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How can I raise my bed frame cheaply? If the bed were a few inches higher, I would be able to store my suitcase beneath it. Is there anyway to raise it and still be able to support a person lying down? I may be looking for something like this though $20 seems a bit much for something that gives a few more inches and...	Larger beds (kings, some queens) have supports in the middle of the bed as well as corner supports; they must all be lifted equally. Making the leg extensions too high could cause the bed to be unstable, leading to property damage, injury, and or death. I suggest you go to the local hardware store and get the thickest ...
How do you drain a garbage disposal? I have a garage disposal installed in my kitchen double sink. The pipe that comes out of the garbage disposal is horizontal to the main vertical pipe before it goes to the p trap. The t joint is baffled, and I am not a fan of this arrangement since it clogs quite often. (once in 6...	I know this is an old post but as a master plumber I would add a separate Santee for the disposal and arm over with its own trap.
What's the best way to recreate exterior wood trim? I have some decorative wood pieces on the front of my house that are old and falling apart. I took them down to recreate them anew. Someone suggested I could trace them and cut out new ones in the same style. This seemed like a straightforward suggestion until I start...	Unless the trim is rotten you can try stripping the paint to expose the original profile
Can I pour concrete if it's raining out? I have 6 bags of concrete that I need to mix and pour for 2 deck piers.It's raining lightly outside. Should I reschedule or just do it and cover with plastic when we're done? <Q> If you're manually mixing under cover (garage, gazebo, kitchen fly) and only dumping when ready, th...	If it is lightly raining you have nothing to worry about especially for piers. Heavy rain: Not advisable, but has been done (you end up working the finished side up more, as the rain and runoff can ding the finish.
What is a humane, safe and clean way to dispose of a live mouse caught in a glue trap? A glue trap in my garage caught a mouse. I consider it inhumane to let the mouse die in the glue trap. I am looking for a method to euthanize the mouse that meets the following requirements: Humane - Must be quick and effective. S...	The best the mouse can hope for is to have it's nose stuck in the glue and die. Just shower the mouse with nitrogen and throw it away. Firmly grab the mouse (and its associated trap) with your gloved, "plasticked" hand and with your free hand, roll the Ziplock back out so you can seal it completely, with the mouse trap...
Why did my circuit blow after replacing a switch? I replaced an older switch yesterday on an existing line of recessed lights. There are five lights on the one switch. On the same breaker; but different switch, there are 7 more recessed lights (all in a basement, in the process of being renovated, and easily accessible...	If the voltmeter reads low resistance or the meter beeps, disconnect the wire from the first recessed light and try again. There is something amiss with your new switch. The load has increased: more bulbs or more wattage, or the humidifier is using more power. This happens sometimes, especially with heavily loaded circ...
What windows should be used to soundproof from traffic noise? I am having a house built by a builder. On my contract, it is specified that 'Sound Attenuating' windows would be installed. This is important as the house backs up to a busy road which provides a lot of noise. The seller agent sold it to me as sound proof ...	There are a number of companies that provide windows with high STC ratings. The obvious solution would to have specified in the contract the particular make and model of windows. You may want to evaluate the siding/sheathing/insulation/wallboard plan to make sure that you don't put great windows in but still get signif...
How can I transmogrify a fixed monitor post in to a variable height monitor post? Background I am looking to increase the versatility of a desk by allowing the monitor to raise and lower, using a manual mechanical solution (i.e., no electric motors). I am trying to make adjusting the monitor height be as quick and eff...	You can use cotter pins through the gear pins to hold everything together As a result, we tend to leave it fairly loose so we can adjust it with one hand and only a little force by providing relief of the showerhead torque. The bottom bracket shown in the picture at the bottom of the post leads to another extensible ar...
What is the easiest way to tear out a bathroom subfloor? We recently did some remodeling, and in the process, managed to hook up the toilet in the bathroom to the hot-water line. The trouble is, we discovered this fact after we had already put down the plywood, cement board, and then floor-leveling compound (The floor ...	Depending on your home construction, it might even be possible/easier to do this from the basement or crawlspace. Cut hot line in wall and cap it. Trying to tear out the floor from above would require removing everything that's on the floor, it's much more costly to replace the flooring, and structurally you don't want...
What is causing the vibrations through my water pipes after flushing the toilet? I am getting vibration through my pipes after flushing, it is also very slow & I am finding cement pellets at the bottom of the pan <Q> Could be that the float/valve is causing this. <S> If you flush the toilet and hold down the float, the...	When the water flows thru the pipes, the pressure and turbulence can force the pipes to vibrate, specially if those pipes are not properly secured to the studs.
Is ivy bad for your walls? We have a front wall covered by ivy. We do like it very much, but keep getting remarks that ivy eventually destroys your wall. My usual response is that you often see ivy on century-old buildings and those seem to have survived all right. So my question is if there really is potential danger...	Pristine walls likely benefit from the ivy but slightly damaged walls are made worse with the ivy.
How to prepare & paint a porch that has existing lead paint? I'd like to repaint my 100-year-old wooden front porch. It almost certainly had lead paint at some point. I would very much like to avoid stripping it, or any other procedure that might mobilize the lead paint, as I have young kids (and, if any dust were crea...	I suggest you line the underside of the porch with 6 mil plastic, use a chemical stripper to loosen the paint, and scrape it all off.
