Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

source stringlengths 620 29.3k	target stringlengths 12 1.24k
Wiring residential internet router through existing smoke detector My internet router is setup at one end of the house thus the other end gets bad coverage. I'd like to move it at the center of the house to provide better coverage. The gear in question is located in the basement, everything is opened and wired at the ...	A smoke detector, at least in my area, is NOT considered a "fire alarm", nor is it even implied in the name. The branch circuit supplying the firealarm equipment(s) shall supply no other loads. The 2011 version of the National Electrical Code made this very clear.
Best shoes for walking on a standing seam metal roof? I went up on my roof this weekend to do some work on an antenna and clean chimneys. It's the first time I've been up there since I replaced the hail damaged asphalt shingles with standing seam steel. I wore some basic cross-trainers, roof was dry, but cold - proba...	Flat rubber shoes are best also. Hire a Roof Ladder - or if a friend has one slip him a nice red wine.
Why are all of my appliances becoming energized when ground wire is excluded? I live in Australia, with three-prong 240v power supply including ground prong. I own a simple plug adapter that does not include the ground connection. As far as I'm aware, using any appliance with this plug removes the safety of the ground ...	You should definitely make sure that anything that has a provision for connecting to a grounding system is connected, as that will protect you from getting electrocuted should a wire inside of the device shorts out on the case of said device.
PEX Pipes running along Ceiling on Inside Wall My landlord fixed a leak from the baseboard heating system using a plumber who decided to run the red [guessing PEX pipes] from the water heater/boiler to the baseboards along the ceiling. The pipes are exposed on the inside [hall, closet, and 2 bedrooms]. There is no in...	Now when you have pipes in the open there is a chance that it could initially damage something expensive right away. I've had too many problems with pipes run in areas like crawlspaces or outside walls that get too cold and freeze. As for insulation, there's no need for that as long as the pipe is on the conditioned si...
Can I use a 50Hz tape recorder on a 60Hz electrical system? I have a Sony reel to reel tape player/recorder that is rated at 110V, 127V, 220V, 240V, 50Hz. Can I connect it to 110v 60Hz or do I need to purchase a 50Hz output power converter? <Q> Wether playback at 1.2x normal speed is a problem or not is up to you. <S> ...	It should work fine ( 60Hz running on 50 sometimes doesn't work) but if the motors are synchronous to the power grid it will run fast. A transformer wont do any good.
How can I stop my windows from leaking when mild winter weather occurs? We have an 11 year old bungalow and this problem only occurs on the middle section of a bay window. We think that frost happens inside the insulation somewhere and when the temperature outside is mild the frost melts and water drips under the inter...	Have seen similar situations where the roofing above the point had been set too flat: rainwater (or thawing frost) can run backwards under the overhang to the wall. The more expensive but more correct solution to the problem would be to replace the window with a higher-performance one, likely a triple-pane. I would con...
Would upgrading hot water radiator heating result in much better efficiency? My wife and I are thinking about buying a funky old house where we live, in southern Ontario, and trying to prioritize upgrades. There's a lot of knob and tube to replace -- top priority -- and some old iron plumbing stacks that will probably ...	No upgrading the radiators (from your description they don't sound like baseboard heaters) will not increase efficiency. To start with, do nothing - someone might have already done it for you.
Code for elevating water heater in garages? A gas/propane water heater in a garage is elevated. This is to ensure the open flame (at the bottom) is above a certain height (?) to avoid any combustible fuels in the garage from igniting. This all makes sense. But does it apply to electric/heat pump hot water heaters? I...	Code doesn't require the gas water heater itself to be elevated 18"' just the burner/ ignition assembly. That would cover virtually all water heaters manufactured and sold in the US since roughly 2003.
Why is are the lights in my 60 year old house flickering? My lights will flicker throughout the house when I have a lot on. Also, the ceiling fan will go (beep, beep BEEP beep) then reverse all by itself when the bathroom light is turned on down the hall. This happens intermittently, day or evening, and especially if...	As a DIYer, things that you could do to track this down yourself include testing each outlet to look for voltage swings when the flickering occurs. I'd have the power company check the service line and if it's all fine and good, then I'd call and electrician. You'd also see a breaker periodically trip. Rewire anything ...
Non-sanding solution to get old pen markings out of wood? My wife and I have a toddler who is ready to graduate to a big boy bed , and her parent's handed us down a twin bed that they've had in storage for years (woo hoo). The problem with it is that someone drew all over a section of it with pen (probably a Bic pen,...	Paint-thinner will dissolve some pen-inks, but of course it'll also remove the finish on the wood. The secondary applications of stripper can be done with steel wool.
How to remove a sheet metal screw from the threaded end I'm trying to remove the metal box that holds a bathroom exhaust fan into the ceiling. I've got all the wood screws out but there are 2 sheet metal screws that appear to connect the box to the duct to the outside. The problem is the screw heads are inside the du...	You could try grasping the screw's threaded end with a pair of pliers and rotating. Now that that's done, I expect your best bet is to try to 'tap' them I used a Fein MultiMaster to cut the screws down to the sheet metal.
Why is my dimmer switch buzzing? We had 2 dimmer switches that had stopped working (lights were on 100% regardless of how turned the dimmer switch was. I checked the back and went out and bought 2 new ones, turned the electricity off and swapped them over. They both control 4 lights and they both work ok, but on one ...	Make sure the bulbs are designed to be dimable. I ended up just taking the dimmer out and putting a standard switch in place.
