Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

source stringlengths 620 29.3k	target stringlengths 12 1.24k
How to get rid of new carpet removed from a new house I live in Sugar Land, Texas within city of Houston. I ripped off the newly installed carpet from a new house to install wood floor. What are the best way to get rid off the carpet and pad in my garage? <Q> If it is still in an okay state, you can try and sell it for...	Your municipal trash collection service probably doesn't allow construction waste, but private companies exist that offer a range of waste collection services. Bulky items should be set out at the curb at least four feet from other objects. Another option is to have the carpet installer dispose of your old carpet. On-C...
How to switch a single pole light to I have 8 recessed can lights in the ceiling of my finished basement. The lights are operated by one pole switch w/dimmer. Is there any way to separate the can light in order to turn on one row at a time. We found that it is not necessary to have all 8 can lights on at the same ti...	Depend on how many lights in a row as you mentioned, it definitely needs more switches.
Is a tank-style water heater always under pressure? Is a tank-style hot water heater always under pressure? In other words, is the entire tank pressurized? Is the pressure largely created by the force of the incoming cold water supply? <Q> Yes, the tank is under pressure from the incoming cold water supply. <S> After...	Yes, the water tank will be equalized to the same pressure as the water in all your house plumbing, unless there are regulators or check valves to interfere with that.
How can I replace a ceiling fan plus light with just a light? I have a ceiling fan with separate fan speed control and switch on the wall. I would like to replace it with a plain light fixture if it is not too hard to get the wiring into a safe configuration. It is wired to a switch and fan speed control as follows: ...	If you want to remove the fan control, you'll have to remove/cap any wires that are attached to it.
Why does my Ring doorbell keep repeating the chime? I installed one of those fancy new Ring doorbells (the video / WiFi connected doodads) and it keeps repeating my doorbell chime. When you press the button to "Ring" me, the doorbell chime rings and the the app initiates a video call to my phone. Until I accept, rejec...	The Ring isn't timing out when it stops; it's just finished charging. Especially with older doorbells the rubber insulation around the two wires dries out and cracks and allows the two to interact, causing intermittent/random ringing.
Why is my toilet not flushing completely? I have reviewed the other questions here related to this. I'm pretty sure it's not clogged because it doesn't back up and usually only takes 2 flushes to get everything down. Usually it seems to be paper that's left after the first flush, which seems odd. The water does swirl, ...	If you can't find any problems, then it is time to replace the toilet itself.
Outlet inside a wall behind TV I purchased a TV for our bathroom remodel that is to be flush mounted in the wall - my question is can I install an outlet inside the wall to power the unit. It would be accessible if I lift the tv (it is gravity seated - no bolts - just lift it up to pull tv off wall). So since code is...	As Tester said the receptacle needs to be protected by GFCI. By this definition your installation would be acceptable. This means it cannot be behind the TV.
Creating my own coffered ceilings, whats the best material to use for the frame? SO I am creating my own coffered ceilings by creating a grid which I will attach to the ceiling. Then I will nail/glue crown moldings onto this grid to create my coffered ceilings. Now I've made a mockup of my grid for testing purposes u...	Steel studs are typically less expensive than high quality wood studs. Steel studs are straight and dimensionally stable and will not expand, contract, or warp like wood.
How grout entire floor without disturbing the grout? It's my first time grouting a floor (5x9' bathroom). The tiles are 2" hex. I figured I would only be able to do half the floor at a time to avoid disturbing the grout when it's soft. Is this true, or is there a good way to do the whole thing at once? <Q> You need t...	Mix a small amount of vinegar (or muriatic acid) with clean water in a bucket and sponge the entire floor to remove remaining grout "haze".
What's the best way to remove a wrought iron fence? I have a simple wrought iron fence that I would like to remove. It has posts in concrete with the panels welded to them. I was just going to cut the horizontal bars from the posts and then pull out the posts. Is this the best way to remove the fence? What tools do I...	If you or a neighbor don't have one, you could use a regular hacksaw and save $$.
Older rental home with fake wood look floor- dull, how to shine/polish? We moved into a rented house last summer, it has "fake wood" floors - not sure of the brand or type, but the place was built about 20 years ago. We have 3 big dogs, and between their paws and other traffic, the floor just always looks dull. Some ar...	Instead, you should only use a gentle cleanser that is designed for no-wax floors. Once this top layer is worn out, there is not much that can be done to restore its appearance. The floor will have a nice shine.
How to make the door shut on its own after opening? There are some kind of door devices which push the door back after we open the door and come out. My problem is that the door area is not constructed in a way that such a device can be installed. There is no space adjacent to the door anywhere. Automatic closure of...	You could use a hinge pin door closer: or try replacing one hinge with a self-closing hinge:
What could cause radon levels to be higher on the 3rd floor than the 1st and 2nd? Details: It's a 3 story building. Each apartment has its own HVAC system. There is no shared ventilation system. The foundation is a slab. The radon levels on all three floors were measured simultaneously. The first floor was 7.3 pC...	But, the difference in readings has to do with ventilation & thereby natural convection. Every time water is used in toilets, washing, showers (especially), cooking, etc some of the radon in the water will pass into the air. All air will rise or be drawn-up in a 3-story building, drawing is what's happening with the 2n...
