickness to use versus stud spacing. However, I've also heard that 5/8" is specificall... | The idea is to tape ALL abutments and edges of walls & ceilings to prevent air intrusion(s), thus to prevent allowing fire to 'breathe'. I'm not aware of any specific requirement for the thickness of drywall, only for fire ratings which are provided by 5/8" Type-X.
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Is it safe to remove/trim jack studs to make a door opening wider? We purchased a very expensive (at least for us 5,000+) entry door pair as replacement for an existing single door and sidelights. Today when the door contractor came to install the doors the opening was too small by 3/4 of an inch (the door contractor ... | If your contractor measured or ordered wrong then they are negligent and should order a replacement.
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How do I patch this hole in my vinyl window frame? Not sure what the previous homeowner was thinking when he drilled this hole, but what would be the best material to patch it with? As you can see in the picture, it's a purely aesthetic fix but I'm remodeling the room and I'm obsessed with details like this. <Q> You c... | Well it is not so big hole so you can use POP for filling it & after that you can paint it & hang a wall hanging on it so that it looks beautiful & hole didn't appear anymore.
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How do I clean teak oil off of a paint brush? I painted my outdoor wood table with teal oil last summer. I'd like to do it again using the same brush, but now the brush is stiff and gummed up. Last time I used it I washed it off with warm water, but apparently that didn't do the trick. Can it be saved? If so what sho... | A good little tip you might like is that you can buy a "flea comb" from a pet supply store or veterinarian clinic and comb out a lot of the gunk that collects at the base of the bristles.
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How should I cut these speaker stands down to size? Any recommends on what tool I should use and how I can go about not ruining the finish? Here's a close up of the top: And here's the finished product - thanks for all the help! I used a pipe cutter and it worked great. <Q> The bases of the stand look as if the pol... | You could use most kinds of metal cutting tools - but go for a relatively fine one, whether it be a small circular saw on a Dremel tool, or a fine jigsaw or something else.
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How to reduce brightness of recessed LED? I have recessed LED in the bathroom which is way too bright. LED is dimmablebut I can't put regular dimmer in front of it since it has small switch shared with two other switches. Neither I need changeable dimming. So is there a way to reduce brightness? Can I stick some resis... | As you are working on the existing box, be careful of the existing wires. If the light is mounted inside of a reflective can you can try to sand or paint the inside of the can to reduce the reflected light. You could replace the existing single gang box with a double gang box, replace the triple switch with a double, a... |
How do I shut off the ceiling fan without a pull chain? So, I move into my new house. The first hour, my mother-in-law decides to try out the ceiling fan. She turns the unit on at the lightswitch, then pulls the chain right out of the unit. The fan is now on at max whenever the unit is turned on. I still have pull ... | If the fan is connected directly to power (not controlled by a wall switch), you'll probably want to shut off the breaker to stop the fan while you do this (so you don't loose your head). See if you can find the broken end of the pull chain. It's probably a good idea to have the old switch in-hand, when you make your t... |
Can I vent a portable air conditioner inside? I recently bought a portable air conditioner and was wondering if it is absolutely necessary to vent it to the outside. I plan on using it in a room that doesn't have a window as was wondering if I could vent it to another room in the house without doing any damage (eg mold... | DeLonghi portable air conditioners exhaust warm moisture-filled air out their exhaust hoses, so there is less condensate to empty manually.
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How do I clean a sink overflow drain? I want to clean inside the hole of the bathroom sink that is used to control overflow. I can stick my finger in there, and rub off a small circle's worth of stuff, but I'd like to clean it more than that. Any ideas? <Q> First question: is the overflow blocked? <S> If you fill up ... | Tried hot water, vinegar/baking soda combination and then, finding no solution, used a paper towel to draw out as much gunk as I could and poured straight peroxide in and let it foam and work overnight.
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How can I level concrete pavement for an above-ground pool? I want to set up an above-ground pool (14' round) on my back yard. There is a relatively good place for it, where there are concrete slabs, however, there are two problems: The slabs are not level. It's about 2 inch per 10 feet decline. Between the slabs, t... | The best bet may be to build a frame around the area you want your pool. Sand is the standard base for both above ground and even in-ground pools that use vinyl liners.
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Should I open the top or bottom of double hung windows? I'm a new home owner and was wondering if there is a "right" way to use the double hung windows in the house. Should I open the top or bottom? Is there a seasonality to it? Does it even matter at all? I've looked around and haven't seen this answered well or... | Open the upper window while also opening the lower window in the structure to let cool in while hot air is vented out.
