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Can anyone tell me what this little white box on my outlet is? Recently bought a house that's about 40 years old. The previous owner was clearly very fond of doing the wiring himself and has left me some idiosyncrasies to work out. One is this box in one of my bedrooms. No idea what it is, or is supposed to do but I...	Wall Transformer AC Output Voltage Of course, it's possible that it was re-purposed for something else like low voltage lighting, a doorbell, or who knows what it may be used for. a part of a home security system.
1/4" male compression end on inline water filter to 3/8" male compression (fine threads) I have 2 faucets at my kitchen sink: one for regular water stuff and the 2nd for drinking water. Lines running from the drinking water faucet are 3/8" female compression.My ecopure inline water filter has 1/4" male compression (u...	Since it seems that you already have the lines, I think all you need is a compression adapter fitting like this:
removing deposits from the toilet bowl I've had tenants that I guess used the toilet but never flushed. Anyways, I'm unable to remove the yellow/brown deposits from the bowl, they seem to be really hard rock-like formations - I've ended up destroying the bristles on the brush while scrubbing. What could I use to remov...	There is apparently a recommendation from someone to use a Pumice stone and hand scrub it. You can use various types of acid - sometimes a alternating approach of chlorine bleach (by itself) to kill the biofilm that's exposed and acid (by itself) to remove the "more or less limestone" is beneficial.
Best way to make a hole in concrete wall So my house has concrete walls and ceilings. There a few places i would need to remove some large holes like for vents or light fixtures. I was looking at a concrete hole saw which seems to be a good idea but im not sure it would last or what kind of drill to attach it too. Any ...	If you're drilling into concrete you'll need an hammer drill and some impact bits. The equipment and the bits are expensive.
Cutting out shapes inside cement board I need to cut out a shape (rectangular opening) inside a cement board. Was wondering if it can be done with a jigsaw and a special blade once I have pilot holes drilled in each corner. <Q> There is no real experience needed when cutting an opening in cement board. <S> I've seen op...	I've cut out pieces in the middle of cement boards starting with a well placed whole saw drill bit for an opening, and following up that area with a sawzall shortblade for the actual shape. What ever tool you have available will suffice.
Distance between floor and breaker panel? How far off the floor should my circuit breaker box be? I'm changing from a 100 to a 200 amp. The lead in wires are underground and come into the bottom of box making them too short to connect. <Q> 240.24 Location in or on Premises. <S> (A) Accessibility. <S> Overcurrent de...	I don't think there's a minimum height, but there's a maximum height for breaker handles. Having the main breaker on the bottom will make for a cleaner and simpler installation where the feeders come in the bottom.
Can new wall go over tile floor? Looking at moving my laundry upstairs, and the right answer is to combine two adjacent closets to get the width and move one of their walls a foot or two into the kitchen to get the depth. The kitchen floor is 10-inch-square tiles. It would be sort of nice if that continued on into the...	The " correct " way to do it, is to remove or cut the tile where the wall will go. I do this all the time for partition walls.
Applying drywall tape - to score or not to score? I've recently been introduced to drywall repair methods that depend on substrates such as tape and metallic mesh. One technique I've seen for the mesh was to score (i.e., make a surface cut with a utility knife) the drywall around the area and rip off a layer of paper a...	As you can easily feel if you play with some drywall scraps, the paper is the strength - so don't cut it unless you are cutting the drywall.
Safest electric cable to use in insulated walls and attics, fire prevention Is there any standard out there in terms of ranking residential electrical cable options for fire safety, specifically in enclosed and/or insulated spaces? I've read that old knob & tube is actually very safe, if undamaged, due to the distance...	Installing and maintaining high quality short-circuit, overload, overcurrent, arc-fault, and ground-fault devices will reduce fire hazards. Not upgrading your ungrounded, elderly knob and tube does not seem like the best approach, to me.
Hanging picture on a very hard concrete wall Situation: Appartment in a panel building. Very hard concrete walls -- all, thick or thin. No plastic hooks (like these on alibaba that usually work for people around do not work for me, the little nails band when hammered in, and so does the larger nail. So far, I have b...	Just drill a hole, then use one of those cheap plastic wall anchors . I have hung pictures larger than 22 inches with the command strips and hang my (very large) on the 3M command hooks every day.
Drywall mudding tape wet under and over So, I am new to the drywalling thing and I went to tape/mud a few butt joints, but my process was to put mud on the joint, then put the tape over, but then instead of letting that first mud undercoat dry, I put another coat of mud over top and then let that all dry for 24 hours. ...	Amateurs may find it difficult, as they may apply too thick a coat, or tool the mud too much. You have listed the process correctly, and if you're new at this, then yes use pre-mixed joint compound (mud).
Confused about wiring outside light fixture with multiple switched wires I am trying to replace an outside motion detector light fixture that was removed before I bought the house and the only things left were the plastic base in the eave and electrical taped wires shoved through it. I pulled everything apart and have...	Also, a bad tap in a junction box could very well be letting just enough voltage to pass, giving a false reading.