Is it safe to use an angle grinder with wood cutting blades? Being a newbie to DIY and trying to get more and more jobs done myself, safety is a concern to me. I recently bought a Makita 5" angle grinder to cut some metal balustrades, job done. I considered buying some wood cutting discs for it, which I have seen on-li...	Very dangerous just never get a wood blade for angle grinder But yes, as long as you keep the blade guard on & of course it will "work".
Unplugged computer sparked upon touching a cold heating pipe First time here, so be kind with me, if this not the right forum to post. I have (maybe) experienced an electrostatic discharge (ESD) from a computer case some days before, and I'd like to hear your opinions on this accident. A computer case at my work, wa...	If your computer was unplugged but monitor plugged in you have a ground path if the pipe was hot. Most likely, the circuit that the circuit breaker killed & is the problem circuit & must be fixed immediately as it could harm or kill someone.
Can I safely use a 9w LED bulb in place of a 40w incandescent? I bought a reading lamp that on the box says: Max 1x40W The shop also sold me an LED light bulb that says: 9W=75W So my question is, can I use light bulb or not? I am confused between the 75W and the max of 40W mentioned for the lamp <Q> Yes. <S> The fi...	LED bulbs do get hot, and some get so hot that you can't use them in an enclosed fixture because their internal electronics will overheat, but it won't hurt the lamp.
Bumped into a joist while drilling for a toggle bolt Uh oh. I've used two other toggle bolts to hang plants using a swag hook in this 2 sq foot area of my ceiling, and it never occurred to me that I might actually hit a joist. The one inch gap between the joist itself and the drywall is big enough that the wood screw b...	Your kit just doesn't supply the correct hardware for this particular situation. Getting a smaller toggle with shorter wings will likely get the wings to release, but you still need to shorten the toggle's bolt.
Why is my air compressor drawing too many amps? I have an old air compressor (1970s/1980s vintage) that has recently started tripping the circuit breaker that it is on. I hooked up a clamp meter and found that when the compressor motor is running with no load (belt removed) it is drawing 12 amps and when the belt is in...	It is common for older motors to start to draw more as the bearings fail. If voltage is correct at the feed, check all connections to the motor leads.
What is this stuff in the attic? What is the black stuff in the first four photos, and the white stuff in the last photo? Is any of it mold, or is it all harmless stuff? Structure is about 10 years old. Home inspector claimed that the first four photos are just "truss fungus", which he claimed is present in almost a...	If there's no evidence of moisture problems in the attic now, and the mold doesn't seem to be growing, I wouldn't be concerned. If everything stays dry it's probably not an issue either. You can see that it matches the stamp in color and edge bleed.
How should I build the walls for a tiny house on a camper frame? I am preparing to build a tiny house on an old camper frame, and am looking for advice on how to build the exterior walls. I'm planning to use 2x3 wood studs at 24" o.c., with 1/4" plywood on the interior and 3/8" plywood on the exterior. I'll use house ...	A house is a house & 2x4's 16"oc with 1/2" exterior plywood properly screwed are the minimum structural elements, for just the walls , that your Local Building Dept. will approve.
Is this an abandoned wasp's nest? I found a small wasp nest this morning that's about 3" in diameter tucked into the railing of my deck stairs. It's unfortunately facing the side of my house, which is about 6 or 7 feet away, so I'd have to spray it at an odd angle to get enough distance between it and me when doing so...	By the looks of your picture and your description it does seem like an old, unused nest.
Is a "painting pad / sponge square" indeed the way to get a smooth wood surface after applying polyurethane? My last polyurethane finishing experiment failed. I applied fast-drying Varathane to 3/4" maple plywood shelves. They were very finely finished before applying the polyurethane, and became very rough after. I su...	So far in my limited experience I find I'm happiest with the results from a cloth pad, but this is a matter of picking what works for you on this sort of project; it's all tradeoffs.
Can I wire 3 switches to 3 devices through conduit with a single hot and ground? I have a bathroom fan/light/night light combo unit that allows for all 3 features to be switched separately (a connector for each). I want a timer for the fan, and separate switches for each light. I'm wondering the best way to wire that. ...	One of the luxuries of working in conduit is you can install any wires the circuit requires. Though with 12/2/2, you'll have to reidentify one of the neutral conductors. Of course green can never be anything but ground, even in a conduit. For convenience, they sell green screws 10 for a buck, and pre-made ground pigtai...
How do you ensure an even second and third coat over matte white paint? This may seem trivial, but is frustrating me. How do you ensure an even second and third coat over matte white paint? Other than a few brush marks here and there, you can't see the fresh paint from the dry. Changing the lighting conditions doesn't...	If you apply the paint by always keeping a "wet edge" and paint in a orderly consecutive fashion it shouldn't be difficult to count the coats of paint applied.
Water Supply Noise due to Thermal Expansion? I have a plumbing issue that I'm looking for suggestions on. After using a substantial amount of hot water (say, a long shower + washing laundry) I will hear a loud rumbling / vibrating sound throughout the house, emanating from the water pipes. The noise seems to originate ...	If your water company installed a check valve on their side of the supply to the house, to eliminate backflow in to the city water suppy, your thermal expansion is stressing the holding tank in your water heater.
