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Why did my installer install 1/4 round corners like this and how can I fix it? We had a guy come by to finish some previous tile work we had done. The morning of finishing the tile, he called and said he couldn't get the grout to stick along the edges, and it was just going under the baseboards and not setting up. He s...	Before I install the quarter round I use a scrap piece of quarter round and a saw or an oscillating tool and cut them to the right height. There are several different techniques that could be used for terminating the corner rounds in both the corners and at the ends. To fill the gaps, try to use a sanded caulk that is ...
Why won't my new powerstroke 5kW generator start? I purchased a power stroke 5,000 watt generator about a year ago. Only recently there have been some power issues in my area, which made me decide to take it out and get it ready. I purchased new gas & oil, but it would not start. I tried spraying gas in the carb, and s...	Cylinders could be flooded, or carburetor is not working or fuel line is blocked. Check it for continuity with a meter.
Do I need a regulator to connect a tankless water heater to a 20 lb. propane tank? I am going to hook a tankless water heater to a 20lb propane tank. Do I need a regulator coming off of the propane tank? <Q> @Pigrew is right in the comments. <S> My previous answer was wrong and dangerous. <S> Do not supply 30 psi ...	According to Rheem (a manufacturer of tankless gas water heaters) and The West Virginia Propane Gas Association , modern homes have a 2 psi supply line from the meter with regulators on each piece of equipment to lower the pressure more. The regulator will have to be sized properly based on the flow rate needed and the...
Can I use an outlet splitter with my air conditioner? I live in an old apartment building, and there is only a single outlet anywhere near the only window in my living room. My Air Conditioner works great with it, but now I can't use the desk lamp and digital piano that were plugged into that outlet (with a splitter...	Even when using an extension cord or power strip without protective components, the fact of adding more connections (plug + socket) provides greater voltage loss and heating, with potential for a runaway thermal meltdown: as a connection heats up, its resistance increases causing it to heat up more. However, it is norm...
How can I stop this window from sliding down? I have what I think is a single-hung window that keeps sliding down (when it's open). I do not see any way to remove the sash (so that I can access the spring mechanism). All instructions I see on the web claim that there is either a release mechanism on the top of the sa...	If you can get the sash out, then get the spring out, you may be able to bend the spring so that it increases its friction in the channel. A wooden dowel sawed off to the right length to prop the window open is the traditional answer.
How can I hang a plywood sign by the edge? I am remaking my road sign using a 3/4 sheet of HDO. (Not MDO) It 5' wide by 3' tall, and double sided. The old one had brackets that bolted through the face but they will not fit with the vinyl sign that's going to be attached. They are also rusted and I can not find more. P...	A large sign should be hung with a fastener that is passes through a hole that is drilled through the face of the plywood.
Why would the receptacles in the kitchen not have power after replacing one of them? I replaced a receptacle, and made sure the wires were in the same order they were originally in when I hooked them back up. I turned power back on and there was no power to the receptacle I changed, or to three other receptacles. None ...	My guess is that when you pulled on the wires to get to them, the hot (red or black) wire feeding the circuit came loose.
Bathroom exhaust fan turn on with light or independent switch I have two toggle switches, one for the bathroom light and one for the exhaust fan to operate independantly. Each has it's own 14-2 wire run to it from the switch. I want the fan to come on always with the light (which it does not now) but also keep the ab...	They will then mess with the switches until the light is on (with the fan). Double-pole solution (Ecnerwal's answer): light fanswitch They are very common in "not a lightswitch" format but findable in lightswitch format, usually with the intent of switching 240V loads, but you don't have to use them that way (and would...
Best way to weatherproof OSB I am building a shed and I am trying to do it as cheaply as possible. I am going to use 1/2" OSB for the siding and I am wondering what the best paint/sealer is to weatherproof it. We live in central Ohio, so it will take quite a beating from rain and snow. Thanks! <Q> There's no such thing...	If you want to use OSB to sheathe the walls of your shed, you need to build those walls like the walls of a house: with a weather-resistant barrier like Tyvek over the OSB, and then cover that with siding of some sort.
Would the service breaker or sub-panel breaker trip first if they have equal ratings? I've rented a space where the transformer and main panel are fenced off and I can’t access it without calling the landlord. He lives rather far away and is the only one with the key and that kind of potential downtime would be catastr...	The breaker with the smallest amount of internal thermal heat-sinking will usually trip first
Is this a "switched neutral" situation? Replacing switches with new ones and wanting to add a zwave dual-relay while I'm at it. It's a 3 gang box and all are on the same circuit. I have an electronics background, but no electrical experience beyond replacing switches and a couple fixtures. I understand the theory but d...	If you do find a switched neutral, you need to rewire the circuits. If wired correctly, one of each should be hot .
Preventing Clogging/Flooding at bottom of exterior basement steps I just purchased a house this weekend, and moved in yesterday. I live in MD (USA), and there just happened to be a torrential downpour yesterday after we moved in. I went downstairs to check my sump pumps, and then checked the door leading to by basement...	In addition I am going to increase the depth of the base of the stairwell and install a trench drain ( more surface area to allow for more drainage , less likely to clog ) . We cut 3 pieces of heavy duty plywood to cover the space and fit around the bases of the railing at the top. However metal grating can be expensiv...