How do I fix a twisted shower head? I have one of those shower heads that has a twisty bendy cord that allows you to wash specific areas my easily. Also makes washing pets easier in the tub as well. The last week or so the shower head has been wanting to twist itself to the far stage right. Towards the bathroom/shower...	Try letting the shower head hang for a few days while it's not in use.
Properly venting a gas water heater Ahh, the joys of an old house. The former owners of my house did some funky stuff with venting the water heater. Let me explain: the water heater is in the basement there is a 3 in singlewalled vent pipe that goes up towards the first floor at about 45degrees next there is a jo...	You should use a firestop (a sheet of flashing with a pipe sized hole) at walls and floors/ceilings to keep the pipe a safe distance from studs/sheetrock.
How do I make my house allergy proof? Two members of our household are prone for allergies. For quite some time we are trying to make the house as allergy proof as possibile. Our cat found a new house with good friends. All carpentry was removed, and so are our mattresses which are replaced by allergy-proof ones. All ...	Steam clean - or better yet see if your carpet cleaners can clean all couches, chairs, upholstery...
How can I tell where the other end of the conduit is? We have a house with a lot of 2-prong outlets I'd like to replace. They're all fed by conduits. Multiple people (in real life and online) have told me that replacing them is easy: "Just fish the new cable through the conduit," or, "tie the old cable to the new...	Typically, circuits are wired the shortest distance between outlets, so you can make some intelligent guesses at which junction to try disconnecting next. Pipe a small speaker into one end of the conduit, and then put a hose from your ear to the other end to see where the sound is loudest.
Dishwasher across from the sink? Way to make the pump stronger? Long story short, I renovated my kitchen and have two counters.I have a counter where the oven and kitchen sink reside. Across from the counter (about 5 ft), I have a dishwasher across. I have a drainage tube (rubber hose) that runs from the dishwasher to ...	Install a trap near the dishwasher, and run a proper drain that tees into the sink drain (follow local plumbing codes). In this scenario, you'll want to have the discharge tube go up to an air admittance device (AAV) or air gap. I would try to go down, through a vertical p-trap, to a connection below. There are also ce...
Why does my front loading clothes washer stink? I have a front loading washing machine which smells really bad. I have also had the brown sludge problem which I've managed to clear with hot cleaning etc. I've noticed I have to empty the filter of smelly water every time I use the washer. Also, this coincides with hav...	If the smell seems to be coming from the back of the machine near the drain hose, I would encourage you to look into the drain line and pump drain trap.
Why does only the hot water have low Water Pressure from my 2 handle kitchen faucet? My kitchen faucet is a two handle style with a single delivery spout. The water pressure for the cold water and for ALL the other water sources in the home work fine. The water pressure for the hot water in the kitchen has steadily b...	From your description it sounds like the hot water side has clogged up to the point that it is restricting the water flow.
Why will 26 1.2W 220V LED lights not work with an 800W inverter? We live off the grid and have just installed 26 220V 1.2W LED lights. We are using 220V as the batteries are some way from the house and and thick copper wire is expensive. Everything works on the inverter except the LED lights. We can only use 6 and then...	One possible solution, short of "buy a new inverter" (a rather expensive proposition, especially for true sine) would be to feed the light circuits (only) though a small isolation transformer. Sounds like you're running into trouble with the light's forward voltage drop At 220v and 26 lights, you've got 8.5 volts per l...
How should I connect to a short ground wire in a metal box? I live in a 50's era house that has breakers and a ground wire in every metal box of the house. The problem is they only used 2 prong outlets. They cut the ground wire short and wrapped it around the wire clamp screw inside the box to ground it. It's too short...	Connecting a second ground wire from the clamp screw to the outlet should be safe as long as it is done right. You'd need to check local code/law to see if it is permissible.
What is the most suitable material to use for baseboards in bathroom I used particle board baseboards in our bathroom a few years ago, but found, even after prepping/painting them, they have swelled up with the moisture in the bathroom (more around the bath area). I was in the store this weekend and see they make a "pl...	I would suggest getting poplar (pine is cheap and has moisture bulging issues) or some other hard wood. I second the recommendation to use "matching tile" (from the floor) as the baseboard.
What is the best flooring for my basement? I live in Michigan, where humidity is fairly high. I have a 70 pint dehumidifier that works great. I also have a sump pump and water powered backup sump pump. I am looking to floor my basement because I am planning on using it has a home theater. I have done a lot of googl...	I am putting down carpet in part of the basement with pad. Personally I would do the vinyl plank but not the allure. I would definitely use a pad (chip foam is best below grade).
How do I install a junction box with NM-clamps? I bought a junction box in order to splice three Romex together along the 2x4's in the ceiling of my (unfinished) basement. The box looks like this: When I bought it, I assumed that I could just screw/nail it to the side of the joist using those holes in the back. How...	Since no one else has mentioned it as an option yet, rather than drilling two additional holes in your joist, you could also add cut a small piece of wood that is narrow enough to sit between the two NM clamp screws to serve as a 3/4" (or more) riser and use two longer screws to secure the junction box (going through t...