What could cause fluorescent lights to sporadically not come on? My kitchen has 9 26W fluorescent can lights (not CFLs - they have external ballasts). Often when I turn the switch on, particularly after they've been off for at least several minutes, about 4 of them won't light. They'll flash momentarily then stay dark...	You can also check the contacts on the fixtures and run some sandpaper in them but make sure the power is off first. Isolating part of the fixtures on the circuit from each other quite possibly will solve this.
Screw's head screwed up I guess I screwed up with a screw's head. This is not unusual and the question answered all over the place, but all existing answers I found were for wood screws. Mine's a small (diam ~1/12th inch, length ~1/6th inch?) brazen round-headed slot screw that holds the name tag of a brazen bell syst...	I normally find that switching to a small flat screwdriver works better in this case. You could also tap slightly on the heads with a hammer to loosen.
What is the purpose of a "framed" switch? I'm replacing the switches throughout my house and came across this one today . What is the value of it being "framed" (it seems like that's the only difference between it and the most basic switch)? Can I just replace it with this one . <Q> I think it means the case of the ...	Typically, cheaper residential grade switches are "framed" like this, and have a slimmer toggle, while commercial "spec-grade" switches have a larger unframed toggle.
How do I find what these breakers go to? I recently mapped every appliance, receptacle, light fixture, switch to their respective breaker in the master 200A electrical panel. When I was finished I ended up with 2 20A breakers that did not go to anything I could find. The breakers were on when we bought the house. I ...	There are also circuit wiring tracer devices available that inject a signal into the wiring and than supposedly allow you to trace wires using a pickup probe that is near the wire. Short of buying and using a tracer, I'd check for: appliances that were converted to another fuel source appliances that you aren't using c...
How can I figure out why my Sears Craftsman garage door opener will not work? I have tried troubleshooting my Craftsman door opener (model 139.53325SRT), because it will not close. It will not close when pressing the wall switch: the opener light just blinks if I do that. Only the right side green light will glow, w...	One light being off is usually due to either the two sensors getting out of alignment, a faulty connection, or a faulty sensor.
What equipment could I use for digging out a basement after the house is built? My mother and father built the home I live in many years ago. It only had a half basement. My father had started on the other side, but passed away before finishing it. I have now taken this job on. I have removed approximately 100+ 5 gallo...	Some types of "trencher" may also be of use in this job. In the more desperate case where you don't even have a bulkhead, a ramp could be built to allow you to roll a box of dirt out a window, if there are at least basement windows to work with. Make sure you get the maximum lifting weight specs from the rental place.
How can I resolve tripping problems with CAFCI? Situation: I was having combination arc fault circuit interrupters (CAFCI) installed in some 20 Amp and 15A branch circuits. In several cases , the CAFCI immediately tripped after installation, or tripped when an appliance was started. Devices were installed by licensed p...	Some older disposals use brushed "universal" motors, and these can produce more severe arcs if the brushes are worn, which could trick the AFCI into tripping. Hold in the TEST button (white button) on the culprit AFCI In the kitchen, unplug the refrigerator and see if it trips.
How do I fix seams that open up at the corners of walls during the winter? Every winter, we get cracks like this where the walls meet the ceiling in certain rooms. We just got our bathroom redone, so it's most bothersome here. When springtime comes, they "seal" back up. Why does this happen and what's the best way t...	This is relatively free from a materials point of view (minimal drywall, mud, and ceiling paint) but could take a lot of time. The reason why this is happening is the structural members are expanding and contracting with the temperature/humidity changes. Chris offers another option which probably takes more time and ha...
Cutting a window to see your garage from within the house I found this design concept that someone did of their house. They had cut a panel out of their house that allows them to see their garage which is a cool idea. Are there any projects out there that have done something similar? <Q> You'd do this like you would ...	Some windows will break when exposed to intense heat, much more quickly than the fire would have burned through the wall if you hadn't installed a window. Anyone you try to sell the house to may be less than enthused by a window into their garage allowing them to gaze upon their dirty Toyota Camry and boxes of Christma...
Does the number of links of a chainsaw chain affect the sprocket? How does the gauge of the chain effect the drive sprocket? I bought a new bar and chain, the pitch is .325, the sprocket is .325 and gauge is .063, but the number of links is 81 instead of 74. Will it work? <Q> Gauge is the thickness of the drive tangs...	Chain gauge must match the groove width on the bar.
How to trash the trash can? I never expected to ask my first question about trashing something, but after 4 failed attempts to trash the trash can, I have no choice but ask you. Here is the problem: I have a trash can, which needs to be trashed. Simple, right? Not so. I've started last week. First attempt was to ti...	So you have to make it obviously no longer useable as a trash can.
What could cause a crack in the drywall where the wall meets the ceiling? My wife and I bought our home 3 years ago. It is roughly 50 years old, and had recently been shored prior to our purchasing it. There were a few cracks in drywall here and there, nothing that wasn't easily patched and painted. Six months ago, we...	Combine cooler weather, better insulated roof, and heat being on; the structural framing of the house may have shrunk. Now, between the wall and the ceiling you have ceiling timbers expanding laterally and the wall timbers expanding vertically. You will still have the wear on the corner but the caulking will now show a...