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Is this a "shared neutral" situation? In 2001, some electricians added two circuits to my house in California. I took a close look at their wiring and had some questions. At the Service Panel, there are two 20-amp circuit breakers on the left side of the panel. Both breakers are connected to the same 12/3 Romex cable,... | Because the current from one 110 volt circuit is 180 degrees out of phase with the other 110 volt line, therefore cancelling out in the neutral line. The single neutral isn't really a problem here - ultimately all lines share a single neutral back at the breaker box. Since you branch off into a 12/2 for most of the cir... |
How should I position a motion sensor? When planning motion sensor placement for a security system, is it preferable to install it facing windows, or not? <Q> IR motion sensors can be thought of as a low quality camera with only one color, IR. <S> They are constantly comparing the IR levels across a grid to see when th... | And avoid pointing them towards windows since IR can pass through glass (though various coating on newer windows should reduce this problem). Think about what an intruder would be taking and how they'd get out of the house (it's easier to go out the back door than a window carrying the big screen TV), then cover the ar... |
Can I run electrical cable and sound cable in the same conduit? In my house, I only have an underground conduit for electrical cable. I have a home theater system, but there is no separate underground conduit for home theater wiring. I want surround sound with front and rear speakers, so I need to pull underground cabl... | You really want to keep these separate in a high quality audio setup, as you will get interference...especially through a sub. According to NEC 300.3(C)(1), you can only run the speaker cable in the same enclosure as a higher-voltage circuit if the insulation of the speaker cable is rated for the voltage of the higher-... |
How can I remove water-based emulsion paint from paving slabs? On painting the bedrooms in our new house, we've gotten some (mainly) water-based paint on some of the paving slabs on the patio. A little of it may be oil-based gloss we used for skirting boards, but the majority is emulsion. Is there an easy way to remov... | If it hasn't stained the concrete a pressure washer should do the trick. You might also try a heat gun and scraper, and then the chemical stripper.
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Why won't the bulbs light up brightly in my European chandelier? I bought a European chandelier not knowing there were light bulb size differences. I ordered 12 European to Candelabra Reducers (E14 to E12). I was so happy when I received them, and couldn't wait to install them on my new candelabra. I installed all 12 b... | If your bulbs ARE 120 volt and some are half lit then some are wired wrong.
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How do I finish a ridge cap? I've installed the ridge cap, using modified 3 tab shingles. I've installed the ridge cap all the way to the other end of the ridge, but I'm not quite sure what to do now. The next shingle will be hanging out over nothingness, how can I nail it down? Please don't nitpick about not usi... | Using the tabs we started at one end working toward the other so the nails were blind and then on the last tab you have to nail it and use some roof cement on the nail neads.
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How do I uninstall a velux blackout blind? (A Velux blind is a brand of skylight/roof-window in the UK that's apparently quite popular). We have a couple of velux windows with blinds attached. We'd like to swap them for the black-out blind variety, but having ordered the new ones, are at a bit of a loss for how to ... | Unscrew the side strips and slide down the windows to remove from the cassetteIf you look down the side of the cassette you will see the grey plastic mounting which the cassette clips onto. I have been able to do it using my hands - they are not massive.
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Can I use landscaping lava rock as a concrete slab base? The side of our house if continually overrun with weeds. I'm thinking of fencing it in and laying some concrete to prevent the weeds and provide some storage area. Currently there is red lava rock over there (under the weeds). Pretty much this stuff (not my ph... | If you could compact the rock adequately there's no reason it
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How can I fix a stripped hole in an aluminum piece? I have a tripod head that is made of aluminum. In the head there is a small hole that houses a small screw that secures a quick-release plate. After some time the hole stripped and the screw no longer holds. I suspect that there is no simple way to fix it, but in case... | Depends on the size of the screw and how much material you have to work with.
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Water from refrigerator tastes bad after 5 day power outage The water from refrigerator tastes very bad after 5 day power outage. Everything rotted in the fridge and we had to clean it out after the power came back on. The fridge is fine now, but the water that feeds the ice machine and the chilled water spout still ta... | My first step would be to empty the ice tray and wash it really well with a mix of baking soda and water mixed into a paste.
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Why does it seem all new faucets are using braided hose instead of stainless steel? I have been looking for a new kitchen faucet recently at all the box stores, and noticed that pretty much all pull-out/pull-down faucets are now using a black braided hose instead of a more rigid stainless steel hose. For example, the b... | A couple of reasons that can think of is wear to the inside and edge of the spout from the steel rubbing against it.
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Why won't my A/C turn on after I replaced the thermostat batteries? Our thermostat died yesterday, but after replacing the dead batteries with fresh batteries, and confirming the LCD screen was operable, our AC no longer turns on. I have attempted a factory reset on the thermostat, and I do hear a quiet but definitive... | The only other thing I can think for you to check, is to look for a serviceman switch and make sure it's in the ON position.
