Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

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Mold in my bathroom is spraying bleach and painting over with Kilz enough? I live in an apartment and I noticed what I believe to be mold growing on my bathroom ceiling. I have a daughter with asthma and I now know it's the cause of her constant coughing since we moved here. The maintenance guys came in said they fixed...	Testing a mold sample is the only way to identify the specific type of mold. It depends on the severity of the infestation. Suggest that if action is not taken that you will contact the ombudsman. Your neighbor has insurance and/or the association has insurance.
What is the neatest way to run power to Somfy motorized window blinds? I have several Somfy RTS motorized window blinds installed. Right now they just have electric cables attached to them that could be tacked to the wall, but I'd rather have the cabling completely hidden. What is the best way to achieve this? Could t...	The outlet is generally in line with where the blinds are and their "closed" state leaves them open enough to cover the outlets. If it's anything like this motorized shade it looks like you have to bring the cord into a box.
Is there a good reason NOT to reuse the power cord when replacing my electric range/oven? I'm going to replace my house's original 1970's electric stove (oven+range). I'm pretty sure the store is going to try to sell me a power cord for an extra $20, which isn't a big deal but I'd rather spend the money on something e...	The problem is, if that neutral connection is severed for any reason, the 120V loads in the stove (i.e. the oven light) will lift the neutral to 120V. A big reason: the old cord (and receptacle) may be obsolete and dangerous. Changing the receptacle would be a decision based on it's current condition (one crack -> repl...
Is it okay that framing in houses is sloppy? I've been watching people do framing on residential homes for a while; both in person and on videos. The framing is very "sloppy" compared to watching a craftsman build a cabinet, for example. The cuts are choppy, edges don't always butt tight, wood splintered from nail guns...	Bad sloppy has an impact on the finish of the house.
How do I get acceptable water pressure when using two faucets on my 1/2" water main? I have a 1/2" water main entry, and if I open water in 2-3 places in the house, the water pressure is very low. How can I fix this? <Q> 1/2" is a very small "main" - the only truly functional approach would be to upgrade it to a larg...	If your multiple-water use scenarios are of short duration, you could get some benefit from placing a pressure tank (as used in well pump systems) in the house to provide a few gallons of buffering, but after a few gallons (variable with size of tank and variation in pressure)
Best way to remove textured wall (joint compound)? What I'm working with: There's a lot to take down. I know skim coating is an option, but I don't think that will work well due to the nature of the texture (it's not knocked down). <Q> Think about 1/4 inch drywall . <S> It can be glued or screwed up and is much easi...	For someone experienced - I have two drywall guys that could skim all the ceilings in 1200 sq/ft house in 3 hours.
Can I mount an over the range microwave in a cabinet? I have a kitchen configuration with an existing countertop microwave built into a cabinet above an in wall oven. The microwave I'd like to replace it with (Whirlpool Gold) happens to be an over the range model. Is it OK if I use an over the range model in a cabinet?...	Any ventilation space that you currently have should be adequate for whatever you get.
how can I drill a 1/2" diameter, 1/2" deep hole in 3/4" particle board? I need to drill a couple of holes in the bottom of a kitchen cabinet to fit it with IKEA Akurum legs . I thought of using a 1/2" spade drill bit but its' narrow end - the tip of the spear so to speak - protrudes too far and would drill through the...	As a practical concern, given the comments that you made, it doesn't seem that if you drill the hole all the way through anything bad will happen, except that you'll have some surface imperfections on the floor of the cabinet. For a half inch, I would probably go with a 3/16 bit.
Toilet Water Shoots upwards When Flushed like a volcano erupting This issue is with an American Standard single piece toilet. I just changed the 'fill valve' and since then the toilet water erupts shoot upwards, making a mess. The amount of water shooting upwards is very little but enough to reach the toilet seat. The ...	Per your plumber, it is probably partially clogged.
Can I use #10 wire instead of #12 when wiring a new house? I am wiring a new house. I bought a boat load of new Romex wire size 10, 12, and 14. I've used all my 12 and 14; is it alright to use the number 10 in place of number 12? <Q> Yes, since #10 wire can handle more amperage than #12, #10 wire would be a suitable su...	However, since #10 is larger and less flexible than #12, you may have a wiring device or junction box space issue. Use for longest runs first. If you cant return it, I would use it on outlets/receptacles not lights.
Best way to air seal, vapor seal, and insulate exterior wall in old house? I have a 90-year old house in Seattle. Exterior walls are constructed as follows: lath and plaster, uninsulated 2x4 stud bays, plank sheathing, cedar clapboard, 1" foil-faced styrofoam, vinyl siding. The house leaks like a sieve, and costs a m...	If it were my house, I would remove the clapboard and sheathing, then spray in expanding foam. We always installed plywood or OSB and a rigid insulation,such as Styrofoam or reflective fiberglass panels, on the exterior and fiberglass batts and vapor barrier on the interior to eliminate condensation issues. There are m...
Closing off heating ducts We have a natural gas furnace that currently heats our entire 2400 square foot home. We plan on putting in a rental suite in the basement which will require closing up all the duct work into the suite space. That means that the furnace will be heating up 36% less space. Is there anything we ca...	I'm not sure where you got the idea that your furnace will self-destruct if you don't run it as much, but it's not going to. Also, the suite itself needs two means of egress, as do any bedrooms (windows with a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq count as one).
