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How can I refresh the finish on my kitchen cabinets? I am getting ready to put my house on the market and I would like to clean \ "restore" my kitchen cabinets. They are an oak cabinet that aren't painted, they are stained. I don't know exactly what finish is on them. They are the original builder grade cabinets fro...	You could just clean them, but if they are badly marked then give them a light sand and re-varnish. In cases where the finish is completely gone and bare wood is showing it may be necessary to go to the extreme and strip off all the old finish, sand and re-finish.
How do I bend a wooden edging for a tile counter top? I'm about to build a tile counter top (or bench top as we call it here) for a new kitchen. I'm going to be using large porcelain floor tiles on top and thought I'd finish the edges with a nice native timber. The top I'm working on is the breakfast bar where one en...	Depending on how thin the edging is and how much it's going to curve, you may just be able to bend it by hand as you attach it.
Is it okay to run a switched and unswitched hot on the same neutral? I have a room where I need to toggle the lights by a switch and the outlets in the room to not be affected by the switch. As they are on the same circuit, am I able to run a 3 wire cable from the switch so that I'm feeding switched and non-switched p...	If there is more than one switched light box you may extend the three conductor cable (+GND) through to the far light box if the outlets feed off the end of the last light box. Since the circuit is protected by an overcurrent device (circuit breaker/fuse), there is no way to overload the grounded (neutral) conductor.
Can I reduce static pressure in one room by adding a vent to an adjoining room? Our return vent for our hvac is right outside the master bedroom. The master bedroom gets very little airflow with the door shut. It was recommended that we add secondary return duct in the master bedroom to combat the high static pressure...	If possible, put the return grilles at the same height as the return vent itself (near the ceiling on upper floors and near the floor on lower levels). I imagine this is more efficient as well, since you are likely keeping these rooms cooled/heated while sleeping and not loosing temp controlled air to the central area ...
Why is there a beaded tie on new fire extinguishers? When I see fire extinguishers these days they seem to have some form of the yellow beaded tie as shown in this photo. What purpose does this serve? It looks to me like it prevents the pin from pulling out. Hardly something you'd want in a fire. I've never had to us...	Another possibility, if this extinguisher's tag has a number or date (or if the tag is a form of color-coding), is that this may be used to indicate when the extinguisher was last inspected as part of a regular inspection and maintenance plan.
What would cause air bubbles in the toilet when I'm showering? My basement bathroom has recently been remodeled, everything was working fine for a few weeks, but now all of a sudden I am hearing bubbles in the toilet when I shower, at which point the shower drain begins to back up. The shower drain runs downstream to t...	As the pipes fill, air may be forced out through the toilet trap causing "bubbles".
Are plywood dovetails a good solution to building something that needs to be dismantled? Are hand cut, plywood dove tails feasible? Assuming you can get "good" plywood, i.e. not the brittle splinter-fest I've seen around, is dovetailing feasible? I'd like to avoid using glue for the corner joins as I'd like to be abl...	Dove tail joints are not a good option for any type of furniture that you would later hope to take back apart.
Why does my GFCI trip when I plug things into load side receptacles? I installed a new outdoor circuit. The line comes out of the house and into the LINE side of the GFCI outlet. I connected a wire to the LOAD side and ran it to two standard outlets downstream. My tester says the circuit is wired properly at all the ou...	Wire up a short stub outlet in place of your downstream cabling and verify GFCI vs your cabling.
Do I have to bury PVC pipe if used outdoors? I will be installing a hose spigot in a lower patio area that, till now, has had to have several lengths of hose to provide water for some potted plants. There is an existing spigot on a 3/4" copper pipe on the other side of the house a good 65-80' depending on the route I ...	The exposed pipe will be less susceptible to breakage than PVC. As for pipe size, it depends on the size of hose spigot you use.
What besides smoke might trigger a hardwired smoke detector? Sometimes my hardwired smoke alarm goes off for a few seconds for no apparent reason. For example I am not cooking or burning any substance. It is 3 years old and has a new battery. Other than smoke, are there unusual gases or particles that will activate ...	An electrician added a ceiling fan to the same circuit of my wired smoke alarms and that would trigger the alarms for short periods of time when the fan was running, it was very intermittent and it could be days between alarms. You can also vacuum the detector to take care of any build up of dust, this is a good thing ...
Do I need a corded drill to mix thinset? I've been looking at tearing out my fiberglass shower, installing Kerdi, and re-tiling the whole thing. During my research into this project, I've come across quite a few forums that have members typing in all caps about not mixing thinset with a cordless drill because the motor...	First of all, I have to say that with the volume of work you have you can just mix the thinset by hand. Next, you should not use any drill for mixing unless its manual says it's suitable for mixing or that it has overload protection that slows the drill down in case of overload.
Is it safe/compliant for one circuit to supply grounded wall outlets in both a kitchen and a living room? On one side of my wall (in kitchen, not the refrigerator or stove plug) is a three prong grounded outlet. Would it work without overloading a circuit to put a new outlet on the other side of the wall (the living ro...	Receptacles installed in a kitchen to serve countertop surfaces shall be supplied by not fewer than two small-appliance branch circuits, either or both of which shall also be permitted to supply receptacle outlets in the same kitchen and in other rooms specified in 210.52(B)(1). You may NOT extend a kitchen outlet circ...