Cutting wire/cable in close quarters I need to cut some steel wire/cable (the type that's a bunch of little wires twisted together--not sure the technical term for it). The wire is maybe a bit more than 1/16in in diameter. The access is pretty limited. The wire is set back a few inches from an opening that's only 3 i...	Pulling the wire towards the front of the hole should allow you to cut it with almost any tool
Does a router smooth edges significantly more than a jigsaw? My first experiment with a jigsaw produced a nicely rounded shelf, but it's terribly rough. I am considering reducing the labor needed to properly sand it by getting another toy: a router. A nice side effect of using a router is that the top and bottom edges ...	A Router used on any edge without a template will only follow the edge that's there, regardless of how good or bad it is.
when there isn't a ground wire , is it ok to ground to the neutral on a outlet? When there isn't a ground wire, is it okay to ground to the neutral on a outlet? There is no ground wires to my outlets. <Q> No. <S> The usual solution is to replace that outlet with a GFCI outlet, attaching the included label to indicat...	NEVER bridge neutral to ground.
Kobalt Weed Eater unspools immediately on running As soon as I start running my Kobalt KST 120X-06 weed eater the line immediately unspools very quickly (like 5 inches a second). It is like the autofeed is always on. I have made sure I am spooling correctly: http://pdf.lowes.com/operatingguides/841821017460_oper.pdf...	As long as all the mechanics look correct and working make sure the filament is wrapped around the spool in a clockwise direction (when looking at the spool). You are starting up the tool on too low of initial speed (applicable of unit has a variable speed on/off control).
Faucet supposed to stick out this far? A local plumbing company installed my tub/shower. In my uneducated opinion, this faucet doesn't look right and seems to be sticking too far out. Should it look like this? I don't want to be overly picky, but I did pay a decent chunk of change and want it done right. https:/...	That picture's all sorts of wrong, except tub spout, & not at all professional!
Why does my mobile home's panel read 240 volts between hot and neutral? The red leg of the panel in my mobile home reads 240 volt from hot to neutral. What might be the cause of this? It's causing the light bulbs to pop, and I'm afraid to turn on any appliances <Q> You do have an open main neutral. <S> Turn off the ...	Sounds like that's what you've got right now., but perhaps it was miscolored or mislabeled.
Is it a bad idea to temporarily caulk a toilet base leak? We've discovered that our toilet is leaking at the base (related question: How can I repair a toilet that is leaking at the base? ) and needs repair. However, whoever installed the toilet originally decided to concrete it down to the floor, so a DIY repair isn'...	It is an even worse idea to caulk around the base of a toilet with a known seal leak.
New remote-controlled ceiling fan doesn't respond to wall switch I replaced a ceiling fan in my bedroom that no longer worked. I didn't pay attention to the wiring when removing the old fan but diligently followed the instructions. The new fan has a light kit and remote kit and it all works perfectly except they are no...	One of them will have to be turned on by the remote or a pull chain while the power is left on.
Any pitfalls to shutting off house water supply while working? I want to replace the faucet for my kitchen sink. The shutoff valves for both hot and cold are stuck open. I assume I should either try to unfreeze the valves or eventually replace them. If I'm in a hurry to replace the faucet (it's leaking onto the coun...	Generally shutting off the main causes no serious problems.
What pipe is this? Hello and please bear with me. I'm no expert when it comes to plumbing but I will try to be as detailed as possible. I'm trying to understand what a pipe does in my basement. The pipe seems to be filled with hot water and drains from upstairs down to the basement. I followed the pipe and it seems t...	The pipes behind the furnace look to be part of a heating loop.
Is this outlet grounded? My house was built in 1949 and some of my outlets look like this guy while others run updated Romex into plastic boxes. With the wires coming through the conduit in the plaster, are these grounded outlets? I was going to replace the outlets and want to make sure I understand what is going on wi...	Oftentimes, when a home is renovated to use non-metallic wiring (NM), the ground to existing BX cable can also become disconnected. Back in 1949 when your house was built, the code of the time allowed the metal shielding of the BX cable to be used as a ground. There still is a possibility that the ground is intact, but...
How to cut a rectangle out of a STEEL ruler? Does anyone know how to cut a hollow rectangle out of a steel ruler? By that I mean cutting a small part out of the standard steel ruler while having the outside part still in tact. So a band saw is out the ballpark. Its for a home project and any help would be greatly appre...	Laser cutters are much more common nowadays and you may find a metal worker that can do it for you as it would take very little time at all to cut it out (~2-3s)
Sewer odor from basement floor drain I'm experiencing strong "sewer odors" coming from one of the basement drains. This is an old house (meaning the basement floor drains don't have an elbow bend and instead run straight down / there is no p-trap), but the strong odor is only present at one of three drains--which happe...	The Home Improvement stores also have plumbing plugs for most sizes of pipe, which are more permanent & better sealing.
How much concrete for a fence post? We're going to build up a 4' fence around our property sometime in here in the spring or summer with 4x4 posts. I've seen that you should bury 1/3 to 1/2 of the above ground post height; so this would make our hole 1.5-2' deep with gravel below. I've also seen that the diameter of t...	The hole should be wide enough that a tamper-bar will fit between the post and the edge of the hole.
How to make a straight groove easily? I have a project for which I need to cut a groove in 44x44mm wooden plank. The groove is supposed to be 15mm deep and about 3-4mm wide, as well as no less than 150mm long. It is supposed to be positioned in the middle of one of the sides, aligned in the centre of the plank's face. ...	A close second to a router or a table saw for this purpose would be a circular saw .