My lennox furnace has no filter I searched for 30 minutes, and I could not find the furnace filter, is it possible to install/build a filter slot? my whole family got allergy after turning on heater this winter. Thank you! Lennox 80mgf4-75a https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/50982191/IMG_1425.JPG <Q> I have a Lennox...	Modern residential systems frequently have the filter located at the return-air grill. A qualified HVAC technician could make one easily.
Unblock a drain after using too much baking soda I had a smelly drain in my bathroom after moving into a new house. I tried baking soda and vinegar but the smell remained. I decided to poor the rest of the box of baking soda down the drain and let it sit for a while. I followed it by warm vinegar and hot water...and no...	Adding more chemicals to the drain is probably not going to help at this point, and will make dealing with the backed up water more dangerous if you use typical "drain cleaners" on it.
Why did my freezer stop freezing after being unplugged for several days? We lost our electricity for about a week. I unplugged the upright freezer so it wouldn't get a surge when power came back on. Food removed, no ice build up. When I plugged it back in it chilled nicely, but didn't freeze. What kind of problem a...	When a freezer is full of frozen goods, things freeze faster because the items around them - already frozen - are absorbing some of their heat, and the freezer itself merely needs to take a little heat out throughout the day to make up for the heat gained by the one item.
Hardie Board Subfloor—Thinset or No? I'm remodeling the bathroom in my house that was built in the 1930s. I stripped out the old flooring down to the 1x8 wood planks (about 1/4" between each). I have 1/4" Hardie Board to put down in preparation for tile and I'm a little confused on how I should do this. Some resour...	I suggest you lay down plywood over the planks with subfloor glue and decking screws. The thinset you use for tiles will cover any gaps (and gaps don't need to be filled). Give the HB about 1/4" on the outer edges between the wall and about 1/8" between each other.
splicing a 25 pair telephone riser I have a phone riser in my apartment (25 copper pair, originally but only 18 left going past my floor) carrying Verizon phone service. I have to move it over 3' to a different wall, so that means splicing in a new segment, a "bridge", which goes under the floor to a different wall up...	Moving to a larger gauge wire is not ideal, mainly because splicing it together could be less reliable (the UR2 is designed for the same gauge wire), but otherwise will not cause any issues. What you're doing could absolutely be illegal. We used some vampire clip jumpers (AKA ABN (Angled Bed-of-Nails) clips) to make a ...
Is baseboard important? (and 3 choices for trim on wall-to-floor transition) I'm pulling out wall-to-wall carpet and installing solid hardwood floor. I am also removing the old baseboard and repairing the bottom of the wall with drywall compound to take out any weird ridges the old baseboard may have left. The way I se...	Install your floors and sit you baseboards on top of flooring.
How can I make a sunken electrical outlet line up with an outlet cover? I recently replaced drywall in my bathroom but made the mistake of not checking to see if the existing electrical outlet boxes lined up properly. The result is that the electrical outlet box (and more importantly the receptacle itself) are sunken ...	That one was about 1/4 inch by 1/4 round. If the boxes are recessed further than that, then legally speaking you have to use box extenders.
Why won't this 3/8 male connector for a natural gas dryer fit a 3/8 female connector? First off, I changed the Natural Gas orifice to a factory ordered LP orifice, I am not just trying to hook up a LP line to a natural gas dryer without setting the dryer up correctly for LP. My problem is that the female end LP line, ...	As a sidenote, there should not be pipe dope inside the pipe, the dope should only be on the threads. You need an adapter that goes from NPT to flare. It would be best if all possibly damaged sections of pipe are replaced with new pipe.
Are my outlets unsafe? Some (but not all) of the electrical outlets in my kitchen look like this: (I don't know what this kind of outlet is called.) One of those outlets is where I plug in my toaster oven. In the last 6 months, I've had two toaster ovens die (become unusable at any outlet) while plugged in there. Th...	I wonder if the voltage in your house is too high and causing the toaster ovens to burn out.
Can I put a LED tube in a high frequency ballast fixture without removing the ballast? To replace my old fluorescent tube lamp I bought a LED tube. The old fixture was one with an electrical ballast and without an additional starter as shown below. I read that I was supposed to bypass the ballast completely, as LED t...	If you installed an LED tube that requires ballast removal into a fixture with the ballast still wired in you almost certainly did kill the LED tube.
Can I convert a 240V dryer to 120V? I have a stackable washer dryer combo. The dryer works on 240V and the washer works 120V, but they have 1 control panel. I don't have 240V in my new apartment, and am hoping to have the power cord switched to a 120V. I have read that this process involves: getting a 3 wire 120 cor...	Some dryers do have the ability to run on either 110v or 220v.
Should I add wood sheathing to a metal roof car port? I'm making a carport that is about 10 feet wide with 2x6's for the "roof frame" and 4x6 posts. I was going to use a medal roof using tin I think. Do I first need to put down wood sheathing? Or can I attach the medal directly to the 2x6's? I think the UNDERSIDE woul...	I would not add plywood under the metal. If it's a car port and you are using R-Panel, putting metal on purlins is sufficient.
