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train · 95.7k rows

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What are the substitutes for kitchen wall tiles above a kitchen counter? Can anyone let me know what are the various options that we can use in place of ceramic wall tiles in kitchen (just above the kitchen counter)? <Q> You mean as a backsplash? <S> Just about any material can be used: ceramic, glass, vinyl, ABS, w...	concrete/terrazzo adhesive roll material (ie contact paper) panelling cork (and perhaps most common) wallboard and paint
How should I use the ground wire for this welder? So I want to use "ol big red", my trusty arc welder in my new home. I intend to use the electric range circuit since we have a gas range. I re-routed the range wire and was about to hook it back up and realized that there is no neutral wire, just a ground. The ground...	, I do agree with using the NEMA 6-50P (plug) and the 6-50R (receptacle), but moving the neutral wire from the cable feeding the welder to the ground bar in the panel feeding it, yes bond the receptacle box too. Using that neutral conductor as a ground is fine, the opposite would in NO way be true though. I know that t...
How do I seal an electrical box for a ceiling fan? We recently installed new electrical boxes and hung fans from them. We caulked around the boxes to seal off airflow into the attic. There are several small holes (and one has a medium sized hole) on the boxes. What's the proper way to seal this off to prevent the blown...	An intumescent caulk or foam will provide a much more durable blockage to prevent not only insulation from falling in, but from air escaping during a fire (which is the bigger concern IMHO).
Hanging an over-the-range microwave without top cabinet I have an over-the-range microwave with wall bracket but no cabinets above. It is safe to hang it solely by the wall bracket or is the top cabinet to bolt it to a requirement? If it matters, this is the microwave in question <Q> I have hung a few of this type o...	When you install the microwave, you put the back end on the bracket, rotate it up so that the top of the microwave touches the bottom of the cabinet, then hold it while installing the bolts from the upper cabinet.
What to look at first when when circuit breaker that fridge is on is tripping? I have a house where the circuit breaker has tripped a few time over the last several days. It flipped one evening, we flipped it back and was ok for a couple days. We went away for the weekend and sometime over that time it flipped again....	If the swapped arrangement doesn't trip, replace the (original) refrigerator breaker.
Why two breakers (one for the line, one for the neutral) on a single-phase line? I'm wondering why in my house I have a tied-together pair of breakers (one breaker for the hot line, the other for the neutral) for one geyser, while my other geyser only has its hot line with a breaker on it, while its neutral is simply c...	Head on down to your local Home Depot and pick up a single-pole GFCI circuit breaker and you will see that it has connections for the neutral to pass through it as well.
How to fill large 1" gap between preform laminate countertop and wall We are trying to save money and replaced an old laminate countertop with a newer preform laminate countertop, where the backsplash is part of the laminate countertop. The countertop is an "L" shape, so we have the pre-cut miter ends that join togethe...	If you need it a bit thicker, you can screw some backer-board to the wall and bond to that.
Extremely confusing 48 v on neutral I am actually a pretty good electrician, but am baffled by what I found today. During a remodel and adding a few new boxes for future lights, I received a shock from a neutral wire and a floating ground. The house is old and there are no grounds on most of the circuits. I was confu...	Normally this is not a shock hazard issue because the neutral wire is shorted to the earth ground connection at the power panel. The other possiblity is that there's leakage to your floating ground.
How should I wire a ceiling fan remote where two switches are used to control the fixture? I have 2 wall switches. 4 wires coming out of ceiling (black-hot, red-hot, white-common, bare- ground), a ceiling fan and a remote. How do I wire them and still be able to use wall switches? I can wire the ceiling fan and just ...	This way the remote module will control the fan (when the switch is in the ON position), and the other switch will control the light. Red from ceiling to black from fan and black out of remote.
Rule of thumb for prefilling drywall vs. recutting a piece of new drywall I had a leak in the roof of my garage in the corner. I called a professional to come and fix it, so the leak is now fixed. I was left with a hole in my ceiling inside the garage. I proceeded to investigate it and removed tons of moldy drywall....	You could use a thin sliver of drywall to partially fill the gap before taping, but it will be a bit more of a challenge to get it level and smooth. In your second picture, the patch looks like it is about 1/2+ lower than the wall.
Should I use a Ridge/Soffit vent or Attic Fan? I am getting ready to redo the roof on our house (shingles and some sheathing) and I am wondering what kind of venting I should add to the roof. The roof currently is not vented at all and as a result there is mold and and the sheathing is rotting and sagging. I have bee...	I just added a ridge vent to my attic a few months ago.
Moving a light switch without moving it I live in a rented house, and there is a lightswitch which is unconventionally not next to the door in one of the rooms. Is there a way to move the lightswitch so it's next to the door. I am currently thinking of something that plugs in between the bulb and light switch that can ...	There are numerous remote control systems available that use a stand alone switch and a receiver that either sits in the light fixture or in a circuit box to receive the signal and control power on the line. However, those obviously add significant bulk, and may not fit in the fixture (or may look pretty darned ugly). ...