My new drywall patch is thinner than the old one? Why? I purchased two large sheets of drywall for my garage ceiling and to patch some large holes on the wall. I installed wood strips to support the drywall patch. Everything went smoothly until I test fitted the new patch. For some unknown reason, the new patch is abou...	This also creates gaps between the drywall and the studs. If you look at a wall, you would be visually tricked into thinking it is flat, when it isn't.
1960s bomb shelter a safe place to wait out a tornado? I have a 1960s 10x12x8 ft concrete room. It was built under our concrete kitchen floor which is at ground level in 1963. The concrete is 12" thick, except for the ceiling which would be about 24" thick. I do not know if it is rebar reinforced. It has a 36 inch door...	Ideally a storm shelter should be located nearby but away from the house, so that there is no risk of the structure collapsing and trapping the occupants. Also that there is little need for outside communication since it is generally assumed that the phone company is gone and probably all radio stations.
Is it alright to run furnace and turn off gas? Is running a furnace with the gas pipe shut can cause any harm to furnace? <Q> I presume you want to do this just to circulate air? <S> Do you have a thermostat connected to the furnace? <S> If you do, you might have an option to turn the blower on manually. <S> If so, y...	It might cause harm if the furnace were trying to ignite in which case the igniter will die prematurely.
Adding another circuit to a full panel I'm looking to add a hot tub, and after my basement build out a few years ago my panel is full. (By "full" I mean we added a sub panel and now my 400 amps is "technically" spoken for by 400 amps of breakers, though of course our load is never anywhere close to that.) I'm not unf...	Install a sub-panel which is fed by a double breaker in the main panel. You may want to be careful doing this as it my violate code.
how to remove plastic stuck inside core drill bit I use a 1/4" diamond tip core drill bit to make holes in the bottom of bowls to use them as plant pots with drainage. I bought the diamond core drill bit to drill ceramic bowls, however I also used it to drill 1/4" into plastic bowls, and this was a mistake. The plas...	If it's tightly wedged in it might be easiest to drill out the center of it with the largest bit you have and
How can I level a part of a concrete floor in preparation for installing a washing machine? Whoever installed the existing washing machine in the basement was unable to extend one of the legs long enough to adjust for the slope in the concrete floor. So they took a piece of wood and stuck it under that corner. The was...	With a reasonably stiff mortar, it's not hard to get the 4 bricks level (and you only HAVE to get them close enough for the feet to compensate.) You could even make "forms" with a stiff mix around the edge, then infill that.
What can I do about a window well that is filling up with water from below the surface? I have 2 covered basement window wells on the side of my house. When it rains heavily, they fill up with water from beneath the surface. There are 4 downspouts from the gutters on our roof. They run into underground pipes (the blac...	You could try taking off part of your rain drain from some point above the ground and put a temporary pipe that drains to a low spot away from the window well and see if it stops the water from building up. But a more direct method to get around this is to dig down through the rocks in the window well till you come to ...
Why are GFCI systems typically in the receptacle instead of in the breaker? Since the breaker box contains all the other electrical safety equipment it would make sense to put GFCI systems here; and GFCI circuit breakers are available which do this. But GFCIs inside receptacles are much more common. Is it just because ...	While functionally the same, it is simpler to replace a receptacle gfci than a breaker.
How can I prevent water from leaking on an outlet? I recently moved into a new house rental and am setting up my washer & dryer. I am uncomfortable with the proximity of our hot/cold water valves to our washer's power outlet and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions to prevent water leakage onto the outlet (perha...	It is also easier to shorten water tubing than to extend electrical wiring (while maintaining waterproofing across joints). You could also use a weatherproof "in-use" cover.
Tile basement bathroom over cracks without Ditra I am tiling a basement bathroom that is 5 feet by 6 feet. It has a crack running the entire length of the bathroom as well as a small hairline crack near the toilet. I've read that Ditra is the best for crack isolation and to keep the movement from transfering up throu...	I hope you have sufficient crack repairs done and an underlay in place that will help to prevent moisture transfer into the wood floor, but most options I am aware of would make the wood floor match up closer in height to a tile floor with Ditra in place. One other thing you could look into is an under tile heating sys...
Can you deburr copper pipes with a fitting brush? Probably a stupid question, but I'm trying to learn how to solder copper pipes and am gathering all the tools I might need. I currently have a fitting brush like this one , but wasn't sure if it would suffice to remove any burrs when cutting the pipes, or if I needed s...	You can also get pipe reamers for your drill, but if you use a tubing cutter you really don't need it - the cutter provides a clean edge that requires no further preparation unless you are inserting your finger in there.
Wet smell, finished basement, aggravates when it rains -how do I find the source? I have a light wet smell in my basement and I am trying to find the source of it ...not much luck so far.The basement is finished (by the previous owner) and as far as I could see behind the finished walls where the water meter is or unde...	It could be just water trapped in the walls because of the vapor barrier or trapped in the insulation itself. Ultimately, it sounds like you're going to have to rip into the wall somewhere to find out the leak issue and being able to narrow it down a little bit would be a big help.
How should I install laminate without removing the baseboard? I will be installing the laminate with the baseboard intact, do I lay the laminate right next to the baseboard? Or do I still need to use the spacers? <Q> At least that's how I do it. <S> Most people leave the baseboard in place, and cover the expansion ...	You should remove the baseboard, install the flooring, and then reinstall the baseboard.