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Is there any harm in using shorter shelf brackets with a deeper shelf? I'm planning on installing Ikea shelves mounted on wall brackets (using the Antonius system ). Until recently there were Antonius shelves 14 3/8 inches deep, but now they've disappeared, leaving only 11 inches deep shelves. There is a 14 3/8 deep s... | Using the brackets would change the load they could carry. To answer your question though, "yes and no" the brackets for the 11" shelves would work up to a point.
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How to keep my air conditioner from freezing when it is cool outside? My bedroom is the hottest room in the house, and even with all the windows open and fans in them doesn't cool off as much as I would like when it's an acceptable temperature outside. And I prefer to sleep in a rather cool room since I find it easier... | Increase the airflow across the evaporator and it should be able to cool more without freezing. A good HVAC technician should be able to help you out.
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How can I stop mortar plugs from popping out of slab holes? Our termite people plugged their dozens of chemical insertion holes using a regular grout and a putty knife. Needless to say the plugs are popping out left and right. (They tell me that is normal, the plugs pop out in all their jobs). How would you suggest ... | you could put a more secure plug in by using hydraulic cement.
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What could be causing an A/C blower motor to turn off randomly? The Blower motor on my AC unit turns off at random times while the outside unit continues to run which is causing the coil to freeze up. The blower won't come on for 30-45 minutes after the AC has been turned off, but after that it seems to turn back on fi... | I just ran across an intermittent blower issue (cycling on and off constantly during call for heat from the thermostat) that was due to a poor ground connection on my 120 volt to 24 volt transformer on an old Janitrol furnace.
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How to clean a light tan vinyl fence? I had my back vinyl fence moved back a couple feet and some of the boards that were originally facing the back are now facing forward, so now there is this appearance that some boards are darker (dirtier) and some are lighter (cleaner). If you look closely at the picture, you will... | Non Commercial Cleaners Use one part bleach to five parts water and try that on the vinyl fence.
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How can I get windshield wiper fluid stains out of my garage floor? My car's windshield wiper fluid reservoir had a leak and quite a bit of it soaked into my garage floor (which is a light concrete). It happened over night, so it soaked quite a bit. Now the floor is stained blue! I've tried using this concrete cleane... | If the stain is stubborn, you can try using your pressure washer after steam cleaning it and/or scrub the concrete. Like The Evil Greebo asked, if the concrete isn't sealed, then the stain could be a bit difficult to remove or even permanent.
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How can I reinforce a piece of furniture to put an aquarium on it? I'm planning to build an aquarium - 50 gallons. I estimate that it'll weight 550 pounds. It would be in the top of a cabinet... but the top of that cabinet is a suspended glass. It's similiar to this one but without the drawers. How can i reinforce... | To be honest, I'd go for an appropriate thickness of tempered glass.
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How can I pass cables vertically through walls that contain fire blocking? How can one pass (speaker) cables through walls from the floor to the ceiling.I am assuming that drilling a small hole at the top, dropping the cable I want to pass through and catching it at the bottom will not work because the wire being dropp... | Access hole - You could cut a moderate hole (an inch or two across) above the cross brace, drill on an angle through the cross brace, and then fish the wire to the floor hole. You are probably right that there are cross beams in modern stick construction houses covered in drywall.
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Do I have to remove the old thinset before installing new tile? I will be installing some new 12x12 tiles in two bathrooms approx 25 sq/ft each. When I pulled up the old tiles, there was no thin set that had made contact with them so the removal was very easy. Now, the thin set on the floor is a different story. I have... | Having done this exact thing recently, I found that using the hard metal brush attachment for the angle grinder worked very well to remove thinset without affecting the concrete beneath it. You're going to find it near impossible to get a good base to lay tile on if you try to apply thinset overtop of old thinset. At M... |
How can I air-condition a garage without modifying it? So my apartment has an attached garage and I love having it, but I also live in Las Vegas where, today, it was over 100F outside. I have been considering air conditioning the garage, or even just a corner of it for a workshop with a cool breeze, but I have a little... | If your garage door is the typical multi-hinged garage door that "rolls" up into the area above the garage space, you can replace one of the panels and make a hole in it to accept the exhaust tube.
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How can I prevent water from pooling in the street in front of my house? I have a problem with water pooling in front of my house. Between my Sprinklers and the rain there is always a puddle where my lawn meets the street. What do you think is the best way to stop this puddle? I can't reslope the street or regrade m... | To do so you could slightly lower the ground around the bushes and then cut and lift the lawn between the road and the bushes and put a pipe there - something like 2-3 inches in diameter, some strong plastic will do - then put the lawn back.
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Did I break my Kwikset SmartKey lock by trying to rekey with a key that doesn't fit all the way? I got a Kwikset deadbolt lock ( has key hole on both sides instead of key hole externally with latch internally). This lock uses SmartKey technology so you can rekey the lock to use a new key rather than having to replace... | If you reinsert the key that caused the problem, hold it tightly with two fingers while turning the key with your other hand and ever so slowly retract the key, eventually you will find the spot that the key was in.