Flood prevention in laundry closet I recently bought a house with the laundry closet upstairs. The washer and dryer were conveyed to us by the sellers. The washer does not have a drain pan underneath it, and as far as I can see, the laundry room does not have a floor drain. I'm planning to have a drain pan placed unde...	The basic idea is to get a device that cuts power to the washer if water is detected.
How to rip out inground pool's steel walls? Planning a major house project for next spring. My wife and I decided to fill in our inground pool. Previous owners built it, but not sure when (could be anywhere from late 1970s to early 2000s, literally). A few concerns: How can I tell (right now - for planning purposes)...	I'd personally be surprised if they were steel, but a magnet should be handy for verifying that they are not (or are.) If you are in full destructo-mindset and not going to change your mind over the winter, drilling hole(s) and looking at what comes out of the drilled hole (and what you see looking in the drilled hole)...
Is there a way to make toilet porcelain dirt and stain resistant? I'm sure this problem is present all around the world as toilet brushes are ubiquitous in every toilet I've ever been to. But this is the 21st century, there must be a better solution! Is there a smart way to make porcelain non-sticky? How do I get rid ...	You can treat your toilet like the windshield of your car with a coating of rain-x or similar product that repels water, or as others state a sealant or silicone-like coating that will close the porous surface of the toilet.
Need to move concrete slabs to backyard I am building a pizza oven for the backyard and part of the build instructions said to build three concrete slabs (2 that are 47" x 20" x 5.5" and another that is 47" x 29.5" x 5.5"). It asks you to pour the slabs on a flat surface like a garage floor. I poured them on my garag...	A palette jack might be a better bet, it would probably be fairly easy to use a lever to get some wood under the center of the block to raise it high enough to lift with the palette jack. I think using a vehicle would be best Getting it up on the top I'd use a 'material lift'.
Home tool for making wood edge slots? I have some planks and would like to make a wooden plate. So far I've seen this done by connecting the planks together but they've always had these prepared edges which hopefully the two images will describe better. What is the tool used to do this job? <Q> The usual way would b...	You need a "biscuit cutter," also known as a "plate joiner.
How does old wood furnace work? My mother in law has an old wood furnace in her workshop. It obviously is different than the typical wood stove you see. Does anyone have one of these? Or can anyone explain the theory behind its operation? The top part is what has me slightly confused. It seems like the smoke would co...	I think that might be an old coal burner with a dome heat exchanger on top (also known as a radiator).
How can I hang this Moroccan Tray? I just inherited this large 39" Moroccan tray (weighs about 15 lbs) from my parents and want to hang it on our wall. It does not have any hardware on the back so I'm trying to figure out what I can do without glueing or attaching anything to it in fear of damaging the tray. Any ideas...	You could solder on some brass "D" rings and wire it similar to the way you would hang a picture.
Copper failing under the house I am in a 10 year old house. Custom built, very nice home. Twice in the last year, have encountered a leak under the slab. History The first time about a year ago, I agreed to have the lines rerouted overhead in attic with PEX. Worked fine. This month, another leak happened in ...	A continuously running circulation pump along with high mineral content water, if combined with cheap thin walled copper pipe (Type-M, look for red manufacturing stamp) and poor installation technique (failure to ensure smooth flow by reaming/deburring pipe) could very well lead to internal erosion failure in 10 years....
Wood Trim that has Come Loose I have a thin strip of wood trim on the inside of a bedroom door frame that needs repairing (it's loose). What should I try first? <Q> My best suggestion from personal experience and opinion, is to stay away from adhesives. <S> Mechanical fasteners (nearly) always have a method of removal ...	A few (2-3) well placed, ringed finish nails would go a long way.
Precautions in connecting high voltage source to a relay? I want to use the following relay to control a 220V AC electrical device. The device may be an oven or a heating plate which I think should draw a less than 10A current (but the current should still be quite large). I think I should cut the "live" wire of the...	You'd want to strip it just long enough that it makes solid contact in the screw terminal, without bare wire sticking out. I've run these on hot plates and for electric motors. You should not use "Heat-shrink tube".
Why are there so many 220v circuits/breakers in my house's electrical panel? We noticed during our home inspection the main panel has only six general lighting circuits and seven 220v circuits/breakers.There were only two areas where 220 outlets would be used. Why would they have so many 220v breakers? Is this normal o...	Which means the double pole breakers could be feeding two 120 volt circuits, instead of a single 240 volt circuit. For example you might have electric dryer, electric range, electric heat, electric hot water, electric A/C, water treatment equipment, secondary panel(s), etc.
What did I drill into? I used a 3/32 drill bit for a pilot hole into my dry wall, directly in between 2 wooden studs that were about 32 inches apart, and about 18 inches from the ceiling (of a 1 story house). I mistakenly thought that there was another stud there because the magnetic stud finder was picking something u...	If the magnetic finder is showing just a narrow range near where you drilled the hole then the item in the wall might be a metal pipe such as a sewer vent stack, an iron water pipe or an iron gas pipe. Found what I thought was another stud and drilled with a new 3/32 cobalt drill bit for a pilot hole.