Can I use a cord and plug to power a wall sconce? I have a wall sconce that my wife really likes and wants installed on an interior brick wall. The sconce she purchased is designed to sit on top of a wall box that has been prewired. I don't want to install this in the brick, so my idea is to hook up the wires to a stan...	You can then run the cord under a cord cover to a conventional grounded outlet. Installing a non-weatherproof fixture in a wet, or damp location is not a good idea (and is likely against local codes). You should be using electrical wire nuts if you are in the US. The answer is likely, NO .
What size extension cord should I use for multiple computers? We're hosting a LAN party (several computers, 50+) and I had some questions about power draw; I hope this is the right place to ask. Currently, we're assuming each PC will draw an average of 3.5 amps. We have several 20amp circuits, so we're putting 5 PCs o...	You should also consult with the hotel - many of them have requirements for extension cord use in conference areas, and in some cases you will be required to use their cables and installers in order to meet their safety and load planning requirements.
How can I rewire my bathroom fan, light, and receptacle? My bathroom has one switch that powers the fan and light. In that electrical box, there is also a hard wired electrical outlet that sits in the bathroom. Since I don't have room for a 2 gang box in my location, I would like to install a double rocker in that on...	The bare copper grounds are all tied together and connected to the ground screw of both items. If you have two separate cables (one to the fan, and one to the light), then you'd wire it up like this... I actually put a nightlight (in my bathroom fans) on the fan timer Bottom Left - black wire going to that light.
What can I do about pocket doors that are blocked by floor tiles? I have double pocket doors in my den that I never close. I was going to clean them today, and when I tried to close them they would not close because of the tile being to high. I had the tile put in about 3 yrs ago, and never even noticed that the tile ...	If you really can't get the door out of the frame then you need something to trim the bottom as you open it. A vibrating blade may work for this. First effort would be to get the adjusters into reach and see if the door can be raised sufficiently.
What would cause an AFCI breaker to trip under no load? I have an AFCI breaker that trips with 0 load - nothing plugged in, no lights on. To test that power is getting to the room, I turn on the overhead CFL lights (very light load) and flip the breaker. The lights do turn on, then the breaker trips and power is shut o...	If your combination arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breaker is tripping with no load, it means you have an arcing fault in the wiring, you've installed the breaker incorrectly, or the breaker is faulty.
How can I tell the handedness of a bolt? I have a craftsman lawnmower (with a Honda engine) and I'm trying to remove the lawnmower blade to sharpen it. It seems really tight. I'm wondering if I'm turning the bolt the wrong direction. Does anyone have a trick to determine if it's a 'normal' bolt or a reverse threaded bo...	If you can see the threads on the bolt, then look for them to rise away from the nut in the direction of loosening the bolt.
Any ideas for cutting door bottoms on pocket doors? What can I do about pocket doors that are blocked by floor tiles? Could you cut out the bottom (1/4-1/2 inch) on a pocket door while it is still in the frame ? What tools would you use? How would you make sure cut is straight? <Q> In the UK HSS stocks them. <A> ...	Hire a Door Trimming Saw.
How do I mount this box without drilling or damaging the shelf? I bought a network switch that I'd like to hang on the underside of a shelf immediately above my desk. The designers of the switch provides two screw holes on the underside of the box to mount it. Like this; I don't know what this is officially called: ...	You could try these heavy-duty mounting squares
Why does my Central A/C Keeps Blowing its Fuse? For years, my A/C condensing unit has blown a fuse once, maybe twice a year. It's 27 years old now and blew a few fuses last spring. Now it blows a fuse every few days. So, I replaced a bad running capacitor on the compressor and replaced a leaking capacitor on the con...	Long-term darkening of a fuse on a high-draw circuit like an AC is not unusual. The first thing I would do is call an electrician and have the fuse replaced with a breaker.
Can I clean a second story dryer vent that goes out the roof from the inside? My dryer vent goes from the second story to the roof. The problem is that I can't reach the roof. I bought one of those dryer vent cleaners that you can put on your drill and spin it up the vent. Currently it goes 8 feet. Could I buy anot...	Your brush is unlikely to be able to clean this part of the vent and thus access via the roof will be needed to inspect the vent and clean it if necessary. The problem here is you MUST only go a few inches at a time an pull back to the point of exiting. In your case, that's going to require someone on the roof.
Do I need to sand my entire deck before staining? I recently cleaned my deck using Behr deck cleaner and want to re-stain it before the winter. Do you recommend sanding the entire deck, or just the affected areas where the stain has come off? I was thinking of renting a belt sander for the day just to get the rough s...	For a new deck, you can use a pressure washer or you can sand it.
How can I stop water from coming in through a crack near the top of my bulkhead wall? I have a bulkhead entrance to my basement. The bulkhead walls are mostly fine, with the exception being near the top. The top 6 or 8 inches or so of the walls are constructed of what appear to be cement bricks (or something similar)...	a single continuous layer of concrete over the face of the outside may help to prevent water intrusion through that partition in the structure of the wall. My rule of thumb, that I've used for decades now, is to imagine (or really use one) a soccer ball up against the exterior of bulkhead entrance(or foundation, house)...