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How should I insulate the walls and ceilings of this 1920's semi-detached brick house? I'm renovating a 1920's semi-detached house. The plaster on the walls was slapped straight on the wall about an inch thick, and the ceilings were lath and plaster which had been overboarded. Most of this needs to come off to do rep... | Put proper insulation in the external walls of those rooms, so that they don't lose heat to the outside.
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What's the standard height for an outlet? I am installing outlets in my patio room. What is the standard height recommended above the ground for these to be installed? <Q> The direct answer to your question is "There is no standard". <S> The only NEC requirement is that you must be within 6 feet of an outlet along any... | Outlets can be installed at whatever height is comfortable for the intended use. Approved Document M recommends that in new dwellings only, switches and socket-outlets for lighting and other equipment should be between 450mm and 1200mm from finished floor level . 13" or hammer length above sub floor to bottom of box (N... |
Troubleshooting a leaking exterior door I have an exterior door that leaks water into the house when rain is blown against it. The floor on the inside of the house is unfinished, meaning it is just the raw subfloor. I don't want to put the finish floor down until the leak is addressed. The few things I have done thu... | Have a helper with you and on a dry week spray with a water hose against the door where it meets the jam see if any water leaks in from that. Remove caps that cover adjustment screws and bring the threshold up until just after you can't pull a $1 bill through after it's closed.
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Can an external light fixture and an external receptacle share a circuit? I have to get power to provide an outlet for an awning at high level. The nearest power source is an external light fixture. Can I wire into this? If so is there anything special I should know? <Q> Should you? <S> No, Greebo is right (+1), lig... | If it's at the light switch, then your outlet would also be switched.
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Is this plastic pipe connecting city water to the main line dangerous? I bought a whole house water filter to hook up to the main water line. The plumber who came in said that he won't be able to install it because the pipe that comes from the ground hooked up to the copper pipe is plastic. He says that this plastic ... | Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is not typically used as an underground supply line, as it can sometimes react with minerals in the soil. The only way to be sure what type of pipe this is, is to look for markings on the pipe itself.
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How can I convert Cat5e wired sockets to Ethernet? I recently moved to a new home and I noticed that the phone jacks (RJ-11) were connected using Cat5e cable. I'm thinking I can replace the RJ-11 plugs with RJ-45 and use Ethernet over the existing Cat5e cable in one particular room to avoid having to run a cable under ... | Yes, you can re-purpose cat5e wire to run Ethernet. If your existing wiring is not a point-to-point run, you will have to convert it to a point-to-point run to get the results you desire.
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How can I figure out what mystery wall switches might do? I have a two-story house with blown-in insulation in the attic. There are at least four wall switches in my house (some on the ground floor, some upstairs) that seem to serve no discernible function. I have asked the previous owners of the house and the owners b... | The next step is to look at the wiring of the switch. Then, the owner replaced one of the outlets, but they didn't know what they were doing and forgot to break the tab on the outlet connecting the two hot sides together, which made them all on all the time. Breaking the tab on that outlet fixed the issue. Another poss... |
In this scenario is my electrician giving good advice? So I asked Why does my ceiling lights require some other outlet in the room to be turned on and off again before it works? a while ago, and the consensus was that my electrics were arcing and that I should check with an electrician. Well, I have done that and he... | A fuse box in good condition does not need to be replaced "just because", and while circuit breakers are definitely more convenient, fuses are still readily available. Install Fustat adapters so you can't accidentally overrate a circuit by installing a 20 A fuse instead of a 15 A fuse.
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How long does latex paint last? I have several buckets of four-year old latex paint leftover from finishing our basement. Many are still in unopened original containers, in particular, our primary wall paint. I opened one to use for wall patching and found it to be completely separated. This bucket was also in the g... | If you let the unopened can sit long enough, the adhesive chemicals, solids and colors will settle to the bottom and solidify. From what I have read it varies with the quality of the paint and the storage conditions,but 3-5 years is reasonable for unopened cans.
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Should I choose MDF or plywood for my false stair treads? I'm looking to install false stair treads and risers on my basement stairs. Generally, we're talking about a kit like this: Which is installed with adhesive and finishing nails like this: The project itself looks fairly straightforward, but I have an issue ... | For identical finish laminates, MDF would be preferable to plywood as it is denser and more dimensionally stable.