How can I install a switch to power a bathroom TV off safely and discreetly? Firstly, I'll start by saying that I have no electrical skills apart from basic changing a socket skills... I have a small bathroom that I've decided to put a waterproof TV in. The TV is going to go in the centre of a stud frame attached to a...	The actual switch unit is in the loft space and is wired such that when activated, the power to the TV DC adaptor is powered on and the TV then comes on.
How does an illuminated switch light up without a neutral There are some illuminated switches that operate without a neutral. For a lamp that is lit when the switch is ON, I can envision a circuit diagram that has the switch lamp in series with the switched circuit. But this would create significant additional resistan...	From what I've seen, they pass a small current through the switch (and light), and that current is sufficient to power the illuminated switch light.
Need advice to prevent runoff water from going into neighbor's yard I'm looking for some advice on what I can do to prevent runoff water from going into my neighbor's yard. I am an auto detailer so I am constantly washing cars in my driveway. The neighbor also parks his truck and RV camper in the dirt section of the ya...	You could offer to install a trenchdrain into your neighbours sand. For the truly cheap, laying out a bunch of pressure treated 2x4s along the edge is likely to work; put them back in the house when you are done.
Plugs won't stay in wall receptacle We bought a new house 25 years ago. The wall plug receptacles never from day one would hold a plug. Are they defective or are there springs missing that would keep them in place? Can they be adjusted or do I need to replace them all? All my receptacles have the third prong opening fo...	On the plug, either bend the prongs in/out, or apply some torque to them to make them slant. Depending on your location, you may be required to install tamper resistant receptacles in most living areas. Definitely replace as many as you can. Replace them with new ones they're likely cheaper by the box than individually...
Are there any health concerns with using copper green wood preservative indoors? So we had a roof leak and water was slowly dripping through the exterior wall and drywall. It had been going on for years, but until recently it became noticeably during a heavy rainfall when the water dripped through the drywall. So my ...	Your contractor should not have sprayed that stuff inside your wall for a number of reasons: 1) it says on the label that it is for exterior use only. Some people are more sensitive than others. Other than the smell that dissipates over time, the copper napthenate will be fine inside the wall.
How to repair an electric outlet which died while running a carpet cleaner? I ran a carpet cleaner in my condo for the first time in a bedroom and the outlet and lights died. Then I went to the living room and ran the cleaner and the outlet died too. But I was able to use two other outlets in the room with no problems....	If that does not work: turn ALL your breakers all the way off and then all the way on to make sure all are reset. If you try to slide it to the left, it will just pop back to the center again. Meaning the brushes tend to spark a lot.
If walls and floors aren't exactly perpendicular, which side should I align tile with? I'm getting ready to tile my bathroom floor and tub surround. Our house is older (about 45 years old) and the walls/floors aren't exactly perpendicular. With that in mind, I'm wondering if I should align the tile to be exactly leve...	With a floor that is not enclosed by parallel walls, the usual approach is to center the tiles (start from a chalk line in the center of the floor) so that there's a cut-tile on either side of the floor, and cut to fit the walls as they are.
Water entering into fireplace during rain I recently observed water is coming in the fireplace during the rain. Although it is about a drop per second or so, it is can easily fill up a small pan during a stormy and rainy day. I don't think this is normal. I have a flue cap at the top of my chimney. Is this normal beh...	It sounds like your chimney cap top might have flew off for that much water to come in.
Device to detect where heat or cold air is escaping or entering a structure I would like to lower my environmental impact and reduce my energy bills by reducing areas where air might be entering or exiting my home. What type of device can be used to detect where heat or cool air is escaping or entering a home? I woul...	A FLIR (infrared) or thermal imager is still the best way; you can rent them pretty easy and cheap, even at Home Depot http://www.flir.com/homedepot/
Wooden bed sidebar to headboard screws loose, wobbly joints What can I do to fix my bed? The screws go through the headboard and footboard into the side bars, but the whole thing is loose. When I get into bed it's all fine as I have pushed the headboard up against the wall, but when I wake up the top of the headboard i...	Drill out the holes to a common dowel size that's larger than thescrew diameter. Bed Bolts are machine bolts (metal to metal threads) that mate with a cylindrical "nut" that goes into a drilled cross hole in the side rail. Re-drill a pilot hole for the wood screws in the same place, referencing the measurements you too...
standalone pump options for leaky below-grade room A friend of mine runs a martial arts studio where his concrete-floored office in the back is slightly below grade and floods every time it rains. I assume that a proper solution would presumably involve re-leveling the floor to slope towards a central point, and then...	You also have to figure out how you're going to get the water out of the building which may involve drilling a hole in addition to plumbing. Make sure the ground is properly sloped around the outside.
how to hook up 2 thermostats in series? I have a tenant on the 1st floor who controls the thermostat. It's constantly on 80 and the 2nd floor is dying from the heat. Can I install a 2nd thermostat in the basement and limit the heat output? <Q> For example if thermostat 1 is set to 80, and thermostat 2 is set to 75. <S>...	If you install two thermostats in series, they'll both have to be calling for heat for the heating to come on. You can install two sensors and remove the thermostat to an area of your control. The best (but not cheap) answer would be to make the two units separate heating zones, installing dampers (if forced-hot-air) o...