Possible To Put an Epoxy Coating on Particle Board? Is is possible/recommended to put an epoxy such as Rust-Oleum Epoxy Garage Floor Coating on particle board? Any help would be appreciated! http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-EpoxyShield-2-gal-2-Part-Epoxy-Garage-Floor-Coating-Gray-High-Gloss-Kit-2-Pack-251870/1...	If the particle board is in good condition, and is structurally sufficient for the task, using epoxy seems like a good idea.
How many dimmer switches do I need? I have an electrical situation, 3 switches controlling one light and I want to put in a dimmer. What type of dimmer do I need, 3-way, 4-way,or what? <Q> Conventional switches <S> When you have two switches controlling one circuit, they are both 3-way switches <S> They are called th...	You also need a dimmer that is 3-way compatible (not all are).
How can I set up a timer for my motorized blinds? My room has a window with motorized shades, which can be brought up or down using a switch that's in the same enclosure as the light switches in the room. I want to set it up so I could program the shades to be open now, but close automatically at 5:00 AM. How can I d...	You can also use a programmable house thermostat from Honeywell, add a relay to power your blinds. Also, get a data sheet for each component of your circuit and study them. You will be amazed how simple those circuits are and operate. If you are unfamiliar with electrical wiring, even a simple switch replacement can be...
Why does my GFCI receptacle trip when anything is plugged in? My house was built in 1994. The garage is fed from one 20amp circuit wired to the lights first, then a GFCI, then a couple regular outlets. This has worked fine for me for 19+ years. We had a storm Friday morning, after which the GFCI now trips when any...	If it's easy to tell which order the receptacles are wired in, start by plugging something in to the first one downstream of the GFCI. If you still haven't found the issue, it's possible the wiring inside the wall got damaged somehow. In other words the nuetral wire servicing that gfci only serves that outlet and is no...
How to stop this small roof from leaking? We have water stains in the ceiling drywall underneath this small section of roof. I suspect it's due to the loose metal that's on top of the shingles. The fasteners on the top of the metal are all sealed still, but the metal literally lifts up by hand. In the image, a g...	The section continued to leak after the flashing was secured, and roofing nails sealed. You can install sealant underneath the flashing like Aravindakshan K suggested.
Is a special circular saw blade needed to cut plastic? We purchased two portable air conditioners for our bedrooms. It include a plastic window kit that can be fitted for the window. I.e., this: I need to trim off about 6 inches, which requires a simple straight cut. Doing it by hand is challenging -- both physica...	Another workable answer is to use a hot-knife to melt your way through the plastic. Back in the day when I used to put up vinyl siding, I found that the best way to cut it with a circular saw was with a cheap 140 tooth plywood blade installed backwards (to give the teeth a negative rake and prevent chipping):
How to get rid of spilled coffee scent? Thought I managed to clean the coffee spill effectively; however, few days later the scent is still there.At this stage, what is a suitable way to removed coffee scent off a rugged floor? <Q> Dump a box of baking soda on it, wait a few days, vacuum it up. <A> Vinegar can solve th...	then the next day put baking soda & vacuum it off Source: my ADD medication has a side effect of making me really good at cleaning, so friends & relatives are always hitting me up for problems like this.
Metals in pool turn water green after adding shock, what's the solution? Our pool hasn't been opened in 4 years. We are finally in the process of resurrecting it from the dead, and have spent a lot of elbow grease (and tears) to get it to the point its currently at. Last night the water was a blueish turquoise, but w...	It's the metal particles in the water reacting with chlorine indeed.
How long to wait after tile installation before placing heavy objects on it? I just installed some 12" x 24" large format tiles in my laundry room using Flexbond mortar over concrete that was machined with a diamond cup disk. Its been ~32 hours since I finished the main portion but its clear that that the mortar is s...	If sealed floor and porcelain, 48-72 hours is safe.
How to untangle spring for kitchen faucet hose? I'm trying to install a Grohe Concetto kitchen faucet with a spray hose. There is a long spring that is put over the hose in order to create the tension needed to help the hose return after it has been extended. The instructions are mediocre at best and I found a better...	Websearching "untangling a spring" or "untangling a slinky" will find illustrations/videos that will help you with this.
What might cause water to leak under or behind a bathtub? The floor in my bathroom is constantly wet after showers. House was built in 1970 and this bathroom is all original. From the yellow tile down to the linoleum. The shower curtain is sealed, the shower head is not spraying, everything above the floor is dry. I ...	Connections between stop valves and mixing valve Stem leaks on mixing valve Shower arm and tub outlet extension
Help connecting cat5e cables for home networking I'm renting an older house that was renovated a few years ago, and I'm hoping to utilize the cat5 wiring in the house for networking. Here's the setup: internet --> coax --> modem --> wireless router --> wireless devices -...	The easiest way to splice the ends would be to Terminate the ends with an RJ-45 connector, and then use a coupler to connect the two wires.
How do I fix my clogged bathtub drain? I have a trip lever drain in my bathtub. Thought it was the problem, but it's completely out and the tub still won't drain. Any ideas? <Q> I would start with a basic hand operated drain snake. <S> In a tub drain you likely have a hair clog, the snake will grab onto this clog and p...	To unclog the drain in my bathtub, I've occasionally used a toilet plunger by placing it directly over the drain then filling up the tub until there is enough water to create suction.