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Why is the drywall in my garage sagging? The drywall on my garage ceiling is sagging badly. Is this because it's too thin (I think it's 1/2" and I guess it's supposed to be 5/8") or is it because of humidity or something else? If I re-drywall the ceiling with 5/8" fire resistant (I think that's the code requirement) sh... | If you have joists already present, then you may be able to push the sheetrock back up and nail it correctly, however it may already be permanently warped - this will depend on just how far the bowing is. The problem is because sheetrock does weaken a little over time, and with moisture, but the reason you are seeing i... |
Why is my 3-prong dryer outlet showing 240V between hot and neutral/ground 'L' prong? I'm trying to tell what might be wired wrong with our dryer outlet. Using a Fluke 75 set to AC, I read 238V between the hot leads, 118V from one lead to ground, and 238V between the other lead to ground. Is this a simple breaker box p... | Be sure to check for any voltage, even with wires off the breaker, before proceeding, just in case there is some other interconnection to a hot line. The readings should be 120 to ground/neutral from each side of the breaker and 240 across the hot lugs of the breakers. I would check voltages in the breaker box like Shi... |
How to drive a nail in a confined space? I keep finding myself needing to hammer nails in places where my hammer is too long to actually make the hammer head contact the nail. This isn't a situation where I need the leverage provided by the handle - I'm choking the hammer anyway for added control and less mess should a... | Palm nailers are fantastic, I have one and use it a lot.
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How much weight can an old work box hold? I will be installing new light fixtures in two bathrooms that look like this: Each fixture will be replacing a light box. Meaning it is a simple chrome plated box about 30" wide with a plastic diffuser and sat on top of a mirror. The challenge: The old light is connected to... | The best options in your situation, would be to move the fixture location to allow you to fasten the box to a structural member, or add a structural member to mount the box to. From what I could find, it doesn't look like these types of boxes are listed for any type of fixture support. We do have several other boxes th... |
What are the consequences of allowing paint to freeze? Insulating and heating my garage sounds like a pain. What are the consequences of simply allowing water-based latex paint to freeze in the winter? Is it ruined forever or does it just need tons of extra mixing in the spring? <Q> I have an idea for you. <S> Build a... | Instead of insulating and heating the entire garage to save a few gallons of paint, perhaps you could build a small insulated paint locker.
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Why do my LED lights flash on cold start? Whenever I flip on my dimmer switch, all four dimmable LED lamps flash on in unison, blink off, and then come on at the selected dim level. This happens even with the dimmer slider maxed out, so it's not a matter of trying to drive the lamps with too little power, which I know ... | You have to make sure that the dimmer is compatible with the type of bulbs you are using.
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Is it a good idea to add oxidizer to my septic tank? I recently had my 1500 gallon septic tank fill up/back up. When the contractor removed the lid, it was obvious that the tank was completely full and needed to be pumped. The contractor then said that the distribution box was also full and that I should add "Oxidiz... | Septic tanks are there to catch and digest solids through bacterial action and should never be allowed to fill with solids until they get pushed out into the drain field.
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What could be causing AFCI breaker and GFCI receptacle nuisance tripping? I have a very unusual set of electrical issues that have proven difficult to troubleshoot. I live in a newly constructed house. Each bedroom has AFCI breakers. In the past 3 years living there, the AFCI breaker to my bedroom has tripped about a... | It's possible (in theory) that the GFCI tripping could create a large enough arc, for long enough to cause the AFCI to trip.
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Do I need bracing for 12"x55" shelves? I am installing new shelves in my pantry, 12" x 55" with walls on three sides. The shelving material is laminate over particleboard. Considering how heavy a shelf full of canned goods is, can I get away with just using 1" nailers on all three walls to rest the shelves on, or do ... | One way that you could provide some more support for the shelves would be to add some center front supports for the shelves working up from the floor to the top shelf.
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How do I correctly measure this basement window for a replacement? I have three of these metal-framed basement windows which I would like to replace but I am unsure of what dimension I should measure and use for the replacements. Initially I measured the outside dimension (32 1/2" x 16 1/4") but on closer inspection,... | Until you remove the frame you can't tell what the size of the opening will be.
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How can I install a cable jack without a box? I recently had our drywall replaced due to flooding. Our coax cables are now just hanging out of the new wall and I need to install cable jacks. Is there a way I can mount the coax wall plates to the drywall without an electric box in the wall? I'd rather not cut the drywa... | You could use something like this: Cut a hole in the sheetrock according to the template, and when you tighten the screws, the tabs tighten against the back of the sheetrock to hold in place. You then pull the cable through and use a plate like this:
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What is a good way to cut hard plastic so it will have a smooth finish? I want to cut a piece of plastic peg. The peg will be visible (it is on my laptop stand), so want it to have a smooth finish. I could just use a saw, but the finish will not be good. How should I go about it? I am not sure if a file will be enough ... | To smooth up the XActo saw cut (a truly excellent tool), you can often flame-polish most thermoplastics, provided you do so carefully.
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Should we install an overhead tank or cistern tank? We are building our home (a 2-storey house) and a cistern tank was suggested by our architect for aesthetics. We asked around the neighborhood and one person has a cistern and an overhead tank but uses the cistern more on a daily basis while the overhead tank is used ... | I'd use a water pump with a pressure vessel which can even overcome a short electricity shortage and can be very energy efficient.