How can I remove a key that is stuck in a lock? I used the wrong key, checking a lock. Can I get it out or do I have to get a whole new doorknob. Oh and this is just a regular front door lock. <Q> When a key is stuck in a pin-tumbler lock, what that usually means is that one of the pins has dropped down into the key's ...	There's a particular type of lock pick called a key extractor that is designed specifically for this purpose.
How to fix bed slats? I'm wondering if there is an easy but reliable way to fix this slat under my mattress (see attached image). It's an Ikea bed. Any suggestion? I was thinking of flat metal pieces screwed into the wood on each side like some kind of splint.. <Q> Glue the existing slat back together. <S> Reinforc...	Some glue for wood may be nice to use before fitting. Metal plates are likely either to bend or to weaken the already thin slat. Optional fix can be done by removing all of these wooden bars (these come bound together from Ikea as I recall - my kids got similar beds) and remove broken one with new one (You can buy it i...
Under Nec 2011, I need neutral to every switch box; can I just use 2 14/2's instead of paying extra for 14-2-2? I have two deadend 3way switches planned for the box (on the same breaker). I have 14/3 for each one going on, but then learned of the new rule about needing neutral at every box. I thought to replace one of ...	You might want to contact the local electrical inspector, or redesign the circuit to avoid the situation altogether.
Can I increase gas pressure to a stove? I have a gas stove (+ electric oven) which has one large burner, two medium burners and a small burner. The main burner is acceptable, but the medium burners are insufficient to boil a saucepan of water in a reasonable time, even when on full. (I don't even bother with the small...	The stove is designed to accept a range of pressures from the supply line to begin with and increasing the pressure beyond what the regulator is designed for would be dangerous.
Lifting mechanism for height adjustable sitting standing desk I have put together a sitting standing desk and all but one part works. The bit I would like some advice on is how to dynamically raise the keyboard/mouse surface to switch between ergonomic standing and sitting workstation heights. It is very important fo...	But at home, I raised my entire desk up on blocks so it is at standing height, then got a "drafting stool" style of chair--basically an office chair with a longer gas tube and a foot ring.
How to break a sheet of glass quietly? I have a sheet of glass over the kitchen door (for natural light to hit the entry hallway) VICIOUSLY GLUED to the fame. I'm removing the entire frame to replace the old wood door with a glass door and also want to get rid of the glass above. I was pondering on how to break it a...	It may be tempered glass, if so it will be more difficult to break and will shatter into a thousand small pieces (like auto glass). A hammer and nail will work the same, it's mostly being a one-handed tool that's easy to carry that makes the ACP the preferred tool among EMTs. Put a tarp under your work area, wear a hea...
Accessing light bulbs on ceiling fan We just bought a house and it has this ceiling fan: The upper portion has bulbs in it, but for the life of me I cannot figure out how you'd get to them. The top of the unit has a metal plate secured with 6 or 8 screws. I can believe you'd have to remove all of those screws, especi...	That fan should have a small plate with a single screw for each bulb. Home Depot sells replacements as "Ceiling Fan" light bulbs.
Installing hook on strange wall I need to install some hooks on my wall, which I plan to use to perform elastic band exercises. Hence, I need to install these very well so that they will handle the stress properly. Situation is I have found an strange wall on the rental apartment I'm living. I was convinced it was a c...	However, you'd have to open up the wall to find the concrete block that's most likely behind it, because the plaster is only supported by furring strips tacked into the blocks with nails. Long story short, installing this correctly in an apartment of your construction is unlikely. Do not be fooled if your stud-finder s...
What can I do about my new driveway that is higher than the garage floor? I recently had a new asphalt driveway installed. Due to the slope of the driveway they stopped about 2 1/2 feet from garage. This has created a problem with the end of driveway being 5 1/2 inches higher than the garage floor. This makes it ext...	In your situation, since you have soil between the asphalt and garage as well as a decent amount of space, digging out a drain trench between the asphalt and the garage will let you put in a length of slotted french drain pipe to control water and use rock and pavers to smooth out the difference in heights of the two s...
LED light bulbs, RFI, and garage door opener I had to install new garage door opener (old one fried the lamp relay when the bulb burned out and arced), and noticed in the instructions not to use LED light bulbs because of possible RFI. After some Google searches I was able to verify that, indeed, LED bulbs can create ...	The Genie Company has a guide for LED lamps that are compatible with their rolling-code Intellicode radio links, found at http://www.geniecompany.com/data/news/press-release_led-replacement-bulb-notice_09-24-2014.pdf , dated 14 September 2014.
Trying to understand why a light would be wired this way? Just moved in to an older home with fiancé and WAS planning to change out a light fixture with a new ceiling fan. However after turning off light switch and breaker and proceeding to remove light fixture I ran into something I felt was strange and later confirme...	Power comes to the fixture outlet on one of the black wires, then goes to the switch on the other. Doesn't seem that strange at all. So, the box in the ceiling has two pair coming into it.
Is the material encasing a steam heating system asbestos? How can i determine this? I'm looking to purchase a home. It has a steam heat boiler system, wrapped in a white material that seems "old". Is it possibly asbestos? How do I test to see? <Q> With an asbestos test kit or a professional asbestos testing firm. <S...	Having some asbestos in your home is usually not harmful unless it is disturbed and small particles are released into the air.