Can I Connect RGBW LED Strips With LAN Cable? I'm in the process of remodeling my kitchen. I plan to install RGBW led strips on the top of the upper cabinets, below upper cabinets and below ground cabinets. I have to close off any wall holes and paint the whole thing tomorrow and my RGBW wire still hasn't arrived (orde...	I would personally just make the holes, pass some string, leaving plenty on each end to tie and grab, then install the cable when you get it.
Would a second layer of housewrap cause problems? The siding company is having to redo the installation of my siding. I know the wrap underneath the siding that will be removed will end up having lots of holes after the planks are removed. The installer is planning to put up HardieWrap . I originally had paid extra (5...	There is no problem with doing this. You could build a wall with ten layers of housewrap and it would be more durable, not less.
How can I mount a speaker on the ceiling? I want to this heavy bookshelf speaker on my ceiling as a center-channel, preferably horizontally, as it's above my projection screen. I want to angle it roughly 20 degrees downward so that it's properly aimed at a listener sitting on a couch about ten feet away. It's 11 x ...	If you are willing to screw into the speaker, put 3-4 hooks on it and hang it with chains directly.
Are there residential light switches that don't have a arc upon toggleing I am looking for residential switches that don't arc when toggeled <Q> This is inherent in a switch. <S> You can use a heavy duty, or "spec-grade", switch that has a much more solid and distinct switch mechanism. <S> This may at least mask the ...	No, you will not find a typical wall switch that totally eliminates the little arc when switching a load.
Prevent dead animals in basement window wells How can I prevent animals from dying in my basement window wells? The wells are about two feet deep and have a clear plastic covers over them. The covers don't fit tightly and critters seem to get in. I just removed: 15 garter snake carcasses 1 live garter snake ...	So, I bought some pool noodles and cut them to secure around the top of the window well, and there have been no more critters in the window I tried angling tree branches for critters to crawl out on, but that didn’t work for frogs, either.
Best tool and blade to cut 8" pvc This is my first post. I need to cut 1' pieces of pvc sewer pipe for a few projects. The pipe will range from 4" to 15" diameter high density sewage (and perhaps fire-rated industrial pipe). I've researched at length all options from grinders, jigsaws, circulars, and reciprocating. I ...	I've got some good experience using reciprocating saws, and I'd like to think that I'd be able to make acceptably 'straight' cuts, but there's no way they'll all be perfect. A 12" blade on the reciprocating saw.
What is this digging tool called? A plumber came out to my house yesterday and had this tool on his arsenal which was basically a 3 or 4 ft long thin (1/2") fiberglass pole with a metal tip on the bottom and a handle on top which makes it look like the letter T. Here's a quick sketch of it I made in paint: He used it...	This is called a probe.
Groutable vinyl tile in a laundry room. Is it a bad idea? I'm going to put new vinyl tiles on top of old sheet vinyl floor, in a laundry room. My wife wants to use what's called Luxury Vinyl Tiles, which have a rounded edge and are groutable. There are grouts like Fusion Pro which specifically mention vinyl tiles as ...	Taking a permanent solution like grout and putting something like vinyl next to it just seems like a terrible idea.
How effective to use zinc strip to prevent roof moss I live in Seattle. My 6 years old composite shingles start to grow moss this year. I read one post on YouTube that you can use a long zinc strip placed on top of your roof to prevent moss. I am wondering how effective it is. Another post mentioned that one strip...	Basically, each rain washes metalic zinc down the roof and basically prevents any growth and lasts for decades. Based on some online recommendations I placed a bunch of pennies on the roof - half under several shingles.
Low voltage fuse blowing in furnace I have an outside A/C compressor and indoor furnace fan combo in the attic. The unit was off and the 3 amp fuse was blown. I replaced the fuse and used the thermostat to turn the fan on followed by the heater then the A/C. I let the unit run the A/C. After a while the A/C turned ...	If it does blow out, then it's somewhere between the control board, that contacter, or the thermostat and its wires (have fun ;). If the OP fuse is a glass cartridge style, then it is likely that a slow blow (MDL type or similar) is required in place of the fast acting automotive type.
Can I convert door slab from LH inswing to RH inswing I like my current wooden front door a great deal, but it's hinged to swing inward to the right, and traffic flow (getting a bike into the mud room, for example) would be a lot easier if it swung in to the left. Problem is, the latch edge of the door is beveled the ...	If the door cannot be flipped then I would go for an all new door and jamb and have it installed in the orientation that suits your needs.
how to build a basement under house I want to build a basement room under existing concrete deck how do I support deck while digging out beneath? It drops off vertically would dig from that side. soft dirt. How to do this safely. thank you <Q> Consequences for doing this wrong include being buried alive or the destru...	There is no safe way to do with you are asking without being or hiring a structural engineer.
Can I have a 15 amp outlet on a 20 amp circuit with a 20 amp GFCI I'm installing a few new outlets in my unfinished basement and what I have currently is a 20 amp circuit and I have a 20 amp GFCI outlet hooked on to that. I'm looking to add another standard 15 amp outlet off the 20 amp GFCI. I know you can do 15 amp ...	Homeowner - I had a 15 amp outlet ( more than 1) connected to a 20 amp GFI, the 15 amp out burned up and still did not trip the 20 amp breaker, not a good idea to have the mix even if allowed, it could have burned more than the plastic outlet and wire... Normally this would trip the panel breaker, but in this case the ...