I ran into two hot lines when replacing a three way switch I've read up on three way switches, and have replaced a few over the years. I recently installed a bathroom fan, and so had to replace two three way switches. Very simple setup - two switches, one fixture with four lights. As soon as I looked at the old wiring,...	This would require "hot" and "neutral" to be present at both 3-way switches, but would only require a single wire in cable C.
How to white spray paint bath window for privacy? What are tips to paint on privacy for bathroom windows? White spray paint sounds easy, but would make it harder to clean the window, would it not? Pros: Privacy with natural light. Window shades stay open while showering which keeps the condensation away, thus improv...	I have not tried it, But I have seen the glass frosting spray a lot.
How concerned should I be over scraping/sanding a small area of lead paint We removed a shelving unit in our kitchen that was attached directly to the wall. We intend to paint the entire room but the cabinet was on top of many layers of flaking old paint. The house dates back to the 30s and it is likely that some of t...	Don't sand, that puts lead dust all over the place.
Drawbacks of a stacked top-loading washer + drier We're considering getting a stacked washer-drier (top-loading washer). I like the option of soaking clothes before washing them, which is why I like a top-loader. What are the drawbacks / things to consider when buying such a unit? <Q> The height to the top of the stac...	Stacking a top loading washer on top of a front loading dryer is going to be a ripping pain to use.
What reasons are there to rewire an ungrounded circuit instead of adding GFCI protection? The NEC allows replacing non-grounding-type (2-prong) receptacles with grounding-type (3-prong) receptacles by adding GFCI protection at the breaker or first outlet. What reasons might there be for wanting to upgrade the circuit ...	If the item is not grounded the metal case around the device will be very ineffective in shielding the device from EM interference.
How to close gaps between laminate floorboards I have a laminate "click together" flooring and some of the board have separated. If I kick my foot on some of the boards, I can scooch some of them together.However, its not very effective. Is there a tool for closing floorboards. Perhaps something that has a rubber foot...	Apply wood glue in the gap, kick the boards together with your foot or a hammer + piece of scrap wood in the gap on the other side, and then tape the now-glued-together boards with a couple pieces of masking tape or blue painter's tape. If the edges cannot move, then the boards will pull apart. I checked youtube and th...
Ramp for a tool shed I need to build a ramp into a shed to roll carts in and out.It has to be removable.Door opening is 50", rise is 10" and I have 48" of space in front of the shed.Max weight on the ramp at one time will be 800 lbs. Will a piece of 3/4" plywood, 48"x48" (unsupported) work? <Q> Why not put a shallow t...	If you want a flat ramp with no supports it will have to be of steel, probably at least 3/8" and that sucker will be extremely heavy. Normally, for something like this you always have support of some kind. For a removable solution the obvious plan would be to use ramps.
Would it make sense to have a bathroom without a sink? I had this idea to maximize the amount of space in my small bathroom, to redo it and the kitchen in one go, put the kitchen sink next to the bathroom, and skip the bathroom sink. A quick internet search doesn't give me any examples of this being done, but I can't t...	Sanitation, resale, convenience should be enough reasons to put in a sink. We humans have evolved to that point where we generally don't allow (or try not to allow) fecal bacteria to commingle with the stuff that we eat.
Should I proactively replace old GFCI outlets? The way I understand this page about GFCI outlets : (a) GFCI outlets can fail after about 10 years, making them unable to detect faults, (b) when outlets made after 2006 fail, they shut off power automatically, and (c) pre-2006 outlets fail silently: they can't detect fau...	If its a matter of being proactive or having piece of mind, At $10-$15 an outlet do one a month and have a safer piece of mind.
Can I drill/rivet into my Fridge? I would like to attach a clasp/latch to the side of my fridge/freezer, so that I can tell when it is closed at a glance, and to make closing it a concious effort. The fridge is from some time in the 90s (maybe even 80s), and is 4th hand (I know its last 4 owners). I just want to squee...	If you're not comfortable with adhesives, combine these mounting magnets with a bungee cord. A temperature alarm such as this would also be very effective at the underlying issue--ensuring your fridge's content remains cool, and alerting you when it isn't.
Use Gap and crack sealant on the window sill I have a small gap ( 2mm ) under the window sill that is causing some draft to come inside the house. I have attempted to correct this using the Ge Silicone Caulk, but the draft continues to come in. So I am going to now try the gap and crack sealant in that area? The name ...	For such a small gap, expanding foam is overkill and may do more harm than good if it expands too much and widens the gap, which could cause the window to start sticking. If the windows have wood trim, caulk that to the drywall and the windows using color-matched or clear caulk. Windows--especially old ones--are notori...
How does this 1 wire to 2 fixtures & 2 switches work? Is it safe? I am cleaning up my basement and came across an open junction in a closet between 2 adjacent rooms; I will call them "paint room" and "radio room". I know open junctions are not good so after turning off the power, I was going to disconnect it all and p...	The proper way to wire it is first of all in a junction box. The bottom bunble will end up in a switch that controls the light in one of the rooms. You owe it to yourself and the continued safety of your house and family to inspect as much electrical wiring as possible. However the colors are not correctly matched.
