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train · 95.7k rows

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removing old bolts from brick wall I've got a rusty old downpipe on my external brick wall that needs replacing, however the bolts on the brackets don't seem to have useful heads. See photo: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0HOZkGABny5a01DdEZmUkNXS2c/preview Any idea how I would get these out without ruining the wall...	You could also try to pry the bracket off with a crowbar.
What are the possible reasons I am not getting cold air from my air conditioner? my heat pump outside is working but my central air conditioning/heating unit in the garage makes a hissing sound or faint sound of water running. There is air coming from the vents. The very last time I used the heat, about a month ago the...	It sounds like you are low on refrigerant or you have a failed compressor. If all is well with your outside unit, I would double-check your AC coil in the main unit indoors.
HoneyWell Wifi Thermostat and C wire I just bought the HoneyWell Wifi thermostat and so wanna use it. However my old Thermostat was battery powered and does not use the "C" wire. I opened up my panel and found that there were three unused wire. a brown color, an orange color and a blue color wire. One by one I plugged ...	You have to connect the other end of one of the extra wires, to the C terminal in the heating/cooling unit. There should be no voltage on the C wire.
How can I unscrew my outdoor hose that is fused to the spigot? I don't know my own strength. It seems either my spigot or hose is stripped or they are fused together from corrosion. How can I unscrew the hose from the spigot? <Q> Connectors left in place for long periods can get fairly well glued together by corrosion ...	A pipe wrench should do the job.
How to build plastic prototype? I'm not sure if this is the place for this question but I couldn't find out any StackExchange website for this question so I'm posting it here. I always wondered how companies build the plastic chassis/form-factor for their products. I mean there are some very sophisticated shapes like ...	For plastic, 3D printing and CNC routing are two popular ones today. Companies might also use foam that they shape either manually or on a CNC.
How do I reduce noise from the bolt hitting the strike plate on a door with an automatic closer? In our office, the door at the entrance has a k2 door closer. Our problem is that when the door closes, it makes a very loud clicking noise. I believe this is the result of the latch bolt hitting the strike plate, which is ...	Adjust the latch speed until the door is just moving fast enough that it closes. There are latches which swing back into their recess rather than being "wedged" inward by a sloped face.
On demand water heater using a propane tank I have a single wide trailer. (The main gas line blew out the back and is under code so $4,000.00 to fix it plus permits because the main need to be moved from under the Trailer). I would like to put in an on-demand water heater that uses propane from a tank. Usage would be...	Check with your town about installing any propane utilities inside a mobile home. Even if you want to do the install yourself, you're going to need to buy the parts somewhere.
Why are furnace/central AC blowers so inefficient? I can buy a ceiling fan from Home Depot capable of moving 5,000 CFM of air for about $50, and it uses a mere 50-60 watts while doing it. By contrast, most furnaces seem to have blowers that operate in a much lower CFM range but use humongous 1/2 or 3/4 horsepower motor...	So the short answer is that you have to use a powerful blower in an HVAC system because ducts suck.
Can I remove this truss cross-bracing? I am in the process of adding some plywood decking to the floor of part of my attic, which is built from webbing-style trusses. In the picture below, the cross-brace marked with yellow arrows is a real thorn in my side, impeding travel from one area to another. How can I know i...	It is actually somewhat common for truss designs to require strong back bracing mid span of longer internal compression members to reduce the effective slenderness ratio of the member to something reasonable.
How can I cut aluminum angle stock without damaging my tools? How can I cut aluminum angle stock without damaging my tools? I've done some looking around the interwebs and have not found anything definitive - basically there are warnings about cutting it with anything that is not a chopsaw or hacksaw, and people with ...	So anyway if your trying to cut neat cuts use drop saw.
Possible to flatten warped wood? I have two sections of 3x12" wood that have been out in the weather for a few years and are now bowed across the 12" width of the wood. The dip is pretty severe, maybe 1/2 an inch? It seems like sanding would take way too long. What would be the easiest way to flatten them out again?...	You can bend the boards over hot steam or fire until they are not warped anymore, then use a plane to flatten them. If you only have a planer and you don't want to buy a jointer you could try a planer sled .
Can't select some temperatures with the thermostat of my furnace I have a problem with the thermostat of my furnace. This problem is wired but I'll try to explain it as clearly as possible. When I turn the button of the thermostat, some temperatures can't be selected (they can never be), and sometimes, a temperature th...	The inability to zero into a particular temperature setting is probably caused by a damaged or faulty rotary selector knob. Unless you're the kind of person that likes opening small electronics and replacing components, there's probably no way to fix this.
One GFCI outlet to protect them all My house was built in 1981, we have a small U shaped kitchen with 5 outlets, along with a switch for the garbage disposal. I do not see any GFCI outlets or any indication any of them are. With a 4 month old now in the house, I am thinking it is a good idea to look at the electrica...	Yes, one GFCI receptacle, just like one GFCI breaker, can protect the entire circuit. Leave the circuit breaker off and take the cover off of the one on the far right or the far left, whichever one is closest to the panel. Alternatively, if the only thing on that circuit are your kitchen outlets, you could replace the ...