What type of outlet is in the picture? I recently purchased a early 1970's home that has this interesting outlet installed in the master bedroom. It is the only outlet in the entire house like this and I'm not real sure what it is for and if it should be removed. I haven't checked it for voltage or current yet as I don...	If you pull it out, I think you'll find a flat 300 ohm (non-coaxial) antenna cable inside. If it is just electric you can do whatever you want with it
Best tool & method for cutting steel tubes (table legs)? I have a table that I want to cut the hollow steel legs down to coffee table height. These are the table legs I have: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70217973/ What's the best tool and method to do this simply? A hack saw? Some special bit for a dri...	A hack saw is a fine tool to cut fairly thin gauge tubing (which this seems to be).
How do I repair my cracked shower pan? My shower pan, made of gel-coated fiber glass, has three cracks, as shown in the photo below. The cracks radiate fairly straight from the drain in the center at twelve, four, and eight o'clock. (All of the other white streaks are just gel-coat coloring.) I ground away the cracks ...	Look for a local tub refinishing company, many of them provide this service. If you want cheap get a used (unbroken) pan off of craigslist.
Which side of a two-wire cable should be used for "hot"? I bought a custom length of a 16/2 cable (two 16-gauge stranded wires, individually insulated). The two wires have identical colors and insulation; the only thing to tell them apart is that along one, there's printed specs of the wire, such as 600V and max temp....	If the conductors are both the same color, the insulation is a single color and the printing is on one conductor's insulation only without rib (feel it with your fingers) or stripe, then that will be your continuous marker and grounded (neutral) indicator. Usually smooth side with writing is hot/black. Within DC applic...
Why doesn't duct tape work well on cables? In the past, I've used duct tape on cables (e.g., Power, LAN). For instance, I taped cables to a wall, I taped cables together for storing etc. The taping often failed after some time: The taping surface on the cable became covered with an extremely sticky film. This film was...	Gaffer tape doesn't leave the horrible residue of duct tape and may be strong enough to hold cables to a wall.
Why is the upstairs a lot hotter in a 2 story duplex? I've lived in my current duplex for about 5 years now and every summer, my upstairs portion of the duplex gets noticeably hotter than downstairs. I couldn't give an exact measurement but 10 degrees Fahrenheit hotter would not surprise me. Over the years, I've added...	We have a ceiling fan in the stairway that helps circulate the air as well, but without the insulation it's just not effective.
How do I attach skirting boards to a plaster wall? I have ten feet or so of new skirting board to put up by my front door where we have just had the walls plastered [1]. Back when I was a kid I did a carpentry course so I know how to cut and mitre the corners together on the board one thing I'm not sure on though is fi...	I hammer nails into old plaster all the time by putting a piece of masking tape on the wall and hammering into it.
What will happen if I try to apply paint/stain to damp wood? I'm 1000 miles away from home working on a deck for a family member who recently suffered a stroke. He's recovering, but for the time being he's very unsteady on his feet. The deck in question had a lot of mold, and was very slick when wet. I've already press...	You won't have luck applying paint/stain to a soaking wet deck.
Why does my dryer get too hot? I've just moved houses and set up our dryer in the new house. It seems to get much hotter than it used to: hot to touch on the top surface, and my wife said it smelled like charcoal. The two things I can think of that are different are the plug and the vent hose. The old house had a 3-pr...	Since the obvious has been addressed, there are a few other possibilities: verify that you have the correct voltage going to the dryer. There is an obstruction in the in-wall duct. Last effort I replaced the circuit breaker in the fuse box.
How many computer chargers can I put on 1 electrical outlet? I am trying to create a computer charging station. I have many laptops and Android Tablets that I would like to charge at once. Assuming I wire it correctly, how many adapters can I put on 1 plug? Laptops are 40W charger cords. Tablets are 10W charging blo...	If you can plug in all of your devices without tripping the fuse or breaker switch, then you are good to go. BUT, bear in mind that the voltages are different and need conversion (see Ohms Law) and, don't forget to count anything on the same circuit that's already using power.
How to wire a relay for an evaporative cooler to a thermostat? I have an evaporative cooler with 120VAC control that I want to switch on and off using a relay that is activated when the cool call comes from my thermostat. I plan on just using 1 relay to activate the whole cooler control (rather than multiple relays t...	To verify, use your multimeter to test that you measure 24V AC across the relay coil when the thermostat calls for cooling. You'll want to connect the Y and C wires to the coil of the relay, so you end up with something like this. Alternately, you could replace the fan relay with a 2-pole version to give you the extra ...
How do I remove multiple layers of paint from wooden entrance ledge? Here's a picture: If I recall correctly I have already tried a chemical stripper years ago and it didn't work. What would be the easiest way to remove the layers of paint all the way down to bare wood? An angle grinder? Sheet sander? Random orbital...	One of the best tools to begin the process of removing old, thick paint is a simple hand scraper
How can I repair kitchen counters that are disintegrating? We have a pretty standard 90s style laminate kitchen counter top. There are cabinets and a dishwasher underneath, and the counter overhangs them by about a half inch. The bottom of the overhang is not covered by laminate and has exposed stuff that looks like ...	I'd re-scrape, then smear a layer of white/clear caulk of the tub/tile/sink variety, working it into the 'wood' as much as possible.