Is 12-gauge wire adequate to run into between a 7000 watt generator and circuit box? I have a Briggs and Stratton model 040301A stand-alone generator I bought used I'm trying to figure out what gauge wire I use to feed my circuit box. When I took it apart it had a black and a red wire plugged into its terminal and they...	My advice would be to hire a local licensed Electrician, even if only for the planning part of the project.
How can I test if my powertool is getting enough electricity? Suppose I bring a powertool over to a community center (or a relative's home) to volunteer on a project. How can I determine if my tool is getting enough electricity (supposing other loads on the circuit are constant)? <Q> The most basic test: If the tool i...	You should pay attention to the voltage while the tool is being used.
How to strip sheath off outdoor cable? I am looking for a way to remove the protective sheath from a length of multicore mains electrical cable. It's rated for outdoor use and is VERY strong. Without butchering my fingers; trying to fine cut it with a utility knife and without cutting into the hot wire insulation (and ...	I've usually had good luck with a decent quality wire stripper with NM sheathing cutters.
Cement board or plywood for stuccoing over I have a former window I want to close and stucco over. I did the framing already. Was wondering if I should use a cement board or 1/2" OSB or plywood with wire mesh as substrate to stucco over (to match the surrounding). If cement board is the way to go, should I still use wi...	The simplest way to stucco the opening is to use cement board only because you'd be saving several steps by not having to apply each successive layer.
Can insulation foam expand around window framing and cause warping? I was just wondering if insulation foam (I used regular Great Stuff from HD) can expand in dry conditions around a window (frame) and cause warping and damage to the window up to and including breakage. <Q> I have personally seen it bow "trimmer" studs...	It could easily warp, bow, or move a window frame itself. Note: you can buy "low expansion" foam specifically designed to avoid this issue.
Damp patch on the chimney wall I have a problem with condensation on the wall between my living room and the chimney and I would be grateful for suggestions as to how to tackle this. Some background: when I bought my house the fireplaces had been removed and the chimneys capped. The chimneys have a vent on the outside...	You can also add insulation behind the problem wall, within the chimney.
How to create a hidden plug for PVC pipe I'm working on building a semi-permanent set of full-size soccer goals. Full-size in this case means 6' x 18'. Because of the size and spans, I'm planning on using 1.5" PVC pipe and fittings. And in order to help keep the goals from tipping over from strong winds, I plan on a...	Gluing the coupling onto your pipe will lock that disk in place and create a seal for the sand.
What diameter PVC conduit should I bury under my front yard? I'd like to run two 20A circuits to the other side of my front yard. I'll be using 12AWG THWN conductors, over a length of about 20 feet through PVC conduit buried at a depth of 18 inches. What diameter conduit is appropriate for my application? <Q> Code de...	I would use schedule 80 PVC for a job like this; while it will mean finding your local electrical supply unless you have the oddest home cheapo I've never met (never seen sch. You'll want to bury the conduit 18" deep, and provide GFCI protection for the circuits (most likely via GFCI breaker(s)). Larger also meets code...
How to manage leaves? The location is wooded Georgia suburbs on roughly an acre with lots of oak and a smattering of pine trees. There isn't much yard; a couple hundred square feet of grass with leaves three to six inches deep. And there's a 300 foot driveway I've been leaf blowing and accumulating the leaves off to th...	If you don't want to have leaves bordering your wood-line, A nice and easy method for removing the leaves to a different location would be to get a large tarp and blow/rake the leaves onto that.
Supporting sliding ladder rail from sides of small closet? I'd like to build a rolling ladder for my tall office closet using a kit. However, the shelving is metal ClosetMaid/Elfa-style and can't support a rod for the ladder to slide along. My thought is to instead use a closet rod with supports on the left and ...	Kits are available for constructing sliding ladders; I plan to set ip one or two in my library.
Are all rectangular outlets, switches, and plates the same dimensions and interchangeable? Do I need to make sure my switches, plates, and outlets are from the same manufacturer or can I mix and match? I'm referring to the rectangular decora-style and wasn't sure if there'd be slight differences in size between brands....	Cover plates generally are the same size if they are the "standard size". As for the outer edges of the plates these are pretty close but actually can differ by as much as 1/4". But there are also oversize plates and jumbo plates which are handy if the sheetrock does not butt close to the box.
Paint and mold prevention Which application produces the best results, with respect to mold prevention: An all-in-one paint with primer Apply plain primer, then regular paint Is using either process better for mold and mildew prevention? I haven't tried it yet, and will be waiting until spring. <Q> This is a bit ...	Nobody has enough experience with the paint/primer combination products to give you a good opinion on durability and longevity vs. normal primer then paint technique.
How to figure out router bit radius I want to match the existing radius on my stairs trim, but I'm unsure what size rounding over bit I need to get. I measured the arc of the radius the best I could with a flexible tape measure and it's about 9/16". I did the math and that equates to a 0.6" radius, which is close to 5/...	Then line rulers up flush to each other, say at the 4” mark, you should be able to get a measurement of where the gap starts (from both directions).