Why don't American homes have blinds on the outside of their windows? Traveling through Europe, seeing many different construction methods, I try to take an objective look at why things are done a certain way. One of the most positive things that I see done in Europe compared to the US is that a lot of their (almost a...	Not just for the security and sound insulation but the windows are protected from high winds and keep them clean during rainstorms. They also have small vent holes so you can have them partially open without it being visible on the outside. It makes it difficult for firefighters to get in through a window in case of an...
Air sealing a whole house fan I have a whole house fan installed in my house from the previous owners. I love the fan, as it lets me cool down the house quickly in the evening -- or after I fill the house with smoke from forgetting about food on the stove! :) However, as I try to air seal my house it is immediately ap...	Use foam insulation board to make an open-top box around the fan in the attic, sealed down to the ceiling. Put a note on the fan switch reminding you to remove the box before turning the fan on.
I have a broken Rainbird APAS-100 valve, how can I fix it? I have a Rainbird APAS-100 which has stopped consistently opening when powered. I've isolated the problem to something in the " AVA-1 Actuator & Piston Assembly " - Rainbird part 145235. However, trying to locate the replacement part (or an entire replacement...	Champion Irrigation makes a valve called the PCL-100 which is compatible with the body from the APAS-100 (and a PCL-075 which ought to fit the body of the APAS-075), which are available as of this writing.
Where can I find a key for my old locks? My house was build in 1938 and the whole house has these door knobs everywhere. I believe they were made by Dexter. Is there a way to ID them properly and, if so, where can I find someone who makes a key for them? <Q> We bought a home built in the 1870s which was updated in the ...	If you really want to do this right, a locksmith can fit a key specifically to your door's lock.
How to drill a minute hole on a wooden pendant without a drill? I'm not a professional carpenter and I haven't worked much with wood before. I also lack proper tools. I made a heart-shaped wooden pendant for my girlfriend with a paper knife and smoothed it out with some sandpaper. It's about 3.2cm long, 2.5cm wide and...	Your best bet is to either: borrow or rent a drill (the optimal way) or craft a bow drill ( this answer explains it
Is it possible to use my window A/C unit without actually installing it in the wall? So, here's the dilemma. I want to install a window unit in my garage. I know how to do this, but my wife isn't supportive of the idea because we are trying to sell the house currently. Anyways, rather than fighting this never-ending...	If you want something you can install in a small opening, you might consider wheeled portable AC units which come with a flexible duct.
What could be causing my lawn mower to surge? My lawn mower was giving me the worst time tonight. The only way I could keep it running was to pull the choke back and the engine would start again. Finally, after 30 minutes of messing with it, the lawn mower kept on. I just put new gas in it. The gas might have been left...	Virtually all carburetors are equipped with some type of air filter to keep dirt out but sometimes dirt can get in anyway - especially when removing a dirty filter for replacement/cleaning.
GFCI outlet hot when nothing's plugged into it Using a thermal camera (coolest thing in the world, by the way), I discovered that a GFCI outlet in my bathroom is hotter then the surrounding wall when nothing's plugged into it: It's not boiling hot; just slightly warm to the touch. I never noticed it before I had a th...	The heat distribution sure looks like it is coming from the GFCI electronics, but it could also be heat seeping from the other side of the wall, especially if that room has higher air pressure than this one—like if the exhaust fan were running in this room and someone took a hot shower in the other room. For exterior w...
How would I wire a 4 position switch? I work from home in a house with roommates and I would like to set up a light system to let them know if it's OK to disturb me during my work. I was thinking a stoplight system of Red: Do not disturb unless it's an emergency; Yellow: you can come in to get something, or if you need...	You should also be able to find a rotary switch with 3 positions plus off, though it might be a bit pricey.
How can I avoid excessive junk on inside junction, when cementing PVC sprinkler pipe? I'm cementing some schedule 40 PVC pipe using the best instructions I could find ( http://www.tchristy.net/pdf/ChristysTechManual_v5_English.pdf ). The outside of each joint looks fine, but inside there's often a mess of plastic sc...	Once the joint is pressed together, you can wipe off effed glue from the outside, but the pipe shouldn't warp.
How to flatten the sagging OSB subfloor? I am preparing the subfloor to install engineered hardwood floor by floating installation. However, the subfloor is too much sagging. There is a big area with about 5/32 depth. See: The real sagging area is even bigger than what you can see on the picture. Could anybody ...	If the engineered wood flooring is 3/8" or thicker, the combination of a good backer and the flooring will bridge any very small irregularities still left on the subfloor. Much like your pic, I'd pencil out the area on the floor so you can see it clearly. Embossing compound in this application is best as it fills easy,...
Is there any code for running Ethernet cable (through attics)? We have an unfinished attic - the insulation-everywhere, step-in-the-wrong-place-and-fall-through-the-ceiling kind. I'd like to run Ethernet cable through the attic. I know for Romex, I'd have to staple the wire to the joists, drill holes when running per...	Yes, you need to have the cable well attached to framing, and it cannot be resting on a drop ceiling.
How can I power a three phase AC motor with only 2 phases? I have some AC motors with 6 wires each. I only have 2 out of 3 phases available. I will test these motors any way. I know the motors won't work in their best condition and I risk create a short circuit if I don't make the right choice. Suppose the internal wir...	If you need to run this motor off of split phase, you need to run it from 240V single phase and use a phase converter that electrically produces three phase power output.