Can I create a water proof barrier to keep my garage & home from flooding? Every couple of years, the area where I live gets a huge storm. The result being that the flood of water that collects in the streets overpowers my driveway and runs down to my garage. I put in a large drain a few years back (6 inches) which ...	Another thing to try, as mentioned earlier is to divert the water, Option 1: - install a better rubber seal to prevent water from entering the garage Garage Door Hump - Rubber
Can I provide a secondary power source for my thermostat? The thermostat at my home is set up with only the 24 power and return through the relay. I would like to add a 'smart' thermostat, however the line is fairly well buried in the wall/basement ceiling and will not be fun to rewire to add the 'c' return path. Howev...	Connect R on the thermostat to one of the coil terminals on the relay. Just abandon the old cable.
Is it possible to find 4" x 8" lumber? I'm putting in an end-grain floor in my house. The idea is that you cut normal dimensional lumber into 3/4' "bricks", then lay them like tile. What I'd like to find, however, is 4"x8" or even 4"x6", so the bricks are larger. I have not been able to find these at normal hardware s...	Our local lumber yard carries this stock, not likely to find it at the big boxes as they're more oriented towards stick framing for housing not utility and agricultural construction.
Can I temporarily connect a dishwasher with hoses running along the floor? I currently live in an in-laws suite with my wife in the in-laws house. We love it and have plenty of room. Look at the attached picture for what we have for a space. My question is if I wanted to add a dishwasher. I'm looking at getting a c...	The biggest problem may be the routing of the water supply and drain across the door threshold. I would consider placing your dishwasher just next to the sink, even for the price of blocking the left sink.
How can I safely work around power lines? I have to do some painting and repair work on the outside of the house near the incoming power line. The repair is pulling off molding and replacing it as well as painting the surrounding area. I am going to get a fiberglass ladder to work around the area but is that enough? I...	Call your utility company and have the power shut off at the pole for the duration of your work in that area. If you're not completely comfortable being on a ladder or just don't feel this is your forte, then call someone who is.
How do I choose paint for exterior steel on carport? Planning on painting the steel purlins of a carport, that is peeling. I assume the primer and old paint are "oil based" alkyd. I think we will have it sandblasted. What primer should I use on the bare parts. Can I use an acrylic finish coat, if the paint that is l...	Yes you can paint acrylic on oil, It should not be a problem, the only risk is when there are contrasting chemicals and they react, so its always prudent to paint a small sample before-hand to be sure.
How safe is having my boiler in my daughter's bedroom? I just moved into a new house where the 10 year old boiler is located in the bedroom where my 3 year old daughter sleeps. I'd like to get an idea of how safe/dangerous this situation is. Could the boiler explode? Could it create a fire in the house? What about a g...	Theoretically it's safe from the carbon monoxide or heat points of view, as long as it's properly maintained. Any time there is fire (or any heat source) in a home, there is always the potential for an uncontrolled fire. I'd also get a quote for moving the boiler to a more conventional location. I would not put my daug...
Gable and Roof Vents Together? I need to add some additional exhaust venting to my attics, along with some along the soffit as well. I need some knowledge on a few things as I can't seem to find answers for them on the interwebs: Can continuous soffit vents be retrofitted without pulling off the fascia? The roof wi...	2 - Gable Vents work regardless of anything else or nothing else, but I would ditch any older in-the-field roof work vents as the roofing my not be pliable & break off in pieces. 1 - Yes, it can be retrofitted depending on the style you choose & if that style fit your soffits.
How do I use hidden deck fasteners without compromising the integrity of the flashing? I am using hidden deck fasteners which screw in to the joist and then hold the board via a notch in the side of the board, pretty standard I think. This fastener will sit on the ledger to hold the first board (closest to the house),...	It may depend on the specific fastener you're using but you shouldn't use the fastener type that would penetrate the flashing at the ledgerboard.
Water from bathroom faucet smells like rotten eggs The sink is in the powder room on the main floor of our house. When I turn the water on it is fine for a few seconds then it smells horribly for about 3-4 more seconds then it is back to normal. It is the only water in the house that smells, so it's not the water comin...	I would shut off the water below the sink, open the valves to drain out any water that might be sitting in the pipe and then see if the faucet outlet itself smells odd.
What do I need to replace after water damage during construction of a new home? While setting our new T style modular ranch style home we had a large amount of rain come before they had the sections set and now have water laying in some sections of drywall in almost every room. I think the builder is going to dry as mu...	Depending on how wet it got and what type of insulation you have it may not need to be replaced. I'd drive to get anything that was wet replaced.
Why does my receptacle tester say open ground on my new outlet? I replaced an outlet and the tester says open ground. I checked all the wires and they are secure including the ground wire. What could be wrong? <Q> Assuming you didn't reverse the hot/neutral, which should be detected on a standard receptacle tester, it'...	Could be that your transformer is not tapped to ground at the XO. If none of these tests show a problem, it could be a bad tester, and may be worth checking it in other receptacles or getting a replacement. When a test says your ground is open, there's a good chance it is.