How do I stop my garage door from opening on its own? My garage door has opened twice in the last 2 weeks during the night. Is someone driving by and opening it "accidentally"? How do I keep this from happening? <Q> If you have an older style garage door remote, before they used rolling codes, you could very easily ha...	The remedy is, as KennethR did, clear all devices from your garage door by holding the learn button for 30 seconds -and reprogram all of your openers to your garage door.
Is carpet installation easier before or after installation of doors? I was wondering if carpet installation is easier if doors are not installed and how substantial the difference it makes to install doors after carpet. I would imagine it would be easier but by how much? <Q> I'll assume you're installing a door and ja...	The standard procedure is to install carpet after the doors and trim are installed.
What is an oven anti-tip device and how do you install one? I'm trying to sell a home, and we're in the inspection / repair phase. The buyers asked for me to install an anti-tip device for the oven in the kitchen, and I'm not even sure what that is. Can someone explain it to me and tell me how to install it? <Q> It's...	Its purpose is to prevent the stove from tipping when a heavy load is placed on the door or slide-out racks upsetting the center of gravity.
Is it safe to wire regular receptacles to the end of an extension cord? Is it safe to cut off the single-plug end of an extension cord and replace it with several regular receptacles and a metal box? Should the box itself be grounded? <Q> This would be considered to be temporary construction power equipment. <S> Accord...	I suppose it's safe as long as you wire it properly, including a secure attachment between the box and the cord to prevent the cord from pulling out. Then yes, this can be done safely.
How can I cool down a hot garage? My North Carolina garage is extremely hot, does not have a window and a room over top. In 5 years I have lost three freezers, there is no other place to put the freezer. I have tried to find a fan w ith a damper and a thermostat that could be mounted thru the wall but no luck. What ca...	In addition to ventilation, you can also insulate your garage, especially the roof and east-south-west walls.
Why would my well water cut off for 30 minutes before working again? I live in a area where I have to use well water and I have a well house that runs to my home. The water work with great pressure for a while, and then suddenly stops and takes 30 minutes to come back on. I Have a well-x-Trol tank, a new pressure switc...	you've got issues in the well (low water, bad pump) and you could be damaging your pump.
Realistically, could you build a useful built in closet in a space that is 77.5in x 9.4in? I have a part of a wall in a room that is deeper than the rest of that wall and measures exactly 77.5 inches across and 9.4 inches deep (196.9 cm x 23.9 cm). I would like to make that space a built in closet so that that "dead s...	Another idea is to reclaim some of the room and built a full size closet using the extra depth that is already there. That's not a lot of depth.
What is the maximum number of load bearing studs in a row that can be notched? I'm trying to install a new utility sink and washer hookup in my garage and am trying to plan how I'm going to run the copper supply lines. The most direct path I can think of is to notch probably 5 or so studs of an exterior wall to reach t...	I have seen limitation on boring a hole in the same section as the notch which is not allowed. This is a hard question to answer, mainly because there may be local building code that changes the answer depending on the region. The best option is to go through the joists in either the ceiling or floor so that no studs n...
What are my options to repair a broken tab on a bus bar? My A/C went out this week. The problem was a broken tab on a bus bar with cut power to one phase of the 220v circuit. My HVAC guy was able to get me going again by swapping the A/C unit to the dryers breaker. I spoke with a local company on the phone, they wer...	I just replaced my busbar for $75. Changing out bussing is always the easiest way to go, if you spend a couple of days finding someone who saves old gear. The busbar is now dead.
How can I replace the star-shaped base of an office chair? I've got two office chairs, one whose base (the one that is star-shaped, holds all the wheels together and joins them with the bar/gas compressor) is broken, and another that is just fine. How can I take the other's base out without breaking it (it's plastic)?...	I've seen suggestions elsewhere to use a large pipe wrench to torque it free; but the one time I tried that I ended up only being able to tighten it enough to scratch the hell out of the surface but not break it loose.
Is there ever a reason to fuse the neutral rather then the hot line in a small appliance? This question relates to 120V small appliance wiring in the USA. I repair small motorized appliances called microcentrifuges that are used in laboratories, and specialize in models made by a particular German manufacturer - Eppen...	The hot is fused to prevent a ground short from burning out the appliance and is the reason that a grounded neutral or reverse-polarized electrical plug can be dangerous.
Can an ordinary power drill drill through steel? It's my dad's drill and it's a Bosch. I'm not sure about the model no. etc because the box is missing together with the manual. He's been using it to drill holes in wood to install doors and also walls to hang pictures. I'm not sure if it can drill through steel though p...	Drilling steel is easy, once it is marked and punched.