Do I need to level the outdoor AC cooling unit? I've read somewhere that the outdoor AC unit needs to be leveled. My outdoor unit is a bit slanted due to the floor not being completely flat (pic below). However, I don't see any obvious structural issues. Is this something I need to correct? Perhaps by sticking a small ...	The air conditioner compressor support pad should be level and secure against movement. "Mostly level" is probably okay for a residential unit.
What size pool jets am I supposed to purchase for 1.5 inch pipes? In my pool, I have two white PVC pipes that push water out, where jets are supposed to fit to increase flow rate. The diameter of these pipes is 1.5 inches. I purchased a 5-pack of "Pool and Spa Eyeball Jet 1.5" Threaded to 3/4" Open" jets from an onli...	You have been asking for the wrong part, and have been sent the part you asked for, twice.
How do I tell if my house is brick or brick veneer? I live in a brick house, and am interested in understanding whether it is brick or brick veneer, as a way to understand what kind of risks it (and we) may face during an earthquake. I hear that brick veneer is essentially a wood frame house with a brick facade and fa...	If your house used brick as the structure, it would be obvious because you would have thick 16" to 24" square brick pillars or columns going up through the center of the house upwards from the foundation and the walls would be solid brick.
Best way to attach a steel t-beam to a wall? In my new flat I will build a huge platform into one of the rooms. It will be very much like a loft bed , but wider. I'm in a very early planning phase. The room is about 3m across (no plan or exact measurements available for now) and I want to span this width with beams. I...	T-beams can be connected to walls by welding a flat plate onto the end of the T-beam, drilling holes in this endplate, and then bolting through those holes onto the wall.
Stripping parquet floor glue to install underfloor heating We have a huge lounge in our new house (in the UK) and it is covered with parquet flooring which we dislike. The little wooden blocks are starting to work loose here and there, so I don't see it as too much of a problem to remove them. However, I expect the la...	It's possible that the little wooden blocks are glued straight on on top of a concrete subfloor. I agree with Handyman, start over with a proper modern job since you really can't just shave-off concrete.
How to hang modern fixture over old square recessed box? I purchased a home built in 1958 and a few rooms have these square recessed light boxes. I would like to hang a larger diameter modern flush-mount fixture over them, but I'm not sure what the way to do that is. Should I remove the box completely and then mount a ...	That is unless I could inspect the existing wire and the underlying box without damaging it, and gain an assurance that the existing wire will be safe and will reach appropriately into the new ceiling box. Make sure that power is turned OFF either at the switch (tape the switch in the off position and put a note there ...
Drywall tape required for patch to small hole? Is drywall tape required for a patch to a small hole that's fastened only to the surrounding drywall sheet? Specifics - I have a round hole, about six inches in diameter. I've patched it with a round piece of drywall. Drywall screws hold the patch to a board, and the boar...	A hole that size should be taped to prevent cracking.
How do you properly connect 3 x solid 2.5mm wires to a 4mm stranded wire? I have a single 4mm stranded wire I want to connect to 3 x 2.5mm solid wires. At the moment I've simply wound them around each other temporarily and sealed with electrical tape - but how is it done securely? <Q> Is this for AC wiring (more perman...	You can buy connectors made specifically to join stranded and unstranded wires
Ac unit set on 74 My central air is set at 74. Yesterday and today, the house was up to 80. It has been very hot outside(90). Would this affect my ac unit? <Q> Assuming the question is why can't your AC keep your home cooler, there are several possibilities: <S> The AC is low on refrigerant, look for a temperature d...	If your air conditioner cannot cool your house to 74 when the outside temperature is 90, then something is wrong.
Need help choosing correct Allen or Hex tool I need to loosen a 3mm hex bolt in side an appliance. The simple"Allen Hex "L" shaped key does not let me reach and turn the bolt located in a tough position inside the appliance Have been told to get " a 1/4" drive socket with extension and an allen drive socket" I need a...	Without looking a picture of the fastener you need to reach, I believe a ball end allen or one of our ratchet & bit set ups is what you're looking for.
Problem with tile cutting I'm tiling my bathroom floor with some large ceramic tiles (33cm x 33cm aka 13" x 13") and I'm having difficulty cutting them. I'm using a simple glass cutter , because the tile cutter for such large tiles is too expensive, and an angle grinder with a diamond disk gave a pretty dismal resul...	If the right tool is unavailable you might try changing how you break the tile.
What are the small white ants in my apartment and how do I get rid of them? I have an ant problem in my apartment. I have had several pest control professionals visit and spray but the ants keep reappearing. They could not identify the type of ants as they are very small and white. The ants do not appear to be going...	I have heard the term white ants this is referred to as termitesIt sounds like you might have termites
Brand New Nail Gun Makes a Dent but No Nails Come Out I just got a Blue Hawk air compressor and nail gun combo. I have added oil, I'm using 18 ga 5/8" nails and when I press the trigger a dent shoots into the wood but no nails. I called support and they were unable to help me. Any ideas? Is it just defective? <Q> Ch...	Nail compatibility Insure that the nails are compatible with the gun.