Should I expect a level ceiling when my kitchen was completely gutted? My contractor is giving me the runaround. I really like the guy, but I feel like this is unacceptable. My new cabinets look off because of it. What should I do? <Q> First, let's assume the cabinets and floor are level and the ceiling is not. <S> I w...	If the had to change the ceiling joists then I would expect the ceiling to be pretty flat.
Is plastering a job best left to the professionals? We have moved into an older house which needs re-wiring - the plaster is also in poor condition so a fair amount of plastering is going to be required over the next few months. We are trying to save cash and I'm generally a "have a go at most things myself" sort of p...	Plastering isn't difficult, but like most trades it is difficult to do it to a high standard until you've done it a lot.
Is this outlet wiring correct? I was checking outlets to insure that they were wired correctly, and in doing I discover this one. The outlet tester said it wasn't grounded. There is one black wire coming from what appears to be a light switch, wrapping around a brass screw and going off to another light switch(I think)...	This wire needs to be attached to the grounding screw of the outlet. With the exception of a lack of ground, it appears perfectly normal to me. The white wires in the background may be correct, but it is hard to be sure from this picture. It might be advisable to have this project done by someone with a bit more experi...
Projector ceiling mounting using 2 screws instead of 4: risky? I want to ceiling mount my projector using this projector ceiling mount . However I realize my ceiling beams are too thin to receive the 4 screws necessary to attach it. The only way would be, not to install it so that the square of the mount basis be par...	Four screws in the corners of the board to the two beams, and four screws in the corners of the mount to the board, would be very strong and secure.
What's the best way to run a wire from inside my garage to the outside? I'm installing an underground fence for my dog, which requires putting the receiver inside the garage (plugged into an outlet) and running the insulated fencing wire to the outside where it will be buried. Using a suggestion from the manual, my pla...	I would peel back a piece of siding and then drill a whole that comes out near its bottom edge.
How to fix a plug socket whose screws don't hold anymore? I removed the screws of the socket (as shown in the image) to check something, and when I tried screwing it back in, the screw wouldn't hold anymore. It just keeps coming off. I tried sticking the socket back using superglue at the edges, but when I plugged in...	Do be careful of the length of screws used, the sharp points will go into a wire with no resistance, shorting out your connections.
Using a 30-amp tandem circuit breaker for a 120/240v circuit? I inherited a main panel box from a homeowner that wasn't always fond of meeting the required NEC codes. As such, there are some oddities in the panel. One such oddity is the fact that he installed a couple of tandem circuit breakers for use in 120/240 cir...	However, the tandem breakers have a slot cut out allowing you to plug into both sides. Also related is the fact that anyone not paying attention to the panel setup may power off the circuit to work on it and not realize they switched off adjacent pairs instead of alternate pairs of each 240V circuit, leaving a hot leg ...
How do I remove surface rust from a metal roof? I am buying a house that requires some minor modifications. One of them is a recommendation to remove a small area of surface rust on a metal roof. I'm interested in the best way to achieve this. <Q> There at multiple products with which to remove rust from iron based m...	The other method is to use a rust remover chemical. If the area is really small, simply getting a few hand pads of the coarse grade (brown) or medium (maroon) scotchbrite from a metalworking supplier might be enough.
Are "1/4 turn" water supply valves more reliable than "multi-turn" valves? Or vice-versa? Aside from personal preference, is there any reason why I would want to buy a "1/4 turn" water supply valve instead of "multi-turn valves"? Is one technology/design clearly superior than the other in terms of reliability? Or is th...	A downside to ball valves is that they are more difficult to get variable flow out of and are best when you need either on or off states, but nothing in between.
how to fix blade wobble in circular saw The blade on my Skilsaw model 5150 wobbles quite a bit. I can tell the wobble is coming from the shaft itself. (I can grab the shaft and wiggle it around quite a bit --- the result of the "looseness" in the shaft is about a 3/16" wobble on the rim of a 7-1/4" blade.) I found t...	If it is the bearings,as in the shaft has lateral play in it, the saw is junk.
Will high efficiency furnace plumbing lead to cold air entering the house? At the outside wall of my house I can see two white PVC round tubes/pipes, I understand one is for sucking air from outside, and one is for furnace blowing warm air to outside - correct? We are worried that the one that blows air out, will also...	The out pipe expels exhaust from the furnace's combustion, the one that sucks air in, gives the furnace oxygen to fuel combustion.
8 way splitter degrades internet signal over time I have a cable TV plus Internet coming into the house and into an 8-way splitter (CE Tech Home Command Center). From this splitter I have coax going to the cable modem plus 3 TV's. When I have my cable provider refresh my signal everything works fine for about two mon...	It sounds like you might just be dealing with a bad splitter, so my first recommendation would be to just replace the splitter.
Fix lead joint between cast iron and galvanized steel plumbing pipes? I took out my bathtub to replace a rotted wall behind it, and the drain pipe fell out. (Yes, I unscrewed the drain fitting before removing the tub.) The joint under the concrete slab, where the drain pipe meets the P-trap, is what came apart. drai...	I bought a Neoprene boot which fit around the pipe and the P-trap.