Does my new soil pipe need additional venting? I'm moving my bathroom to the adjacent corner in my house, and would like to know if I need to vent my soil pipe with my planed system before it reaches the existing external soil stack. Going directly through the floor is not possible as drilling holes through the joist w...	I am sure there are some finer points a real plumber could show you but the gist of it is: every fixture needs to be vented or you will siphon the trap and have sewer gas backing up into the house and boy
Should I replace old blow in attic insulation with new roll out insulation? I have attic filled with old grey blow in insulation. I estimate it to be 20-30 years old. I suspect that it causes a lot of dust in a house. Plus any work in attic would stir it and some will end up in rooms.So should I just remove it and repl...	That is a waste of money. I dont like batt insulation in attics because you are left with the space above the ceiling joists that is not insulated. I agree it doesnt make sense to remove old stuff
Why is it good practice to remove sheathing from NM wire when going through conduit? I've been discussing specifics of an electrical job with a licensed electrician and he mentioned that in my area, it's acceptable/recommended to feed 12 gauge NM wire through an outdoor conduit but that the PVC sheathing SHOULD be remo...	The outer jacket of NM cable is there to protect the internal conductors from damage.
How do I fix a door that's sticking closed? I have a few doors in my house that tend to stick when you try to open them. A few of these I was able to fix by tightening loose screws or repairing stripped screw-holes, which got the hinge plates to sit flush against the frame. However, there are still a few doors that st...	If there is a gap on the hinge side and tightening the hinge screws does not close the gap, then swap one of the hinge screws for a longer construction screw.
How do I avoid squeaking with a hardwood floor? We had Brazilian Koa hardwood installed on our 3/4 inch plywood subfloor that was level and solid. The installer used Bellwood's best underlayment and 16gauge nails. Everywhere you step the floor squeaks, every step, almost every board. We're having the installation redon...	Subflooring (all of it) should be screwed down (and glued, preferably). With the hardwood floor up just walk over the underflooring.
I'm looking for a drywall finish that will hold a magnet I want to modify a wall so that small magnets will stick, and even hold a small dead weight. I would prefer that the magnetic area not look all that different from the rest of the wall, I don't want to just hang a sheet of steel. I am imagining that 1/4" mesh har...	They make a magnetic primer that just paints on the wall under your paint.
How do I clean dripped paint from a wood floor? I've painted the skirting boards in this room and the paint has dripped on to a pretty fresh stained and varnished floor. How can I get these paint marks off the floor without damaging the new stain or varnish? <Q> Use a 5-in-1 painter's tool (e.g. Richard brand) to scra...	I used the chux wall sponges an soapy warm water an it came straight off with not much effort
What are your recommendations for bedroom recessed lights in a step ceiling? While remodeling our bedroom we are considering recessed lighting. The bedroom has a seating area also - the bed area is 14' x 15' and the seating area is 10' x 9' (overall length is 24 ') and the ceiling is a step ceiling (30" from wall and 8...	The ceiling starts to look busy and the more lights the more electricity you will use/waste. In my 14'x14' bedroom I have one 6" in each corner and its more than enough.
Can I use Murphy's oil soap to remove pine sap from composite decking? Does anyone know of anyway to remove pine sap from composite decking? I saw some posts that recommended using Murphy's Oil Soap for removing it from wood decks. How to Remove Tree Sap from a Wood Deck How to Remove Pine Tree Sap From a Wooden ...	I have cleaned pine sap off deck chairs, deck table and cedar decking by first scraping with a plastic scraper.
How do I prevent condensation on my balcony windows? On the street, temperatures at night are about -5 °С and about 8 °C during the day. In the apartment it is about 25 °C. So, there is condensation on the windows and I don't want to wipe the windows every time. How do I prevent condensation on the balcony windows? <Q...	There are winterizing kits consisting of clear plastic sheeting which can be attached to the window surround (either inside or outside) to form an air barrier between the plastic and the glass. You can also install a dehumidifier to dry out the air.
Why does a GFCI trip when anything is plugged into the other outlets? There is one outlet with the GFCI and several other outlets without. The GFCI outlet works fine, while anything plugged into the other outlets causes the GFCI to trip. How should I detect and fix the problem? <Q> A GFCI trips when the current comin...	The fact that your GFCI trips whenever something is plugged into a LOAD-side outlet, but not when plugged into the GFCI itself, suggests to me that there's a neutral-to-ground-fault (neutral wire touching ground) somewhere on the LOAD side. You may have 2 or more hot circuits with a shared 1 neutral (white) wire.
Is there an easy way to replicate this ceiling texture? I have the swirly-tiny(stress the tiny)-bump texture on my ceiling on the first floor. I will be doing some major drywall repairs on the ceiling and would like tips on how to replicate the pattern. Doesn't have to be exact but would like it to be pretty consiste...	Practice matching the pattern on scrap pieces of drywall by changing the consistency of the mix (thicker or looser) as well as how the mix applied until the pattern is replicated.
How can I remove the screw from a double demountable hinge? I am replacing the double demountable hinges on my cabinets. Most of them are a breeze, but two of the narrow cabinets don't have the cutouts; instead, they just removed the plate and screw from the hinge, kind of making it single-demountable. They then just u...	Lay the hinge flat on the wood surface-screw head side down on the wood, hit the threaded end with a hammer and it will drop out the other side in the hole you drilled out.