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What products are available to make coved ceilings? Due to massive cracks and drooping ceilings we need to tear off our existing plaster/lath walls and replace with sheetrock. The 1948 house currently has coved ceilings that we want to duplicate when we do the remodel. Are there products available to help create the ... | you can get preformed plaster and styrofoam coving in a variety of styles, and that's much easier to work with.
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Can a receptacle be added to a lamppost? I'm adding a post and a post-mounted light fixture in the backyard. Some posts have an outlet at the bottom , but they appear to always have a "decorative ladder rest" (with plastic golden balls!) that is an eyesore. Is it possible to add a receptacle to a plain post? The plan... | In either case the ability to add an electrical outlet is possible if you select the proper type of post.
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What type of primer and paint are better used in a bathroom? I just removed some wallpaper from a shower ceiling. I now have exposed drywall. What type of primer and paint do you suggest I use? I'm overwhelmed by the oil/water/latex bases, and when to use which. It stands to reason, being a shower, that moisture is top... | With drywall, latex will be fine.
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What is a good way to cleanly cut through steel? What tools can I use to get a clean cut through thin steel? Specifically, I have several mini beer kegs I need to cut the bottoms out of. I don't mind it taking a while, but my cuts are jagged (easy to cut myself on them) and it takes me about an hour and a half to get a... | If tin snips are sufficient for the work, you can get a set of pneumatic metal shears. You definitely would need to secure the work pieces to make sure it doesn't go flying when you are cutting. The Mini Keg is so small, I would simply use a hacksaw blade.
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How do I lay "click system" laminate flooring across an opening? I want to lay laminate flooring throughout my apartment as one big continuous floor. Normally you start laying a row against a wall and then create a new row and click it into the previous row. This click mechanism only works correctly in one direction. T... | However, you're going to want to start against the wall that will leave you the smallest amount of floor to slide around to make it connect up. Start laying the boards out in the room with the most distance to the left of the line. That can all be measured: you can start laying area A with a fractional board (which has... |
How do I take apart a wooden retaining wall? I have a retaining wall, sorta. It acts as a divider between homes rather than retain anything. Built the same way as one, with 6x6 boards, spikes, all that jazz. No deadmen, of course. I need to take it apart and down while keeping the boards intact (I am going to reuse th... | When it came to the rebar, I used a heavy 5 foot wrecking bar and a 5" by 5" block of wood (as a fulcrum) once the spikes were cut, I could slide the wrecking bar under the board, lift and move the fulcrum to the midway point toward the rebar end of the board, then use the board itself as a lever to pull the rebar out ... |
How can I insulate a basement wall that has 1x1 framing installed on it? It is freezing in my basement so I decided to re-insulate my daughter's bedroom. I removed the old paneling walls to find that it wasn't insulated! There was a water barrier and a heat shield. My problem now is winter is almost here and the frami... | Only use glue specifically noted for use with foam insulation, other glues can melt it! You really should consider larger furring strips to give you more insulation and adequate support for wall finish. It'll help a bit. Unfortunately, 1x1s are structurally worthless. The research comes from Building Sciences Corporati... |
How to cut threads on 2" PVC pipe? I have some sections of 2" PVC and some Tee fittings that I need to join. On the Tee fittings, the main line is threaded and the outlets are smooth. How can I cut the threads in the straight sections to join with the threaded main line? <Q> I see no reason why you should cut threads... | You should, instead, get a slip to thread adapter and glue it onto the pipe to thread it wherever you like.
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How can I temporarily seal a gap underneath my door to stop water getting in while it's raining? During heavy rain the water from the drains outside my apartment overflow. The doors have an almost 1 inch gap at the bottom, and the water floods the apartment. How can I seal that door gap temporarily during the rain to ... | I think the only viable answer here that can help with Juergen's problem is caulking a strip of wood down, as crude as it may be. The sealant won't hold if you stub your toe against it. There is no solution for this other than fixing the drain. (Or going to marine style doors with a raised threshold.) What I've describ... |
How do I insulate exterior basement wall? Working from scratch with a bare wall. What do I do? 3 hardware stores have told me 3 different things. We have very cold winters here. Looking for cheapest and highest R value. contractor next door says 2 layers ridged R5, overlapping and taped...2x4s...then gypsum board. He s... | do it the way code states research and do it the way you want to do it, potentially having to convince the code folks
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Any US building codes about a door opening into a hallway near a stairway? A while ago I changed a door out from my tiny bathroom so that it opens outside of the bathroom and into the hallway. It looks attractive and provides a great deal more room in the bathroom making it feel much bigger now. It was also a great d... | While local codes certainly vary, in general there's nothing wrong that I know of with that installation. I have always joked that if there's a fire, you want the door to open out. The only way to know is to ask, which is what I'd recommend you do.