How is the input connection made to a punch down block? I'm installing a patch panel using Cat 6 cable to the various rooms of the house that will require internet service. I have a 12 port punch down block, and understand how to punch down the connections in accordance with the color codes I'm using. However, I have a...	You need an Ethernet hub or switch to do that, with RJ45 cords from each patch panel port to a hub/switch port. If you are talking about DSL service, then your external side is on twisted pair wiring (which could be connected with an RJ11 or RJ45 connector, but it is not an Ethernet signal). Your patch panel does not h...
How can I attach a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs? I have a wall on one side with trim molding at baseboard and opposite end is the wooden banister. What type of gate can I attach. The drywall is not holding the screws in place and we we frequently open and close the gate. I have regalo gate that I re-purpo...	I would attach a piece of wood to the drywall at the place you want it, and attach the gate to the wood. There is only one reliable way that I have found to attach anything to drywall, which is using auger-type anchors: Any other plastic drywall anchor is a waste of time and will not hold up to much weight, flexing, or...
What are the ramifications of using interior oil-based paint outdoors? I accidentally spray painted some gates for my deck with interior oil-based paint. They had been previously painted and I was touching them up after about 7 years use. I put 2 coats of the oil-based interior paint on them. They are white. I'm wo...	Odds are after a summer the oil based paint (even if you put a coat over the top) will get very brittle and begin to crack, particularly if the paint did no go onto bare wood. It isn't hurting anything.
Can I operate a 120v 60 hz sewing machine with a 220v 50hz power supply? I was going to buy a sewing machine from someone. It's rated 120v - 60 Hz (as written in the label), but the power system here is 220v - 50 Hz. Can I operate this machine with that power if I use step down transformer or stabilizer (220v to 110v) ...	You will need a 50Hz transformer to step the voltage down!
Adding Undersized Fuse to Doorbell Circuit? So recently my doorbell button got stuck and it burnt out both the electromagnetic coil in the chime and the transformer. As I'm replacing everything I was thinking that I could add fuse to prevent a rogue button from causing so much damage again. The transformer is 16VAC ...	I would recommend against this kind of hack. Just understand what voltage/current ratings you need and find a slow-blow fuse that can handle 10-15 seconds of that.
Toaster oven makes my kitchen lights flicker Today, I got a new toaster oven. When it's heating, my kitchen lights (plugged into an adjacent outlet) flicker/pulse. What can I do to reduce the flickering? If I get a power conditioner, can I put it on the power supply to the toaster oven, so that the appliance doesn't ...	The only real solution to end the flickering (which is dramatically more noticable with LED lights) is to get a different brand of toaster oven. It's simply drawing a lot of power from the outlet, and the wiring impedance between the outlet and the distribution panel is causing the voltage at the outlet to drop a bit. ...
Why does my fluorescent ceiling fixture trip the GFCI sometimes? Every so often, roughly a 1/20 chance, flipping the light switch to my laundry room's fluorescent fixture will trip the nearby GFCI outlet. Why is this? Is it more likely to be the GFCI being faulty or the fixture itself, like a faulty ballast? Or could i...	Older Ground-fault circuit interrupting (GFCI) devices may be more susceptible to EMI related nuisance tripping. It might be worth trying a more modern fixture.
How do I get started removing this wood frame? This is a frame inset into this old leaded-glass window I'm going to restore. It is nailed into the original frame, and I can't get to any of the nail heads to get started. It's important that I don't damage the original wood, but the inset frame is junk. Strategies? <Q>...	Or if you can find where the nail heads are just chisel around them (without hitting nails) an enough room to grab the heads with a pair of pinches.
Running air handler condensate drain into sump? The condensate drain from our air handler now runs across the wall and into the laundry sink. This is stopping us from attaching shelving to the wall. I noticed that the sump pump pit is right next to the air handler. Can I just route the pvc so it empties out directly in...	One possible solution, you can get a condensate pump, and have it pump the water though a tube to any sink, or drain you can run the tube to.
Options for lubricating wires for conduit? I am trying to pull four #8 stranded wires through a flexible PVC conduit that is 25 feet long. I can get the wires just a few feet into the conduit before they bind. I know there is a commercially available wire lube, but I do not have any. Can I safely substitute another pro...	Run a fish tape and pull line through your conduit/tubing (especially if smurf tube), then pull your bundle of wire through, making sure you wrap the head well with electrician tape so no bare wire sharp edges dig into your pipe. It's not a good idea to come up with a random soapy product, since the commercial products...
How can I reduce outside noise inside my apartment? I would like to reduce the outside noise from inside my apartment. Outside, of my apartment is the hallway, and it can get noisy. I was thinking about placing felt pads on my door to reduce the noise. My thinking is the sound vibrations from outside travel underneath...	Airborne noise can be attenuated by constructing walls, floors, ceilings, doors, etc. If there is a fire in your building, and investigation reveals that you modified your door, you could be held liable for damages caused by the fire. If so, then you may look into replacing it with a solid core door. Masking may have s...
Can I relocate my furnace exhaust? When my new furnace was installed, the vent was put outside the house next to landscaping bushes. It has killed one of my bushes. It used to be vented up to my roof and out. Can I move this outside vent to the roof vent? <Q> <A> I had a "plume diverter kit" fitted to my vent. <S> I...	No, it sounds like you have a high efficiency furnace and these will direct vent outside versus using the chimney stack to vent. You might want to talk to the installer to see if it could be better positioned as to not damage you plants.