How do I remove paint from pipes? I have exposed piping throughout my condo that is used for the sprinkler system. It has been painted white. I would like to remove the paint and leave the pipes in their natural color. The building is 100 years old but was converted to condos in 2007. By the way the sprinkler pipes ar...	Stripper or sanding will be very messy and/or create a ton of dust. With a heat gun all you will have is chips and dry clumps falling pretty much straight down.
How to hang a chair from the ceiling joists (with attic access) I'm planning on hanging a chair from the ceiling. From what I can tell the best method is to add a crosspiece above multiple joists, and mount the chair to that using an eye bolt. The problem with that is that there is a reasonably large distance between...	Your last idea is to get a threaded eye like these.
How can I fit a pipe inside another pipe? Does anyone here with experience in plumbing or piping know if a 3/4" pipe can fit inside a 1" pipe to the point where you can slide it in and out like a telescope to make an adjustable stand post? According to this link and if my math is correct, the inner diameter of a 1"...	Right copper tubing of 3/4" size telescopes nicely inside 1" right copper tubing.
Any way to do a mitered corner without a table saw? I want to use some left over wood from a table i did to build a 1ft^3 storage box to use in the living room. The wood has a beautiful pattern but it is plywood so i do not want to expose the edges. Is there any way to accomplish the 45 degree cuts on the edges witho...	If you have a limited amount of woodworking tools you could use molding.
Is 150 CFM ventilation fan right choice for bathroom in my older condo? My bathroom ventilation fan broke up and I am shopping for a new better one. I noticed the newer fans are higher CFM through-put and are quieter, I have narrowed down my choice to this one . My question is that my condo was built in 1980 so its ...	The larger duct size is recommended if the ducting is very long. There are Downsize collars that would downsize the 6" to 3 or 4" though that is not recommended as you will cause back pressure on the Fan as it can't push the required CFM out the smaller hole.
What can I do about water leaking behind the shower tray? Background:I've moved into a house 3 months ago that I have been renovating for a while. I have done a lot of the work myself but I left my builder to do the plumbing and tiling while I was away for work. If I spray the tiles in the shower for 5 mintues, water ...	Sealing the bottom joint is best done by masking the tile and the shower tray to a spoons distance and "pushing" the bathroom silicone in the using a teaspoon, drag the waste out, smooth-off with wet finger, remove tape straight away and finally smooth-off again with wet finger. Some things to check: Get a grout scrape...
Do I need a vent fan in an interior laundry room? I am renovating a few rooms including an existing laundry room. It currently has one exterior window and another openable window onto an existing mudroom (which also has exterior windows). After the renovation, the laundry will lose the exterior window as an existing b...	Most laundries vent the dryer outdoors which is sufficient to dissipate humidity from the room. No, this is not a code requirement for laundry rooms in dwelling units (at least in the 2012 IBC).
Could mice be escaping traps because the traps are being reused? We've caught 6 or so mice using the classic snap traps. Being frugal, we tried washing and re-using the traps. We're getting mixed results. The mice are clearly nibbling the food (peanut butter, cheese) and escaping the traps. The only thing we can ident...	This is one reason why some people think mice are very smart, and can work out that Victor mouse traps are dangerous things for them. It's unlikely to be a major issue with reused traps. They can't easily remove the bait without engaging the trap.
How do I extend an Ethernet cable at a wall socket? I have a wall socket in my kitchen but there isn't enough cable leaving the wall to attach a new RJ45 jack to (There's about an inch left to play with). There's no slack in the cable so I cannot pull more through. is there a way to extend the cable within the wall soc...	Once you have the jack on the end of the cable, you then snap it into the wall plate . Kludge that will work fine if you are OK with drywall and paint repairs - move the box 4" up the wall. You really should not attempt this, but if else fails, you should try this:
How to fix sagging plaster under window We bought a 1928 house, the plaster is sagging here to the point it is flush with the trim. How should I go about repairing this? Is it worth fixing? Thanks <Q> There is a strong chance that what you see is drywall overlaid a plaster wall. <S> Plaster, does not sag or bow out as ...	What you have is most likely a bulge of drywall mastic that is covering a spot in the real plaster that likes to crack. A large bead of caulk where it isn't so close to the wall would alleviate some of the shadow and make it 'go away'; be more uniform. It would be less of a concern if your going to use the same paint o...
Mounting TV on Plywood over Window I need to mount a TV over my window. It is a 70" TV and weighs 96 lbs. I was thinking of using the framing of the window, there are 2 studs that are 54" apart. I included a diagram of my idea but I am not sure if this idea is going to work. I was thinking of filling the gap between th...	I would attach the plywood/frame structure to the window framing with lag bolts, through both the plywood and your new framing. Windows have a role of safety exit possibility if you ever get caught trapped in a room during a fire. Lastly, putting a TV over a window is just weird. These do not have to be that expensive ...
How many Tapcons should be used to anchor a baseplate to a concrete floor? I'm building a non-structural wall in my basement. I'm using Pressure-treated lumber on top of a foam sill gasket to protect from any moisture. How many tapcons should be used per 8-foot length to ensure long lasting stability? <Q> I'd use 3 goo...	So as far as "long lasting stability" three tapcons per 8 foot length is probably still overkill.
Does a fluorescent lamp that does not light up still draw power? First of all, I am not a native English speaker, please forgive me. I recently rented the room I am currently living in. On the ceiling there are fluorescent fixtures like the picture below (I found this image on the Internet, but looks very similar to m...	It will use less power and will be of no concern, I believe you operate it with only one lamp.