Can I install laminate next to tile without using T-moulding? I'm installing laminate flooring in a bedroom next to a tiled hallway. I'm planning to have a standard expansion gap all the way around the room, but I'm stuck on how to do the doorway. I know the standard approach is to use T-moulding, but whoever did the ...	, however your still going to void warranty, the gap won't be enough to honor the warranty, but it's enough to avoid problems in the future (in my opinion) Since my span was only 10', I could easily get away without an expansion gap on one side. Depends on whether or not you want to maintain your warranty. Depending on...
Can I connect 12ga wire for a gas range to 10ga wire from the service panel? I am remodeling my kitchen right now. Can I use the existing 10ga line which already been built and used in my house for an electrical range to hook up 14ga or 12ga wire for my new gas range? <Q> As long as you have the right configuration o...	Remember the breaker should trip before the wire overheats: 20amp breaker will protect #12 #10, #8 etc.
Is is safe to deal with wiring after only shutting off the room's fuse, but not the main switch? I think the question title says it all: Given a distribution board in the house (220 VAC), is it enough to shut off only the room's fuses, or must one shut off the main switch for the board before safely touching wires? ...	Again, a tester is the ONLY way to be sure what you are working on is dead. Circuits are not nearly always designated to one room or area.
Can I splice grounding wires together to reach an old outlet that needs a ground? I have a two prong outlet in my house and there is a ground wire behind it, not connected. The ground wire ends in a junction box halfway to the breaker box. Only the neutral and hot wire continue from there. Can I connect another groun...	A ground wire needs to be connected to the ground bar in the breaker panel where the branch circuit originates.
What should I use to seal around the perimeter of a tile floor? I recently tiled our bathroom floor (nothing fancy - just a 7 x 5 room). In between the tiles, I've used a sanded grout and that's worked nicely but I'm confused on what to use around the perimeter of the floor. There's a gap between the tile floor and t...	Unlike grout you are able to use caulk in a corner where tiles are butted against each other. When the drywall does not allow any room to tuck it under the cut edge I run it close enough to cover the gap with the base, as it should be done anyway. Silicon is available in most colours to match the grout.
Do I need to caulk where my vinyl siding meets the edge of my windows? To help prevent leaks, I was advised by a contractor that I need to caulk where my vinyl siding meets the edges of my windows. Some research of my own reveals quite a bit of debate over this, a few saying that the caulking will wear out fast becaus...	Vinyl siding allows fragile house wrap to function as the moisture barrier, keeping all water outside of the house for many years. Inside corners can also intake a lot of water given correct wind.
Draining washing machine into yard Short and sweet. First, we are on a septic tank. We are in Mississippi. We called a plumber to snake our drain on our washing machine because one load pours gallons of water onto the laundry room, even caused us to have to replace a brand new washing machine. Plumber says the old ca...	I wouldn't put soapy washer water directly into a lake or stream but putting it on the ground, where it will be absorbed, is no different then putting in my septic, ecologically speaking.
Best way to splice together 20/22 gauge wiring? We have some holiday lights that had wiring snipped it seems and wondering what others have done to permanently splice 22 gauge wiring (fed from 3.5V plug). Update: On one set I have soldered the two segments together via gas stove (yes this worked well and it is one ...	Consider crimp connectors While these are best used with a crimping tool, they can be set using a conventional or needlenose plier.
Old wires in kitchen ceiling seem wrong. Any thoughts? Just bought a new replacement ceiling fan/light for kitchen in house we just bought, which was built in 1912 and has obviously had a wiring update, but many years ago. I switched the wall switch off and snipped the wires leading from the ceiling to the old fixture...	The numbers are almost certainly a courtesy from the previous electrician -- odds are that the other end of each wire carries the same number, so if you have all the electrical boxes open you can confirm how things are connected without having to trace everything electrically. Tape can sometimes be helpful, sometimes b...
What could cause a flame sensor to stop working so frequently? Over a year ago after a month in our new house, we came back one evening to a cold home and after some googling, I found out that the flame sensor was dirty and the furnace was starting the flame and then quickly puffing it out. I cleaned the flame sensor a...	Some sort of blockage of that intake could , however, potentially cause the problem you are having (insufficient air supply causing a rich, sooty flame; soot fouling the sensor.)
How to seal between sill plate and foundation wall with wide gap? Here is a picture of the top of my uninsulated basement wall. The foundation is poured and from early 1970s. For orientation to the photo: the white in the lower left corner is the vertical face of the wall. The horizontal board is the sill plate. At...	(There's a professional spray-foam sealant/insulation which can be used to achieve a much more serious/durable air seal around the sill/foundation joint.
Fixing cracks in a cinder block wall I have a wall that is cracking in a couple of places. Two important points: This wall is not part of a building, it's like a fence or property boundary wall, but it's made of blocks of some sort, covered up so they look like one continuous surface It's not really so much crack...	Hydraulic cement would be your best bet in filling the bulk & then caulk over that to hide everything with paint. The only way you can affect a long term fix is to excavate behind the wall removing the offending roots and heavy soil.