How do I wire LED lights directly from the panel? I am finishing my basement and would like to do 2 sets of LED strip lights. One will go in a small 4x8 room under my stairs, another a large theater room 13' x 15'. I am a beginner when it comes to electrical wiring, but usually not afraid to tackle something and learn ...	Yes, you can wire multiple strings in parallel at the power supply. You can't put the power supply inside the wall, and you can't bring the wire out of the wall without going through a junction box.
How to darken a room without hurting airflow? I am a sucker for open windows. My room has two windows on opposing sides, and I get an amazing flow of air between them most hours of the day and night, and I want to keep it that way. A problem with open windows is uncontrolled lighting. If I wish to open my windows duri...	Some sort of slat blinds is a common solution, but if you have room to install a device away from the window, some other creative opportunities exist to block direct light but allow airflow around or through the blocking material. I also found that you can buy diy tints. Any solution will be a compromise. Or perhaps so...
Exactly measure lumber for cabinetry I am working on a bookshelf which, due to the way I am building it, requires some of the pieces to be exactly measured to within 1/64th over 4-5 foot lengths. Obviously no yardstick is so accurate. What techniques can be recommended for making such an accurate measurement? I have ...	Get yourself a good quality folding measuring stick like that pictured below.
Is there a trick to getting round HVAC duct pieces to fit together I have been doing some basic HVAC duct work as part of a remodeling project and I can never get the pieces to fit together without massive amounts of elbow grease and mangling the ends. Is there some kind of trick that I am missing that makes it easier?...	Find a away to keep the duct stable (I usually straddle the duct to hold it steady) while you are trying to get the last edge past the other, it usually takes both hands to do, using your thumbs to push the last part of the crimped end in while you use, if you can picture this, the free fingers to help keep the uncrimp...
Can floor tiles be installed on walls? I am building a home and would like to install floor tiles on wall also, please let me know if it possible to install floor tiles on walls? <Q> Yes, it is possible to install floor tiles on walls. <A> (ie porcelain or ceramic) <S> The important thing is that you use a wall adhe...	Yes you can use almost any tile on either wall or floor, the only things that differentiate the two would be Texture and surface smoothness - rough tiles are made for floors to be anti slip when wet Design and pattern - the design is often more suited to floors or walls material thickness and strength - the stronger (h...
Should I set wooden porch pillars into, or on to concrete footings? I'm building a wooden porch on the front of my house. I have six 4" wooden pillars supporting the structure. It's light, doesn't contain concrete, roof tiles, etc, and is made entirely of wood. I'm digging footings and am about to install the pillar...	A quick search indicated that post-base-brackets seem to be available in the UK, so that's the best option - tie the lower part of the bracket into your reinforcing mesh before pouring concrete.
How do I hook up a washing machine drain line to this box? I had a plumber come out and install a drain line and hook up the supply water for a washing machine. This is the state he left the project: How am I supposed to hook up the waste line? Do I need to drill out that center hole? <Q> It should be a knockout, mean...	The plumber should have done this before he glued the drain line in place, since knocking it out now could cause the plug to fall down the drain. I would use a sharp flatblade screwdriver and a hammer to punch the screwdriver piercing through the knockout and then pry it up. They can be installed "at any angle" per the...
Stabilizing a gravel driveway with massive holes and steep inclination I have inherited a 270 feet long driveway along a steep hill. It is part gravel/stone, and part concrete. It is in very bad condition. Every winter, rain threatens to wash away parts of it. Driving up and down is very bad for the car, and deepens t...	A gravel/stone supplier should be able to get you a few loads of "road base" which will have enough fines to pack. Definitely regrade your road to shed water away from the driveway.
How can I stop this drain pipe from backing up? In my basement laundry room is (to my knowledge) the only drain pipe in the whole basement, which hooks into the end of the main line as it exits the house and heads to the septic tank. When we moved in a year ago the drain was loosely plugged by an expanding ring cap. Ne...	I use Rain-R-Shine PVC cement... After running water for a few minutes shut it off and see if the water remains in the pipe.
We hear a constant bass subwoofer like thumping noise every night from about midnight to 7 am We live in a relatively quiet area. Since 2012, wehear a low bass rhythmic sound (music?) with slightvibrations in the front bedroom. We cannot hear it outside, only in the room and especially while lying inbed. A sewer pipe...	See if the bed in a different corner solves the situation. For your issue you have to get rid of all of your power for a night to make sure its not you. I believe you when you say its your neighbor but check yourself first.
How to remove tar left over from old floor carpet? Redoing bathroom floors and under the tiles there was really old carpet. I was able to remove the upper layer of it, but there is a tar-like substance stuck on the wooden floor that is very difficult to remove. Are there any tricks or chemicals that can be used to easi...	With a steel scraper it was nearly pointless; the carbide stayed sharp enough, long enough, to work on my particular variant of black glop, so I did not have to pull up and replace the floor to get a clean surface. My bathroom is about 50 sq ft floor area, it took 2 quarts to get it done.