Wiring a fluorescent T8 fixture to a standard plug I am looking to connect a T8 fluorescent light fixture (that holds 4 bulbs) to a cord with a plug at the end so I can plug the fixture directly into a standard wall socket (or in my case a light socket adapter like this one .) Here is an image of the connector, I'm n...	The extra holes in the connector are for wire chaining the fixture to the next fixture.
Insulation options for narrow ceiling space I've got a flat roof ( wooden, sealed with tar and then roofing iron on top of that ) with a 30 cm gap between the ceiling. Not really enough for someone to crawl in unless skinny. There's no insulation there at present. The lowest the temperature gets is 0 Centigrade. I'...	Venting is necessary to remove any moisture that comes from the inside of the home into the insulated space and causes condensation.
Gutted a basement and found a window, what should I do? I recently gutted my basement in an early 1900s home that was finished in the mid-80s, and discovered a window! This window is directly under my front door, hidden by a deck that I've never really looked under in detail, so I've never noticed the window. The windo...	And since you can't see the window from the outside and it will be behind a wall inside, you probably won't be able to see any evidence of damage or leaks until it's too late and caused significant damage to your new walls and flooring. It isn't a problem now. From an insulation standpoint, the cost benefit analysis sh...
can you combine 2 circuits into 1? Can I safely combine two 15 amp double pole circuits into a single 30 amp double pole circuit? I am trying to make space in my 200 amp box to put a 40 amp double pole breaker to support a water heater upgrade. The 200 amp box will support the added draw—whoever built this put a lot ...	What you can do, if your panel supports them, is get a tandem breaker - which will have two 15 amp circuit breakers in a single unit that takes up the same slot as a single breaker.
Covering an above ground pool indefinitely We bought a house with an above ground pool 3 years ago and never opened the pool. We just opened it and the water is brown and about 1/3 full. There's dirt, leaves and just dirty/stained in general. People say we have to replace our liner. However, we're renting the house o...	Preserve the pool: Drain it, leave the drain open, and put a fence around it or a durable safety cover over it.
How do I join pieces of wood tiles, 12" by 12" pieces, to make a larger slab? I have a project to work on that requires me using larger pieces of planks than what I currently have. I have square planks all over the porch that would suffice if only I had a good way of fitting pieces together.How can I join these individ...	For very limited, low-stress uses, the biscuit joiner as mentioned by @Nathan might work well enough - as might a Tongue and groove joint, double-groove and spline joint, or lap joint.
Should wood be treated or sealed before tiling? Building two service shelves next to a BBQ shack, that's exposed to Oregon weather. I intend to use HB over the wood. Should the wood be sealed first before using the HB, then apply the tile? <Q> Sealing the surface may reduce warpage, but will have limited effect on long...	The wood should be pressure-treated or naturally rot-resistant.
Why did polyurethane make wood feel coarse? I have a piece of pine I want to use for shelving. I added some finish and then added a thin layer Minwax Fast-drying Polyurethane (clear semi-gloss) with a foam brush. It looks great, but the wood now has a coarse texture to it. I've never done this before so I'm guessing I...	Another possibility is that you kept brushing over the finish as it dried, which is a common beginner mistake.
Should a neutral wire ever be connected to the neutral for the power meter? I was not working with this circuit breaker box but I was interested to see what was going on with only 3 breakers for the entire apartment. I found a neutral from the apartment going into the neutral with the power meter. Is this safe and to...	The neutral wire is not metered. To directly answer your question, yes, the neutral should be connected form the meter to the same bus as the individual circuits in the apartment for conventional breakers, which only switch the hot (black) wires. Instead of splicing the wire, they simply terminated it with the service ...
Lights and outlets on multiple circuits out but no circuits tripped. Power back to normal after several hours for the past several days the lights and outlets to multiple rooms in my house have been going out, yet no circuits are tripped. This is happening to lights and outlets on multiple circuits. The weird thing is,...	If all four of those breakers are providing voltage but the circuits are dead, there is a break between that end of the wire and the outlets.
Can I use rubber bumper pads to prop open a door? I live in a one person apartment. Since no one else lives there, I don't need the door to my bedroom to close. Actually, I would prefer if it could be permanently propped open. The reason is, if I have my hands full, I can open the door without moving my hands. Or if I'...	A piece of tape over the latch hole, or the latch itself would prevent the latch from catching. You could also remove the latch from the door, and replace it when you move out.
How to cut thick felt carpet pad? We are installing carpeting and purchased felt pad for it. Using a utility knife, though, even changing the blades frequently, we are having a really hard time cutting it. Is there a tool, technique, or better knife/blade that we should be using for felt carpet padding? <Q> Take a 2x...	I also used a board underneath and pressed firmly, but it was still much better than the utility knife, industrial scissors, serrated knife, and all the other methods I tried. Remember to keep body parts out of the "line of fire".