How do I adhere vinyl sheeting to carpet? We foster puppies on a regular basis and in order to protect the carpet I am looking to cover a section of their room with vinyl sheet flooring where their pen is located. I thought about vinyl because it is inexpensive and waterproof. I need to know how to adhere it to the...	Anything more is not going to be good for the carpet. Lay vinyl down with a few dabs of construction adhesive (not around the carpet wrap seams)
Is it enough to apply just one coat of Killz2 primer on drywall? I have heard conflicting instructions regarding primer on drywall, some saying one and some saying two coats. The bucket of Killz2 itself says reapply after 1 hr, implying two coats are needed (I am sure they want to sell more product). I have also hear...	Bottom line, if you can still see the color or patches of color after the first coat, either coat again, or spot coat. If all that you see is your white Killz then that is enough for all dry walls.
How do I build floating shelves in a nook with a mirror behind it? I have a bar nook area that I want to do something similar to the image below, but on the back of the shelves I want to put a large mirror. I was planning on ordering a custom cut mirror for the wall and then I want to install these floating shelves. ...	Keyhole hangers are my favorite for flush shelf hanging.
How can I trace the path of plumbing lines inside walls without cutting holes? I am looking to install a shutoff valve for an outdoor faucet, and to do that, I need to locate the pipe leading to that faucet. I tried to trace it by listening for the hissing sound when the water was running, but that doesn't seem too rel...	Start right inside where the faucet is and try listening at various spots a few inches apart by sliding in vertical or horizontal lines—perpendicular to the direction the pipe is traveling. There are utility locators that pick up a signal conducted through metal by a transmitter. Tearing apart the wall will definitely ...
How can we cover a carpet for the long term? Are there any plastic covers (or protectors or films) available that are more for long term (like about a year) as opposed to the short-term ones that last only 30-60 days. We're about to rent a place, and the landlord has "no stains on carpet" demand. Since most of us ar...	Personally, if those are the types of demands the landlord is making, I would go into your lease expecting a bill for every single thing that should be considered "wear and tear". Unless you're a group of college kids (to which, I could understand creating some fear so that people don't go party-crazy), a "no stains pe...
mold problem in basement I had some insulation put on half my basement wall. Since then I have been having a problem with mold.I know my basement walls leak. Could wet insulation cause mold? If so is it bad mold. Alls I know is I have white stuff growing everywhere in basement., and there are no visible leaks. <Q> Whi...	Wet insulation does not directly cause mold, unless it was contaminated with spores.
Do I need a face-mask when painting? I am planing to spray-paint some cabinets. Do I need a full face-mask or not? <Q> Lungs weren't made to filter out latex aerosols, organic solvents, urethane, epoxy fumes. <S> Any time you're spray painting, you should at least have a dust filter. <S> Coughing up paint may be som...	A dust mask is not an appropriate face covering for spray painting.
How do I connect a light to a switch when the light receives power first? I have a power source running from the light how do I connect it to a switch? <Q> In general, a light switch breaks the hot wire lead when it is off and connects the hot wire lead when it is on. <S> The neutral lead and the ground lead are neve...	Power source through switch box - When power comes through a box containing a light switch and continues on to the light, the switch is attached on one terminal to the black (or sometimes red) line from the power source and on the other terminal to the black (or red) line going on to the light.
How do I get rid of mold from the bottom of a bath mat (where the suction cups are)? We have a bathmat that we use to line the tub when we bathe our daughter. After the bath, we remove the mat and suction it to the shower wall (which is some sort of frosted glass) I've noticed black mold growing on the suction cups. ...	When you suction cup the wet mat to the wall you are leaving it there as a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew growth to occur. After use always rinse it off I suggest that you replace the mat and then use an alternate procedure when stowing the mat after use.
When can spackle be used instead of mud? My wife was reading this article, wherein drywall damage due to the removal of construction adhesive was fixed with spackle. HOW TO REMOVE A DATED VANITY BACKSPLASH I thought this kind of repair required joint compound ("mud") and not spackle. When can spackle, which is easi...	I use joint compound for most repair applications around drywall.
How do I clean a stainless steel gas cooktop without harming the surface? How does one remove the burnt-on grease spots on a stainless steel gas cooktop without harming the stainless? I have used all types of gentle detergents. <Q> Try white vinegar with 5% or 10% acidity first. <S> Weiman makes some great cleaners...	I would hit it with a normal dish cleaner.
What is a shear wall and what is it for? I have a wall in the middle of my house which I have been told is a shear wall. The image below is a diagram I put together real quick to show what it looks like. The grey lines on the right are perpendicular exterior walls. The orange-ish section on the right is actually ext...	In typical construction and low risk areas, the exterior wood sheathing and interior drywall provides this lateral support and avoids the need for any lateral bracing. If that really is a shear wall, you must not modify it without the approval of an engineer or other qualified professional .
Why do I have three phase electricity? I actually have 3 phase in my home. Notes you said it was not possible. Not sure why, but it is here. Why would anyone ever want it? <Q> Here's an example: <S> My home was provided with a three-phase supply when it was built in 1990 because the builder intended to install an ele...	So far as I know, three-phase supply is commonly used for equipment that requires substantially more power than most domestic household appliances.
Why did my refrigerator/freezer stop cooling? The other day my combined fridge/freezer stopped cooling. I tried to turn the temperature dials inside the fridge but it didn't work. I read that this could be due to the evaporator coils being frosted over, so I disconnected it for a whole day, with the doors open. When I ...	Sounds to me like your fridge has built in coils, which is the cause of the heat on the outside sides (condensing), and that your refrigerant is low, likely due to a leak.