Where is my power going? We just got an overly large (several hundred dollars over normal) electric bill from the city. Being a bit of a diy I picked up an ammeter to to track down the reason. None of my circuits are clocking in over 2 amps in normal usage. I tried powering up everything in the house including all of ...	To help you narrow things down a little more, I would try to keep a log of your meter. If you have a well, you could have a water leak, dripping faucet, or wiring problem with your well pump. First off, you are not billed by the city, you are billed by the electric utility.
Is there anything that common house ants won't burrow through? I have an ant problem and have gone on a never-ending quest to seal off all their points of entry. Believe it or not, I have been surprisingly successful due to how they lead me right back to their entrance, but now I am losing hope. Two years ago, I fill...	With your specific case I would also say that you need to move the cat food entirely to a new place until you are positive ants are gone.
Is it recommended that 1/8 thick plywood be used as underlayment? Redoing bathroom floor. After removing tiles and underlayment and linoleum, the floor that's left is decrepit, uneven, wavy, has some old plumbing holes. It is not rotted though, the wood is sturdy. I'm going to use Ditra. With Ditra, is it necessary t...	Assuming the existing subfloor does not have excessive deflection in it, I would put down a 1/4" tile backerboard instead of plywood, and then put Ditra on top of that, and then tile. If you use self leveling compound remember that the surface should be primed first - follow the product's prep recommendations.
Should I choose PVC or aluminium window frames in a hot, humid climate? I live in Bombay (Mumbai), India. I'm planning to install sliding sound-proof windows in a room. There are two common types of window frames manufactured here; one is aluminium, and the other is PVC, which is some kind of plastic. I've had conflict...	PVC/Vinyl windows do a far better job of restricting conductive heat as they are a much better insulator than aluminium. Aluminium will last indefinitely.
Can I upgrade existing T12 fluorescent fixtures to T8 just by replacing the ballast and bulbs? I was going to replace the fluorescent T12 fixtures around my house with T8 fixtures, but I noticed that the T8 bulbs seem to fit just fine into the T12 fixtures. It seems like I could save myself a few bucks and maybe some ...	Nope, this is done all the time.
How do I seal an unused washing machine drain? I have an unused washing machine drain in part of my house and it's started to smell because (I assume) the water in the u-pipe has dried up. My objective is to stop the smell and I guess the only way to do this is to seal this. I want the seal to be temporary in case I wa...	You might need to file up the hole a bit to make it more round and shove one in.
Why is my new high efficiency furnace blowing cold air sometimes? Why does my new furnace high efficient Payne furnace blow cold air,not constantly but at least 3 different times in a day, my thermastat is set on auto but when the weather is cold outside it will still blow cold air thru out the house how do I turn thi...	Check to see if you have a air circulation timer mounted on your furnace. I am going to assume that this is the normal cycling, throughout the day, where the controller is giving air movement throughout the house for comfort reasons.
Can I break up the floor of a raised floor basement bathroom without damaging the plumbing? I have an interesting remodel project. I have an existing basement bathroom - which has a raised concrete floor. The toilet sits on the slab. I am remodeling this to create a bigger bathroom for the basement, and the existi...	My guess is that since you want to move the drain risers around that you may very well be best off to break out all the existing kludge of concrete and some of the existing sub slab to get the replacement plumbing put in correctly. Second it is just really easy to replace anything that breaks.
What is the best covering for a redwood deck to keep the wood's character? I am installing a new 2000 sqft deck, in an urban home. It will get intense sun, need low maintenance. The builder wants to cover all 6 sides of each board. Is this realistic or even cost effective versus a good stain and regular upkeep and main...	Best practice says cover every side of a board with a protective coating, especially the ends.
A/C Runs non-stop and shuts down without reaching desired temp I have had a repair man out 4 times and he says he can't find anything wrong with the unit. I cannot even feel air coming out of the diffusers unless I climb on a chair and put my hand right next to them. The A/C runs non-stop when it's hot. It will run for...	The system needs time to defrost, could be oversized for your home, and you may have a clogged filter contributing to the issue. I would think since the unit checked out fine, then it could be the thermostat that may need to be replaced.
Is it a bad idea to use pine for painted exterior siding if prepared properly? My house is about 95 years old, and currently has wood clapboard siding that is in pretty rough shape and needs to be replaced. My local lumber yard has 1/2" x 6" for $0.53/linear foot. Since vinyl starts around $2.50/linear foot, I am consi...	Pine will work fine if prep on the wood is done correctly.
Kitchen outlet and Light I am roughing in my kitchen wiring currently and have separated the counter top outlets so that I have two per circuit. I also have a separate general lighting circuit in the kitchen. My question is, can I use a two receptacle gangbox for one of the counter top outlets and a light switch if t...	In fact since all your counterspace has to be no more than 2' from a receptacle for code, it's almost a requirement! In fact, it's fairly common. Also, on the subject of kitchen outlets - make sure each circuit has GFCI protection - one protected outlet being the first outlet in each circuit
Does an extension cord from 2 to 3 prongs have any benefits? If you're plugging a device with a 2-prong plug into an extension cord that has 3 prongs on the other end, does that give it the grounding benefit of the third prong? <Q> No. <S> If the two prong device is fairly modern, it is sufficiently insulated in its de...	Since there is no connection to the ground in the extension cord, the 2-prong plug does not get the grounding benefit of the third prong.