How can I disconnect my water line from the toilet? I'm trying to replace the bits inside my toilet. The water supply line is stuck where it goes into the toilet, The plastic connector seems "glued" to the fill valve assembly. How can I get it off? <Q> If the line is made from solid copper (often chrome plated), it s...	If the line is a flex line, it may be stuck with a bit of mineral buildup; try gently wiggling it back and forth.
Can I wire 3-way switches so that when they are both in the same orientation the light will be off? I replaced my 3-way switches. Is it possible to have either switch shut the light off, by pulling down on the toggles Either switch does shut the light off, but then one toggle is up, and the other is down. I want both...	Just mount one switch bottom-up, or invert the two travelers if you can't mechanically 'rotate' the switch.
Can I shut off the water supply by unplugging the water softener? I have to replace one of the O-Rings in a leaky faucet, and would have to shut off the water valve to said faucet. However, the faucets in my place don't have individual shut off valves, and there is only one main valve. I am hesitant in shutting off the...	You have to shut off the flow of water via a valve. No, the water softener electrical portion just determines when and the frequency of regeneration but it has no effect on whether water will or not pass through the unit
What pipe/adapter do I need to make this sink connect to this P trap? I'm getting ready to connect a custom vanity to a P-trap and I'm not sure what kind of pipe/connection/adapter I need. The P-trap looks like this: (note that it won't be sticking out that far from the wall. This was just a test shot for example...	You'll need to install a drain assembly.
Is Switching the Neutral OK? What’s the worst that can happen if i put a switch in the neutral instead of the phase? I just found out that 3 light bulbs sockets in my home are connected this way, it first came to my mind to fix it but then I recalled the flow of current from positive to negative is just a convention...	The person CHANGING the light bulb has the possibility of inadvertently touching the lamp threading - the socket being HOT all the time. That is not a good idea.
furnace blower motor vibration when working hard A few weeks ago my furnace developed a vibration that can be heard throughout the house. If I remove the side panel of the furnace or if I remove the filter, the vibration goes away. My theory is that the fan works fine when it doesn't have to work hard but when pullin...	Newer blower cages only have bolts on the front, the rear rests in a slide; another possibility. Clean the blower with compressed air (after removing it) and see if that helps.
How to refill a fire extinguisher How do I refill a fire extinguisher in NYC.I went to the fire department and they do not refill them.I bought a new one but if the old one can be refilled, I would use it as a backup. <Q> Look in the phone book under "Fire Extinguishers" or similar. <S> Note that if it is a very small ...	In the NYC / Jersey area there should be hundreds of companies that service hand-held extinguishers - everything from hand-pump water cans to stuff that puts out exotic metal fires.
Can a wifi thermostat to control milivolt operated fireplace? Have a propane gas fireplace, controlled by a hand held remote control thermostat. Wish to install a wall mounted wifi controlled thermostat, heat only. Seems that all available thermostats operate with a 24V system and I have been told that my fireplace req...	We have a propane millivolt gas fireplace, and it works great; wecan turn the fireplace on/off and program via wifi or thermostat on wall.
Do I need a junction box for a hardwired stove? I'm replacing my drop-in electric stove with a free-standing electric stove (both are rangetop + oven). The drop-in stove was hardwired and the wiring comes up out of a hole in the floor about 3" from the wall. The old stove was connected to a junction box with 12 gauge ...	If the existing wire from the panel is aluminum (it will be really thick) make sure you use approved wire nuts for connecting to copper. Operating the appliance with 12 gauge wire when it is rated more than 20 amps and requires 10 gauge wire violates the manufacturers instructions as well as overloading the circuit.
How should I finish a basement with a pitched floor? I am building a room in the basement where the slab has a pitch. I have already installed had a foam and magnesium board subfloor and my intention is to have a carpet installed on top of that. The room is about 17 x 10 and the pitch is on the 17 foot length. It is ro...	Rip out the subfloor, and install something like the dimpled foundation membrane, then the sleepers and the plywood or OSB. It sounds like you have proceeded beyond the point so this may not be a solution for you unless you look for a similar solution installed over your foam and base material.
How do I keep the door jamb moulding from pulling away from the wall when hardware is screwed in? Total novice here. My wife wants one of those security door guards (a hinged arm that swings open to a point) on the door. I had bought the hardware, but put it off when the provided screws turned out to be for wood only, ...	I know you've bought and installed this, and your wife wants it, but - instead - I recommend installing a good deadbolt with long screws that go all the way into the wood studs framing the door.
How can I mount a clock on tiles? My father likes to have a clock in our bathroom. Currently, it looks like this: As you can see the clock is already damaged because we need to move it all the time when we want to open the window. I would like to mount it on the wall, but we have tiles there and cannot drill a hole t...	Then you can basically use whatever you want to mount it - glue, silicone, velcro, double sided tape, suction cups....
My furnace cycles once, then won't ignite again. What could be wrong? My furnace is not working properly. I shut down the whole electricity and also the switch on my furnice and waiting a few minutes to turn all back on. It will heat up the house and turns off automatically when it reaches my desired temperature settin...	A red light flashing 7 times typically means the furnace is in lockout mode, which based on your description seems to be your situation.