What should I do about a pin hole leak in pvc water pipe? I have tried JB Weld products, epoxy, water epoxy, and water tape. I do not want to replace the pipe--just fix it for now. The pipe is a cold water supply. <Q> Your best bet to fix the leak is to turn off the water, drain the line, and then cut out the bad sect...	Bondo fiberglass resin, while a little messy, worked to patch a leaking PVC sump pump pipe joint.
Why do my clothes smell when I dry them outside on line but they are fine when tumble dried? When I tumble dry my clothes they smell fine.When I line (outside) dry them they smell quite bad, a musty stale smell.In both instances they have been taken out of washing machine quite quickly after the cycle has finished and ...	It's possible that the bacteria is coming from your washing machine, if you usually do cool or cold cycles and haven't cleaned it out in awhile
Why do my LED lights stay on, even when the switch is off? I have two LED lamps in my corridor, and when I switch them off, they keep emitting light (not very strong, but it's annoying at night). What can it be? How can I fix it? <Q> Some light switches run a small amount of current through the bulbs even when off, us...	If the light is controlled by 3-way switches wired with a 3 wire conductor, the electromagnetic field will induce enough voltage on the other wire to dimly light an LED bulb.
Can I use demo'ed bricks to make an outdoor firepit? I have four brick posts that are about four feet high and square (1.5 bricks per side all the way up). They are going. A tree hit two of them and I was probably going to take them out anyway. So I have a bunch of bricks with some of the bricks the mortar is attach...	My vote is always for re-use (except the trash pieces, which can still be used as a filler). A fire pit with used bricks should be fine.
Is it OK to apply a coat of one brand of paint over a coat of another brand? I was wondering if it makes much different to use two different brands of paint (of the same color and sheen) when painting two coats. For example, if I have some Behr in semi-gloss left and it is enough for one coat and then buy more of Glid...	Yea it matters because when you use two different brands often there can be the same color variance between the same color.
Why were only some of my tools damaged when connected to a 240V receptacle? I live in the US and recently bought a home. There are several electrical outlets in my garage. I have recently had two tools that have burned up and gone to an early grave. It turns out that the previous owner put in a 220 volt outlet but u...	Electrical breakdown can also happen with deliberately-placed spike protection devices that were designed to break down and shunt away short spikes of overvoltage, but were not designed to handle sustained overvoltage.
Is it OK to have 10ga wire running from breaker to switch then 8ga from switch to pump? I'm running an 8 gauge wire from the breaker box to my pump (which is 200 feet away from the house). I want to install a switch near the breaker box and want to know if I can use 10 gauge wire from the breaker to the switch and s...	If you're using #8 just to compensate for the drop over distance, then yes - you can come out of the switch with #10 if #8 somehow makes termination impractical at the pump.
Will it harm 12VDC LED light strips if I supply them with 12VAC instead? I have strips of 12 volt DC LED's that can be cut into groups of three that I am using to light buildings on a model railroad and am happy with the results. I can vary the voltage from about 6 to 12 depending on lighting needs for a specific buil...	Depending on the type of LED element and the driver circuit, you could either be fine or significantly shortening the lifespan of your lights.
Should I remove baseboards prior to installing laminate or wood floors? I recently bought around 650sft of laminate floors, to replace around 570sft of carpeted floors in our MN home. These will go in on the main floor, right above an unfinished basement. I'm planning on installing these myself in the next 3 or 4 week...	Take the baseboards out, freshen them up while you are at it, install floor, pop baseboards back. As long as it isn't a HUGE deal to take baseboards out I would almost always go with removing them. Your finish will look better.
Will greenboard retard mold growth? I have had problems with mold in my kitchen behind the sink cabinet a couple of times. I have gutted the sink cabinet, the drywall behind it and the lazy susan area, leaving the countertop in place. The countertop is new and I don't want to break it. I want to replace the drywall wi...	If you need truly mold proof you need to either you go hardieboard or you can use a waterproofing paint - these are expensive and a pain to apply.
How many concrete piers do I need to support a 10 x 10 wooden floor supporting a 1600 lb shed? Aptos, CA, United States. As you've probably noticed from my prior post , I'm in the process of building a foundation for a garden shed. My specific county/region does not have strict restrictions/requirements on shed fou...	Obtain a building permit and a local inspector will give you guidelines on minimum requirements for posts, beam spans, joist spans, etc...
Do Silent Condensate Pumps for Air Conditioners exist? I need to install a Condensate Pump in a new A/C in a bedroom, and there is no choice but to pump the condensate up to a drain on the roof. The A/C technicians have told me about different types of condensate pumps, but they all seem to make an audible sound on re...	The quietest pump i have ever come across is the DiversiTech ClearVue Condensate Pump .
Can I use indoor Romex in buried outdoor conduit? Or should I use outdoor Romex? I heard that outdoor Romex doesn't need conduit as you are just supposed to bury it. Edit: Ack, I should have mentioned I have existing conduit that I want to pull the wire through. It currently has individual wires like user14408 has ind...	UF cable is THHN conductors plus a ground encased completely in PVC. When using UF, please take my advice on getting someone to show you how to strip it, the folks at your local electrical supply or home center will probably be more than happy to show you.