How should I support upright posts on a slab with no footer? We are wanting to use a structural ridge beam to put a new roof on our house. I have been talking with an engineer who said that we need to determine how big the footer is under our slab. However, when I dug out under the slab I discovered that there is not f...	If you cannot find details about how your slab is constructed (make a significant effort to find that information), you may need to have an engineer investigate it to get some idea of what it might support. In order to support the ridge beam of your roof, which means the weight of the entire roof, you definitely need t...
How do I wire a ceiling fan? I recently purchased a ceiling fan - Harbor Breeze Tilghman WITHOUT a light - to replace a ceiling fan WITH a light. The wires coming from the (old)ceiling are red, black, white, green, and copper. The green wire is coming from the ceiling mounting bracket. I do know the light worked on th...	Most fans can be equipped with light kits so they have a wire for it.
Is it normal for an exhaust fan cover to hang below the finished ceiling? I live in an apt complex and have asked my live-in manager to please fix the bathroom fan. He tells me that there is "nothing to fix". Can someone please tell me if this is true? <Q> This is not normal. <S> The trim plate should be tight against ...	You might be able to simply push the trim plate up, where it will lock into place.
Do I need a permit to renovate a porch in NYC? I want to renovate my 2nd floor porch, but I don't know if NYC requires a permit. My house was built in 1901, and I believe a CO is not needed because of the grandfather clause. But if I make any alterations, will it be an issue if I want to sell my house and don't have a ...	Pretty much anything you do to a building "requires" a permit.
Framing a wall over a carpeted floor I have a carpeted basement. There is both pad and carpet over concrete. There is a section I want to wall off and turn into a bedroom, it will not be load bearing. I would prefer not to have to pull up the carpet to anchor the frame into the floor. Would you recommend nailing th...	The most important thing is the carpet in the rooms. Keeping a padding and old carpet below 2x4 isn't something I would ever suggest but the chances are no one will ever know unless they take the wall out. Now the pad and carpet could make fastening the 2x4 to the concrete. That is something to think about. You aren't ...
How can I convert a closed stringer staircase to an open stringer staircase? Currently I have a closed stringer staircase against a wall in my home, and my plan is to convert it into an open stringer staircase. I have looked underneath the staircase and there is no central stringer, just three triangle bits against the...	If you were to cut the stringer flush to the top of the stairs you will not have enough structural support left to safely support the stairs.
How can I improve the stability of this DIY pull-up bar? I built this pullup rig: as part of my calisthenics workout. The problem is that it there's too much swing. The first version also suffered from instability issues, even with more pipes: A Lowe's employee suggested I add diagonal pipes that attach to v...	Some people screw a thick piece of plywood to the studs of the wall then anchor things to that.
Home Light Automation - Emulate 4 way switch with relay I've been thinking of ways to do home automation that is somewhat future proof (hardwired); and the best idea I have is to use relays for lights on a 3 way switch circuit. Put in a dual pole dual throw relay and have it emulate a 4 way switch. Also add a current ...	There are plenty of relays available that have 12V DC coils and your remote automation control can use simple transistors to drive the relay coils. Only relays rated properly should be used and you would bear the safety liability associated with stringing the control wires around your house.
Running a new kitchen light circuit from a receptacle with a "traveller." I'd like to power a set of three ceiling-mounted down-lights from an existing receptacle in a kitchen reno. A picture of the existing receptacle is attached. My confusion is it has a fourth wire (red), which I believe is called a traveller. I thi...	Usually, when two hots are connected to an outlet like that, the break-away tab is removed, and one outlet is always on while the other is switched. The third insulated conductor is only called a "traveler" in the context of a three way switch (when two light switches control the same lights). You must find a different...
Installed Ceiling Fan, Now Light Switch Not Working Properly Last night I switched a ceiling light fixture with a Ceiling Fan. Before it was just a light fixture and it was controlled from a switch on the wall; one of two switches on the same switch plate/panel (so a double switch). The two switches controlled two diff...	Sometimes an outlet is set to a switch so you can connect a lamp and control it from a wall switch; if this is the case you will not be able to control the light and fan separately except with a remote control. If this wiring was prepared by someone that you paid to do the work you should take proper recourse to get th...
How far does a ground rod need to be from the foundation? I need to ground an antenna strapped to my chimney, which requires hammering in a new ground rod. However, the entire side of my house is paved, meaning I can't dig it up to find the foundation footing; I'll need to drill a hole to drive in the rod. How far sh...	There is no minimum or maximum distance from a foundation, footing, panel or otherwise.
How do I know if I will drill into a hole in a wall that was already made? I drilled 2 large holes for mounting a flat screen in the bedroom. One hole is in a wood stud and the other is a metal stud. I will be renting out our apartment and will be taking the TV down and filling the holes and repainting walls. If I e...	Chip away the drywall over the hole and install a Stud Plate.
How can I remove brush marks from a wall painted with metallic paint? I recently painted my kitchen wall with a metallic paint. I love the paint and the look it gives my wall, except I have brush marks in it. This wall was a new sheet rocked wall that was mudded and sanded. I made sure the wall was smooth before I pain...	If you sand and prime over the part that has brush marks, you could try using a pad trim painter. I bought a sprayer after several frustrating attempts to apply metallic paint to a single wall.