Are bubbles in new exterior paint normal? Not happy with the new exterior paint job - it bubbled immediately, and the initial recommendation from the contractor was "don't pop them". We gave it time to settle, but the issue still hasn't been resolved. I am so disappointed in the appearance. I asked the owner if this: ...	The bubbling is most likely due to painting on a damp surface.
What is the purpose of the rear end of a roofing hammer? I am referring to this kind of hammer, also known as a roofing hammer. I understand that the flat end is intended to act as a normal hammer, and the sharp end is intended to pierce holes through roofing slate, to aid in fastening (perhaps by nails) However, wh...	The type of hammer with the offset spike end can be used as a shingle tab exposure guide.
How to fix a tap where the handle has fallen off I have the following tap / faucet: As you can see, it's seen better days. The handle of it was composed of four plastic interlocking pieces which have, piece by piece, broken off. We're due to get a new kitchen soon, so I don't want to spend any money on it at this s...	You could saw off the upper rim of the tap surrounding the hexagonal stub of the shaft, so you can place the wrench socket on it, without having to grind its outer diameter down, which is undoubtedly the harder work to do.
Can I remove the framed wall on the outside of my basement? I have a 20 year old house (which is a basic colonial box). The basement has a standard poured concrete exterior wall. Against the concrete exterior wall, they framed a standard wood 2 x 4 wall, filled the bays with fiberglass insulation and covered it all w...	Since the wall in question is right next to the concrete outer wall, it won't be supporting the joists.
Can you use casing molding for baseboard molding? I am curious if there are any reasons not to use a casing molding (typically used for doors or windows) as base molding along the floor? The casing molding is made out of pine which seems to be used for a lot of base molding as well. The casing molding appears to be t...	There's no real issue with it, except only that the more complex the profile, the harder it is to clean.
Fixing ceramic tile that have a large ceramic chip off How do I fix ceramic tile that have a large ceramic chipped off. (the size is around 5 cm width and 3 cm height). Overall, the whole tile is still intact except that part of the top layer, which is the ceramic material, was chipped off. Please enlighten me. Tha...	As diceless suggested, if you have the chip, you can probably glue it back in.
What can I use to rigidly hang a lot of flat/paper artwork on a wall? I have dozens of pieces of unframed artwork. I would like to hang them on the wall, in a way that is somewhat easy to rearrange. I'd like them to line up horizontally, and to be against the wall so they don't swing/flap as much when the room's ceilin...	Buy some fishing line and make a loop at the top to go over the nail and then tie a hook at the other end. You could try painting it with a magnetic paint and use those strong small earth magnetics to hold the art up.
What could be causing condensation on attic pipes? My son just bought a new house in Calvary, Alberta. The last few nights have been approximately -30 °C (-22 °F). When he was cleaning his second floor guest bathroom, he noticed a stain on the ceiling of the main floor directly under that bathroom. He called the buil...	Interior heated air might have condensation in the hot air conduit- Start communicating in writing and keep a copy and a log of every time you talk to him.
How do I stop the black sludge coming from our bathroom faucets? I have a black looking sludge dripping from our bathroom faucets. What can be done to stop this? <Q> Have the water lab tested for bacterial content at your water source and at the faucets where the sludge is dripping out. <S> E. Coli means your water ...	Flush with a detergent to wash the biofilm residue out.
How can I install a motion sensor for a closet light? I am a total noob when it come to house fixing stuff. I want to add some more lighting to my closet.Rather than place a small light bulb with the switch on my closet, I want the light to turn on automatically using some kind of sensor. I know that I have to buy ...	Automatic Motion-sensing Night Light - $13.99 Superbrite Touch Light - $7.98 Wireless They have a range of affordable low voltage LED lighting systems many of which have integrated sensors which turn on/off the light when a door is opened/closed
Trouble finding studs in garage I have a new house, and the garage shares a wall with an interior wall... trying to hang a pull up bar on it, so I need to find the studs. I took pictures of the house as it was being built, but all of the earliest ones show the garage wall covered in plywood. On top of the plywood is ...	If this is how your garage is made you have a problem - the structural posts are too far back to be useful, the lumber behind the wall is not strong enough to support much more than the walls.
My dishwasher water line is frozen. Can I manually put in hot water in the dishwasher to run it? My dishwasher freezes up during these bitter cold (-25 degree nights, -5 degree highs in the day) spells. I have a heater in the empty space beside it where a cupboard goes but there is none. But even after 3 days it stil...	If you have a little space heater you could put that near it to help warm that area up too.
How do you avoid brush strokes in satin finish when painting around casings? I bought some satin finish paint for my walls (Sherwin Super Paint) (for the color I wanted, my only other choice was flat, and I didn't want a flat finish). The problem is that because I used a roller for the big surfaces, and a paint brush f...	I have found that planning for multiple coats of the cut in painting and the putting on each coat in a light manner will greatly reduce brush marks as opposed to getting over exuberant with the paint.
Why wouldn't other receptacles work after I changed a receptacle? One of my outlets was getting very hot so I took it apart, cleaned it because it was very very dirty and changed the outlets. It stopped getting hot and the tester said it was correct but now the other outlets do not work at all. Why? <Q> Most likely the...	If the replaced outlet is working, then it is because the other outlets were chained onto the replaced one, but they are not reconnected.