Ceramic tiles on concrete walls Can I put ceramic tiles right on my poured basement walls ? I want to put a shower in and tile the walls floor and cieling. Should I put a false wall and tile over it or can I put ceramic right on the concrete? <Q> However, if you're building a shower, it's critically important that you...	You can definitely put tiles right on the concrete wall.
How do I remove dried latex paint from clothing? How do you remove dried latex paint out of clothes? It has been there for several days. I haven't really tried anything yet because didn't want to make it worse. <Q> I find that rubbing alcohol works quite well as a solvent for dried latex paint. <S> Soak and rub. <A> ...	Rather surprisingly, a simple machine wash with regular detergent removed a mixture of acrylic I suspect a lot depends on the fiber of the clothing in question and probably the paint as well.
Can I run these appliances with 25A I'm looking to lease a floor of a building for office purposes but the building owner has placed a cap on current to 25Amp due to limited current available. I'm no expert but he has consulted a professional in the area and after figuring out the important stuff, this is the final req...	A lot will depend on the individual power requirements for each device, without that information it is not really possible to know for sure.
Heat Pump - emergency electric strips - how controlled? I have a recently installed combination of a Goodman electric package unit, and an ecobee smart thermostat. This morning with the outdoor temp at 36, I was surprised when I peered out the window and saw that my compressor fan was not running (which told me my hou...	If your winter temperature rarely goes below the 20s at night, it is doubtful the unit is equipped with a low ambient compressor cut off at all. The heat pump should be running with outdoor at 35F, whether or not the heat strips are on.
How can I anchor something in the gaps between the bricks or rocks of a fireplace without damaging the masonry? I want to hang fireplace tools next to my fireplace without damaging the stone work. I don't want to drill into it. The stones have mortar between them with gaps about half an inch wide: I have nearly ha...	With the large gaps in between the stones, you can also drill into the mortar using a masonry bit and attach the tools with a masonry screw.
What sort of driver works the center screw in this hinge? This door does not like to latch; to latch it I must pull sharply up on the doorknob. So I see a shim in my future. I suppose I need to unscrew the bottom hinge, but what sort of screw-driver does that strange square hole? (Alternatively, would I just shim on th...	I agree it is a stripped Phillips screw head, and that the head should be drilled off, the hinge removed, and then the remaining screw shaft unscrewed with a pair of pliers. "
Why do many construction projects leave so many nails behind? I just had a significant amount of work done on my house and the contractors left lots of nails scattered around my yard. I have a two-part question: Is this typical? If it's typical, why is it the case? Is it just the cost of doing business? Or could c...	Yes it is typical, but a conscientious contractor will pick them up with a magnet or not let them drop to begin with.
Do I have to periodically pour water down my basement floor drain to maintain the p-trap water seal? There is a sewer smell coming from my basement. There are only a couple entries to the sewer in the basement: A laundry sink that acts as the drain for a water softener (which regenerates every few days), and a floor dr...	The fluid also slows evaporation from the trap.
Should I use 14/2 Romex or Armored Cable between plaster attic ceiling and exterior roof? I am running wire for some recessed lights in my finished attic. It is a typical gable roof; the interior is plastered with 2x6 joists. Im curious to know if running Romex in the ceiling between the joists is ok. There is the occa...	However, if you are worried about future damage to your wiring from roofers, you could use armored cable. unless he is talking about running romex above the trusses in between batting, like if the roof isnt sheeted, then as long as he nails it 1&1/4" away from any surface that will get nailed: use romex! I have never p...
Should I smooth out or apply knockdown texture after popcorn ceiling removal? I am removing non-asbestos popcorn ceilings on a 2200 sqft house. All walls in the house are knockdown texture. After the popcorn comes off, I can either smooth out the drywall or apply knockdown texture to match the walls. Either way I don'...	Conversely, if the ceiling has many divots and uneven sections than applying a textured knockdown would be faster because it would hide these imperfections that add to the labor of skimming coat them.
Converting 120v wiring to low voltage I have four 120v spot lights in front of my house, they are connected to two light sensors (2 on each sensor) I would like to convert these to low voltage LED's. What do I need to make the conversion. Do I have to convert each light or can I just convert at the sensor box for ea...	If you don't know if the sensors support LEDs and/or if the sockets are good then you might consider just replacing both flood light kits, sensors and all and using the above mentioned bulbs.
How to refinish indoor window molding wood? The window molding in my house feels very "rough," for lack of a better word. The house is 25 years old. I assume this is from the sun beating down on the finish and wearing it down over the years, since the trim that is not in direct sunlight (like the top of the window mol...	Refinishing it by stripping / sanding off the existing finish, restaining and resealing, would look great but a lot of work.
Threads in brass floor lamp post have been stripped. No longer twists and stays in place. How can I fix the threads? I have a floor lamp that comes in sections that you twist to screw together. the threads on one section have become stripped and the sections no longer stay together. Is there a way I can fix these threa...	Depending on how mangled the threads are, you may be able to clean them up with a small sharp file.