Is there a peaceful way to handle this bird slowly destroying my car? There is a pest of a bird doing everything it can to damage my car. Its actions are best described by watching it in a YouTube video, though I'm not certain how or if SE allows embedding, so here is a link: https://youtu.be/3JRmFax6oZo It appears ...	Get a car cover or put a white colored sun block behind the windshield (dark colors behind glass make mirrors...
How to leak proof roof? I'm working on converting an external garage into an office. I've removed the original flat roof and replaced with a pitched roof. I designed and built the roof trusses myself. I then put underlayment on the timbers and tiles until the job was complete. The tiles overlap and are screwed to t...	And it seems that you chose roofing tiles with too short a headlap (amount of each tile that is hidden below the tiles above it) for the pitch of roof you built: the shallower the pitch, the more headlap is needed for each tile. Personally, I've found latex caulk or silicone to last exceedingly longer than any "special...
How to make sure a tile does not bust on a high point in the floor I am tiling a bathroom for the first time. It is an upstairs bathroom so I pulled out the vinyl and luan. The subfloor met the standards that I found else where on this site. I laid hardibacker board with total flex thinset and then screwed it all down....	Of course you will need to recheck other areas to make sure the tiles are all level. Re-read the mortar instructions and make sure you've mixed it properly. First, make sure your subfloor is nailed down, not screwed. Maybe one of the floor joists is sagging or one joist was installed with a high crown (suposing that yo...
Redoing my roof: how should I redo my insulation? I live in Denver. My 60 year old house is 1.5 stories. The upstairs has a highly sloped roof and definitely has insulation in the relatively narrow attic and I believe has insulation at the angled portions of the second story and in the hip walls. However, that insulati...	You'll want a Vapor Barrier, as much Insulation that will fit or the highest R-value affordable (Batts, Blown-In or Sprayed-In), Venting Baffles on top of the insulation, maybe even a Radiant Barrier on top of the Baffles & Eave or Soffit Vents that flow to a newly installed Ridge Vent.
What is the chance of success when clearing a downspout from the bottom rather than the top? As you can see in the image, I have a blockage somewhere in the downspout. After climbing a ladder leaning against the wall, I was still unable to see, nor even extend enough to reach, from the top. I am abandoning the idea o...	The simplest solution is to let rain clean the downspout.
Baby proof 240V outlet(for air conditioning) in living room I have a 240V outlet in living room. It is used for AC unit installed just above it. This outlet is very close to floor. Around 3 inches above floor. We have small baby in house and she has started crawling now. I need to baby proof this. I could not find any ...	If you don't want to attach it to the wall (understandable), just set something heavy (like a box or bucket of stuff) on the inside and oustide of the fence to support it and keep baby from knocking it over. This receptacle is probably on a separate breaker and could be shut off when not in use. If you don't have some,...
Correct order of operations for caulking + sealing bathroom tile? Around my bathtub I have tile, and the old latex caulk where the tub and tile meet is cracked so I've removed all the caulk and am ready to put new silicone caulk down. However, I would also like to seal the all of tile using the 511 Impregnator sealant....	With the caulk applied first, the 511 can then seal everything & you won't have any chance of caulk adhesion problems.
What is code or common rule when securing multiple electrical lines? What is common practice or code when running new electrical lines in a home(15 amp/20 amp) in a basement that feed up to the 1st and 2nd floor of a home? Is there a rule on how many wires can be run down the same floor joist overhead? In other words,...	Flat cables shall not bestapled on edge. In residential applications, house wire should not be running so warm that aggregating many lines together could cause a heat problem. Instead install furring strips to staple into. They should be independently fastened, neither depending upon the other.
Best way(s) to soundproof interior wall between rooms? I had a few ideas in mind to keep our newborn from waking up our light sleeping toddler sleeping in the adjacent room. I'm open to new suggestions. :-) 1) Blow cellulose from above (unfinished area). I don't know if there is a firewall in the interior wall thoug...	To completely sound proof the room, you'd see the best results by removing the drywall from at least one side of each wall, and the ceiling if there's living space above, and installing specialized quiet drywall on top of sound attenuation channel that's attached to the studs like furring strips. Or, you can skip the f...
Metal object encountered when drilling into wall above radiator I was drilling through the wall (above the radiator, but not above any pipes or sockets) and hit something metal. I have drilled a tiny hole in that metal plate. It's not copper, looks silver. What is this? Can't identify what it could be <Q> Stop. <S> Y...	: If it took you a bit of effort to push your 'tiny' drillbit through that metal... try somewhere else on the wall. Those use thinner metal than is used for electrical equipment. Always good to ask someone who knows. For example, an electrical outlet, an electrical switch, or a circuit breaker panel. I recommend you st...
Smelly old paint on walls I decided to paint the downstairs bathroom. A girlfriend insisted on helping and was predetermined on saving me money(so she says, now I think she was trying to sabotage) by bringing me paint that she had left over from a remodel. Well when my brother-in-law opened the paint(by the way it was ...	It may be possible to heat the room up as hot as you can get it to speed the out-gassing process. With luck the new paint will come off clean. You also don't want to overpaint known-bad paint, because now you have a bad layer.
Water coming from the cistern is not capable of flushing the commode? Its been months now that our water pressure is not enough to fully flush the commode, every time it must be filled manually or wait until it fills for the second time for a complete flush out. <Q> Flush toilets with the usual non-pressurized water ta...	In your case, it's likely there's something wrong with the toilet flushing mechanism, or the drain pipe.
