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How to block airflow under an interior door over carpet I have an air conditioned bedroom. I'd like to prevent heat from entering thru the door. I got door seals for the sides the top of the door, but I can't figure out a good solution for the bottom of the door. The door is above carpet, so I'm not sure if a vinyl do...	Look for something called an automatic door sweep. It appears that your gap is roughly 3/4", which should be fairly easy to fill.
How do I remove old drylok? I'm about to start painting my basement walls with drylok. Previous owner waterproofed.....stuff looks to be about 10-15 years old. Has some stain marks in areas which shows there has been some water in the past. Was going to uses a wire brush and scrapper to get the old drylok off, use s...	Industrial fan used to vent basement while working and shop vac for water removal.
What is the point of a shower diverter? Let me explain what I mean. Most googling leads to tub related setups, but my setups do not include tubs. Lately I have been seeing these diverters in many newer bathrooms(my own new one in SG, and one in India). What they have is one tap to control direction of flow (tap / Show...	To answer your question, the point of the diverter valve is so you can fill the bathtub without water spraying on you out of the shower head.
What is the appropriate wire gauge for 30A DC? If my project uses 30A DC, what wire gauge should I be using? <Q> The gauge of wire you use depends on: <S> how much voltage drop is acceptable. <S> You can use a voltage drop calculator to estimate this. <S> Voltage drop depends on the voltage, current, length of wire,...	Since you haven't provided any information about the voltage, length of wire involved, application, or insulation, it is not possible to give a reasonable number. For architectural wiring, 10 AWG is required by code.
Key stuck in door lock My key is stuck in the door lock and won't come out. I have tried numerous ways and it just won't. Any ideas on how to get it out or what can be done? <Q> Don't laugh, this may work as I have used it on stuck or cross-threaded bolts and locks. <S> Remember that heat makes metals expand, while col...	Try oiling the key first by forcing WD-40 or a light motor oil into the lock and tap the key lightly with a small hammer.
Can one pane of a double pane window be safely removed? Recently I asked Is there a way to remove condensation and clean inside a double pane window? The answer appears to be "no", at least not without resorting to very dangerous chemicals. Two of the windows in my house with failed seals are on an unheated porch. ...	When I saw the small hole I put tape on the rest of the glass so that tiny pieces did not go every where and broke all the glass out. If ventilated, the ventilation should be to the outside air in a heating climate. If you know the brand of the window, you can order a replacement pane - I paid around $85 to replace one...
How to deal with this mold on the window frame? I just discovered what I assume is mold on my window frame in the kitchen/living room (quite high humidty, but the window has been open a lot and our fan is going 24/7). Now, I've been told that dealing with black mold is dangerous, my landlord however looked at it and sa...	Mildew resistant paint would be a good idea, after you clean it.
How can this panel pull 100A without any breakers tripping? I have a three phase panel fed from a three phase 100A breaker on another panel. I found the 100A breaker tripped on the main panel, but none of the breakers in this panel were tripped. My understanding is limited but if I understand correctly, the four break...	Breakers trip on overload or short circuits.
Steel tube deflection over span I am installing 16' desktop to a concrete block wall. The back wall and one side will sit on a 2x4 ledger. The opposite short side will be a solid plywood panel to help support weight. The top will likely be 3 hollow-core doors topped with laminate. As this will be used like a desk f...	You might also consider whether adding a few legs would really be a problem; that would make the desk substantially stronger (and/or easier to build). Since it seems you would want a profile height of a 2x4 on edge, I would recommend a 4x4 square steel tube with a wall thickness of at 1/8"-1/4" to minimize deflection. ...
Which of these will strongest connect three panels? I'd like to assemble essentially a cube made of aluminum panel walls (30 cm x 30 cm x 4 mm sheets), with an emphasis on stability/strength of the cube. Since I don't have welding knowledge, I'd prefer to use (internal) connector brackets to connect each corner of eve...	The obvious advantage to B is that each panel will be directly tied to the other two panels, which means every seam will be much tougher to separate (flex open) than A and C.