How to I safely anchor a safety line to a chimney? I am going to be installing an antenna at the top of my brick chimney and I'd like to be able to use a safety line with a fall arrestor. The chimney visually looks OK. I'm trying to figure out the safest way to anchor to the top of the chimney. So far I've considered...	An anchor system around the entire chimney is a much better option if properly placed.
Assuming you can go either way, is it better to install a Multi-split or multiple Split Air Conditioners? For 2 bedrooms and 1 living room, and assuming you have the flexibility for both options and the total output is the same, is it better to install a Multi-Split 3x1 Air Con System (3 interior units / 1 exterior un...	The one big compressor, assuming it is capable of variable speed, will certainly be more significantly more efficient under anything less than full load because the condenser of a single outdoor unit system has three times the cooling area of a single condenser in a 3 unit system which means the compressor motor doesn'...
Need to know if this is mold or not This may be an obvious answer to some but I know next to nothing about molds / fungus etc. Is this mold, or black mold? I've been finding it throughout my house, usually by window sills, and am hoping to find out what it is, and how to treat it. Any info would be appreciated, thanks ...	What you're most likely seeing is ordinary mold growing on dust, dander, dirt, mold, skin cells, and the like that have landed on the windowsills/edges. I bought a dehumidifier and it seems to have done the trick.
Where does the ground wire go in a 3-prong dryer cord configuration? We moved to a new place where the dryer connection is 3-prong instead of 4-prong. The dryer was originally 4-prong, so we bought a 3-prong cord and installed it. It works fine, except I am not entirely sure if I installed the ground wire correctly. ...	The ground is bonded to the Neutral connection as shown in the 3 wire diagram on the dryer.. So, make sure to find and follow the directions for your dryer when installing a new cord!
Decipher my bathroom rough in Can someone help me decipher this picture? When I had the house built, the builder roughed in a bathroom for later use. The pipes in this picture are A 2" pipe, possible a vent with a T connector (facing the wrong way) already on it? A pipe with a cap. Cap measures 4.5". Maybe for t...	You could also wet vent a lavatory through the toilet vent if that location is better than the #1 pipe. Removing the caps and determining which direction the elbows below turn would be useful information in corroborating my guesses. Your basement has a very very common configuration. That is what I would be most worrie...
Can I use just molding to hold down a floating floor or must I use quarter-round? I am installing a floating floor (click-lock). The molding is all coming off anyway. Can I use just molding to hold the floating floor down or must I use molding AND quarter-round?? <Q> Most molding (skirting board) is 3/8" thick. <S> You...	However, if your drywall doesn't come all the way down to the floor (usually a basement scenario) then as long as you have that quarter inch gap under the drywall free and clear, you should be ok with just ordinary skirting board.
Easy way to remove tile concrete from bathroom wall? Are there an easy to to remove tile concrete from the wall? Are there e.g. some way to get it off in whole pieces so cleaning up afterwards will be easier? Here is a picture of the wall in question. The tile concrete is about 2cm thick. <Q> Easy, no. <S> I have u...	I set the depth of the cut to be just the thickness of the mortar and try to cut vertically along each stud. It's a dirty, dusty, hard job. Pry each panel off (large crowbars or flatbars) Whack it with a good hammer... It isn't for everyone but takes about the same amount of time - although more man-power.
How can I seal this hanging electrical outlet in my horse barn? I really am not a fixer type of gal but this seems like it should be simple enough. Please respond appropriately for someone who has limited knowledge. I have a hanging outlet in my horse barn. It seems to be properly wired per a contractor friend. A...	The hanging outlet box I have seen used several times in barns, however if a 2 by 4 can be attached to a ceiling crossbeam and placed perpendicular to those beams it will offer more stability to the box and wiring. Silicone caulk works wonders in all kinds of situations.
What's the best tool for shoveling gravel? I have a couple of cubic meters of gravel (3-4cm, round, no edges) in a big pile. I want to move this gravel, some of it becomes foundation for the kids' sand pit, and some should go along the outer walls of the house as rain splash guard. I figure I can use a wheelbarrow and...	I prefer a pointed garden shovel for larger rock.
Should we be rewiring or pigtailing the aluminum wiring in our condo? We have purchased a condo home that was built in 1975. The inspector brought up the hazards of aluminum wiring. Since we have very little knowledge regarding this area we were wondering if we should rewire the entire place or if it is OK just to ha...	We use purple AlumiConns WITH Noalox Anti‑Oxidant Compound in it and 14 gauge copper pig tails. In fact it is perfectly safe and there has been studies showing that the only increased chance of fire is produced with an improper installation. In our case and per our code we are replacing ALL receptacles and switches wit...
Building on top of 3/4'' plywood subfloor I want to build this: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/12/21/how-to-make-a-relatively-sweet-shower-cheap/ and I'm building in my basement bathroom: on top of the foundation I have 2x4 (horizontal) making joists (space about 4-6" apart) and the 3/4 plywood to make the sub f...	Yes, 3/4 inch plywood (not particle board, MDX, or whatever) is a standard subfloor in quality construction.