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How do I get this rusted screw out? Possible Duplicate: How can I remove a really stuck screw? I have to return my license plates to DMV by Friday (they expire!), and am finding it next-to-impossible to get them off my car! First I tried unscrewing them with a solid/thick flathead and neither screw would budge (th... | The DMV don't expect their license plates back in pristine condition, they usually get them back beat up as hell, so just pry them off with a screwdriver. Get a spanner that fits snug on that bolt - you will get it loose very quick with that.
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Does water dripping through my soffit indicate a problem? When it rains, water drips through the soffit and along the inside face of the fascia. This picture shows the water dripping through, but when it rains harder sometimes there's more: My landlord just installed that aluminum soffit. Above it is solid plywood. T... | If you want to find where exactly the problem comes from your best bet is to get into the space under the roof when it rains and try to find where exactly water appears first. Multiple layers of shingles are bad; it means that they didn't replace the actual stuff that keeps the water out of your house, they just replac... |
Why does my ceiling fan light turn off by itself? I have a remote-controlled ceiling fan and light. I don't run the fan, but when I turn the light on sometimes it will stay on for a long time then just go off by itself. I have tried both kinds of bulbs, but neither works. What causes this problem. Do I have to repl... | Occasionally when I use the wall switch to turn the fan & light on and off instead of using the remote control to control the fan and light on and off from it's previous setting I have that problem.
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Is there a window or portable AC system I can use with an awning window? My bedroom gets ridiculously hot and I taped tin foil over the window. It didn't help much. I'm thinking of getting an air conditioner but the ledge on the window is small and the window doesn't open very much. I was looking at the portable air co... | This means some of your cooled air is being sent outside, and also that there is negative air pressure in the room, which means air will be drawn in under doors and through vents to replace it.
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Door sticking, frame no longer square, is this serious? I'm a rookie home owner. My "mudroom" door (never heard that term before this house) has started to stick. The house was built in 1952. At the time it was just the house, and the garage and mudroom were both additions. There is no access under either the mudroom o... | These could be incremental fixes, reinforcing some weak parts, or a more comprehensive fix (such as replacing the mud room's foundation or footings) could be required. I would recommend you call some experienced masons and general builders to assess the situation. Also check the floor in the area.
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How do I measure the leg positions for a three-legged table with a circular top? I am creating a three-legged stand for a monitor (not really a table, but whatever) and am not sure how to conduct the measurements so that all three legs are accurately spaced in an equilateral triangular shape such that the weight of wha... | An easier method to using dividers is to get a piece of string, wrap it around the circumference of the table surface, and mark the and where the string meets itself.
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How can I install a frost-free outdoor faucet with very little space? On one side of my house, the previous owner frequently forgot to shut off the outdoor water during the winter. Given that my house is in Minnesota, it gets cold during the winter, and he had to replace plumbing twice because of busted pipes. I'd li... | If straight through access to the basement or crawlspace is below grade on the outside of the house consider installing a window - well type thing against the outside of the basement or foundation so as to create a recessed area to accomodate the installation of a longer frost free faucet.
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How can I prevent water from getting behind the gutter? A friend of mine is having a water problem; the water is coming down behind the gutter. It turns out the drip edge isn't covering up the gutter completely on the one side for a considerable length of the house, as the gutter slants downward. Is there a way to fi... | Alternatively, if the gutters are overflowing and draining toward the house instead of down the downspouts, then you probably just need to clean the gutters so they can drain properly. Run a 3/8" bead of roofing caulk (black tar like substance) along the top edge of that new layer of shingles, then lay the old layer of... |
Should I run laminate continuously through rooms, or separate with T moulding? I am installing laminate flooring in an area that has two bedrooms and a living area. The bedrooms are about 150 sq ft each and the living space is around 250 sq ft. --------------- -----------------------------| | ... | In my opinion you should use some kind of separation between the living room and the bedrooms, because bigger rooms require bigger expansion gaps. I have done many jobs without T-molds knowing that all the potential problem areas are OK. When under cutting the jambs just make sure that you have the gap underneath where... |
How to run an interior gas (LP) line I need to run a gas (LP) line from outside the house to a cooktop in the kitchen. Here's what I think I need to do: drill a hole in the exterior wall and the header (from the attic) of the same wall connect a 90° joint to Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST), drop it throug... | Corrugated pipe is generally intended only to be used as the last connection to an appliance, in a living space where it not vulnerable to banging or jostling (usually behind or in a space at the bottom of an appliance), but where it can be seen and accessed if work is being done. Having said all this, I join in the va... |
What could be wrong with this receptacle? the power outlet where my tv was plugged in lost power all of a sudden. However, when I plug in a receptacle tester, the power goes back on but when I remove the receptacle tester, power goes off again. What seems to be the problem. I already checked the duplex receptacle and... | Pushing something into the opposite plug hole can put pressure on the brass contact strip and cause it to make contact in the loose socket. Let's further hypothesize that it's the neutral that has the bad contact. Do note that a loose wire like this is unsafe and could lead to a fire - so please investigate immediately... |
Is it safe to use a portable microwave in a confined shelfspace? I have an 900 watt emerson microwave that looks similar to this one: It weighs about 30 pounds and the outside dimensions are about 19" (W) x 16" (D) x 12" (H). We normally have it sitting on the kitchen counter space but my significant other would lik... | Speaking with an appliance knowledgeable tech, once he learned the situation and where the microwave is installed he said "the microwave is dying of suffocation (no air flow).