Noisy exhaust fan starting itself Our bathroom exhaust fan is located on our second floor bathroom. It's the original installed in 1986. Suddenly, it started to make an unbearably loud noise upon operation. So loud that the sound made a downstairs kitchen sink faucet fixture shake. An additional unsettling thin...	If the switch that you are depressing is in the same box as the connection (or switch for the fan), then perhaps your pushing is causing wires inside the switchbox to wiggle; if there is a bad connection or short for the fan in the box, the partial current to the fan could cause the motor to make a buzzing noise.
How often do I need to regrade the ground around my house? I'm a first time homeowner, and when we moved in we were told we'd need to regrade our house. I am deciding whether doing it myself or hiring someone is a better decision, and the following list summarizes my considerations. How often do I need to regrade th...	There are no rules of thumb or other guidelines. Simply put, it varies by home, depending on home age, roof design, soil type, contractor technique, climate, ant proliferation, and other factors. Only re-grade if you're getting water intrusion or even a damp musty basement condition.
How can I repair a textured ceiling without making a mess? I have knocked out a couple walls and never really made it fit right with the ceiling pattern - Is there an easy way to replicate this ceiling texture? Also as time goes on I am noticing that the nails they used to hang the drywall are losing their bite. Th...	Get a bucket of drywall compound, some "PVA" primer, a 1/2" lambswool roller, a small container of plaster and a "Magic Squeegee" ( a very wide very flexible rubber blade).
Is it acceptable to run 10-3 wire to a 110V 20A junction box? I have leftover 10/3 wire from a 220V outlet installation. I need to install a 110V outlet and splice to an existing junction box. Using the existing 10/3 wire will save me a trip to the store. At most, there will be 10 ft of wire from the junction box to t...	If 10 gauge wire is used, it should be stranded and lugs used for attaching to receptacle screw terminals... In fact it's overkill because you have an extra conductor (3 plus ground instead of 2 plus ground) and the wire is larger gauge than you need (10 AWG instead of 12 AWG). So if all the other wire is 12 gauge, you...
How unhealthy is arc welding? I have a few repairs to make that would necessitate some welding. I could do it differently, for example with pop rivets, but I take this opportunity to learn welding. However I'm a bit concerned about the unhealthy part of the process, in particular breathing carcinogen fumes. Is there a...	Although proper ventilation is probably the most effective defense against breathing metal fumes, I believe that P100 respirator cartridges (the soft pink discs that fit onto a standard half- or full-faced respirator) will remove most of the nasty components of welding fumes, assuming you're willing to wear a respirato...
Dry wall anchor won't hold I have a baby gate on the top of the stair. The dry wall anchors used held up for a couple of months, but now it came out loose. What type of anchor do I need to use for this? <Q> They're inexpensive and included in many products because of that, but they aren't good for much, and wouldn't be...	What you are using are the most basic drywall anchors available. Toggle bolts are hard to beat.
What could cause a 3-bulb fixture to blink when turned off? Two new lightbulbs(energy efficient spiral) blink rapidly when I turn OFF the switch for the 3 bulb fixture in my kitchen. House built in 1912ish. My house but previously had tenants. They only had 1 bulb in, so probably occurred for them, too. I'm worried abo...	Another possibility (if you have an illuminated wall switch): When an illuminated switch is off, the (CFL) bulb is the neutral for the light of the wall switch, causing a tiny current to flow through the CFL bulb. Perhaps some old wiring in the house doesn't have insulation or the insulation is poor; or maybe the house...
Should I set wood fence posts in quikrete with no supplemental water? Setting wood fence post---I've heard to set wood fence posts using quikrete dry, allowing it get moisture from the ground. Is this a good idea? <Q> No. <S> Unless you live in a swamp, there won't be enough moisture, and even if you do it won't be mix...	Using dry concrete is very helpful in places where a hose is not available and where tool cleanup is not going to occur within the next few hours.
Can a 220V AC to 12V DC adapter be plugged into 120V mains? I ordered a piece of equipment with a small low-RPM electric motor that came with DC adapter. It's marked ANGELMODEL SG-4805DC 12VAC ADAPTORHA 10025-2003AAC 220V 16VA50/60HzDC 12V 850mA Can it be plugged into 120V mains (safely, and without loss of perform...	If the marking on the adapter does not give a range of input voltages then you cannot assume that it will work at a voltage so much lower than the rated voltage.
What can fiberglass insulation NOT touch? I have some rolls of 15" R-13 insulation that I am planning on installing in my floor joists to help sound proof my basement ceiling. Is there anything that the insulation can't touch? I know that the lighting has to be rated to touch the insulation but what about pipes/wiring?...	Moisture from inside air can condense and become trapped in the insulation during cold winter months leading to mold, especially at rim joists or skirts (paper facing outside).
Painting oil base over latex paint using a latex primer Repainting my shed (wood siding/trim), the prior owners left behind old paint. The paint they left was oil base, so I went out and bought oil base paint. But I'm concerned that they possibly repainted using latex paint. I read that you can determine the paint type...	I would use an oil base for anything exposed like a shed.
Baseboard meeting at top of corner but not bottom Removed 3" and installing 4" baseboard. The inner corners meet at the top but gap at the bottom ( sheet rock taper is at the bottom and wondering if that's the problem) (have checked the saw and can't think of anything else). Any help would be greatly appreciated! Tha...	One solution is to shim (cardboard drywall shims would work) There's frequently a taper on the bottom of the drywall where it meets the floor.