Replacing a dimmer switch with normal light switch (picture) Today, I wanted to replace a dimmer with a normal switch for my dining room lights. When I pulled the dimmer out of the wall, all 3 wires just fell right off of their connections. I'm surprised the house didn't burn down years ago... Anyways, whoever inst...	So just hook up the ground wire to the switch, and you're done! It should be safe to try that and see if my guess is correct.
DIY way to wash sand/clay out of driveway gravel? I hate how the sand and fine dust blows around on our dairy farm's gravel driveway in the dry summer months. It's not reasonable to talk about blacktop due to the long driveway and the fact that it would get pummeled and potholed year-round by a huge heavy milk truck c...	You could also keep laying down new washed gravel on top of the old--but that would get very expensive quick. The only serious solution is to use cement or asphalt, and asphalt is cheaper.
2 sinks on one drain line I have my bathroom sink rough plumbing coming from the 3" stack vent, running about 2 feet. My question is: can I use that same drain line for another sink? Reasoning: about 2 feet from that sink drain I have a wet bar sink I want to put in. Using the same drain line sounds easier, only becau...	As far as I know, having two separate sinks served by a single trap is not code compliant. You will need to replace the existing sanitary tee on the stack (inside of the wall) with a double sanitary tee.
Do garage door springs LOSE their "spring"? On a one-piece, single-car door that's rarely opened (springs usually stretched), do they eventually stretch, thus stopping the opener from working? <Q> No, they don't measurably stretch. <S> The reason is that, by design, the springs are not extended beyond their elastic l...	What CAN happen is the spring can break where it attaches to the pully, and in that case, you will loose all spring lift help.
Is one circuit connected to two breakers safe? We redid our bathrooms and had an electrician come in and put in new wiring for outlets, heater/fan/lights and heated floors. He had to replace the electrical panel, because the house is older (1956) and didn't have enough space to accomplish the task. So he installed a ne...	Either through accident (as suggested above, poorly placed staple) or oversight (creating a direct splice between hot wires belonging to two different circuits), there is a short between the output of breaker#1 and breaker#7. This may or may not be related to the problem of parallel breakers.
Compressor/fan stays off when cooling turned on Before I begin , I would like to request "call a technician" suggestions to stay off. I do know a nice guy who can look it up for me, for a variety or reasons, one of which being my general history of fixing stuff, I would like to take a first stab at solving this proble...	If you're not getting 24v on the two thermostat wires, there's probably a bad connection somewhere.
Are power outlets for window A/C units likely to support 220V? The windows in my apartment have single power outlets next to them like the one pictured below, presumably for use with window A/C units. Are these likely to be 220V outlets, suitable for use with larger units like this one ? One point of evidence against ...	That is a 120v outlet. If that is a single circuit going directly to the panel you can change it to 220 by putting the neutral and the hot on a 2 pole breaker and replacing the outlet with a 220 one... The plugs and outlets are made to be incompatible with 120v ones because plugging a device into the wrong voltage outl...
connect 3 inch ABS pipe to only 0.5 inch exposed pipe I would like to cut an existing pipe and install a coupler to connect 2 pieces of 3 inch ABS. I would like to make the connection where I am pointing on the image. Is that enough pipe to connect to (approx 0.5 inch)? I would like to avoid going back to the main if ...	0.5 inches is not enough of a pipe length to bond on a new fitting. Trying to rework at that Y connection will lead to a nightmare of taking out and replacing way more than I think you want to get into. I say you should "bite the bullet" and cut back to the next available spot where you have some pipe to work with.
First floor of house wobbles! I've seen similar questions but I'm still stuck for an answer, so I hope someone can help... I've just built what is essentially a two-storey cube, 6m x 6m x 6m. It's a steel construction, a little over-specified (very solid foundations, H-beam for the posts and beams, and box beams for t...	Steel is elastic, and therefore requires diagonal bracing to attain rigidity. So your issue is one of "deflection", which is resulting from the h-beam joists spanning too far for your liking. An actual engineer can give you more specific advice.