Can I count on being able to cut galvanized pipe to size? I am planning a shelving project that will use galvanized pipes. I am still designing the shelf and am wondering if I can plan on using whatever length pipe that I need (because they are straight-forward to cut) or are they difficult/costly to cut and I should ...	Assuming that the pipe schedule is sch 40 or less and the diameter is 2" or less (larger diameters can limit the cutting tool selection and the increases the effort required to obtain a true parallel cut), the following cutting tools would be your best options: chop saw with an abrasive blade
What could cause low hot water pressure in the shower only? The hot water pressure in every other faucet in the house is fine, but in the shower it's a little more than a trickle. I removed the shower head and pulled out the cartridge (it looks kind of like this ). The water was only coming out of the left hole and ...	This would indicate either the shut-off valve was defective or something was restricting the flow to the shut-off valve or shower valve assembly.
How can you open the top part of a double-hung window when you are old and short? How can you open the top of a double-hung window when you are short and elderly? I have air conditioners on the bottom of the windows, but I would like some fresh air on cool days. I am in no shape to remove the air conditioners. I thou...	These windows have raise/lower assist devices called sash balances. A mini-split air conditioner is essentially a window unit cut in half. With a double-hung window, if the lower sash is raised and there is an air-conditioner in the lower sash area (as you describe), you can't open the upper sash because it slides down...
Can I re-fluff blown-in fiberglass insulation with a cellulose blower? I am planning to add blown-in cellulose (GreenFiber) to my 15' x 40' attic, which currently has blown-in pink (circa 1971) which has really settled/compacted. A lot of it, I can actually pick up in sheets and/or good-sized chunks. If I stuff some in...	"Fluffing" what you have now would save you a little bit of cellulose but if you still fill to the same depth, but would leave you less insulated. The only time fiberglass will settle is if there is a moisture issue. Whether you can or not, you probably don't want to.
How would I go about identifying and matching this wood stain color? I inherited some wooden furniture (which I believe to be oak) a few years back and was looking to add a couple of pieces to it. I want to try and get close to the same color, but I have no idea what color this actually is, so I was looking for some he...	Your best bet is to have Sherwin-Williams do a stain match.
wall outlet when bottom is tiled and top is drywall Our handyman may have planned poorly when tiling the bottom half of our bathroom wall. The light outlet's bottom is within the tiled area, white the top half is within the drywall. There is a space of about an inch behind the switch and the drywall that needs to be ...	Either that, or cut the top edge of the outlet off so that it matched the height of the tile, then run a beed of caulk over the top of the tile and fill the gap in the outlet. If you have bullnose or quarter-round tile installed at the top edge, you may want to router a matching cove shape where your wood piece meets t...
Possible to refinish hardwood floor without messing with quarter-round baseboard? I am evaluating a quote to refinish my hardwood floors and stairs. The contractor mentioned that they would not be removing the quarter-round below the base board and it would require touch up after the job is done. The alternative is to...	The quarter round (in this case referred to as base shoe) has no purpose other than to conceal the joint between the base and the floor.
Do I need to install aerial wall outlets or is there a wireless solution? Just bought a new house and realized that everything is great but there's only one aerial socket (rooftop antenna coax connector) and it's on the opposite side of the living room where I want the TV. I also want a TV in the kitchen and probably ...	TV is already wireless, just attached to an external antenna.
Cleaning a very dusty garage My garage is mainly used for storage and, over many years, has become full of dust, cob webs, etc. I would like to use an area for exercise, but am concerned about the amount of dust in the garage (being breathed in). I don't think using a vacuum cleaner is wise, since the garage is full o...	Get yourself a good quality, large push broom and dust pan and sweep up all the compound and dirt. Among other things, a shop vac is a good investment if you have a garage or workshop or other places which generate the sort of larger/sharper trash you wouldn't want to risk your household vac on... and they can be used ...
Why is a previously wet light fixture now getting dimmer? A leak resulted in the light fixture in the ceiling of my laundry room getting wet. Despite being dry now, the light gets noticeably dimmer each time it's turned on. I am trying to keep it off until I know what to do but I sometimes forget and turn it on out of ...	It might be possible to clean it up and remove any corrosion.
Few questions about concrete/cement wall inside of the apartment and which screws to use I live in an apartment building that has concrete/cement walls. I am still not sure which one it is. I included the image which has the wall in the background. I would like to know which screws i should use to let's say hang sh...	Go to your local hardware store and invest in anchors made specifically for concrete.
Is there ever a reason for reversing hot and neutral on a receptacle? I moved into a new home and several receptacles have the hot and neutral reversed. I confirmed this with a basic receptacle tester . I opened one up and found the white wire on the brass terminal, and the black wire on the silver terminal. Is the...	Fix the receptacles and double check all the electrical in your house. This is never necessary and is potentially lethal.
Why does the blade of my table saw stop? I have a cheap, old (but, until recently, serviceable) belt-drive, table-top table saw, Skil 10" model 3400 . Last week while cutting a 2x4, the blade stopped but the motor kept going. I finished up with a hand-held circular saw and let the table saw cool down. When I came b...	There has to be some kind of linkage between the motor and the drive shaft unless the latter is built into the former (possible but unlikely).