GFCI receptacle and 3-way switches I have replaced a bathroom outlet with a GFCI. The first outlet from the circuit breaker is the bathroom outlet. The circuit then goes to a switched light outdoors, a switched light to a hallway, then to 3-way switches for kitchen ceiling lights. When I power on the circuit the bath...	The way a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupted) receptacle (outlet) works is by tripping when there is a ground fault. They should work just fine on GFCI whether connected to 3-ways or not. If the kitchen light(s) are tripping the GFCI then there is a problem in one of the lights. The next sign could be someone hurt ...
How to isolate street noise from the garden? I am helping a friend rebuilding an house he recently bought. One of the issues with it is that he only has a front garden and its in a very busy street, with cars. It would be nice to reduce that noise. Are there any "hard" solutions, preferably with good aesthetics, that...	Instead, you'll need to look to solid-panel fencing to block and deflect sound energy.
Can I install a hardwood floor in the kitchen? I don't know if I can install a hardwood floor in my kitchen. What would you recommend ? Thank you so much Camille <Q> Sure. <S> But it's a bad idea, because kitchens are wet and have people walking around in them all the time. <S> A wood floor will scratch and wear qui...	You can install a hardwood floor in the kitchen, but the high traffic and damage caused by dropped foods make vinyl a better choice because vinyl is water resistant and it is physically softer, resulting in fewer broken dishes, and it is much less expensive and easier to replace or cover than refinishing a hardwood flo...
Joint Compound was too dry, now what I'm finishing a small area of drywall, using the joint compound you mix with water, 20 minute open time. I believe my second coat was too dry, as it didn't go on smoothly. Can I just add the next coat on top? Maybe sand a little first to get off the big bumps. Any tips for consist...	Also, a couple more tips: don't scrape your putty knife (trowel or whatever) off into your bucket of unused mud, just throw it away, because inevitably, you will put little chunks of stuff back into the fresh joint compound, making it difficult to apply smoothly. you can use a heat gun or a fan to speed up the dry time...
How should I nail blocking? I am struggling to efficiently add blocking to 16" stud bays when I can't end nail through the other side of the stud. I have a full-size nailer, a palm nailer, and a hammer or two--but not a lot of experience with any of these. What are your tricks? <Q> Since you have a palm nailer, use tha...	Use the full size nail gun. Oh, and the way to nail them in is to stagger the blocks.
Is framing with screws legal? A friend used trim head screws for ALL of the 2x4 framing (including the outer walls) of his 2400 sq. ft. house. The house uses 8x8s to carry the load; none of the 2x4 framing is load bearing. The inspector did not see a problem with it (but maybe she didn't even see the screws). Edit- t...	You have a complicated question here and the best (and most legally-correct) answer will probably come from talking to your local building inspector.
Stopping / braking rope in pulley system I am trying to hang my aluminum canoe in my garage. I previously purchased this canoe hoist, which was a piece of junk. So I decided to build my own pulley system following the same layout as the above product using pulleys and rope with working weight limits > 1200lbs. ...	First, you definitely need a pulley near the ceiling to remove yourself from the ladder permanently.
Is this switch a three-way? I am replacing these two switches and not positive how the right switch is wired. The left switch is the only switch that runs to our porch light and the right switch is the only switch that run to the interior room light. It looks like it is a three way switch, but I am not sure since each ...	I see two black wires and one red wire connected to each switch. If the resistance is low there is a ground connection between back-box and the neutral-ground bond near the main incomer or main panel. Assuming you are in the US, a quick way to tell if a switch is a three-way is that it will not have the words "off" or ...
What is "pipe dope"? People often refer to "pipe dope" when talking about sealing threads of pipe fittings, but when I go to Home Depot or Lowes or whatever, I've never seen anything on the shelf labeled "Pipe Dope". This seems to be an old-fashioned word that people speak and understand, but it's not the correct, tec...	Pipe dope is a general term used to describe any lubricant, sealant, or adhesive designed to aid in making pipe joints leak proof.
can i use a sheet of 26ga aluminium instead of a 1/16" steel plate? I'm in the process of finishing my basement (it has taken 1.5 years so far, and is still progressing ). I'm working on roughing-in the electrical at the moment. Against the 2x4 studs, I installed deep j-boxes ( this product ) instead of the smaller o...	Ask the inspector to cite the specific section of the Code that he is using to require you to do this. I'd pick up some double-gang box covers and nail them to the studs at box height and extending toward the cavity that the box is in.
How to remove tap valve within shroud (Franke ascona mixer tap) I'm trying to replace the cold tap valve on a Franke Ascona mixer tap. The valve is slightly recessed in a non removable shroud. The new replacement valve fits a standard 14mm socket set which I can use. However the existing valve I am trying to remove ha...	you can take a pair of locking pliers (use good quality vise grips or something like that, and don't be tempted to use needle nose visegrips), the biggest pair you can get to fit, and insert the visegrips into the circular shroud.
Brand new air compressor trips onboard breaker on start I bought a new air compressor from Harbor Freight (8-gallon, 2hp,) and last night I added oil to the fill line, opened all valves, and started it to run it for the break in period (30 minutes with no load, open valves on the tank.) When I first turned it on, it s...	The motor has an internal problem, e.g. shorted armature coils, and that is making it overheat.