How should I install the post for a mailbox? The other day somebody wiped out my mailbox. It's a typical plastic mailbox, that mounts onto a 4x4 post. The old post snapped off right at ground level. Instead of trying to dig it out, I've dug a new hole nearby. After talking with a neighbor, it turns out this type of t...	You can use a metal anchor that screws into the ground.
How do you finish carpet on the landing at the top of a hardwood staircase? If I'm installing hardwood treads and risers and removing carpet from the stairs, what do you do with the top or landing if you have carpet on there now? Would you just have the carpet wrap over top to meet last riser? <Q> It completely depends...	You could wrap the carpet to meet the final riser, or you can install a landing tread.
What type of wood is recommended for an outdoor jungle gym? I'm not sure what other specs to include, as I haven't started the blueprints yet, just wanted to price the main parts out to see if it would be cost effective to build one vs buying from a big box store. Mainly just looking for outdoor durability of course, ...	When it comes to picking between pressure treated wood and a rot-resistant wood, just pick on price and aesthetics.
Our backsplash tile has raised oval design a how do we work around electrical outlets? The tile we chose for our kitchen redesign is long and narrow (3" x 9") with a raised oval design. This image isn't the same brand as ours (We purchased Portfolio) but this is almost identical. Electrical is currently roughed in a...	There are box extenders to bring the box level with the surface of the finish material.
What do I do with the neutral and ground when wiring a transfer switch? I know there are a lot of questions about wiring a generator to a home electrical panel, but I can't find the answer to the questions that I have. I would like to wire a generator that has the neutral bonded to the frame, to my main panel. The GE ...	If you lift the bond on the generator, you can run both ground and an insulated neutral back to the transfer switch. The generator cannot be grounded to a rod because this would tie the neutral to ground in a second location through the bond.
How long should it take concrete to fully cure? I have just had a backflow valve installed in the basement. The man had to chip away some of the concrete, he then put new cement down. He also had to do some work outside around the foundation, he installed a pvc pipe as a weeping tile. This was Tuesday morning the 26th ...	The rule of thumb is that you’ll need to allow the concrete 28 days of drying time for each inch of concrete thickness if the slab is under ideal drying conditions (an enclosed area with the HVAC on, meaning there’s air circulation and a low ambient relative humidity).
Swapping out circuit board on York AC? I have a York AC unit where the circuit board is shot, so I bought a replacement circuit board (same model). The model number for the board is 031-00251C. Pictures of old circuit board: http://imgur.com/gallery/0efD1/new I'm considering replacing this myself, but have no experi...	Oh, and I recommend marking the wires before you disconnect them. It wouldn't hurt to mark one of the plugin connectors with a sharpy either.
What could cause my Craftsman push mower to die after running for a few minutes? I received a Craftsman push mower (Model 917.377543) from my sister. She had left it outside all winter in the snow/rain. I have got to the point where the mower will run for 15-20 minutes initially before dying (it runs good when it doe...	Turned out the safety interlock cable (AKA driver presence control bar cable) had stretched a bit, and the switch it controls had gotten just dirty enough, that when the mower heated up, contact would be lost and the motor would die.
How do I dispose of the waste water after cleaning a brush or roller? After using latex paint and cleaning the brush/roller with soapy water, how do I dispose of the paint/water mixture? <Q> Modern Latex paint has very low toxicity. <S> I don't hesitate to wash the brush in whichever sink is available (being careful to...	When the brush is no longer leaving paint on the scrap paper I squeeze the brush between some absorbent paper a few times to squeeze out any remaining paint. I've read that you should freeze the roller you're planning on reusing, but have no personal experience with that option.
Purpose of Fill Valve Tube Going into Overflow Drain I can easily understand the purpose of the overflow tube itself, but why is the little black hose that comes from the fill valve placed down into the overflow tube? On my toilet, there is a strong stream of water that comes from the black hose, and it seems like goi...	If that tube didn't spray water in the overflow tube, the tank would have to fill all the way and then trickle water down the overflow and into the bowl. FluidMaster sells a kit to replace a flush valve.
Mild Electric Shocks in Bathroom I have been subject to mild electric shocks in my bathroom for years. It's probably a good time to figure out the problem (I'm still here), so I have check the voltage across the shower valve and the drain (drain is cast iron throughout house.) When the meter is set to ac, it reads 24 v...	So you might have two seperate sources of stray voltage. If there is constant voltage between your supply and your drain, then one or both of them are not properly grounded to your electrical service panel. Install new grounding rods to ensure that they are providing an adequate ground. Even in some cases the wires run...
Freezer is cold but not freezing at all After throwing a thermometer in my freezer, it is around 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit. Things that have been in there and frozen are staying frozen, but anything new that needs to freeze is not. For example, 24 hours ago I put some of those "colored ice pops" in there and maybe 3 or...	Make sure there's good air flow within the freezer, and that items are not blocking the vents.
Driving screws back into weathered deck I have a 20+ year old deck behind my home. It's in great shape, but I want to refinish it this summer. Problem is, a number of the Phillips screws have popped up over the years. I have a basic Hitachi cordless drill (1050 RPM) with which I have tried to drive the screws back down...	Some tips Use the correct sized bit for the screw head.