Difference between blue and grey blue coaxial ports I have blue coaxial ports in almost every room in my house. What the heck are they for? Are these regular cable jacks? Maybe I am confused since cat5e jacks are also blue colored? To add to the confusion, some of the cable jacks in my house are grey, not blue. <Q> The...	It looks like your house is wired for cable or dish. The connectors in your home may have come from different manufacturers, or different times in history. This, however, has nothing to do with the color of the connector. I'm guessing one installer had a pouch full of blue connectors, and another installer had gray. Th...
How to calculate cutting angle for a circle of tiles? I'm looking to calculate the angle I need to cut on square tiles that will be arranged around the edge of a circular pool. Given that radius is 7' and that tile width is 12", how many tiles are needed to close the full circle, when distance between each tile is 1/4...	Take your time, measure twice, cut once and when in doubt, step away and ask yourself "Is this work going to be worth the outcome".
Should drywall used on a ceiling be of a different weight/grade than drywall used on walls? Should drywall used in a ceiling be of a different weight/grade than drywall used in walls? We are demoing a closet this weekend, and will need to repair the remaining drywall in a few places. <Q> Depends on the ceiling/wall fu...	In most cases for repairs you want to replicate what was there, unless you are ripping the entire wall/ceiling or it's too hard to track down matching replacement drywall. First you need to figure out if the ceilings are considered a firewall. If it was my own home, where I wish to live for a long time, I would get it ...
Easy way to temporarily insulate gap between hardwood floor and baseboard? Odors are entering my apartment from a neighboring unit, and it appears to be getting in via a draft between the baseboard and hardwood floor in my apartment. The draft appears to be localized to a small area in my living room. I'd like to put s...	Some type of caulk would probably be the permanent solution as well.
What kind of screws are used for plywood subflooring? I have removed the old bathroom lino and cleaned the parts that adhered to the floor. I want to screw down the existing plywood subfloor because the nails are old (45yrs) and sparse. What kind of screws should I use and how close together should they be? <Q> It sh...	Use a cable/pipe detector to precisely mark your subfloor for screw placement if you aren't lifting the existing floor. One final note, if you're adding plywood subflooring over an existing subfloor, screw the original sub to the joists anywhere it's loose, and screw the new sub to the old sub but NOT to the joists. If...
How should I fill the holes in my floor to prevent mice from getting in? I live an old apartment building and discovered a month into my lease that my apartment has a mouse problem. No matter how may times I bait or trap, I have no luck. It it appears that this might be because the mice live under the floorboards and b...	Expanding foam can get messy but it may be your best bet, if you can keep it in place and they do not chew through it. From the pest control guy when there was a mouse problem: Bunch/roll up coarse steel wool (thicker strands than a Brillo metal scrubbing pad) and stuff it in the hole tightly. Doing this will make a po...
Muffling a fire alarm speaker? First off, this may or may not be legal, but seeing as this is in my own place of residence and it's bothering me a lot, I figured I'd ask. I live in an apartment complex near my college. I have 2 smoke detectors in the living room/kitchen area and 1 in each of the 3 bedrooms. In additi...	If you tamper with the device in your apartment, you could unknowingly open the circuit and render the remaining downstream horn/strobes useless and endangering the lives of your neighbors. So I honestly can't see what great harm it would do muffle the horn with some duct tape or something It is unlawful to taper with ...
I need to make a swinging cat-door in a piece of furniture but I can't figure out how to hinge it I'm trying to convert a cabinet into cat litter storage. I've cut a piece out of the side of the cabinet and want to re-attach it as a top-mounted swinging door for the cat to get in and out. Unfortunately the wood is an i...	Couldn't find spring pins big enough to handle this so just routing out a channel to accept the pins then covering with a straight metal bracket or strip of wood might be the only option. I still think the cat flap is the best option but if you want to give this a go...
How long and how often should I water my concrete? I have just applied cement on some stone joints, and I was wondering for how long should I pour water on it? How frequently should I apply water? Is it twice a day, or thrice a day? I really need to avoid cracks and weak joints. <Q> Best is to keep it damp "forever." <...	After 48 hours we must start watering the concrete to maintain it, because the chemical actions still need watering.
Can I install insulation on the ceiling of an old unfinished basement? Can I install insulation on the ceiling of an old unfinished basement? I have a bungalow home with hardwood floors. <Q> Actually adding insulation is both beneficial for sound reduction and heat retention. <S> When you insulate your floors you pre...	Even if the basement is conditioned another benefit of insulation is to reduce noise transmission from any appliances (like air handlers) that may be running down there. If you want to do it you should do it completely.
Is this wall load bearing based on the attached blueprints? I would like to remove a wall in my walk-out basement but I don't know how to interpret this architectural blueprint. Based on this blueprint, is the wall bearing load or not? I have highlighted the wall in question in the pictures below. Click for larger ...	This leads me to believe that the dark line following the same path as the beam is simply a dimension line, not a continuation of the beam. The solution is probably to dig a footer where the doorway is now, and put up a steel post and raise another short steel or paralam beam where the wall is. If I'm reading the drawi...