Turn off water heater as well during winter? If I am going on vacation for an extended period during winter (it occasionally gets below freezing here), should I turn off water valve AND the gas water heater or just turn off the main water valve?I am seeing a lot of people advising to close the main water valve but leav...	Turn off the water to the building.
How do I remove or cut a sewer pipe at edge of our basement slab? What's the best way to remove the unused sewer / storm-drain pipe in the attached picture? It's coming up through the edge of our basement slab where it meets the foundation wall? We want to remove it b/c we're finishing the basement and would like to f...	A chisel could come in handy to finish demo, then put something down in pipe to keep mix from falling to bottom of pipe and pour expanding concrete or rock hard putty in the pipe.
Installing a exterior light in existing vinyl siding My house is a 50's cape which originally had clapboard siding. The previous owner put a layer of rigid foam over the clapboard, then vinyl siding. As far as I can tell, from looking at the wall stack-up from the bottom I see: 1) 3/4 tongue and groove sheathing 2) ...	Electrical boxes cut into siding will not be waterproof or moisture proof either. First, I removed the old siding and cut out the damaged tar paper: Do not skimp on the amount of caulk you use before and after the installation of fixture.
How to determine (not estimate) starting amperage of a motor? I want to buy an inverter-generator to run my Trane heating system in case of a power outage. The Trane is on a 20 amp circuit. The sticker says it needs a minimum of a 15.2 amp circuit. My question is, how do I determine (not estimate) the surge amperage ...	Measuring the startup load is as easy as using a clamp on meter and turning the air handler on and off.
Can an electrical breaker panel be mounted on an exterior wall? Can an electrical breaker panel be inserted on an exterior wall, inside the house, or is it required that it is on an interior wall, inside the house? <Q> They are almost always on an exterior wall. <S> In some areas they are on the outside of the exteri...	The service panel must be close to the meter base in many municipalities, although some allow longer runs of suitably-sized conduit to carry load-side service conductors from the meter base to a service panel inside the house, which is done if the meter base is located on the outside wall of a garage, for example.
Where should the ground wire go at a light switch with no ground screw? I am going through some basic electrical stuff in a house that had some pro and some amateur work done. Some of the things I've been working on (e.g. light switches) have been wired correctly (breaking the hot wire only) but the ground wire was sim...	At a light switch, it is likely that the ground wire is a spur, i.e. it is only there to ground the light switch should the light switch need it.
Removing Caulk from Quartz bathroom countertop My contractor used white silicon caulk on my quartz tri-colored brand new bathroom countertop, smearing it in a wide swath on all the seams where backsplash meets the countertop. My quartz countertop is black, brown, and tan spots on a vanilla background. This pure white c...	I use isopropyl alcohol to clean off the Goo Gone and then wait until the joint is completely dry before re-caulking. I've had very good success removing dried silicone that had not been applied carefully by "pushing" it off the surface.
Load capacity of 2x4s spaced 16" We are trying to finish an above garage attic space as a playroom (since the ceiling will be slanted - 7' to 4' headroom). The "room" is 25' x 8' and currently has 2x4s that are 16" apart. My current place is to double up on the 2x4s by sistering them before putting a 23/32" plywood su...	You'd also have to have the attachments to the top plate of the walls adequate to support the weight of the floor. I can't imagine a garage layout that would have a span short enough to make with 2x4's, even sistered.
Why do fence panels turn grey? Looking from my upstairs window i can see almost my entire streets back gardens.Almost all of them have greyish wooden fencing panels, but i'm sure this asn' by choice. what caused this so i can avoid it in the future? <Q> The dulling of wood fibers occurs if the fence boards are left un...	Exposed wood weathers - wood that is dry tends to weather brown, wood that gets wet weathers gray (you can get a delightful brown/gray transition on the sides of a barn where the upper part is kept dry by the eaves and the lower part gets wetted.) It is possible that some of your neighbors decided that a natural patina...
Can I install a sink that drains into this floor drain? I would like to install a sink in my basement but the only drain that is close to it is being used for the HVAC. Can I use this existing drain for the sink as well? This is roughly how the drain is currently setup/used. <Q> You have to ask your local building ins...	One of the problems you will have is if your sewer backs up it will back up into your sink drain. This isn't a huge deal but could get messy.
Should I repair floor joists that have cracks or holes? The floor joists in my unfinished basement of a 1950s house have nails that the previous owner probably used to hang items on. Many of the nails have caused the floor joists to split. I've been removing the nails because I'm not hanging stuff from the ceiling....	The standard solution is to sister a second joist next to the failing one, and possibly add some support columns to a footing in the floor.
How to install hydronic radiant heat over concrete slab I'm trying to figure out the most ideal way to install hydronic radiant heat in my basement over the existing concrete slab. I've looked at several products for heat distribution, like Warmboard, before settling on this: http://radiantengineering.com/tfinu I'm t...	The ThermoFin U heat transfer plates are easier to install if the fins are down against the subfloor and plywood sleepers on the fins.