How is the Air Conditioning wiring supposed to connect to my furnace? My dog has chewed through my wires on my unit that turn on my fan at the ac unit. This is not the first time. Its always been an easy fix until now. He actuall pulled the wire from the unit and I dont know exactly what wires im supposed to connect...	There is a 3amp fuse on the furnace control board that protects the low voltage side. Assuming the yellow and blue wires connect to the coil on the contactor, you can safely connect the two wires from the house to the two wires in the outdoor unit.
Can a bathroom fan be exhausted through existing gable vent? My bathroom exhaust fan recently broke. When I went to replace it, I noticed that it wasn't being exhausted from the attic. I was about to make a separate hole in the nearest gable to exhaust the fan, but my wife asked if I could butt the exhaust pipe up to...	Whatever area you block with the exhaust duct, is a reduction in the area of the gable vent.
How can I fix the issues I'm having with large double gates? I have a privacy fence in my backyard that includes a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. The gates to meet in the middle with double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of both going in...	Heavier duty hinges might work, but they'd have to be pretty heavy duty for that span. The first thing I would do is cross-brace the gate.
Shower Light connected to bathroom ventilation fan. Does it need GFCI? I am going to attempt to make this as clear as possible. In my bathroom, there is a switch that directly controls only the bathroom ventilation fan. I would like to add a recessed light over the shower by adding it to the circuit that the recessed...	I believe even "wet"-rated fans and lights need to be GCFI-protected; all the descriptions I've seen say "ok over tub or shower if GCFI-protected". I don't know if there's a GCFI switch, I've never seen one. There are many types that look better depending on what you want to spend.
Temporarily filling a hole with a shim I have two 3" x 3" square holes on a sports court. They are around 2' deep. They take two long poles that support a net. When the poles are not in the holes they fill with water when it rains (mosquito breeding area) and are a trip hazard. Question: How can I cover these holes w...	Following the theme of the question, If you want to use wood, perhaps for simplicity, I would get like a 2x2 pressure treated deck wood and make a stake that is short by the thickness of a piece of wood decking (1/2" Depending how long this is supposed to be in use and the use of the surface when it's in place, some so...
How to level out or grind down concrete basement floor? I had a french drain installed in my basement and the top of its cement sits around 1/8" to 1/4" of an inch higher then the rest of my basement floor. I need to somehow level this out so I can put flooring down. How would you recommend I do this? <Q> I'm surprised...	If it's a small area around the drain, the lowest cost, least-fuss option is one of these grinding blocks (use with some water and you can mop the slurry up rather than deal with dust in the air.
Connecting Washing Machine Outlet Box to copper I've done a search and nothing particularly relevant came up so... I'm in the process of moving the washer and dryer in our new house and trying to figure out how to mate the valves in the connection box to the copper lines. I have a box similar to this where the values...	If you look closely at the valve inlets, they are designed with a 1/2" male iron pipe thread (MPT) for a threaded connection, OR you can solder 1/2" copper pipe directly to the inside of the threaded fitting. It's made to accomodate either method . As mentioned by Jimmy and Tester, this box has both threaded and sweat ...
When cutting granite does a diamond blade need to be wet? I have to make an 1/8 inch cut on a 6" strip of granite with an angle grinder and diamond blade. I am not worried about dust for such a small cut, but I do not want to break or chip the granite. Is there a benefit to getting the blade wet? I have used a diamo...	Wet or dry depends on the blade more than the material.
Can I build a car-port on the side of my garage? I have a 2-car attached garage but three cars in the household. While I'm obviously aware I can just leave the third car in the driveway, it inconveniently blocks the cars in the garage and in the winter it gets covered in snow. I'd like to make a parking space on the ...	It appears to me that your project will certainly work, especially if you install the posts to support the house side of the carport. Depending on your locale, you need to ensure the roof is designed to shed rain/snow properly. You would do better to build a totally separate structure away from the current garage. Yes,...
open kitchen - but why Maybe because i come from Eastern Europe, where we have separate rooms for kitchens but I really don't understand why open kitchens are so popular? Are they practical in any sense? My assumptions are that the furniture from the living room will be affected by all the smoke, vapors and smells fr...	An open floor plan lets folks congregate in the kitchen and also socialize/communicate easily with others in the home. It is great for entertaining.