Are nail pops under vinyl flooring likely to worsen? I have been in my new Mobile home now for 5 months.Nails are starting to pop up slightly under the linoleum floor. Is this likely to get worse over time? <Q> It will certainly worsen. <S> The nails are probably coming up because the subfloor was not glued to the fram...	Not only will more nails work up, but the vinyl will very quickly wear through in those spots. It has a possibility of getting worse or the popping could be done. I agree that this is certainly a warranty issue.
Window in shower enclosure: What to do about it, if anything? One of the quirks of my house is a 1945-vintage double-sash window, with wood trim and probably wood sashes, chest height, located above a tub where it could be nicely soaked by side-splash when taking a shower. I've always wondered what the designer was thi...	If you want to keep the window (as it sounds like you don't want to seal it off), one option would be to replace it with a vinyl window with vinyl trim. If You care to remove the window and fill this gap, that would definately be no-problem solution, given that it's ok with You to forget that window.
What type of lubrication should I use on a squeaky swing set? There's a bracket around the top tube with a hole in it. A bolt passes through the hole, to hold a doodad that the swing chain can be connected via an S bolt. When the swing swings, it makes an awful squeak. I was originally thinking of spraying it with s...	My first answer was basically: products like 3-in-1 and silicone spray are great for loosening up stuck parts, but too light for long-term lubrication, pack it with grease (lithium grease, axle grease, pick your poison).
How can I keep a door open wide enough for my cat to get through but not my big dog? I need a 'safe room' for my cat to go in to use the litter box away from the dog, who thinks it contains treats. I need the door the stay open a few inches without my Labrador Retriever having the ability to enter the room. She is Ho...	I think that would be something the cat could quickly learn to use but that simply wouldn't be an idea the dog would grasp, especially if the door itself is hidden so the dog thinks cat just went up there to sleep. I'm going to try for an outside-the-box solution: Also the dog will not try to dig their way through the ...
Was this a shear wall? Could anyone be able to tell me if this is a shear wall just by looking at this picture? This is a 1940s home, renovated in 2000s near San Andres fault, Northern California. This wall is now replaced with glass and door was relocated to the other side. Should I be worry if this is in fact a she...	They are common on exterior walls since there is often plywood sheathing anyways, although they can be interior. It may be impossible to tell if there was any seismic design done at all, unless the house has been substantially renovated.
Protect from 3D Printer fumes I'm planning to buy 3D Printer that can only print with ABS (Zortrax). I have a small child (3 months old) at my flat so I'm afraid that fumes can have negative impact on her health. What should I buy or make to absorb fumes produced by 3d Printer? Are there any solutions tailored speci...	I would suggest a box (perhaps a prefab cabinet) around the printer, and a duct leading to an exhaust fan connected to the box, leading to outside (through a wall, or if renting, through a fan-plate inserted in a window opening.)
Can I glue vinyl flooring to my bathtub's side panel? We’ve just bought our first house, and obviously have very little money at the moment. The bathroom is horrible and we’d like to make some small changes to at least make it look slightly nicer. As part of that I’d like to take out the old laminate floor, to let the...	If the join between the vinyl floor ant the bath panel is waterproof, you don't have to worry about leaks in the decoration.
LED lights delayed when turned on I had my house built last year and after moving in noticed that in our living room (6 led downlights) when we turn our lights on 5 turns on at once and the 6th one will be delayed ranging from 1/2 sec to 5 sec to turn on... the electrican came to have a looked last year but said its ca...	I originally had a problem as you describe, but that was due to an incompatible dimmer switch. I run an electrical wholesale company and this comes up all the time.
How can/should I mount this porch light? I want to mount a porch light on my outdoor shed/office. I recently had an electrician place interior wiring however I elected to do the fixtures myself. Uh oh. Here's what the back of the porch light area looks like (on the inside of the shed): Here's what the front loo...	A pretty common approach is to build a small platform for the lamp to sit on, something like this
How do I get vinyl tile off of plywood flooring? I am in the process of removing vinyl tiles off of a cheap plywood looking floor in my bathroom. I am not sure how long they have been there but it's not just the adhesive I am having a problem with. The tiles don't want to come up at all. I am not real worried about get...	Working from the edge of the tile, apply heat to it and begin to gently pry underneath it with a floor scraper. You can get a corded oscillating multitool for around $50 and the scraper attachment for about $10.
How will concrete fill in? So I am pouring some footings for a deck I am building and my current plan is to dig a hole that is 18" wide and 18" deep. I'm then going to suspend a sonotube about 6 inches above the bottom (using a scrap wood frame). My idea is to pour concrete in through the sonotube and have it splay ...	The solution depends largely on the consistency of the concrete mix.
Electrical box - What are all these wires? I want to install a light fixture on a box that's in the ceiling. I opened it up and I saw WAY MORE wires than I expected. I expected just a green, black and yellow wire. Here are two photos of the wires. Here's a close up. Can someone explain what each of these wires do? I...	You must check the voltages with a multimeter to verify the existing voltages. You MIGHT be able to install a 277v light using green for ground, the grey bundle for neutral and yellow for live. 4 yellow wires twisted together I think this is the time you call building management and make them explain what the hell they...