When drywalling a room, should I do the ceiling before the walls? Is there any value in installing drywall (plasterboard) on the ceiling before the walls or does it not matter? <Q> If you do the walls first, you can end up with drywall that is unsupported along an entire edge. <S> Taking these walls for example. <...	I was always told to drywall the ceiling before the walls so you can butt the wall sheets flush up against the ceiling If you don't allow a slight buffer, it will crack. My crews going back 20 years have always done ceilings before walls.
How to fix doors not closing I had a contractor come in and finish my basement. He done a decent job for the price but now a couple months later my doors wont shut. They worked perfectly fine before but now it seems the top part it getting caught on the trim. My first thought was to sand the top portion so it will c...	What may work is to loosen the hings screws slightly and then move the door slightly in the desired rotational direction and then tighten the screws "differentially" to favour the new position.
How to remove masking tape residue from linoleum? I attached few pieces of masking tape to a linoleum floor to help a child with her exercises (long jump kid-style). Now when I removed the tape, there is residue left through the whole length of the tape. How do I remove residue from masking tape? Ideally with generic ...	Alcohol would probably clean up the mess once goo-gone has loosened it into a sticky smear. I use Ronsonol's naphtha (zippo fluid; expensive) for small jobs or any 'white solvent' ( mineral spirits ).
What's best to use in a sawzall to cut steel pipe? So our new place came with an old antiquated huge satellite dish in the yard. Getting it down wasn't much trouble, but I'm stuck trying to figure out how to get the big steel post it sat on out of the way. The original plan was to just sawzall the thing down below gr...	There are various qualities of metal blades, so considering the thickness, you might opt for a higher quality (more expensive) blade. Once it is out, use a sledgehammer or blunt end of a splitting maul on the concrete to break it off the pipe and into easy-to-carry and easy-to-use pieces for trimming a garden, driveway...
How common is it for new homes to have gas-only dryer hookups? I am relocating my dryer. I had the gas line relocated and a dedicated circuit put in for the washer and dryer. The original location had the option for an electric dryer. We have a gas dryer and will probably never have an electric dryer due to the high...	If you are remodelling anyway, it probably costs very little more to move the electric-dryer circuit along with putting in the gas tap. You might at least want to consider roughing in in that circuit with tape to allow wire to be pulled through later, so that installing it when desired wouldn't require opening the wall...
Can I extend my sump pump outlet? I live in area without sewers, so we depend on swales and drainage ditches when it rains. My basement sump pump outlet is in the ditch in front of the house, but it's a couple of inches below grass level. Often the ditch fills over the outlet during heavy rain, which can make the s...	If the pump is strong enough, it should be able to push water into the ditch even when it's full.
How can I get concrete out of ground? I had a huge play structure when the kids were little that I donated to a church camp. When they picked it up they just cut the brackets at the ground and left the concrete and 6 inch U brackets there. I am having a shed installed and there are 12 of these in the ground that I can'...	Unless you have some heavy equipment to pull them out you're going to have some trouble moving them. If you feel you really need to do this by hand, you will need to get at the minimum, an electric demolition hammer, at the most an air compressor and jack hammer. Break the concrete down about 6 to 8", and get either a ...
How do we install drywall on a curved ceiling that is within 4 feet high from the loft floor? We are making the attic into a loft and the ceiling we need to add drywall to has a slight curve. How do we install the drywall without breaking it? The distance from the floor to the top is about 4 feet. <Q> 1/4" drywall wi...	You could install strips of drywall to approximate the curve as facets, then fill in the corners to create a smooth curve during the taping/plastering process. I think that's the approach more commonly used for arched doorway surrounds.
Why am I getting no power to the branch circuits with a new sub-panel? My home had an ancient Zinsco sub-panel in which the breakers were grounding out and arcing to the panel. I've swapped it with a new Eaton 100 amp panel. I've re-installed all the breakers, and re-connected everything. When I re-energize the 100 ...	There are various styles of circuit breakers and there is a good chance that the ones from your ancient old box are not even compatible with the new panel....
How do I safely paint the walls and ceiling in this high ceiling staircase? I need to paint the walls and ceiling in this staircase. The ceiling is flat, and does not slope down with the stairs. That means that the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs is very high. The walls and ceiling will be a different colour, so I...	There were a couple of really great DIY solutions that came up often (makeshift scaffolding with 2 ladders and a walkboard, and a custom-built ladder platform).
4 way switch with only two switches I just bought a 3-way dimmer switch for the kitchen. There are only two switches that switch the overhead lights. I went to take off one of them to install the dimmer and the switch had 5 wires (2 red, 2 black and a ground) hooked up to it. That would imply to me that it's a 4-way...	While the partial solution in my earlier answer does provide at least some dimming functionality at a four-way location without replacing the switches at all locations with multi-way communicating dimmers and matching companion devices, it is possible to construct a true four-way dimmer from a single-pole, three-wire (...
What's the easiest way to cut a chunk out of a buried railroad tie? I'm in the process of digging holes for concrete piers (for a small deck - nothing fancy) and on my last hole I came across what appears to be an underground railroad tie (or some other huge piece of wood with a sticky tar on it). Here's a picture: ...	Sawzalls can be obtained at most tool rental stores. Just enlarge your hole enough to give access to permit cutting the wood back far enough so that it does not interfere with your pier form.

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