What can I use to hang up grocery bags? I'd like a good solution for hanging up grocery bags and other miscellaneous things on the wall. Basic hooks would do the trick, but some things like to slip off it (like too many grocery bags). To combat this travesty, I thought to have a carabiner attached to a wall, so it seem...	Another smaller makeshift solution would be to get one of type pictured below and mount it on its side, using screws through the short protrusion into the wall so that the large protrusion acts as the upward-facing hook.
Can I use metal masonry device (switch) boxes in a stud wall? I am installing new wiring and need to place 5 lighting switches in one location (yes, I understand the problems/issues of confusion, etc.). These will all be 3-way switches, non-dimmable. I plan on using 2 dual 3-ways (two 3-way switches on a single strap ...	You're proposing using a more safe box than is required. All of the ground wires count as only 1 wire for box fill calculations
How can I determine what the minimum working pressure is for a gas range? I have recently purchased a range top, converted it to propane and am planning to use it with a 5 gallon propane tank. When I connected it to my tank, I got a second worth of gas flow and then it stopped. After my plumber troubleshooted with ...	The specs for the range will list the minimum pressure required, likely with verbiage along the lines of "Minimum Xinch water column" or "Minimum X psi".
p and s trap plumbing help We installed new counters and along with it a new sink. The location of the drain on new sink is lower and much to the left of the old one. After rotating the trap, its still off from the drain by about an 1. But there isn't enough vertical room to make the necessary jogs. So my question ...	You never want to put two traps in a row, and you never want to use an S-trap.
Should I use Kerdi membrane or cement backerboard? I have to redo my tub surround due to moisture leaks and failing grout. One of the company says they are going to apply kerdi membrane on the drywall, then tiles onto the kerdi membrane, and as such as cement backboard would not be required. Just wondering how effect...	You absolutely need to include some sort of substrate (cement board, green board, regular drywall) with the Schluter-Kerdi waterproofing kit.
How do I clean marks from masking tape glue on my windows? During the Hurricane Sandy, we placed tape on our windows in case the glass would break. The problem is, after removing the tape, it left a disgusting glue mark that it became impossible to remove. It has been a few years now. I hope somebody can help me here, ...	After the majority of it is scraped off, then you can use a solvent to remove the leftover residue. Using the tool will make it easier to scrape with instead of just a blade. Don't use razor blades on windows with films or special coatings.
How can I get my entry door to stay closed? Our entry door opens and closes fine but it won't engage the latch when it's closed. It almost seems like it's too small for the frame. The wind just howls through the opening and the strike plate on the frame will develop a frost layer on it. I have to use the deadbolt to ke...	If the door frame is out of square, you can try to adjust the reveal to remedy the situation.
Staple through a small electrical wire, will it still work correctly? I'm running a small cable along a wooden beam, using a staple gun. I accidentally put the staple through one of the wires (the one with the black stripe). It's very small gauge wire and the hole is all the way through. More worried because it's an e...	Otherwise you will need to run a new wire. Solar panel, security light and the looks of that cable... sounds like a low voltage wire. You don't need to have those splices in a box unless it's in your local code for some reason.
How can/should I remove paint from my overhangs? Old paint is peeling off my overhangs (maybe eaves is the right term?) and I need to repaint. Big pieces of the old paint are coming off by hand, but in many patches the paint is still holding on to the wood. Should I scrape it off, remove it with some kind of chemic...	All you have to do is scrape off the loose paint, and paint over it.
Can I remove a furnace compartment vent that's obstructing roof repair? There are two vents going up to our roof, one is the normal vent from the furnace exhaust straight up to the roof. But right next to it there's a second vent pipe, a little larger and single wall. This second pipe starts at the top of the furnace ...	In these parts at least, it is the norm for there to be a vent pipe for the sewer line on the roof to allow noxious gasses to escape and prevent air-locks in the sewer line. If this is the case, it cannot be removed.
What could cause flashing LED lights when other LED lights in a different room are turned on? I have the same problem and I'm pretty certain it's NOT related to bad switches - let me explain. We have LUTRON switches through the house. All was fine. We then had a minor 2nd floor renovation creating my wife's walk-in c...	If you have bulbs which are making that demand at different frequencies, and the current available is a bit marginal, this can sometimes make one or more take longer to charge than they should and cause flashing.
What can I use to lubricate CAT6 cables while installing them? I am about to run some network wires inside the wall at home. I had already done so but apparently too much pressure on them while pulling caused one of the pairs to go bad and therefore prevent gigabit speeds. I am going to replace them so I was wondering...	Sex lube will not work because it dries out and is not viscous enough.
Which furnace thermostats support variable swing/deadband? My home furnace is currently controlled by a programmable Honeywell thermostat, but it regularly thrashes the furnace by turning the furnace on for just ten or twenty seconds. It seems that the thermostat will register a one-degree drop in temperature for a fe...	Defective thermostat certainly seems like the most likely option here, so probably any reasonable programmable thermosat will work more correctly than this, no need for fancy and pricy "smarts."
How do I look up a contractor's license status in Pennsylvania? I've seen this question but it's a few years old and isn't specific to a state. I am past the inspection stage on a potential new house and the seller wants to use a certain plumber to do some repairs. They forwarded me an estimate and the plumber's add...	It turns out that licensing for plumbers (and other contractors) in the city of Philadelphia is separate from whatever licensing concerns the rest of the state of Pennsylvania. You might have to call Philadelphia city hall since I can't find a license lookup online.