How to loosen a rusted nut/screw I have been trying the change the screws connecting the toilet tank, i managed to remove the tank but the nut it completely rusted and became one with the screw. I tried holding the screw in place and rotating the nut to no luck. next i used WD-40 (sprayed it and left it for an hour th...	Get a drill bit the size as the bolt and drill out the bolt inside the nut.
Do hot water tanks have to be in the drain pan I bought a new hot water tank and had it installed by a plumber. It didn't fit in the existing drain pan, so he put it on top of the pan. Is this safe? <Q> The purpose of a drain pan is to contain small leaks that can lead to damage and can give you warning that there is ...	For heater safety, I am concerned that sitting on the edge of the pan will eventually cause damage to the bottom of the tank.
Improving piece of furniture I have a piece of furniture that is in need of some improvements.This is the piece: As you may already see, there are a lot of light marks in it.If we look closer to the surface, this is how it looks like in some areas: And like this: I'm not sure what kind of wood this is. I was tryi...	Since it is an older piece and you don't want to do an overall refinishing, you can touch up the lighter spots and the small gouges with a touch-up marker .
Should I be using wire nuts to connect my light socket? I am replacing a light socket in a ceiling lamp. The old socket had two short wires permanently attached to the socket, which were then connected to the wires coming out of the ceiling with wire nuts (neat looking ceramic ones actually, I think it was done in the...	The reason is pretty simple - every time you replace the socket you probably need to cut off and restrip the end of the wire.
Latex paint peeling off oil based paint. How do I apply a new layer of paint? As I understand it, a few years ago, latex paint was applied on top of oil based paint. The top layer of paint is now peeling off. Would like to apply a new coat of latex paint, but I'm unsure how to proceed. Do I need to sand? Should I...	There is no easy solution, you must remove all the peeling paint along with any that even might peel. I would sand all the baseboard that is peeling, wipe clean for sanding dust.
A spark from a power strip recently made the electricity go out is it safe to turn it back on? About a week ago my daughter plugged up her iPod to a power strip that was plugged into an outlet in her bedroom, she said she placed the iPod onto the power strip and let it sit there while she plugged it up, then it made a ...	Or if you feel comfortable, remove the plate off the outlet and do an inspection. If an oversized breaker was used on undersized wires or outlet, either/both the wires or the outlet could have failed as well.
What kind of glue is best for a black plastic kitchen appliance (ABS plastic)? I have a built in microwave oven with a broken door open button (the hinge plastic was too thin by design). The plastic is somewhat pliable, waxy. There is no chasing arrow showing the plastic type, but it is marked ">ABS<". In the past I...	The ABS cement worked for me far better than any of the other glues mentioned above.
Why is high voltage coming out of HDMI port on my TV? I am plugging my TV into a grounded outlet. When I plug an HDMI cable into the back of the TV and measure the voltage coming out of the other end of the cable (should be 0 shouldn't it?) it reads 380 volts... I'm talking to my landlord about this but this is absolu...	We identify this issue by waving a Foreign Voltage detector anywhere near the surface of the tv and holding it close to the tip of an hdmi cable that is only connected to the tv.
How many amps does it take to power 2 AC's, a freezer, a refrigerator, 2 TV's, and a computer? I'm making my garage into a living place and I put in a 50 amp line from my house to the garage. The garage has its own fuse box but I want to have an upstairs living area and a downstairs man-cave. I want to plug in a freeze...	If the sum is more amps than the breaker will permit, the breaker or fuse will eventually blow when everything happens to make its peak demand simultaneously. If you want to watch your usage over time there are even many new products that will report via you house WiFi or Bluetooth.
How can I go back to a gas water heater? I recently got a condo unit (low rise condo) on the 4th (top) floor. The unit previously had a gas water heater but was replaced with an electric unit after the gas one broke down I suppose. This was before I got it. I didn't realize the issues I'd be facing. The electric bills...	Another option can be installing a heater on a balcony
How do I install a ceiling fan remote? I am trying to replace a busted Hunter ceiling fan remote. The receiver unit from the old remote had 5 wires - live and neutral, and then 1 that was labeled "fan out", 1 that was labeled "light out", and 1 that was labeled "common out." The fan unit has 4 wires - 1 green wire t...	According to the installation instructions for a Hunter Universal Fan & Light Remote Control (Model 27185), the device should be wired as follows.
Can I thin thick PVC cement with primer? I needed to make a repair on some PVC pipe. When I opened my can of cement, I discovered that is was thicker than when new. I purchased the cement around a year ago and kept the lid firmly closed. The can is about 2/3 full. I could still easily spread the cement around the pipe....	Primer contains the same ingredients as Cement, except Cement also has PVC resin in it, so theoretically you should be able to add primer to cement to thin it. I've even spread a bit of the glue around the top of the can to dry into a seal if I know I'm not going to use it for a really long time. It may "work", but the...