How can I completely remove all traces of mastic from old concrete? My original aim was to end up with a, possibly stained, clear-coated cement floor. After removing old floor tiles, I rented a floor grinder which took care of most of the old mastic. There were still thin spots that remained, so I bought some product a...	Finally using a bucket and a large sponge I washed up the whole area with a copious amount of hot water to remove all the stripper residue. I was able to put down the tile setting cement and had no problems with it adhering to the concrete.
What gauge wire do I need for my dryer? I want to add a washer & dryer to my garage, but breaker box is on the wrong side of house. No matter which way I run the wire, its 110 feet of wire required. Will 8-3 with ground work? Or is the run too long and I need to have 6-3 with ground? <Q> 10/3 is FINE for the dryer. ...	All that power going into heating the wire and not drying the clothes - that's probably not what you want. Typically a 220v/30 amp Dryer circuit would utilize 10/3 with ground. According to this voltage drop table , it looks like for 100' run you would want to up-size the wire to #8 copper, to maintain voltage drop les...
How to keep bird away from leaving their droppings on the deck Recently, I keep finding the bird droppings on the deck. Are there any ways to keep bird from leaving their droppings on the deck? Besides, are there any good chemicals that can clean the bird droppings without affecting the deck paint? Thanks. <Q> I have g...	Di-Hydrogen Mon-Oxide is a perfectly good chemical for removing bird poop from the deck, and it's "safe as water."
Plumbing and septic: bubbling and backing up My mother lives in a two bedroom trailer with two full bathrooms. It's got a septic tank, but the toilets bubble and back up anytime she uses the dishwasher, washing machine or runs water in the sinks or tubs. Worse, sewage backs up into the tubs and over fills the toilets. ...	Most likely, the line to the septic tank needs clearing.
Damp concrete floor in bedroom Had water overflow into bedroom and closet. New laminate floor removed.Concrete floor has glue strips from another flooring that is sticky in someplaces. Will thoroughly clean with as little water as possible Q. When all cleaning is done and floor dries for a week, Can I seal the concret...	At the very least, heat and vent it as much as you can for as long as you can and then maybe leave off the skirting boards for a while so any residual damp can at least escape to air. Had the same issue, used a sealant (couple of coats), then an underlayment (vapor barrier), which worked well on my laminate flooring.
Wind from kitchen sink drainage pipe We live on a windy coast of North Sea. High wind is a norm here. One of the problems I face with the wind: it comes out from kitchen sink drainage pipe. If it is blowy outside, you can feel a draft coming from the drainage pipe. I think the problem is because the drainage pipe fin...	After looking more at the plumbing, you might not need additional fittings (other than for venting).
Are hairline cracks in basement concrete floor a problem - no water coming in I notice quite a few hairline crack in my basement concrete floor. I've lived here for 14 years and no water has come up through the cracks. The townhouse was built in 1999 (so it is not a new pour). I don't know if the cracks have been getti...	In your case, it's not likely a concern. Welcome to crap construction in the 21st century, where nobody gets basements, just footings, and those that do get basements get 4" slabs on sand often above the frost line. However, not sure if radon gas is a problem in your area, but cracks in the basement will let radon gas ...
Old mortise lock bolted from inside I have a situation in my 90 year old house with the bathroom door. Last night my bathroom door was closed and somehow bolted locked from inside and I can't get into it or unlock it. I believe this is a mortise lock ( like this ), but I have no keyhole on the outside, it's just door u...	So, in the worst case, you could remove the external lever and cover-plate and then cut a hole through the wood of the door at the position of the deadbolt knob to gain access to the deadbolt shaft.