On a true 60 amp 240 volt circuit will each side of the breaker carry more than 30 amps if required? If my distribution panel on my boat is wired 240 v 60 amps max and there are many 120 v 15 a circuits, if one side of the 120 v panel starts to draw more than 30 a, will the breaker compensate by adding amps from the ...	If you have nuisance tripping of the main breaker you can very easily rearrange the circuits to balance the load.
Grounding a receptacle when there is no ground wire? I am replacing old receptacles with new tamper-proof ones. I opened one in my basement and realized it wasn't currently grounded, the electrical housing is a real mess and has a copper "ground" wire going across it in the back with no way to connect it to the recept...	Attach one end of the pigtails to the outlet screws, and then attach the other end to the wires in the box using a wire nut. Use self-grounding outlets.
What could be causing my new GFCI receptacle to keep tripping? An electrician installed an outlet on a circuit inside my garage that is connected to an exterior spotlight. The spotlight has a sensor that automatically turns it on at dusk and off at dawn. There is an interior switch between the outlet and the light that...	GFCI's can easily be wired incorrectly, even by an electrician. With the bulb still out, dry the socket and surrounding area with a hairdryer.
How do I fill in holes in a fire door? I removed a piece of door hardware I'd screwed into the metal firedoor we have on the front of the house. Now, I have two holes in the door. The only advice I've found is this guy who seems to default to "buy this product I'm suggesting". I'm mainly looking for something cosme...	Patch with other more liquidy material such as epoxy, jb-weld, etc, then paint.
How can I clear a blockage caused by the previous owner flushing grout down the toilet? The previous owner of our house tiled the main bathroom before selling the house and flushed the grouting down the toilet. This caused the pipes to become blocked. We've had to break down some of the wall downstairs, cut open the ...	If there is flow in the under floor pipe i would try some warm water and a sack of sugar - followed by some pressure or emptying of a bath tub after some work time.
Is it safe to shave off 1/8" from a load-bearing stud? I am trying to install a small metal media cabinet in a load-bearing wall in my basement, but unfortunately the cabinet is about 1/8" too wide to fit between the studs. Is it safe to shave off a small amount from one of the studs so that the cabinet fits? <Q> If t...	If there is not a direct load point (pole or beam ending) between them above the two 2x4s then there is little/no consequence in making such a minimal move since the weight should be dispersed evenly through wall or at the very least past your 2x4s in question.
Minimum number of recessed lights for 29x13 room I know the "standard rules" say one light every 4 to 6 feet... But what would be the minimum I can get away with using canned lights for a room that is about 29x13. I previously went my way with recessed lights in our kitchen, installing just two lights for a 10x9 space,...	Also you have to think how the room will be used. For your situation, I would recommend 12 pot lights in a 3 x 4 grid. If you are doing this yourself both the cost and time are minimal to add extras.
How to control the level of water in the toilet bowl? Recently purchased a home and one of the toilet bowls has very little water in it, so when you do #2 it always hits the bowl and makes a mess... How can you control/set the amount of water the bowl contains so I can raise/increase it a little bit? <Q> If the level ...	The water level in the bowl is down to the plumbing - specifically, the height before the drop into the foul drain.
Why is a gas furnace vented but a gas dryer is not? I live in a house in Ohio and I have four appliances powered by natural gas : furnace, water heater, dryer, and kitchen range. Of these, only the furnace and water heater are vented to the outside of the house (chimney stack). In this context, venting refers to a fl...	Your gas dryer vents its combustion products outside along with the moisture from your clothes, so it is vented to the outside.
Building a ledger for indoor use with with some cut to size 2 by 4s, should I stain or paint them? I'm builduig a ledger for indoor use (to support a work surface) with with some 2 by 4s cut to size, my question is, should I stain or paint them to protect them? for spills etc, or is staining indoor wood purely for cosm...	If I wanted to protect a piece of wood from elements I would use an oil based primer and paint as I would use in a bathroom.
What should I use to hang a coat hook on a brick wall? I have purchased several of these iron coat hooks : However, they do not come with any kind of screws. I will be hanging them on a (brick + plaster) party wall of my terraced property (UK). I believe my options are to use either of the following: Rawl plugs...	Masonry screws are a real pain to use if you are not a pro.
Can I safely run 595 watts of lights with a 600 watt dimmer switch? I have 7 85-watt lights (a total of 595 watts) that I want to control using a 600-watt dimmer switch. Is that too close to be safe? What if I remove one of the lights? <Q> This depends on the manufacturer's statements. <S> Typically switch devices ar...	If a dimmer switch is rated for 600 watts it will handle 600 watts. It might handle the rated load, but not for long. Wiring heat loss, etc. should be negligible enough to ignore. If it is ganged with other dimmers then derating forces you to. This maximizes the wear rate on the electronics from the starting inrush cur...
Should I replace ALL the fuses in plugs? In certain countries (for example the UK), plugs have fuses in them.In most cases, this is a stand 13 A fuse. My question: If I know that a device (to which the plug is attached) won't draw even a single Amp of power (or maybe 2amps but definitely less than 3): Shall I repla...	If your wiring is up to code the fuse will blow long before the wiring has an issue.