Should I encapsulate my crawl space? Our home was built with a dirt crawl space that is about 2' from ground to bottom of floor joist. The floors are insulated with fiberglass held up (where it hasn't fallen down) with wire rods. The AC/heating duct runs through the crawl space and has insulation that looks worn out. T...	Yes, bringing the crawl space into the conditioned space is generally recommended as a way to prevent crawlspace moisture problems (I assume this is what you mean by encapsulate). That said, you mentioned dripping AC duct work, which makes me believe you live in a humid region... There are many good references on how t...
Question about my sewer stack situation I just purchased my first home with limited knowledge on many things. At one point my house was outside city limits (using a well and septic) and has since been annexed into the city and brought onto public utilities. My main sewer stack is odd for me. As everything upstairs is ...	Before you do anything the city/sewer company needs to come out and tell you what is going on. The sewer may not be much lower than the basement drainage exit.
Dealing with nicotine stains in a Victorian property I am just in the process of buying an old property, previously lived in by heavy smokers. What is the best way to clean and prime walls to prevent nicotine stain recurrence in a solid brick Victorian property? I am concerned that the normally recommended primers mi...	If the smell is coming from the walls then you can try to prime and paint but it might be a total waste of time and money.
How do I install a dimmer switch? A friend was trying to help me install new dimmer switches and instead of disconnecting one wire and putting it on the new switch, he just cut the wires and couldn't figure out how to put them back. I used my multimeter to find which wire was which and got the three way switch to wor...	Typically A dimmer that can be used in a three way circuit will have a common (black) wire, and two (non-black, non-white, non-green) travelers.
Ceilling light wont switch off after a new installation I have bought a new ceiling light to replace an old-fashioned one. I have 3 grey cables hanging from the ceiling: 3 red wires connected together and 3 green wires connected together and 3 black but only 2 are joined together the single black not marked with any i...	Connecting the black to the reds would make it obvious to an electrician and that might be why no wire had red-tape on
Why is my two month old dishwasher exuding a terrible smell? In July I purchased a new Whirlpool Gold Series dishwasher model WDF750SAYW1 . The machine has done a great job cleaning dishes, but it recently has begun to emit a terrible smell. The odor is not that of plates waiting to be washed. The smell is more akin t...	Assuming (as with most) the dishwasher is connected to your kitchen sink drain, I suspect that you're smelling what the inside of your kitchen sink pipe smells like, which is a combination of rotting food and soap residues.
Do I need vents to devices in the primary waste line? Assuming the system below (solid is waste, dotted is vent). Do I need vents for the Sink C, Toilet C and Toilet B? They are connected to the primary waste line which is vented at the end of it. Sink C and Toilet C are in the first floor, all the rest in the second...	The U shaped traps must stay full of water to prevent sewer gases from coming into the home.
How do I fix a leak at a decommissioned saddle-valve? Water is dripping, about a drop every other second, out of the end of this thing. what is it? why is it dripping? can I fix it myself? <Q> The proper name for it is a self piercing saddle valve. <S> The valves are bad for many reasons, including the fact that...	Cut the valve out and get a sharkbite slip-fitting.
Why can't I measure 240V on this wall heater wiring? I am replacing a 240V wall heater. I get 120V from black to ground but 0V from black to white and 0V from ground to white. Is this correct? The old heater worked but not really well. There was a thermostat in the wall single pole and I get the same readings there....	If they wired this device with only two conductors (black/white) for the 240V, then you have an open hot. One of the two poles of the breaker are still tripped when you run your tests.
What is causing my circuit breaker to trip instantly and trip the next breaker too? Update - Video Added One of my circuit breaker trips instantly. I try to reset it but it trips immediately and trips the breaker under it too. I can reset the break next to it and it is fine until I try to reset the problem breaker ...	Maybe a junction box where both circuits meet for some reason.
Can I add rolls of unfaced insulation to increase the R value of my attic insulation? I live in a two story home that is approximately 150 years old. The attic floor is constructed with large beams and old wood planks laid across the complete surface area, rendering the attic useful for storage. The space is not tha...	For example, if you increase your attic's insulation, you will therefore lower the attic temperature in the winter, but you will also increase the attic temperature in the summer. I would recommend removing the existing floor boards and frame a new floor on top of the existing joists before adding any more insulation.
Is sanding hardwood floors really necessary? I bought my house a couple of years ago and I was told that there are beautiful hardwood floors under the carpet. I decided to rip up the carpets and find out (actually my dog decided that for me when she ate some of my carpet for dinner). I see a lot of articles on how ...	If the finish is badly worn or deeply scratched, a serious sanding and refinishing is called for.
Can too much ridge ventilation be detrimental? At my house in central Texas, where temperatures can persist at 86 - 110 degrees Fahrenheit, one side is always hot, no matter how long the A/C runs. That attic space is considerably hotter than other locations. Attic ventilation includes: twenty-two 16x8 soffit vent...	If there is too much venting near the ridge, a lower pressure will develop in the attic, and air can be sucked into the attic from the conditioned living space. If there is a large difference, it's better to have the "extra" area at the soffits. Agree with @DocSalvage and his thinking - you definitely should remove/sea...