Mount horizontal 6" metal exhaust pipe to wall economically? I'm trying to add more ventilation to the back room of my garage. The only available outside air exit location is 25' horizontally along the front room of the garage's wall. I have 6" 30ga sheet metal vent pipe like this for the ducting: How would I go ab...	A cheap option, is hanger strap. It's available in both metal and plastic, and in various sizes. As an aside comment, if there is a significant difference in temperatures between the air going through the duct work and the air outside, you may want to consider insulating the duct work to prevent condensation and possib...
Service box with no neutral bar I'm trying to add a 30amp, 110V RV connection box to my house but the service box has no neutral bar, what do I do with the white neutral wire? This is a picture of the main panel by the meter. This is a picture of the garage sub panel where I will be adding the RV service box. <Q> It...	Your main panel has a neutral bar which appears to be all-metal and by nature bonded to the panel box (which is ground), which is both allowed and required in a main panel. If the main panel does not have any spare breaker slots, you will have to shift the wires to any 240vac device to your new sub-feed panel, or buy a...
When is it OK to use stranded wires in fixed installation? I have heard many times that fixed installation requires single core wires while the flexible stranded wires are designed for movable devices like vacuum cleaners and TVs. I know that a stranded wire has two primary disadvantages compared to a solid core wire...	"stranded" conductors are commonly used in fixed-wiring, but normally only at larger sizes or where individual conductors are pulled into conduits.
How should I end this wiring? I am doing a minor reno in a new house. I took out a wall and in it was two strands of 12-2 that went to one outlet. That wiring will not be used anymore, I don't want to splice into them or run them to a different location. I can not tell how the wires run back to the box so I can't pul...	Once you trace the wires (I would use first a voltmeter to figure out which breaker shuts it off) then you will want to disconnect the other end, even if it is coming from another outlet.
Does it cost more to run a refrigerator on an extension cord? My new mini refrigerator is plugged into a 50 ft extension cord that is plugged into my house.Does it cost more to run because of the cord? <Q> Yes, it does cost you money using the extension cord. <S> Grabbing a random number out of the air, let's say t...	The very best way to answer your question is to purchase an energy measuring device and compare power consumption at the house end with the refrigerator connected directly at the house and then connect the refrigerator at the end of the long cord.
How to fix toilet with multiple leaks Here is the inside of our toilet tank: Not sure what that "yellow thing" on the top is, but I believe that's the main culprit to focus on. For now, I'll call it the yellow thing . When the water supply is running full bore, water seems to be leaking out of the top of that yel...	Sounds like you need to replace the flush valve and possibly the shut off valve.
How do I do a straight cut of all 4 legs of a metal chair? I need to cut the legs of my chair a bit because it is too high for me. It would not have been a problem but all legs need to be of the same length so I am looking for straight accurate cuts at the same distance from the end. I was trying to find out how to do ...	Supposing that you have a level chair now, the first thing to do is measure the front legs (from the seat bottom to the tip); multipy the length by 3/4 (or whatever fraction you desire).
Is it OK to use motor oil as bar oil in a chainsaw? Someone told me that you can use motor oil in your chainsaw instead of bar oil. Is this a good idea? Will it cause problems over time? <Q> It might be OK for a bit <S> but I probably wouldn't do it. <S> You could look up your owner's manual to see if they say anything...	you shouldn't run anything but bar oil on a chainsaw bar, but not because of the saw (even though it sticks better to the bar and lubricates the chain better).
What tool should I use to unscrew a hard-to-access hexagonal screw? I recently bought a place which came with the appliances, one of them being a dishwasher. I'd like to extract the dishwasher from its compartment. From what it seems, the only thing preventing me to do that is a pair of screws legs that lift-up the di...	A ratchet socket wrench might be what you're looking for if your screwdriver type socket wrench is too tall:
Post to beam connections I was told that I could find some angle brackets to secure the post to the beam. However, I'm finding nothing that doesn't require me to remove the set beam and start over. What is code? Is this going to be a custom / metal shop deal at this point? I'm fine with a black angle bracket that I can...	If you really want to bracket them in place, any old metal bar or strap will do.