How do I stop my under cabinet light plastic covers from falling down In our kitchen, we have under cabinet lights. The plastic covers keep falling down. The covers click into place just fine. But after a few days they fall down. Is there a way to secure them? Obviously, I don't want to use super glue. <Q> I guess...	Alternatively, you might be able to put something behind the 'clicking' hook so that the hook doesn't withdraw from the cover.
What can I do to stop my fiberglass bathtub from squeaking? I have a fiberglass bathtub in my mobile home that is roughly 5' x 4' in size. The mobile home is a 1978 doublewide, and the tub was in the home when we purchased it, 5 years ago, so I'm sure it's very old. There is a creaking in the tub that has gotten much...	Or you can use lots of spray foam - but give each application of it time, as it can swell more than you think if you apply a large amount at once. It's possible that the wood has rotted, or the structure that supports the wood has rotted or been compromised in some way.
Muting PC audio when doorbell rings So the setup is as follows.I've got one of those wireless doorbells in which the button is powered by a 9V battery and is stickied to the door and the sound comes from a speaker plugged in a wall socket nearby. ( I use that since I am a student and I change houses a lot) I also have ...	If you wanted to do it with an ugly hack instead, you could find a USB keyboard with a mute button, and hack the mute key so that pushing the doorbell button "presses" the mute key.
Are there any things to consider when putting thick rubber underlayment down? I am finishing my attic and have just completed laying the OSB subfloor. I plan to use this space as a yoga studio for my wife / guest room for family / playroom for my child. It is directly over my bedroom so I want to make it as quiet as po...	However, Carpet on top of carpet Padding would really be the overall best sound deadening solution & your underlayment doesn't care whether it's penetrated with fasteners. Any kind of hard surface like wood or tile would be the worst option, but is where you'd see some benefit from the underlayment.
How to get water to hop from patio over brick wall? I have a concrete patio elevated a few feet above the lawn. The patio is bordered by a brick wall (on 3 sides, with the house on the 4th) that extends higher than the top of the concrete of the patio by about an inch. Currently, the original owner's caulk has deteri...	You could consider outdoor tile/outdoor-rated mortar, aiming for a total thickness (including the thickness of any decoupling underlayment like Wedi board or Schluter DITRA or EasyMat or RedGard) that would bring the tile surface up high enough so the water could flow off of it out toward the perimiter between the bric...
Why would the condensing unit fan shut off but not the compressor? We have an allegiance 12 unit circa 2001, model 7a2024a100a3, the fan starts up and runs for about 5 minutes then shuts off, the compressor is still on and seems to build up a bit the "flush" or so it sounds, then build up again. I can turn the fan blad...	If it's NOT the capacitor, then the fan motor is kicking out on over heat via its integral thermal overload.
Hooking up switches only with white wires. Will it work? I'm working on a small cabin. All black wires are run directly to lights. The white wires are run to the switches then lights... so each switch has only white wires. Would the circuit still work? Why or why not? It's the exact opposite of the black white being ...	If the black wire in this situation is the ungrounded (hot) conductor, then it's a possible code violation and unsafe. In this situation, the fixture will always be energized. To determine what's going on, you'll have to take some measurements with a multimeter or voltmeter with the power on. The BEST thing to do is to...
What to do about the cracks on my wood floor? I am trying to do some repairs of the floor. As you can see on photos, there are some cracks, dents, and gouges. I am thinking of getting wood filler for these, but I am not sure which one would be best for these types. In addition, I also need to make sure it will not st...	Since this floor is most likely laminate, the typical means of refinishing a floor (sand and refinish) is out the question. At best, this is an engineering wood flooring (plywood).
Removing lower section of an old chimney? I know that removing an old unused chimney from a house is done from the top down. I'm just wondering if it's even thinkable to remove a mid-section from the chimney, while reinforcing under the first removed layer of bricks taken out (would be at the ceiling of the "top floor...	This is a bad, terrible unthinkable idea. The safest way would be to remove the whole upper part and repair the attic and roof.
Used circle cutter in wrong place in drywall, best repair method? I'm mounting a TV and used a circle cutter attachment on my drill in the wrong location. I cut through 2 1/2" sheets of drywall and still have the discs of drywall. What is the best method to repair the hole? The bracket will be covering the hole any...	There are self adhesive patches like this one available at most home improvement stores.
filling holes in bathroom tile When you walk in our bathroom on the tiles with high heels, it puts a hole in the tile. It seems likely the tiles were not meant to be for floor. Regardless, we'd like to find some way to fill in the holes with either plaster or something otherwise. What would be best to use? <Q> Leaving ...	At this point there is not much you can do beyond replacing the entire floor.
How to prevent heavy rainwater from jumping the gutter? During heavy rain, the water collects from my second floor roof and runs onto the first floor roof as it should. The problem is that since all this water is now concentrated from the second floor downspout, the heavy volume causes it to race down the first floor r...	Run a section of downspout across your roof and dump it into the existing gutter, angled in the direction of flow, so that the water doesn't splash into the gutter at a 90 degree angle, but joins water already headed for the downspout.
How can I remove residue left from peel and stick tiles? I have old peel and stick vinyl tiles coming up off my vinyl flooring. I want to keep the floor underneath. What gets rid of glue residue but is safe to use in house? <Q> The approach is usually progressive. <S> You try a less aggressive cleaner to see if it wo...	I would use paper towels and a mild scrubbing pad, and I would use cleaners in the following order: a soap based cleaner, such as Murphy's Oil Soap strong household cleaner with grease cutter, such as Formula 409 a residue remover, such as Goo-Gone a mild solvent, such as denatured alcohol a stronger solvent, such as m...