Routing cables under the house with raised perimeter foundation Rather a simple question, I want to route some cables under the house with a raised perimeter foundation. The question is, how should I pass the cables I'm routing from under the house into the wall up above? This is the closest resemblance to my foundat...	The more appropriate way to accomplish this task, is to drill from the top down.
Should I be worried about tears in my foundation wrap? I recently moved into a newly built house in an area still in construction. My house was completed before my immediate neighbours. While they were excavating, they took large chunks of our foundation wrap out. I made this known to our site supervisor. His solution...	I read the install guide, they claim that a tear will not cause a problem, that is true over the short haul.
How to determine if a 20 amp breaker can be upgraded to 30 amp I recently purchased my first home and the breaker the electric clothes dryer is connected to is 20 amp. I was told it should be 30 amp by a home inspector but foolishly did not have the seller correct it. If I run the dryer on its highest heat setting it...	The easiest and surest way to determine the gauge is to look at the bare wire itself, either in the outlet, or more easily in the service panel where it goes into the breaker.
Should electrical wiring be placed above or below plumbing pipes I'm putting a bathroom in my garage/shop. I'm going to have to run wiring and water supply plumbing through the same walls. should I put the wiring above or below plumbing? <Q> It makes absolutely NO difference. <S> NOR would it"short out" even in the sli...	So you'd have to put your electrical lines, switches and outlets clear up near the ceiling (or at the least on the top side of your "fire blocks") to mitigate any potential contact as far as is possible... which I feel certain wouldn't meet NEC/all other applicable codes (not to mention would be quite inconvenient and ...
Imperfectly cut tile (4mm short) within acceptable range of error? Recently we had a tiler who tiled the backsplash in our kitchen. He had to cut a tile to fit right below the extractor fan (hood). And he grouted the space between the top of this tile and the bottom edge of the extractor fan. The day he finished th...	The best option would be to see if the tile supplier can fabricate a custom bullnose for you. Have specifications Incorporate by reference the specifications into the contract. In general, you want to design in such a way that installation intolerances can be accommodated and hidden in non-prominent places.
How to safely dispose of latex paint? So, like most home owners, I have gallons of partially used paint, both from my old place, and old ones from the previous owners here. I want to dispose of these both safely and efficiently (we have quite a few gallons so pricey solutions may not fly). They're all latex paint. My ...	Alternatively you can just throw it out in the trash.
Can I use Zinsser BIN over latex? My contractor inadvertently painted my plywood subfloor with latex wall paint instead of the Zinsser BIN shellac based primer I bought for it to seal in dog odor. Now what do I do? Should I just wait a few days for the latex to totally dry and then paint over it with the BIN shellac ...	You can definitely Zinsser over latex - just did it last week.
Do I attach kitchen cabinets when installed overtop of a hardwood floor? I have heard about installing cabinets directly on top of a hardwood floor. How do you secure the cabinets? How do you secure an island? Do you screw directly into the hardwood? <Q> Yes, there are many good reasons to finish laying the hardwood f...	My neighbor is a proponent of laying the hardwood wall-to-wall and placing the cabinets on top of it, screwing where necessary through the hardwood into the subfloor.
Can I remove parquet flooring adhesive by using a heat gun? I have to remove a parquet floor with possible bitumen adhesive and am unsure how thick the adhesive was applied. I need to remove the flooring to prep for laying ceramic tiling. Could a heat gun be of use to remove the adhesive rather than costly solvents?...	If you can scrape the bulk of the bitumen off, a heat gun might work well for tidying up the inevitable remaining spots of bitumen. Failing that, a heat gun might work, but it might be too localised as a heat source and make for very tedious work.
How can I protect a hardwood floor from a rolling office chair? My wife's office has solid hickory hardwood floors, and I'd like to protect the floor from her rolling office chair. What can be done to protect the floor? Should I even be concerned about the chair damaging the floor? <Q> In two old homes now I've shred...	If your floors are perfectly smooth and any imperfection will bother you, I do recommend either a low pile or woven rug under the desk and chair. Replacing your chair's casters can help.
How do I mount this pullup bar? I bought this pull up bar that is designed to go into studs that are 16" apart Ultimate Body Press My basement walls are only framed out so I can see all of the studs. I started to mount it and realized the studs are 18" OC. I'm trying to think of the best way to get this mounted an...	I would drill through both the stud and the filler board and attach with nuts/bolts/washers (as opposed to threading a screw into the stud).
A/c makes the lights turn on and off! No Joke! The lights on the first floor, upstairs bathroom and upstairs Laundry room won't work.The breakers did NOT popThe air conditioning was running this morning but is not working now.When the thermostat turns the air off those lights turn off, but when the Tstat turns the air ...	Especially if the AC and the 1st-floor lights are served by breakers near the bottom of the panel, or from a separate subpanel... in the former case, the grounding problem may be inside the panel itself.