Are torch-on-roofs the best solution for a low pitched roof? I have a low pitched metal roof and it is leaking. The roofer I spoke with says to stop the leaks they need to tear the metal off, put down plywood, and use a torch-on-roof system of roofing. He said due to the pitch and such this is the only way to effectiv...	There are many solutions that work well on low slope roofs.
What tools should I use to remove the tongue and groove from floorboards? I have a big pile of high quality tongue and groove floorboards that I would like to reuse as decking timber for a small-ish deck. The trouble is I don't quite know what the best tools to use would be to cut off the tongue and grooves and get th...	To smooth the edges, a router would be best. A small orbital sander would also work and have other uses around the house, but it would take a lot longer and wouldn't be as useful if you want to cleanup the finish on the boards.
Using Water Supply Pipe to Connect the Earth Wire In the past, it was common to connect the earth wire (green/yellow wire) of an appliance to the water pipe. But now we were told to connect it to the earth pin of the power plug, instead. But, why can't we use the water pipe anymore? Currently, I am installing a new e...	If the earth connection is poor, a fault on the appliance could potentially make other parts of the house that are connected to the pipe (eg taps, radiators, etc) into exposed live conductors, possibly exposing someone to the risk of a fatal electric shock.
Any problem with installing two identical circuit breakers in series? Suppose I want to reduce risk of a circuit breaker malfunctioning and failing to disconnect a shorted circuit. What if I install two identical breakers sequentially (one after another) so that if one of them fails the other one steps in and disconne...	Two breakers in series would reduce the risk of one failing in a way that stays in a closed (conducting) position.
What can I use for a very small access panel? I have a gas shut-off valve for my oven that needs access in the ceiling of my basement. I currently just have the shut-off itself cut out and it is about 2 inches from the edge of the wall. The pop-in panels I have seen at the big box stores are too big for this applicat...	You could hold it up using thin bolts through the eyelets with nuts locking on a small offset piece of plastic on each end that could rotate outward above the drywall to hold it in place. Instead of mudding the patch in place, rig it up as a removable panel:
What can I use to build temporary walls in an unfinished basement? We have an unfinished basement in central Minnesota. The home was built in 2008, and the builder thought it fit to include XPS insulation covering all of the vertical concrete foundation. So far so good, and we're planning on finishing the basement some...	Make the grooves in the ceiling track a little more than twice as deep as the in the floor track so that the panels can be lifted in and out of the bottom track. If you plan on using this for more than one or two events, consider building real drywall structures (you know, 16 inch centers, etc.). Base plate pinned to c...
Do twin-blade circular saws reduce tearout? Do twin-blade / Twincutter circular saws produce a more accurate cut than regular circular saws? Do they have less kick-back? Do they reduce the tearout / splintering / chipping at the rear of the cut, compared to regular, single-blade circular saws? I'm looking for real-worl...	I purchased one of these dual blade circular saws and to be honest they are no better than the persons talents using any power tools.
Window framing on old construction I'm redoing a kitchen but I've hired a contractor to do a portion of the work. One of the jobs he was hired to do was to move and reframe two windows. He finished that job today and I'm really concerned that it wasn't done correctly. I called him on it and his argument was that in o...	There should also be doubled stud material on both sides of the window. The wall seems to have 'full dimension' studs and the markings of old lath and plaster. From looking at your pictures I can say that it was not done correctly. Also I do not see any indication that jack studs were used in the original construction....
Problem with GU10 LED bulbs tripping out power I have had some re-plastering and re-decorating work done in my kitchen. I had a new light fixture installed which takes 6 GU10 type bulbs. When the light fixture was first installed I placed 6 LED bulbs into it. The bulbs are Aurora branded and consume 7W of power each. ...	It could be a short in one of the bulbs due to a manufacturing defect.
Where does my garage drain go and how can I unclog it? I have a drain in my garage floor. I've never worried about it too much, but with some heavy rains recently I discovered it doesn't work. It appears to be clogged with lots of dirt, pebbles, and leaves. I tried pouring a bunch of water down it to see if I could fi...	I would just try simply plunging the drain, assuming the hole is small enough to fit inside a plunger hole...
Why am I getting strange results when using a power meter to measure CFLs? Over the years we have replaced just about every bulb in the house with a CFL. But here is the problem. Our electric bill is going up and not down. When I moved here 3 years ago we spent about $140-160. As of this summer we topped $210. Electric...	Why your various meters don't do a good job measuring power being used by various devices is due to an AC Circuit phenomenon known as Power Factor . The THP103 is an RMS meter and as most loads in an average home are resistive with linear waveforms, a meter like this can be used for almost all appliances.
Concerns about replacing a worn out light switch Our home is about 3 years old. New construction. New parts. The main lights in the kitchen are a 4-way circuit (3 switches, + lights). Since we primarily come into the room from one side, one switch sees most of the use. All in all, it's probably the most popular sw...	For what it's worth, I've seen several light switches fail, so it's not like this is some freakish event. Replace with a heavy duty switch and use the screws on the side.