Can I lean a ladder against tempered glass without damaging the window? We are building, and just now after the windows have been installed is that I realised they are really high up. The window is made of tempered glass 8mm thick, 3.5 m wide, 2.5 m high and starts at 3.5 meters above the ground, so it is 6 m at its h...	It is also possible to get these window washing soap bottles that have an integrated sprayer mechanism. Leaning against glass is a high risk, low benefit undertaking. You wont need to go up and down the ladder. It seems to me that it is safer, since you stay on the ground. There are many solutions which are easy, painl...
Rewiring a house, breaker panel and all, while living in the house Our current home (mid-50s ranch in the Midwest US -- my AHJ has adopted the 2011 NEC save for the AFCI requirements, btw) is in good shape, save for the electrical wiring, which is a major bodge job. Some of the previous owners (this house was an O/O t...	The way I've seen upgrading a house's electrical service with minimal disruption is to add a new breaker panel next to the original fuse box and then attach the original fuse box as a sub panel. If you do not get a satisfactory resolution with you landlord you can then file a complaint with your local rental authority....
Does the toilet flange need to be bolted? I am replacing the toilet in my house, and after removing the old toilet, I can see that the flange is not bolted to the floor. Also, it sits up off the finished floor about a quarter inch. Do I need to add any supports underneath to fill the gap, and do I need to drill holes a...	The flange should be fastened to the floor.
White lithium safe to lubricate a dryer? My dryer is squeaking something fierce. It is a GE gas dryer, approximately 10 years old (model DBB3300GA2WW, U.S.). The noise is so bad that with it being in the corner of the basement, and me being on the first floor with multiple closed doors between us, it is still loud and ...	I can't answer definitively, but I think you're on the right track. It is the glides (small plastic strips) that the outter drum rides on have either dried out or in my case 1 is missing. If it were me, I'd apply a light coat of lithium on the bearings in question and give it a try.
Replacing shower head - thread sticking out of wall is too long I'm retrofitting a new showerhead to an old shower. The old showerhead had an escutcheon plate, the new showerhead doesn't. The result is that the new showerhead sits 10mm off the tiled wall of the shower. The bit of threaded pipe sticking out of the w...	The part you see sticking out out of the wall is simply a brass nipple threaded into the elbow:
Can I take the cover off my fusebox to attach an energy monitor? I have bought an Energy Monitor to track our electricity usage (hard times...). I now need to put the sensor on one of the cables either next to the fusebox or the meter. Unfortunately I cannot access any cables surrounding the meter as it is all secure...	The wires are very stiff but you should be able to move them enough to attach a typical clamp around the live wire safely. But even before doing that make sure you've got a torch handy, 'cos fuseboxes are invariably in dark places (a head-torch is useful). My house, as many do, has an external wall-box flush-mounted in...
Is it possible that I could have a 240V circuit with no circuit breaker? Is it possible to put in an electrical circuit without any way to interrupt the circuit? I tried to work on a 240V outlet, and it wasn't marked in the breaker box. I threw every breaker, and that outlet remained hot. For that matter, there's not...	There should be a breaker or fuse somewhere, even if there is no single main.
Why do I have 5 wire in my wall socket? I am renovating my cellar. The electrician wired the room a couple of years ago and until now i´ve not had the money or time to finish it off. I was looking at the wiring for the wall sockets today and realized that for every box there is at least 8 wires stuffed into it separate...	You are correct - only 3 wires are needed for a basic wall outlet (hot, neutral, ground). Colors can mean different things in different regions, and the electrician may or may not have follow standard color schemes. But regardless, you should be able to figure out what the wires do by tracing them back to the source.
LED vs. CFL Bulbs on Modified Sine Wave Inverter I have been installing solar electric lighting systems in schools in Haiti for several years now using CFLs. I have been thinking about installing LED bulbs instead. I am using a DC to AC modified sine wave inverter at 60 Hz, 120 volt, 1750 watts. Will the LEDs work a...	It will work better - you don't even need the inverter, run the LEDs directly from the DC, they will like it much better than AC, and you will save power.
Can I connect my water heater pan drain to the building waste drain? (CPC) This question is relative to the California Plumbing Code (CPC), specifically the Sacramento area. I'm doing some remodeling of a bathroom where the water heater pan drain line comes across the ceiling a bit lower than I can allow because I'm r...	In most cases, a trapped drain pan is fine, but a pressurized relief valve is not - as it could disrupt other houshold traps and/or blast high pressure/high temperature water, down the drain, and back up another trap, if not permanently damage parts of the sewer lines.
replace stud that has vent pipe through it I had some water damage in my bathroom and a few of the studs are rotted. I am assuming they need to be replaced. The problem is these studs have a plumbing vent pipe drilled through the middle of them. How would I go about putting new ones in? Is there a way to do this witho...	If you leave a damp stud in the wall you are asking for mold. Need a picture to see what is going on, but in general the best procedure is probably to take out the studs and put in some kind of steel support.
What is the danger of reversing the polarity while connecting a dishwasher to the electrical service? What is the DANGER, if any, of connecting the white neutral line of the dishwasher, to to black hot line at the power source--- and of course similarly connecting the black hot line of the dishwasher, to the white neut...	If you miswire your outlet, you may connect hot to ground (short circuit) when connecting said device.

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