What can I burn in fireplace to minimize smoke I had my fireplace checked and was told that the flue is too small for the fireplace (historic home, botched renovation by prior owner). As a result, a normal fire sends smoke billowing into the room. I'd still like to use the fireplace for appearance rather than heat. ...	You could install one of those fire simulators what has colored lights shining on a piece of translucent fabric that is fluttered around via a small electric fan.
Best way to stop boiler steam from entering attic I have a cape cod. The boiler is in the basement and vents to the outside about a foot above ground level. I get a considerable amount of snow melt and ice buildup in the attic section directly above the vent. I have recently been remodeling and I cut a hole to get i...	If the aesthetics don't bother you, just extend the vent duct right to or above the roof line. The problem is most likely hot exhaust coming from the vent entering the attic and melting snow on the roof, creating an ice dam and snow melt.
How to find a motion sensing light switch that turns lights on AND off when motion is detected? Location: USA. The light switch to our laundry room is in the hallway outside the door. I replaced the standard light switch with a motion sensing switch (Leviton ODS10-ID). When we enter the room, the lights turn on autom...	Each pulse of the motion sensor will reset the 1-minute timer, so after the door is closed from the outside (the last movement the sensor detects) the light will stay for 1 more minute and then be switched off. A switch like this either does not exist, or is not commercially available. At some point in the future, biom...
Repair cracks in concrete block wall that's no longer moving I'm fixing up my detached garage built in the early 1900's. At some point there was some movement in the walls (not the slab, the walls are built next to the slab). There doesn't seem to be any more movement; however, there are cracks left between the blocks ...	One common method is to epoxy a small piece of glass across the crack; if the crack is moving, it will break the glass.
Can I use an extension cord for a mini fridge? I read a thread earlier basically saying a fridge should not be run on an extension cord. I was curious why that is. And how it would be different than having the same distance ran in the wall to an outlet. But I was really more curious if it would be any safer for a min...	The lighter gauge wire may lower the life of the fridge's motor by not providing full voltage especially during motor starting. Also note that if you are making this a "permanent" connection then I would make sure there is no chance of the cords becoming partially dislodged.
Biscuit, dowel or simple braces for making unit top with inset lid and slim sides? I've had 5 pieces of iroko machined for creating a top to my DIY TV lift, complete with a lid for the TV to pop up through: The dimensions are based on the pre-existing cabinet, and the lid size needed for the TV to rise up. I was orig...	A Kreg Mini jig will suffice for your needs as long as you have a power drill and only costs about $13
What should I do about a stubborn screw on the middle of a dryer cord connection? I am attaching a 3 prong dryer cord to a dryer. The middle connection is being stubborn. The screw gets to a certain point and is stuck. It will not tighten and the connection is very loose. Can I safely use a metal washer to tighten the ...	If the terminal block isn't aligned correctly with the tapped hole in the underlying sheet metal, you won't be able to land the screw all the way, and if you just force it, you may damage the terminal block. If the connection you are referring to is at the dryer end the connection is typically a piece of terminal strip...
Removing silicone caulk from counter I have a granite counter top, and a small granite backsplash that sits on the counter and goes up about 3 inches. There's about a 1/8" gap between the two that had silicone caulk which I am trying to remove so that I can replace it. Most of it is out. However the upper side of the...	A powerful shop vacuum mated to a crevice tool slowly run along the gap should do great job of getting all the dust and crud out and maybe remove some loose old caulk unreachable with the knife..
Why does my utility sink faucet vibrate and pound loudly? I have a water faucet in my utility room that is about 10 feet from the water heater. It is the only faucet in my house that makes any noise, but when I turn the hot water on even a little bit it will start to pound / bang / hammer loudly and also vibrate consid...	It's possible there is air in your lines causing this, but a poorly seating valve will vibrate with either water or air.
Where do I need to insulate my house to help avoid ice dams? We have had some leaking this past winter due to ice dams. After we get everything dried out, we would like to put up some insulation to help prevent this in the future. Is insulating the ceiling enough or do we need to insulate along the actual beams of the ...	Doesn’t just put thermal insulation horizontally, on the floor of your attic; put it between roof rafters and if temperatures are REALLY low you can put it even around rafters.
Are sheet metal screws required for connecting round duct branches? I've finished dry-fitting a new branch (6-inch round) from the main furnace duct to a new register. I've supported each section of duct with metal strap and have begun taping all connections with foil tape. The tape and strap seems quite sufficient t...	Using rivets will result in a tight, permanent connection that will not work loose and will not have any sharp protrusions.
Water damage in bathroom ceiling floor: how to treat and then prevent? Water on the floor next to the bathtub in the upstairs bathroom (tile floor and tile baseboard) was allowed to sit for a half hour, then I heard drip-drip-drip in the bathroom directly below it. We rushed to clean it up, but I was disheartened to s...	Normally wet drywall has to be replaced, otherwise it will grow mold which is bad. If so repair the grout and seal it.
Clear densely-packed snow from driveway? I'm experiencing my first real winter. Our house has an asphalt driveway about 100' long. I've been shoveling it when the snow gets too deep, but cars going in and out have left 2–3" of densely-packed snow that is very difficult to get up. I got out my metal garden shovel and us...	I would say you should just use enough to break up any smooth ice that might be a safety hazard and then wait until temperatures warm enough for you to shovel the slush off.