How can I attach plywood window covers without damaging the trim or shingles? I have an oceanfront cottage and have "boarded up" the ocean-facing windows each winter before closing up for the season. In the past I just used wood big enough to totally cover the window and frame, and would just use wood screws to faste...	I would probably add a reinforcing wood strip along the edge of the outer face of the plywood and insert the hook portion into the side of the reinforcement strip.
Should I build risers and treads out of hard wood floor pieces I've purchased some hard wood flooring to go throughout my entire house. The pieces for the stairs are extremely expensive and are just too much for my budget. It was suggested to me by the sales guy that I could "just build my own out of hardwood floor pie...	Another method with slightly less work is to put down regular stair treads, then put your hardwood planks over the top.
How can I remove a jammed, broken key from a lock? I have a key to an apartment mailbox that was almost impossible to get the key in and out of to unlock, and in trying, my roommate broke the key off in it. From looking in with a light, it seems that all of the key except the outermost pin is in the lock, but the lock ...	It's possible to extract the fragment, but may require disassembly and/or lock picking techniques.
What does wire loops on the wall for? I bought a house recently, and there are wires in the walls under stucco. But in basement these wires are go out as a loops not far from the ceil. What are they for? Are they for lamps? If yes, then what it the right way to hang lapms on these "loops"? <Q> I'm unsure of typical Ru...	Further description of the so called wire maybe needed but these loops could very well be induction loops primarily used for hard of hearing users normally reserved for commercial environments i have on occasion seen them fitted in homes!
When painting a house exterior, do you need to scrape and sand the entire house or just the peeling parts? I'm repainting my house and everything I've read on the subject suggests scraping the old paint before applying new, but it isn't clear if you're only supposed to scrape just the peeling parts or the entire house....	You want to remove any paint that is loose.
Is it against NEC code to re-use pulled cable? I'm re-wiring parts of my house and have pulled some 12/2 out. Is it against NEC code to re-use that cable? I didn't have to pull that hard to get the cable out and there doesn't appear to be any surface damage or major bends. The cable is twelve years old from the time ...	Also metal staples can damage the old Romex or perhaps it was bent past the minimum radius list per NEC and now you might be bending it against the grain of the previous bend which incurs metal fatigue & wire failure. No, nothing is wrong with re-using cable and cable assemblies that are listed and approved provided th...
What are the steps for pouring more cement around metal fence posts that are leaning? When the wooden fence was built, they used metal posts but only filled the 2' hole with one bag of concrete. The posts are leaning at about a 25 degree angle. I want to dig out the hole again, then add another bag of concrete to each...	I guess you could fill the post hole up with concrete, but you have rather large holes and that could be expensive.
How to add indicator on a light switch to indicate the outdoor 3-way light is on? Have some carriage lights outside my garage that can be turned on from inside the house. It's common that the switch will get flipped and the lights will stay on when they're not wanted. Is there some way I can add an indicator to the li...	Another way you could go here if your lights are on at the same time every night is a 3 way timer .
How do I temporarily remove section of vinyl fence? I am repairing a shed that's next to a vinyl fence. I would like to temporarily remove a section of the vinyl fence, but I can't find a good way to remove it. Here's the picture of the fence, and a picture of inside of the fence post. I notice the plastic is molded...	I just dismantled a vinyl fence with horizontal rails (yard fence) and if your fortunate to have the tabs exposed (e.g. pushed through other side of the post) you can use vise grips or channel lock pliers to bend the tabs back in.
Priming new wall before wallpaper Simple question: Should a new wall be primed before applying wallpaper? Or can I just do it over finished drywall. <Q> Please yes! <S> I am literally 90% done doing a complete remodel of my house. <S> Other than the aluminum wiring that I have replaced the #1 biggest stupid thing...	Yes, you should use wall paper primer on drywall, because otherwise the drywall will suck up too much of the glue and the wall paper will not stick well, and you will have to use more glue.
How do I fix my "OLD" glass door knobs? In my 100+ year old house, every interior door is made of solid wood. Their locksets have glass knobs connected by a square threaded rod which actuates the latch. I have found replacement parts at hardware stores, however they have lasted only a couple of months. Is there a wa...	House of Antique Hardware" ( http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/ ) can get you set up just fine. Get reproduction or vintage cast iron or steel knobs.
Is it OK for OSB3 boards to get wet during construction? In the UK it rains, as you know. a lot. Is it OK for OSB3 boarding to get wet now and then during the construction of a building? or will it be completely destroyed like chip board or MDF (which absorbs liquid, expands then falls apart) <Q> OSB won't be complete...	OSB 3 is classified as resistant to humid conditions.
Is it safe to convert a candelabra base in my ceiling fan to a medium base for use with larger CFL's? I have a ceiling fan with 3 candelabra sockets. The lighting from the incandescent bulbs is terrible. I have these 27 watt bulbs that fit a medium socket. I want to use this type of adapter. Given the followin...	You will be OK as far as not overloading electrically.
What curtain pole for a bay window? I have a bay window similar to the 1st photo below. When I moved in this house, there was a curved curtain rail system and 3 separate pieces of curtain for the 3 windows of the bay. As it was very fragile and seemingly broken I removed all of this. Now I would need a solution to repl...	You can get "C rings" and brackets with C-shaped supports that allow the "rings" to pass over the brackets, so you can still use 2 curtains instead of 3.

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