Can the fan be rewired so the fan works off the pull chain and the lights work off the switch? I have an existing ceiling fan in a hallway on a 3 way switch. When I turn on the switch both the fan and the lights will come on. Can the fan be rewired so the fan works off the pull chain and the lights work off the switch ...	Its really simple if your power is run to the fixture, connect the hot wire to the black fan wire along with one of your switch wires. Though you may want a remote at each switch location, which complicates the installation a bit.
What is the purpose of horizontal blocks on a bearing wall? In my basement, the bearing wall has horizontal blocks between each stud, similar to what you see in this picture: . There is one place on the wall where one of the blocks was removed to place an electrical box, and another in the bathroom rough-in to make ...	Makes sense to do the same here, as any twisting or buckling of the studs would cause the drywall to crack. I doubt the blocking is fireblocking. Still, I'd put new blocks in place above or below the outlets that caused them to be removed, and fire-caulk any holes required in the blocks for wires to run through. Becaus...
How to wire a three phase machine to a single phase plug? The machine has five wires, three of which are live. I want to wire into a single phase supply using a three prong plug. It powers a boiler and water pump (for an espresso machine: 220-240V, 50/60Hz, 0.190Mpa/0.65Mpa, 3000W). The advice I received was to twist...	Firstly most commercial coffee machines are mono-phase, and can be wired 3 or single phase. You should not risk wiring to a 13amp plug but install a dedicated 20amp supply from your mainboard to a new socket near your machine. Lacking a model number to look up, I would try opening the device near the power cord and see...
How many CAT6 cables can fit in 3/4 conduit? I was planning to get 3/4" conduit (Carlon ENT/Smurftube) to run network cables through the house. Just how many CAT6 cables can safely fit into 3/4" conduit? <Q> This depends on whether you are using pre-assembled cables or not. <S> The following images were made using Th...	However, if using bare cable, you can comfortably fit 5, but can potentially fit up to 7 without completely squishing the cables.
How to make a Tall Retaining Wall Recently, as in September [Final close date was 11/13/2015] this year, I bought a house. This house is on an extreme incline. I would like to level out this incline. The front first floor of the house sits level with the ground. The property is 120' long and 40' wide. The rear of the ...	You need to focus on walls that are less than 4 feet in height. However, some areas may also have a total height requirement as well. Any higher will cost bucks to hire an engineer and get permitted. In my experience to not figure cut=fill means lots and lots more money and maintenance.
How to fix this bathroom light? This is my bathroom's light, which is both a light and a bathroom fan. The light is much dimmer now, so I guess that one of the fluorescents (or lightbulbs) is out. The fan seems to be working well. I have never seen this kind of model (I'm a expatriate, and this is nothing like I ha...	That cover may hinge, pry-off, or need a nudge in some direction to free it. If it looks like it's one piece, then try lightly tugging on the whole thing, see if there's a spring loaded catch or retaining spring.
One portable air conditioner - want to use it in two rooms I have a Kenmore portable air conditioner model - 408.72012. this particular model can be housed on the outside of the building and the A/C air is vented into the inside space (normally through a window). Almost the opposite of what you normally do with a por...	You'll also probably want a backflow damper somewhere, so the air in your home doesn't get pushed outside when the unit is off.
Can a regular rasp be used to enlarge a hole in concrete? I need to enlarge a few holes from 40mm to 50mm in a cinder block wall and in a concrete beam. Chiseling will do much damage and need patching, can I rasp it with a wood rasp? <Q> The metal on a wood rasp would be way to soft to make any type of dent in the con...	The rasp can ease hard corners on cinder block and even a little bit on concrete, but it won't bite enough to enlarge a hole.
Hot water issues in the apartment and plumbers are stumped? We have a unit upstairs in a 4-plex. The other units don't have any issues, but hot water recently stopped working in this apartment. Rarely water might get hot or warm but goes cold again. When the plumbers came and we played around with the fixtures we found...	Test each one of your hot water taps.
How do I disconnect (and reconnect) the tubing from this fitting? The plastic tubing supplying filtered water to our refrigerator currently runs below a suspended ceiling. I want to reroute it above. How do I disconnect it without damage from either the union or tee, so I can reconnect once moved? The tee is labeled NS...	Sometimes they are slightly stuck, and may take a little bit more force to pull out the tube, but it should be if if the plastic collar is first pushed into the fitting. These will come in the bag with some connectors, or should should be able to find them in the plumbing section of your local big box store. The easies...
What could cause my Carrier furnace fan to sometimes stop running? I have a Carrier system: FURNACE 58UVB080; AC 24APA530, CONTROLLER SYSTXCCUIDO1-B, approximately 7 years old. New filter, impeccable condition. I was initially told by the licensed installers that the fan runs all the time, unless the system is shutdow...	Periodic stopping for a few minutes and restarting is unlikely to be a controller failure and is more consistent with the blower motor shutting off on thermal overload.