LED light bulb flickering in socket, incandescent works fine I have a couple of outdoor light sockets with built in motion detectors. These seem to work as you'd expect with regular incandescent bulbs- you can set a timer for how long you want them to be on when motion is detected and they light up fine. When replacin...	Two possibilities come to mind- the bulb does not draw enough current in the right way for the switch in the fixture to stay on, or the bulb is creating so much EMI that it is interfering with the circuit in the fixture. Actually it is because they don't draw the minimum current required for operation of the relay.
find where the brick is behind plaster before drilling I'm putting up a wall mounted holder for my road bike and the istructions say that the bolts must go into brick, not mortar. There are three bolts and they are quite randomly placed (i.e not in a row). I would usually use trial and error but in this instance becau...	If you are talking about supporting a bicycle then 100 year old mortar will certainly hold your bike especially with three anchors.
How to fill holes in Hardwood Floor, Large, Medium, and Small The floors in this home are likely original from the 1920's. The lovely owners of the house before me did not care much as it was a rental, and we now have tons of paint and holes on and in the floors. I'm going to refinish the floors because of the excess ...	Replacing the boards is not as difficult as it seems, but the repairs will stick out unless you refinish that section of the floor. You can also just wax it with a good floor wax.
How to repair damaged drywall seam In a recent windstorm, a couple of shingles blew off my house. I had some water drip into my attic and seep through the drywall in my bedroom ceiling. As a result, a definitive section of seam tape came off. I have included some photos below. What is the best way to repair this, plea...	Fill the depression with mud using a taping or putty knife, then lay the tape into it. By letting it dry first you eliminate the risk of pulling the tape around or wrinkling it.
How to troubleshoot a florescent light. I'd like to know if there is a way to troubleshoot a fixture with T8 or T12 working on a ballast that stopped working, if the problem is in the ballast or the bulbs, without having to buy new bulbs to try them.Thanks <Q> Yes if they don't light and the ends of the bulbs are black...	If the ballast doesn't light brand new lamps, it is broke and needs to be replaced.
How long does it take for polycarbonate to yellow? I recently replaced a broken small window with Lexan polycarbonate. Lexan is reported to yellow after 10 years. How bad is this likely to become, how quickly -- will I have to change the window again in 10 years to be able to see clearly through it? <Q> About 10 years...	There could be some concerns raised with tampering with the meter if its seals are broken. It depends on climate and whether the Lexan was treated or coated for UV exposure.
Can I install a toilet flange in a shortened (sawed off) elbow fitting? I'm putting a bathroom in my basement, and had a plumber come in and lay the PVC pipe after I cut out part of my floor. After pouring new concrete, he came back in and said there was a problem with the pipe for my toilet and it was too high. He s...	If possible, I'd make slight adjustments to the flange by sanding or grinding, then glue it in using primer and PVC adhesive. In either case you are most likely facing having to knock out some of that concrete again and then hiring another plumber to re-do the pipe.
Will a 2-stage heat pump cool my upstairs on low stage? I am currently upgrading my furnace from an oil furnace/AC combination to all heat pump. I am considering two stage vs single stage heat pumps. I understand that two-stage will supposedly give me more 'comfort' (for running on low stage instead of one shorter si...	A two stage cooling system means that the heatpump will either drop the air return temp a little bit (stage 1 is running, half cooling) or it will drop the air temp a lot (stage two is running, full cooling).
Is this ceiling box wiring correct and how can I reconnect an abandoned 3-way switch to it? I have a house (Georgia, USA) and some kitchen renovations have revealed some prior electrical work and I am trying to figure it out. Originally, there was a ceiling box in the kitchen with a fan/light fixture controlled by a p...	If you can tolerate it, I would move the 2-ways to the existing double switch and the 3-way or smart switch in the full-height space. With your current wiring it is not possible, but the NEC requires a neutral at switch locations with a few exceptions. I see your extended diagram explains the kitchen light switch was n...
Should I use a halogen light transformer with a higher wattage rating? I have a light fixture with 9 G4 20W halogen 12V light bulbs. It has Jindel 105W 120V to 12V transformer, which died. Please explain how 105W transformer can support 9 20W light bulbs? Should it be 180W (9*20W=180W) transformer? I couldn't find simi...	It would be better to go higher with a landscaping type transformer You don't want to use a switching supply as they have a tough time with loads like halogen lights.
240 volt house wiring, 130 volts on one leg and 112 volts on the other? In my folks old farm house, at the panels main input from outside.L1 is 130v.L2 is 112v.When a load is applied both legs down voltage, allot! Anywhere from 10 to 20v. The wires running from the pole outside to the house are old and exposed. Coul...	However, when power goes out, your neutral wire may be pulled up to 120V... and formerly benign contact with neutral (like those neutral-grounded appliances) is now deadly. You're bound to over-voltage both sides and blow almost everything in your house... and that can start fires. It is the connections that cause prob...
Can the dryer's heating element be saved? I just read why you shouldn't mend a dryer's heating element or coil. What if the break just happens to be be two or three inches at the very end, or even just 1 inch from the end; can you stretch it out and complete the circuit? It's for a Whirlpool Dryer. <Q> It doesn't matt...	Well, you could add a power resistor to replace the resistance you cut out. Twist nichrome wire across the overlapped heater wires. The outer surface oxidizes and the resistance through the outside is higher. But my dryer has been working fine with this repair through multiple loads of clothes.