Why are all the toilets in my house running intermittently? All of my toilets in the house have started to run intermittently. Is there something wrong with the plumbing or could it be that the flapper has gone bad on all the toilets at the same time? <Q> You have to diagnose why the toilets are running, but given that...	One last possibility is a failing valve on the toilet.
How do I secure electrical wiring to a pocket door frame? I recently installed 2 pocket door kits together from one room to an adjacent in my house. The building inspector said he saw no problem with me installing a light switch in a shallow electrical box on the pocket door frame as long as I could properly secure th...	When installing the casing, be sure that no nails stray beyond the stud (they shouldn't anyway). There are also cable clips that use zip ties, as suggested by DA01.
How do I move a slab of concrete? I want to build a fence in my backyard by my garbage stand is sitting on a concrete slab and that slab is in the way of where I want to put the fence so I want to move it over a few feet. The slab of concrete is 5' by 5'8'' by 6''.I popped those dimensions in an online concrete calcul...	You could then saw off a portion of the slab, chip out a trough for clearance for fence rails or drill out a smaller area to allow a fencepost to be inserted. Check with a local rental store to see what sort of concrete saws and/or drill bits are available. If it won't pull, sledge it.
What is an efficient way of removing thick grout haze? I have replaced a cracked tile in my kitchen and have set the grout accordingly. I must have missed a step because the haze (which is supposed to come up with a cheese cloth) is more like London fog, and is not coming up without significant effort. Surely there ha...	If you are dealing with a large area, use a random orbital sander with a Scotch Brite attachment and the universal lubricant, water.
How can I subtly mark a height difference to prevent tripping? Between two of my rooms I have a height difference of about 4cm. What is an obvious but subtle way to mark the marble floor so the step is obvious, and help to prevent tripping? I'm thinking of using mini battery-operated LED lights. By the way in case a...	Of course the lights could be house powered and unless your power is unreliable, that is probably good enough. I suggest you install a contrastive colored riser/toe kick and nosing. For obvious but subtle; one way or another you want to emphasize that it is a transition and there happens to be a step there instead of "...
Why have cordless tools changed the battery style? I was looking for replacement batteries for my cordless tools (drill, light, sander) and have been unable to find any. My current battery is the style with a neck that inserts into the tool, but all the newer tools have batteries without a neck that just slides onto t...	Back when battery power tools were basically just drills, the neck type batteries fitted them well because the handle would hold some extra battery cells.
Why doesn't my garage door close unless I am holding down the button? When I push my inside of garage button for the door to close, the door attempts to go down, motor light flashes and door goes back up again. I had to keep holding the wall button for the door to actually go down and close. <Q> The garage door will au...	Besides @longneck's excellent points , if the garage door or opener is a new installation and has not worked before, it could be that the opener's internal "tension sensor" is not correctly set.
What is the maximum angle I can set my window AC unit? We know an AC unit must be angled to allow runoff. But what is the maximum angle and what is the issue with having to large of an angle? I've seen people say the angle is "5/16" or "3/16" but this is nonsense as an angle is not a length. I am installing a window u...	If it is tilted too far, that could cause water to accumulate in the wrong place and interfere with the condenser, or maybe just overflow onto the sill bypassing the drainage system altogether.
How to integrate beams and venting with drywall? I have air vents and an I-beam right when you walk into my basement. My family is tall so I am not looking to box it like I normally would. I am going to hit everything with white paint. Problem is on the outer walls how do you "connect" the drywall to the I-beam and ...	I'm not sure if I'm following all the details, but it sounds like one question is how do you finish the drywall around the I-beam where it will enter the sheetrock. Make it part of the "look". I haven't actually used membrane for this solution, but I am a big fan of the product for other purposes. That would only lower...
How should I label and organize my home electrical circuits? I am looking to make the wiring updates in my home extremely simple to understand while doing so in a code-approved manner. I cannot find anything against wrapping a thin band of colored electrical tape around the outer sheathing on NM-B wire such as a small...	As long as you're only wrapping the tape around the outer sheathing, there is no problem. Some of that cheap crap tape could end up falling off in the future, which could lead to confusion and possibly injury and/or death. There is no marking on the remote ends of the wires.
What is causing a cat urine smell in my bathroom? My bathroom has started smelling like cat urine. We have NO cats. I think the smell is coming from the shower drain. What could this smell be coming from and how do I get rid of it? <Q> If the toilet rocks or moves that will damage the seal and cause leaks. <S> Even ...	Look for leaks, the most likely culprit is a failed seal on the toilet. Think about where you would put a catbox and inspect and sniff carefully.
Would providing shade for my air conditioner's condensor improve its efficiency? Our house has two A/C systems; one for the bedroom level, one for the remainder of the house. The compressor/consdensor units are outside the south side of the house, and in direct sun all day, now that a nearby tree has been removed. Wo...	The shading of the air coming into condensor is super helpful.