Can I use 3/4" gravel to grade land away from my basement wall? There's a portion of concrete slab that slopes towards the basement wall of my house. It is winter already so I can't really pour concrete, but I do have several bags of 3/4" gravel (crushed stone) in my backyard. Can I use it to grade the land away from ...	This type of rock would be be useful if you wanted to add a french drain to ensure the water drops away from the house.
Mineral wool on top of fiberglass. Density and compression A while back I asked about adding my 1.5" thick pieces of mineral wool insulation batts ontop of my 12" thick fiberglass I am installing in my attic. As I have began doing this, I am seeing that the fiberglass is so fluffy that throwing on the 1.5" thick batts...	The only adjustment that could be made (and it is a laborious one) is to increase the height of the joists so they are above the fiberglass and support the mineral wool.
Polyurethane on hardwood floor dilemma We were on our third coat of water based polyurethane on my hardwood floor and ran out. I went and grabbed a can and when I started putting it on I noticed a difference. It was oil based. The area now looks completely different. It's like a 4 by 6 foot area. Should I try to sand i...	The only sensible way to fix it would be to remove the oil based poly without disturbing the stain below it. I believe if you look at the directions on the can it will state to sand between coats if more that 24 hours has elapsed, so sanding a sealed floor won't harm it.
Why did they hammer nails in half way and bent them over to secure supports? In my 1950s house they hammered nails in half way and bent them over to secure the supports to the beam. Why was this technique used? <Q> The nail heads aren't big enough for the holes. <S> At that time carpenters didn't enjoy the vast arra...	Because it is easy to remove the nails if required to move the post.
HVAC supply vent noise: how to eliminate the whistling wind tunnel? Every time the heat turns on (rented house), we are getting choked with too much dry hot air in our small room. When I try to close the supply vent it produces a really loud whistling noise. I either lose sleep because of the noise, or because of the d...	by trimming them to length, you can tune the amount of air flowing past them, effectively choking the pipe off or reducing the flow to where your room is comfortable. This should be something the Landlord can handle.
Need copper to ground electrical box I need to ground my switches by connecting the grounding wires from switches onto an electrical twist nut and pig tailing it it to the box. Does Home Depot or other stores sell little pieces of copper to complete the pig tail or do I need to buy a big roll of copper? Does the gaug...	Connect a short length of grounding wire to the metal box, using a screw in the threaded hole in the back of the box. They probably also sell premade pigtails which are made out of THHN wire that have crimped on terminals. Find out what gauge wire you are working with and buy some green THHN wire of the same gauge. Sol...
Yard Vac only runs on full choke My Parents gave me a Craftsman Yard Vac (Model No. 247.770550) that they hadn't used in a few years. The tank had been empty, but mice had made a nest around the engine. I chased the mice away and fueled up and it worked fine. I cleaned it up for winter, removed a few dead mice and thei...	Don't use gasket sealer at the carburetor throat as it poses a danger of clogging intake. Purchase some "Chem-Dip", remove the carburetor and break it down to single parts, put aside all plastic parts and soak all metal parts as per directions.
How can I stop our duct work "pinging" at night? I'm in Canada, and our home is a bit older, ~20 years, and the duct work seems to be making a rather loud "pinging" noise at night. I assume this is due to colder weather in general, and the hot air from the furnace heating the duct work up. The noise, however, does bot...	Solutions generally involve either 1) securing the duct more effectively at the contact point so it can't move against the lumber, 2) loosening the attachments so it can move with less noise, or 3) lubricating the contact points with something like wax to allow freer sliding. To make location and diagnosis easier, allo...
Get electricity to outlet behind wall mounted TV I want to install a recessed outlet behind my TV but I am not sure how to get electricity to the outlet. There is an outlet at the bottom of the wall, below the TV. Can I run a Romex 14/2 wire from that outlet up the wall to the newly installed outlet behind the TV? I ...	Connect the wires in the new box to the receptacle (black to brass, white to silver, and green/bare to ground). It looks like it is a double width gang to allow you to run both your low-voltage and high-voltage wiring to the same box. While it might be big and ugly, if you are sure your TV is going to stay there, your ...
How to get cable staples to stick in the wall In my family room, I've used cable staples (like the ones pictured below) to fasten speaker wire along the wall at the top of the baseboards. There are hardwood floors in this room. Not all of them fastened so securely, which wasn't a problem at first… and then we got a p...	Another good option is adhesive wire mold that covers the entire length of the cord.
Adding a switch to a light circuit I have a workshop with a single switch that turns on and off two sets of lights. The first set is a row of spots and the second, at the other end of the room, is a fluorescent strip light. The wiring to the lighting is part accessible and runs on the top of wooden beams from which th...	The existing switch will then control power to the spots and the fluorescent but if the new switch is off, the power will not get to the spots.
Drilling a hole as near as possible to a corner I want to run a few new wires through my apartment, and for that I need to drill some holes through the walls (10-20mm diameter). Due to aesthetic considerations and cable bent radius I want them ideally to be right in the corner at the ceiling. Unfortunately my drill h...	The second top plate will be nailed near its ends as shown. We use a bit extensions to get the drill farther away so we can drill with more flexibility. You also run the risk there being a drywall fastener in that upper corner on either side.