I have a pool pump on a 30 amp circuit. Can I add a 20 amp GFCI outlet to that same 30 amp breaker. Pump is on 12 gauge wire I want to put a 20 amp GFCI receptacle on a 30 amp breaker. Is this ok? The 30 amp breaker is for a pool pump on 115v. <Q> You don't have a 30 amp circuit. <S> Your wire is 12 gauge, so you h...	Therefore, installing a 20 ampere receptacle would be a violation. 12 gauge wire is not rated for a 30 amp breaker.
Is there a way to remove condensation and clean inside a double pane window? I have some double pane windows with failed seals. They get condensation inside. When it dries it leaves unsightly residue that I can't figure out how to clean off. I know that I could replace the windows, but that seems wasteful for what...	With vinyl windows, you can usually replace the entire sash quite easily. If its regular glass, two small holes are drilled and a cleaning solution ( which need not be toxic ) injected.
Minimalist improvement on tiny shower? I've just moved into an old (1950's) home. The only shower is in a tiny bathroom and it's so small that when I take a shower the shower curtain is stuck to one side of my body and the blinds from a window on the other side of the shower are stuck to the other side of my body. I...	Try leaving the curtain slightly open at the back of the shower to allow air to enter the shower without pulling the curtain in.
Shower head with easy on/off switch I am making a new bathroom with tub where I want the shower to have easy on/off system. I can't find such thing at homedepot or lowes. Typically you have to dial the mixer starting from to warm and this is how you turn on/off as well. But I want the mixer to be one settings and abi...	There are also mixing valves which separate temperature and flow, though most of the ones sold in the US seem to put on/off on the temp control, perhaps for some obscure liability reason.
Teflon (plumbers tape) to seal hot water pipe leak from the outside? Hi there, This is some piping to my Saxon hot water system. Just above where the white/green corrosion is is where the leak is. My question is, can I use plumbers tape on the outside of this to seal the leak? I do not want to pull it apart as I d...	"Teflon tape" is used on the threads of joints, not to seal leaks outside of joints. Do not use tape on these, it serves no purpose and just gets in the way.
Can I use CPVC to make a solar water heaer? I have a shed in my backyard and I have installed a sink on the outside to clean up with. I have run a cold water line to the sink, but would like to attach a "heated" line to the hot water side. I have found a few projects on YOUTUBE about making a solar water heater and t...	If the unit overheats from lack of water flow, the superheated water can blow the PEX lines.
GFCI Problem with Three-Way Switch WAS Two Switches Neutrals Only, Switched Hots Not Used I replaced an old two-prong receptable with a three-prong GFCI (no ground) yesterday. It won't reset. I found out that "downstream" there is a light on the next level down that is controlled by two switches, one at the top of the ...	The circuit neutral is picked up in the light box. Then change one thing at a time and see if everything still works. The other will go to the light hot (black) wire. You'll want to read up a lot on "switch loops" and particularly "3-way switches". Too many novices take everything all apart without taking pictures or m...
Why would Central AC, Fridge & Pool Pump All Fail Within 3 Days? Could this be systemic? Something in the electrical system for instance? Or is it likely coincidental? HVAC repair says they can't find a leak but the freon is very low and was fully charged in September. It is 4 ton a/c unit split system with furnace...	The type of failure you see from electrical damage is overheating, shorted windings or failure to start because the start capacitor has been burned out.
How should I attach a slab of soapstone to iron shelf brackets? I have a 1'×3' slab of soapstone that I'm placing on top of my radiator, creating a shelf: The radiator bears most of the weight, but the stone isn't stable on top of the radiator (the individual pieces of the radiator are rounded at the top, so the ston...	A more permanent / sturdy approach would be to drill holes in the bottom surface of the stone block, use epoxy to glue a nut into each hole, and then screw brackets to those nuts once epoxy sets.
Techniques for Squarely Cutting the End of a PVC Pipe I am replacing a floor drain which required me to saw off the old drain which was cemented to 4" schedule 40 PVC. I had limited room to do this (Please see the picture below; I had broken out the concrete and gravel/earth around the drain), so I used a Dremel with ...	The round slug on the end of the tool keeps the cutter centered in the pipe so that the cutters will shave off the PVC pipe in the coupling.
Laminate flooring in multi-width bathroom The master bath has several widths as seen below. [The closets will not get laminate flooring.] My guess is to determine the cuts required for each width and choose the best fit. How best to deal with this multi-width situation? A related issue is dealing with the edges at ...	If you pick 3.375" starting width, your other ending widths will be 3.375", 3.875" and 4.75". Consider choosing a flooring type that is less susceptible to degradation via moisture.
Mount Ceiling Fan to Old Junction Box? Is there anyway to safely mount a ceiling fan to this type of older ceiling junction box (see the photos)? I rent an old 1920's built house where an old hanging light fixture junction box was covered with a blank panel. I want to hang a ceiling fan in this living room, but when e...	I'd probably get a new box of similar dimensions that's intended to carry a fan and mount it to the metal bar basically the same way that the current box does. Because the square box itself appears to be sufficiently anchored, you may be able to install a heavy duty fan rated 4-S/5-S to 4-O plaster ring onto it Mount t...

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

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