Kitchen fixture pulled lose from ceiling My kitchen fluorescent fixture has pulled lost from the ceiling and is dangling just by the electrical wires. It is an older home(25years) and the anchor bolts have pulled thru the drywall. I have tried to drill new holes but the drywall just keeps pulling out from the weight of...	A handy man that knows how to patch drywall and some carpentry should be able to install blocking between the joists that the fixture can be screwed to
Electric shock - was I stupid, unlucky, or a combination of both? One of the double sockets in our garage needed replacing (damaged after a washing pole hit it) - a pretty trivial job that I'd done before. So I flipped the MCB for the ring main, used a non-contact voltage tester to check nothing was there, and set to w...	Though if it were a loose connection you still could be very unlucky and have it pass all those tests with the outlet still live. Always verify the non-contact voltage tester is working properly, before trusting it (this is true for any tool, I guess). Once I have a box open I check all around with a NCV again.
Can I use a wall tile on the floor? I came across ceramic wall tiles that I really want to use for my bathroom, but I can't find the perfect floor tile that matches. Can I use the wall tile as a floor tile? Here's a link (might be a blurry) picture of it: http://i.imgur.com/aBlxVwE.jpg I want to use the grey one (to...	A few problems, wall tiles aren't built to withstand weight like floor tiles, so they are more prone to breaking.
How do I fix a heavily rusted garburator? I have an INsinkerator that I never used for years as I hate it. I tested it out the other day and it no longer works as it appears heavily rusted over due to non-use. I tried the red re-set button, but it wouldn't work. I would hear a low hum and it would pop back out. I fou...	The reason is that old disposers often corrode right through the lower portion of the casing and there really is no good way to repair that. I can't say I disagree with the other two answers here but in the intereset of exploring all options, try spraying half a can of CorrosionX (or any descent penetrating lubricant s...
Installing/fixing ceiling drywall when trusses are uneven? My house is an "L" shape where the short leg of the "L" is the garage. Above the garage ceiling, the trusses transition from one orientation 90 degrees to another orientation. The different orientations of trusses are different heights above the floor. This ...	You could also remove the drywall, sister wood or steel studs to the ceiling joists at a 1/2" offset and then reinstall drywall.
Why is my new Altura 68" fan so slow moving on high speed? This is the 2nd fan that I purchased and it moves slow for such a large fan. Do smaller fans run faster? My 1st fan was a Harbor Breeze Saratoga 60" that had an air flow of 7344 CFMs on high speed. I returned it thinking something was wrong with the interior of...	If anything it's probably quieter to have a slow, large fan vs a small fan that has to spin a lot faster to move the same amount of air.
Is there a way to unscrew a light bulb that has broken? The recessed light in my bathroom broke while trying to unscrew it, and only the metal collar remains. What is the best way to get that remaining part out? <Q> If the bulb is really stuck <S> you might try spraying some WD40 around it. <S> A similar alternative,...	With the power off at the breaker, and verified with a non-contact tester , I've always just used a pair of needle nose pliers to grip the rim of the bulb base and turn it to remove. I've never been all that comfortable with @Steven's solution, as it's hard to be sure the power to the light is off when the bulb is brok...
Toilet not flushing properly because flapper is closing too soon I installed a new flapper and it doesn't stay open long enough. The chain is short to the point not much left to shorten. It was the proper flapper, but just does not stay open long enough unless I hold the handle down. When held down, it flushes just fin...	If the chain is too long, it won't lift the flapper enough. I solved this problem by stuffing a piece of pool noodle into the float bulb.
Should a heavy duty transformer (used predominantly for LED lights) be on the mains ring or the lighting circuit? I am putting RGB LED strip lights in a room, powered by a fairly heavy duty (30A) 12V transformer. The transformer will also power a Raspberry Pi (volatage will be split to give it 5V)that will be used wit...	Yes wiring into your lighting is absolutely fine and would be a more complete solution as opposed to plugging the transformer into your wall socket.
Cleaning walls or painting When white walls get kind of filthy due to smoking or dirty finger here and there, is the only solution to paint over? Or is there any product that could clean them once in a year or so to keep them fresh looking? <Q> The answer is "clean walls AND paint," if you're going to paint at all. <...	I use TSP to wipe down the walls or surfaces prior to repainting.
Should washing machines be placed on tile or other water-proof flooring? I am redoing the area where my washing machine is. Currently it's placed in a closet and has a tile floor. I'd rather not use tile in the new setup, but it got me wondering if this is an important aspect of a laundry area. How important is it f...	The floor should be resistant to water, however this is more of a cleaning requirement: you want to be able to cleanup any spills of soap on the floor. Real life exposure to water is not generally harmless to laminate, whatever the sales-folk may tell you.
What type of joint should I use while building a plywood box? I'm building a trophy. It will consist of two boxes...one slightly smaller than the other and stacked on top of one another. I'm looking for suggestions on how to join the corners of the boxes so that the veneer is the only thing exposed on the 4 corners an...	First I would make the box using a join that best fits the tools you have (Butt, dado, miter or dovetail).
How do I connect a light before a 3way, followed by a 3way, then a light? I now have power to 3way A, connected to 3way B, to a light. I want to add a light before 3way A. Power comes to a junction box, then to 3way A. A is at the bottom of a stairs and B is at the top. <Q> Your question is a little unclear a diagram...	If you want it to work in tandem with the other light, BIG problem - one perhaps best solved by the use of a "wireless switch".

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