How do I rewire a switched receptacle and make it permanently hot I have a light switch that controls the top half and bottom half of a nearby receptacle. How do I disconnect this switch and make both halves of the receptacle permanently hot? There are other receptacles on the same circuit located to the left and rig...	Then disconnect all the wires from the switch and connect them together with an appropriately sized twist-on wire connector, except for the ground, which simply terminates at the box.
How do I read the markings printed on the outside of electric wires? In my recessed lighting project, I finished roughing-in the Romex copper wires and I was about to connect the recessed lighting wires when I noticed the wires from the lights are of a silver-colored metal. I read somewhere that connecting two differe...	Any connector you buy will list the wire size it is suited for.
What is the proper way to prevent water infiltration between exterior stairs and wall My house has a full flight of poured concrete stairs (covered with decorative stone) that runs parallel to (and butts up against) an exterior wall. The interior wall had water stains at the basebord, some distortion in the laminate f...	With such an assembly, water in the concrete will be prevented from entering the interior by the vapor-barrier RedGard paint, and any that does make it inside for some reason will hit the tar paper and drain away from the interior. An isolation or expansion joint would have helped any water that did find a way in to ev...
Difficulty attaching 2x4s to poured concrete wall We are novice DIYers attempting to finish our garage walls in a 10 year old Ryan Home with a poured concrete foundation. I had planned to lay the 2x4s flat against the wall, meaning I need a fastener of 1.5" for the lumber and additional length for the concrete. Initi...	The drill bits that come with the screws are junk. I found when drilling for TapCon screws is to let the bit set the pace and not to exert a lot of force, but enough to keep the bit working. We have found Tapcons extremely problematic in concrete.
Rewire polarized power receptacle that is installed backwards The extension of the house I just bought seems to have the US 120V recpeticals wired backwards. The large blade tests hot and the small blade tests neutral. This and a bunch of other issues where found during the home inspection. Given some of the craziness ...	The most important device that won't work with a mis-wired outlet is a hot-side fuse or circuit breaker. Certainly any device that has a non-polarized plug will be totally fine.
Primer and paint for radiators I need to repaint a part of my radiator. I have already sanded the tarnished area with a grinder and a flapdisk but not the whole area (half of a fin) I'm getting ready to refinish, IOW most of the area still has paint but I removed it where it looked ugly (some burn marks). Should I use...	I went to Lowe's and got Rustoleum White Gloss Protective Enamel ( here ) and sprayed mine, it worked like a charm.
How to remove the handles from this faucet My bathroom faucet is leaking around the base of my right handle. With previous faucets I've been able to use a set screw to loosen the handle and replace the washer. With these, though, I can't seem to pop off the faucet handle. Does anyone know how to remove this handle? ...	It looks as if the end caps are removable, the buttons on the very end of each handle.
Hanging pictures/mirrors to drywalls without leaving big holes What are the best methods (screws, hooks, etc) to hang heavy objects (such as huge mirrors and framed pictures) on drywalls while doing the less possible damage ? I don't mind drilling holes in the drywalls, but since I have tons of stuff to hang, it wo...	any wall anchor will do, but the ones that leave the smallest openings are the nail and hook-type picture hangers.
Low pressure in shower of tub/shower combo I have a tub shower combo where the tub and the shower have separate taps but I believe share the same water lines. The tub part has tons of pressure but the shower has hardly any. I've recently fixed the cold water tap on the shower, it was leaking and needed new o rings,...	Try replacing/cleaning the shower head extension (the bit between the shower arm and the head), as they sometimes have screens/restrictions that get gunked up.
How to locate septic lid in yard I have a septic system in my backyard, but I don't know where the lid is. Is there a way to locate it based on the pipes or other method? I think it's under the lawn somewhere. The reason I want to find it? You can save about $50 if you dig up the lid before getting the septic pumpe...	There are services that use a flushable electronic transmitter that can then be found with a receiver.
Why is the coiled white wire on a GFCI circuit breaker smaller than the branch circuit neutral? I just recently installed a 50A two pole GFCI circuit breaker that was part of a 240VAC spa panel . For 50A I was using 6 AWG wires. When connecting up this type breaker you connect the two poles of the breaker to the two h...	A wire in free air within a breaker box would be able to get rid of heat far more effectively than one in an insulated wall, and less likely to ignite anything nearby.
How to PROPERLY test that your smoke detectors work? I installed two new smoke detectors in my house a few months ago and have been testing them using the 'test' buttons. Today I decided to give them a more realistic test by placing a burning and then extinguished match underneath them. To my surprise neither was act...	Lighting a fire or using aerosol spray near them will coat their sensors with smoke or other particles, and they might not work properly after that. Always read and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for purpose and placement. Heat rise detectors and other more specialized alarms require different testing techni...
Is it advisable to run a snow blower on a non-GFCI receptacle? Is it advisable to run a snow blower on a non-GFCI receptacle? After all, while using the machine I will always be wearing mittens and boots. Would these not provide sufficient safety? <Q> NSIS. <S> If there isn't a GFCI receptacle available, you can use...	A GFCI receptacle will certainly provide more protection than mittens and boots.

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