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How to use network patch panel in new house I just moved in to a townhouse built in 2007 with a seemingly nice CAT5 and coaxial cabling. In fact, I found a patch panel in the closet! I opened it and found this: I also noticed some of the rooms have ethernet ports and/or coaxial cables/outlets sticking out. ... | You need to run wires from the patch panel into a switch.
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How do I repair laminate damage on a kitchen cabinet? We have a kitchen cabinet that we accidentally attached a calendar to using tape. When removing the tape the surface came right off with it. My question is how to best repair this damage? It appears this material is paper backed. Will we need to remove the rest ... | Another approach may be to try filling the torn out areas with spackle or dry wall compound using a six inch wide blade. There's really no way to fix that unfortunately. It needs to be covered in some way.
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What is this kind of security bolt head called, and how can I remove it? A previous owner fitted the light fitting pictured above, and has not left me a tool to remove the bolt. The bulb has blown so I need to get in to the unit. The head diameter is about 12mm and the gap between the two notches is about 6mm. I would ... | Alternatively get a real cheap flat-head screwdriver the right width and file down the middle until you get the right notch. It's called a spanner slotted (or slotted spanner) head. Hard to find in the UK, why the owner used one I cannot imagine. I put off replacing a blown bulb for months, looked all over for the righ... |
How do I remove dried latex paint from carpet? I dropped a brush while painting my office. We have brand new carpet and of course, I dropped the paint brush in a spot where there was no drop cloth >:( I thought since it's latex based paint I could let it dry and then peel it off but it doesn't seem that I can do that.... | I soaked the spot as suggested earlier, then rubbed it in with a stiff brush, which seemed to smear the stain (but hey, it was loosening the paint!)
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How can I remove a stuck bath stopper assembly? The drain in our tub is slow and I'd like to snake it. I was planning on going through the overflow / drain stopper toggle plate: But I can't remove the stopper and link from the overflow pipe. It seems stuck—there's maybe 1/2" of vertical travel and I can't pull it up ... | Try wiggling the lift linkage while you pull up, this might free up the plunger and allow you to pull it out. Finally, I put a big flat head screw driver under the pin and put something between the screw driver and the bottom of the overflow opening.
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What is the pointed end of a spud or construction adjustable wrench used for? I saw one of these at Lowe's the other day and was just wondering what the pointed end is used for. I have seen it called a "construction" wrench and a "spud" wrench. <Q> Same thing you use a Marlin Spike for. <S> (Tapered steel rod with a ... | As the preceding posts point out, the tapered "spike" or "pin" end is very useful for aligning holes to allow the insertion of pins, bolts, rivets, or any thru-hole connector.
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What is this thing next to my sink? Possible Duplicate: What is this component that connects to the garbage disposal? As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently moved to a new place and I'm still trying to figure out what things do. There are still a few things that are particularly puzzling, like what this thi... | A common use for a timer like this is to turn certain lights in your dwelling on and off according to a fixed schedule. If the top item is near your kitchen sink then this probably an air gap for your dish washer drain system.
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Is it OK to put hardwood flooring over 3/4" particle board that's over 1/2" wood subfloor? We want to install either laminate or hardwood flooring throughout most of our home. The home is about 35 years old. I pulled up all the carpet and found 3/4" particle board over 1/2" plywood board subfloor underneath the carpet.... | Particle board is not an appropriate underlayment for hardwood of any type. I would glue this to the existing subfloor, screw into the joists, and nail the entire field. Make sure that you tear out the particle board and install either 3/4 plywood or 3/4 osb. Furthermore, 1/2" ply is not suitable as a subfloor.... Part... |
Is standing water at bottom of dishwasher normal? Is standing water at the bottom of dishwasher normal? Is this to keep up seal pressure?I want to make sure this is not unsafe. <Q> Standing water in the bottom of the dish washer after a cleaning cycle is complete is NOT normal. <S> After the wash/rinse cycle and the pu... | It is normal to have a little water at the bottom of the tub to keep the water seal lubricated.
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