Can one use large-diameter rigid plastic pipe for HVAC ducting slash why is this never done? Lots of buildings have rigid metal ducts. And lots of buildings have (much-maligned) plastic flex ducts. But why do rigid plastic ducts not seem to be a thing in North American construction? Such ducting would seem to solve a l...	you also cannot use rigid plastic ducting for interior air distribution for fire spread reasons.
short to earth 120 v ac breaker If a hot wire is shorted to earth i.e. the hot 120 v ac wire that comes out of a Ex. 20 amp breaker is directly connected (short) to a grounding rod, why wont the breaker trip. <Q> why wont the breaker trip. <S> Firstly, remember that a 20A breaker won't be OK at 19.9999 Amps and sud...	If the fault ground rod was properly connected to the other ground rod, then the breaker should trip. It's not going to trip, because the contact resistance between the rod and the ground is too high, therefore the current will be low (Ohm's law).
How can I drill a hole in tempered glass without shattering it? How can I drill a hole in tempered glass without shattering it? Is it even possible? The hole only needs to be around 1/4" in diameter, nothing crazy huge. <Q> You can't. <S> The tempered glass will completely shatter if this is even attempted. <S> If ...	You cannot cut or drill heat tempered glass. You can do edge work if you are careful, but you are weakening the edge substantially in doing so.
How can I break up a small boulder without power tools? I have a boulder/rock that is about 2 feet long and 1.5 feet in diameter. It is too heavy to lift and I would like to break it into smaller pieces. Without power tools, are there any good methods besides going at it with a sledgehammer? <Q> There are special wedge...	You can go at it with a sledgehammer (or a smaller hand sledge) and a star drill , and then drive wedges into the holes (or if you are patient, fill the holes with water and let them freeze in the winter.) Option 2 Use an oxyacetlylene torch to cut or drill holes into it in 20 - 60 minutes. Option 7 Use about 80 lbs of...
How to secure toilet fill valve hose to canister I have a Kohler Wellworth (low flow model) that uses a canister-style flushing mechanism. The tube that comes from the fill valve is to be seated/secured in an opening at the top of the canister, held in place by what I assume should be a snug fit. However, the hose cont...	Instead wrap a twist tie around tightly and twist the ends to secure. Try detaching the tube and reversing it.
Flow sensor adjustment for Navien 240S natural gas fired tankless water heater We installed a Navien 240S natural gas in our house, and it is working fine. Except the short range for hot water valves in the showers. So, in other words, I need to turn shower valve almost all the way on to start the hot water. This lea...	Unfortunately, you have a model that seems to be slow to respond to water flow. I don't think any company has a way to adjust the flow sensor on their on-demand water heaters. I find the very BEST fix on almost any tank-less hands down is to install dual handle faucets
Can my pex line freeze if I use 90 degree elbow connectors? I'm installing a sillcock outside my house and I'm trying to create a drainable line so it won't freeze in the winter. Here's the setup from the outside in: This entire run is located through a basement crawl space that gets very, very cold (freezing?) in th...	As for making connections with PEX, I like cinch clamps, but a cinch clamp tool is kind of expensive ($40-$120). - PEX is bendable at large radius, and if you work with that, you avoid fittings that may have freeze damage (PEX itself does not mind freezing.) Barb Ringed Shank Pex Adapter.
What is the most efficient window design to maximise cooling in a tropical climate? I am building in equatorial Indonesia. My building is roughly 10x4.5 metres in footprint, and it will be a two storey (3.5 metres each) concrete structure. The building backs directly onto a limestone rock, which is massive, being aroun...	On a similar note, using Low-E glass can help reduce any stray IR radiation from entering, further helping cool your house.