How can I remove oil stains from a concrete floor? I rented a home, and the garage floor is concrete. It looks like the previous owner had a small car that dripped more oil than it retained. It has been parked on multiple spots, so there are seriously large oil spill spots all over the concrete floor, and they have b...	However, clay absorbent is far superior in its ability to remove oil from concrete. Xylol will also evaporate off too quickly.
What material is allowed for a furnace room ceiling material? What types of material, other than drywall, are acceptable by Ohio HVAC Code for the ceiling of a small furnace room which will: Have return air ducts (only) passing through it to attic space. Butt up against a brick chimney on one edge (B-Vent installed ...	You can't count on the existing furnace to be the last one ever installed in that location, so any installation you do now will have to be safe for the next furnace, too... and since you can't know anything about the next furnace's specifcations, you need to take every reasonable precaution now. A new material, probabl...
How can I connect a portable propane bottle to a tankless hot water heater? I'm looking at a tankless hot water heater (Rinnai V65EP) with a 3/4" NPT propane input. The manual says that a 1/2" propane feed is acceptable if it is relatively short. Required gas supply pressure is 8.0 ‐ 13.5 inch W.C. I am planning on pu...	I am hooking up a Bosch 520 on demand to a 20# propane tank.
Can you use drywall mud on hardiboard? I am looking at painting hardiboard or mudding and then painting. Is that OK? <Q> I don't see why not. <S> Certainly the flex of Hardiboard is less than sheetrock, so there should be no issues with flexing causing cracking of dried mud. <S> But why would you want to? <S> Ha...	I don't see why not if the area stays dry. Hardiboard has even more texture than sheetrock for mud adhesion and at least as good of moisture absorption, so mud should adhere quite well.
Why would all pizeoelectric plugs spark when igniting just one gas stove burner? When trying to ignite a single burner on a 2012 model gas stove, all 5 of the piezoelectric plugs start to spark. Once the chosen burner lights and I adjust the flame all the plugs stop sparking. Questions Is this something awry or is...	Yes, it is a typical for the gas stovetops to light all of the burners even when only one is needed.
How do I keep heavy rain from draining into my house? The west side of our house is 2 stories high. We have 3 window wells on that side of the house. When we get heavy rains from the west blowing against the house, lets say 3 inches in an hour. The water can't run away quickly enough and it runs into the basement. My ...	Since this is the high open side of the house, extreme eaves might help and might look quite cool, but might introduce structural issues in the case of high winds.
Do I have the right tools for drilling granite? What I'm doing : taking rounded granite stones and cutting the bottoms flat with an angle grinder and drilling 2-3" the other side for a flower, pen, etc. (3/8") What I'm using : Bosch multi purpose drill bit (3/8") and a Makita 6A 5/8" hammer drill Question : It se...	You should be using a diamond wet hole bit.
Why did I feel an electric current when touching my light switch? While reaching behind a desk in my office, I leaned against the wall and felt a pinch on my shoulder. I realized I was leaning on the lower screw of the light switch and thought it had a metal burr or something sticking out. I touched the screw with my h...	It is possible (though unlikely) that the light switch is mis-wired and presents a potential to the screw. Most everyone is familiar with static electricity I think. The cable company hadn't installed a proper ground to the water pipes. It stands to reason that if huge sparks occur at, say, 200,000 volts, that a small ...
Is there a way to get an oil stain off painted drywall? Somehow oil or something got splashed on the painted drywall and now there are two stains present. I was wondering what tips people have to attempt to remove the stain, or is the simple solution just a repaint job? Salad/cooking oil of some kind. <Q> If it is a ...	If the paint is good quality latex or (any type of oil paint), try wiping the stain off with a dry paper towel or absorbent cloth. I would go over the area with something like drylok and let it sit for a week or two.
Confused on what AC Unit to purchase and install? I am replacing a 30 year old AC unit and I have had 4 estimates. 2 of the 4 people did not even take any measurements and the other two took a lot of measurements. I am leaning towards the ones that took measurements, but they are giving me two options. I live in Flo...	A lot depends on your installer and his competence.
Why did I lose power to half the house when the breakers did not trip? Using a voltage detector I determined that three breakers in the panel are not conducting voltage, yet they are fully on (not tripped). Thinking they were bad, I replaced a double throw 15 amp and a double throw 20 amp in the box. Flipped them on,...	I'm betting one half of your main breaker is tripped.
What type of insulation has the highest R value per inch? I am trying to find the best insulation for my apartment. The limitation is that space between the drywall and the ceiling is 1/2". I live on the top floor of my building. <Q> Last time I checked, polyisocyanurate has the best insulation value per inch (R-6.5) o...	You can purchase "vacuum insulating panels", but they will be difficult to install, expensive, and might end up being too thick. Vacuum Insulating Panels can use Aerogels as a filler, so you still get about R9 even if you destroy the vacuum with a nail or screw.
How do I drill holes for "cam nuts"? The manuals I've seen for (cheaper) furniture refers to a cam nut and a cam bolt. Examples of them can be seen for purchase on Amazon . I've recently decided I'd like to build my own desk and believe these would be a good means to allow future disassembly of the desk. Is there a ...	Cam nuts / "knock-down furniture" will not be as sturdy as permanent joints and will be a little trickier to construct, since the alignment needs to be just right

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