Is insulation necessary under slab with hydronic radiant heat? We are getting ready to pour a new concrete slab over top of an old slab where a house was demolished. The old slab is 4-6 inches thick, and the new slab will be 3-4 inches thick. We would like to run PEX lines for a hydronic radiant heat system in the new ...	You absolutely need to insulate your slab on all sides that you don't want heat escaping (i.e. all but the top). Concrete is not an insulator.
How can I remove the stopper from my sink? As you can see in the picture, in my infinite wisdom, I managed to block the kitchen sink with the stopper by placing it upside down in the sink, now I can't take the stopper out... Oops. Any suggestions on how I could take the stopper out, so I could use the sink again? The ...	If there is not too much plumbing in the way, you could undo the drain pipe under the sink so that you can push the stopper up and out. Just open your clippers and rap them around the rubber ridge in the middle of your plug like you're going to cut a nail.
What tools would I need to make a wood accent wall? Just moved into my first house (yikes!) and the wife and I would like to turn a wall in our living room into a wood accent wall. The plan is to use Tongue and groove Carsiding, stained to our liking, affixed to the wall. What I need to know is: Is this the best mate...	Cheapest would be a hand-held circular saw, and a long straight-edge & clamps (or steady hand).
How can I heat up my apartment to kill bedbugs in Southeast Asia? I have a bedbug problem in my apartment and I want to fix it myself with heat. (I do not want chemicals sprayed around.) Apparently, getting a room to 140 degrees for two hours is sufficient to kill the bugs, or 130 degrees for a few more hours. My fir...	The bedbugs will die or scurry away looking for shade. Insulation from Room Components: items such as beds, wall cracks, under carpets, under cupboards.
Would solar panels save money with electric baseboard heat? My house has electric heat, built in 1969. How can I save $. Are solar panels the way to go, or is there something better out there? I'm not sure which way to go . My electric bill is nuts . I have a fireplace and it helps, but it only heats one room. Are the...	Direct collection of heat from the sun is far more efficient than collecting a little bit of the suns energy as electricity and then using that for heat.
How can I clean water stains off my shower stall? It is all glass (transparent) but has become translucent because of salt stains (slightly hard water). What is the best way to clean without using harsh chemicals? My toddler is allergic to harsh chemicals like Ammonia. <Q> Ammonia is not the right chemical anyway. <S> ...	If it is soap film (and it might be)- cleanser with phosphoric acid. Hot vinegar on paper towels.
What could cause a gas fireplace to come on by itself? My natural gas fireplace has a mind of it's own. It has been working properly until today--it decided to come on by itself It has been cold (15 degrees) here in SC--could this be the problem?? The pilot remains on and seems to be find. My service man came and d...	There is a short in the controller and power is always being provided to the solenoid.
Furnace running.Shuting off for a few mins then starting again.Continued process Why would my furnace run it's cycle, shut down and then start up again a few minutes later. Continuing this cycle all night?? Thanks <Q> If the home is maintaining the temperature set on the thermostat (at least AT the thermostat) <S> then...	If the house is NOT maintaining the set temperature AND the furnace is shutting off regularly, something may be in need of maintenance/adjustment.
What type of subfloor should be used for Engineered hardwood flooring installed on grade concrete slab? I would like to install engineered hardwood flooring over a concrete slab which is on grade. It is the first floor of the house, there is no basement and the house was built in the 1990's. I have seen vapor barrier s...	This protects the floor in case the concrete sweats over time.
How can I prevent my furnace and A/C from slamming doors? What specifics will I need to collect to figure out if our furnace and A/C are sucking too much at the source/intake? I don't know the proper terminology for these things, do forgive me for any errors here. We are in a 1,000 sq ft home. The air intake for the...	The airflow is restricted so the blower unit is either dumping a lot more heated/cooled air in other parts of the home, or it's working It's simply the nature of a central-return system. Another thing that might help is to replace your doors with heavier ones on less-well-lubricated hinges. you may be able to solve you...
What materials to use replacing a water damaged bathroom ceiling? I had a leaky roof that caused half the bathroom ceiling to come down. The roof is now fixed. I know I have to remove the rest of the ceiling as well, and dry it out before replacing, and possibly do some mold remediation. My question is, what do I repl...	Assuming a good roof and adequate bathroom ventilation, there's no reason to use anything other than standard drywall, properly sealed and painted.
What is this bathroom basin tap connection and can I replace it myself? A few months back I had a problem with the cold tap in my upstairs bathroom — no water would come out after turning it on. I also noticed that the flexible tap hose underneath the basin was damp and sometimes dripping a little bit. So I got a plumb...	If you just want to replace the braided hose unscrew it from the top and take it to your plumbing supply place and ask them for a new one. The replacement is definitely within the realms of the DIY plumber (it's the sort of thing I'd do).
Bamboo floors with cats and dogs We are purchasing a place and one of the things we are looking at doing is replacing the carpet downstairs with something more wood like. I say wood like because of pets and the damage they can do to hardwood floors. We had been considering laminate floors but I've been reading about ba...	However scratching will eventually breach the stain/poly finish - and then when they pee/poop that will get in the wood and it is basically never come out. IMO, anything other than oak is only for esthetics (unless you can afford ironwood ). So this depends how well you upkeep the floors and how many accidents you have...

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.