How should I insulate my workshop I have a 20x14' workshop in my backyard. When I had it build, I had the installer place rigid insulation form under the concrete slab but everything else was not insulated. Since then, I've installed insulation batts in the walls and a vapour barrier and then drywall on top of that. ...	The correct choice in this climate would have been a "smart vapor retarder" or nothing at all coupled with rigid foam or mineral wool exterior insulation outboard of the wall sheathing.
How to build a door shared by two jamb openings To save space in a small apartment, I want to build a door into the bathroom that when closed, will (obviously) shut off the full bathroom, but when the door is open (opens inwards) will close off the toilet area. I have seen this in a hotel in the UK before. How can I b...	The other door has framing and jamb work that is "built out" away from the wall; the hinges end up buried on that side and the gap is eliminated. On this kind of unusual design, I would strongly recommend experimenting with some models.
Does condensate on a skylight indicate a broken seal? Couple of times in the morning I noticed that the skylight is foggy in the center (see picture below). No other windows are foggy. The temperature/humidity is outside 50F/77% inside, 70F/44%. Does this indicate a problem with the skylight? <Q> It's possible that you...	Probably the skylight's fine - this is similar to the condensation on car windows when you drive out of a cold garage on a warm humid day. The test that I would perform, to see if the skylight was airtight, would be to light some incense under the window and then go onto the roof to see if any smoke is escaping. If the...
Is pre-mixed ethanol-free fuel better than mixing yourself? I just invested in a very nice 2-cycle string trimmer and I want it to last. I have always used stabilizer in my fuel for my 4-cycle lawn mower. I know that ethanol attracts moisture and the stabilizer does not let the water separate and sink, thus rusting o...	Buying pre-mixed fuel removes one possible source of problems but it does not guarantee trouble-free use year after year.
Chair felt pads that stay on I've got some Ikea Vilmar chairs that have a sort of swivel base and thin legs, and I'm trying to put some felt pads on the chair, but no matter what I try, I can't get them to stay on. They'll come off once someone moves the chair rather quickly since the legs tend to wobble. Any sugges...	I think that a Nail on foot would definitely be the best solution, you could even add superglue to make sure it never comes out again if you really want.
Adding an eaves drip edge to an existing roof installation There is some water dripping behind the gutter, and I am thinking of installing a drip edge. From what I read a drip edge is installed under the ice water shield at the eaves. The ice water shield sticks to the surface. Should I be attempting to lift up the ice...	There should only be water getting under the shingles in the specific case where you have a large amount of ice buildup above the overhang of the roof (where it is cold), which causes meltwater from higher up the roof (above your attic, where it is warm) to pool on the roof. What I recommend do is getting a cheap roll ...
Sill plate alternatives when not using pressure treated wood? I have a barn I am restoring. I do not want to use pressure treated wood for the sole plate or sill plate. My carpenter would use 4 x6 locust at 12 foot lengths, but we cannot find any. Can anyone suggest an alternative? And if so, what kind of moisture ...	Oak is a good choice (tried and true).
Breaker trips after attempting to install a new outlet I was updating my daughters bedroom and decided to replace all the outlets with new ones. (the old ones were painted over) everything was good until I got to the last outlet and tried to reconnect the new one it immediately sparked and tripped the breaker. I though...	Your outlet mount screws could be pinching or cutting into your wires. Don't re-install something that's charred. It'll work when it's pulled out of the box, but when you stuff it back in, pfoof! Cheap 66 cent outlets are cheap.
Why is my A/C drain line not draining at all? I have a unit that is installed in the attic and is about 10 years old. My problem is I normally have to go up and empty the drain pan every month or so, but lately it's been every 3 days. I have cleaned out the drain pipe, poured bleach in it and still no luck. I have ch...	Take your shop vac outside and hook it up to the drain line to suck out whatever gunk is in the drain line. It the repairman offers to insert a screen filter where the water drips out I would take the offer. In mine the outside primary is on the bottom of the wall and the secondary, which drains the pan, is on the top....