How to secure an ikea Kallax shelf unit I’d appreciate some advice on the tools I need to complete a task. I bought an Ikea Kallax shelving unit ( http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30275861/ ) It came with two brackets, with a space for one screw per bracket to attach to the wall. I need to secure it to a wa...	For plaster you will need to use threaded anchors or toggle bolts.
HVAC system that pulls-in cold air from outside? My house has an existing forced-air heating system and I'm looking at getting central AC added in a few weeks' time (indeed, I've booked contractors for estimates next week). An AC system would keep my house cool when it is hot outside. ...but what options are there for...	An HVAC economizer is a dampered vent designed to save energy and give the cooling system a break.
Is it possible to de-gloss paint? I have some satin black enamel paint, after applying it I found it to be too glossy. I know you can make paint more glossy, for example by adding varnish to it, but is there a way to make it less glossy? <Q> You can coat it with a satin clear finish. <S> or even a matte finish. <S> Bot...	TSP has been used by painters for many years to "de-gloss" paint.
Why are carpenters' pencils flat? My assumption is that it's so they don't roll away. But if a carpenter spends the majority of his/her day working on a flat surface, a regular pencil wouldn't seem to have the tendency to get away from them. <Q> According to wikipedia , it's so they don't roll away:: A carpenter pe...	Carpenter pencils are also used by builders, because they are suitable for marking on rough surfaces, such as concrete or stone. The most popular shape seems to be a flat, octagonal style.
100 amp main with not enough ground slots i have a 100 amp main panel. it was put in in the 70's; i was wondering if it is ok to add a small box to put a new ground bus bar in to run all the grounds to because the box is bar very small and there are not enough slots in the boxes small bus <Q> You should be able to ins...	I can't imagine that it would be up to code, and it could create a dangerous situation. You should be able to purchase an additional grounding bar at the local big box home improvement, or a local electrical supply shop.
What is the best way to check the wires in your house? Wires wear down eventually. This presumably can pose a fire hazard. But there are so many wires in a house and many of them are not easily accessible. In order to maintain as safe a house as possible, How can I check all the wires in my house? How often shou...	If your house wire and electric system was installed by a state licensed contractor than you don't need to worry.
Is there a proper amount of chainsaw tension Is there a proper amount of tension I should keep the chain on my chainsaw? I currently like to have it more loose than tight. Thnx <Q> Why yes, there is. <S> Consult the owners manual (in paper or on-line), and it will tell you what that is and how to measure it on your ...	Too loose can cause the chain to jump off the bar and result in an accident.
Is Ground plug replacement necessary? The ground prong on my backpack vacuum came off and stuck inside a wall outlet. Should I replace the plug or does the ground not matter much? The plug itself gets really hot now when I use the vacuum. Thanks for advice. <Q> The ground prong is important. <S> If a failure occurs ...	The plug overheating is an additional reason to replace the plug and would be even if the ground prong was intact.
Problem- air condition- compressor and fan outside not on I'm new to hvac. My ac was working fine but it decided to die one day. I've been able to fix my ac, but it continues to happen(the same problem), and it is not easy to get to the ac (it's on the roof).The problem is: there is a switch that provides electric to t...	Another likely possibility for causing high head pressure is that the condenser motor bearings are worn out and they seize after being run for awhile, tripping the High Pressure Cut Out. Low pressure switches will open if the refrigerant level is low.
What factors influence the security of a front door lock? Due to misplaced keys, we are going to either rekey or replace an old lock on our front door. The manufacturer was Barrows, which seems to be somewhat rare since our local hardware doesn't carry blanks for new keys. We would replace it only if it is feasible r...	There would be basically no difference in overall entry door security with the original type deadbolt cylinder or a good quality modern one made out of similar materials. A good-quality cylinder really is more secure than a cheap equivalent.
Electrical engineering background, can I do electrical work on my house OK Folks, some introduction. I wasn't born in the US, I come from the underdeveloped world, where due to lack of resources it was usual to have a pair of bare wires acting as a light switch (seriously!) and there was no such thing as formal codes, ...	Most areas let homeowners do the work, as long as it's inspected. As mentioned elsewhere in these answers, Electrical Engineering curriculum typically doesn't intersect much with residential electrical hookup.
How should I connect a fixture to this outlet? I'm replacing a light fixture in my house and am a bit confused about how the old fixture was wired. There are two pairs of wires, 2 black, 2 white and 2 ground. The two black wires were capped off together and not hooked up to the old fixture at all. The white and beig...	Now test between the white wire and the ground and see which one gives you 120v, that should be your switch leg, power to the fixture. You'll be working with live electrical wires during this procedure.
What should I use to fill cracks in my wood door? I'm almost finished stripping multiple layers of paint and varnish off my front door. It's revealed some really nice detailing that was previously hidden by paint. I'd like to stain and seal the door now, but each of the 4 panels on the lower part of the door have sub...	A putty knife and razor blade will probably help. On old furniture and doors where the cracks are not structural, burn in sticks are what I use.
Does this look like asbestos? I found some material (pictures below) that I'm concerned might be asbestos, while demolishing the ceiling of a house in the UK which was built in the 1920's. The material looks like concrete, but it has some brown hair-like material mixed in. <Q> No, it is plaster with animal hairs in it...	Asbestos is a blanket term for several different minerals. There is no way to identify something as asbestos without a lab test.

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