What is causing my laminate flooring to become warped? Recently I've noticed the following in my laminate flooring: Apologies if the image is huge or unclear (I'm writing this from the Stack Exchange mobile app. In short, there is ripples/bubbles in the laminate. I THINK the bubbling/warping began after we had someo...	Check any and all sources of water near the flooring.
Is there a way to know if my garage door is open remotely? Is there a way to know if my garage door is open remotely? Some times I find my garage door open for no reason. I have expensive bikes in the garage and I don't want to worry about them. Maybe get a notification when it's open. I only want to open it when I am...	Asante Garage Door Opener which notifies you by mail, SMS or mobile app; or use a smart home solution, see the review by CNET .
How to clean oxidized stainless steel Espresso maker? I left my Bialetti coffee maker too long on my inductive stove. It got red hot for a moment and has now a nicely oxidized base. Is it possible or advisable to clean it so that it looks new? <Q> Whether you have the silver/chrome base or the stainless steel, then unf...	The steel has lost it's temper (metallurgical changes) and it is not stainless anymore (it can rust now), and this aspect can't be cleaned or repaired. It could be refinished by electroplating it (not really a DIY thing, and although there are electroplaters for hire, the price would be hundreds of dollars).
How can I improve power quality into my house? I live quite remote and power quality is not great. Currently I run all my computer devices through a 1.5kva UPS after having several power supplies and chargers fry. Since doing that, none of our chargers and supplies have fried but just recently a 2kva autotransformer th...	I would suggest getting an isolation transformer for your electronics and place it after your UPS unit.
What are good methods of locating plumbing blockages? In medicine if you want to know about the flow of food through the intestinal tract you feed the patient a Barium Meal and X-ray them . Is there any way to achieve a similar sort of result in domestic pipework?I have a blockage in some drains and I have access t...	If the pipes are all plastic (PVC, ABS, etc.), a strong magnet might help. An infrared camera would be a cool tool for this, or a temperature gun might be just as good, but they aren't commonly owned tools, and your forearm will probably work.
What can I do about a severed grounding wire? After doing some yard cleanup, I realized that my panel ground wire was severed. I went to Home Depot and was told that they only carried a temporary solution (see attached photo) and that I should seek a code compliant connector. I also talked to an electrician and I was...	The easiest thing to do is to go to Home Depot and buy a grounding rod. The Code allows the grounding electrode conductor splicing if it is done correctly.
Oddball wiring for ceiling light My garage has a light connected to a switch and a garage door opener. The garage door opener was hard wired to a line coming out from the space between the porcelain light fixture and the ceiling. The opener was not connected to the switch. The garage door opener died. I am having a n...	If that sound like the way yours was, simply tie the white to the light and black to the switch back into the power wire you've used to connect the receptacle. Again, this is a guess based on the limited information you've provided.
How do I begin to lay out floor tile in a small bathroom? I have a small bathroom 58x52 Do I need to start in center of room Can I start on wall. Less cutting. How do I make sure tile is square on the floor in case wall is not plumb. Tile is 12x12. 6pcs across 4 pcs down. <Q> I usually center either a tile or a jo...	In the case of a very small bathroom I tend to lay the tile out on the doorway, where the pattern and position are most conspicuous. Almost any project should be undergone with this approach--ask yourself what will be seen and noticed most often, and make compromises where necessary to fulfill that goal.
Is there a more visually discreet alternative to a range hood? Is there a more visually discreet alternative to a range hood for ventilation? Maybe a system in the wall that sucks in odors, etc? <Q> Retractable Downdraft <S> Range Hoods: ( source ) <S> ( source ) <S> Inset Downdraft Range Hood: ( source )...	It wouldn't be as effective but an extractor fan mounted near the cooker would be one way to do this (either in an outside wall or the ceiling) . "Down Draft" ranges and cooktops exist.
What Cement Based Product Is Used for Smoothly Finished Floors? I recently replaced a floor drain in my basement around which I had dug out the concrete, gravel and clay soil. When I sealed it back in, I laid down a bed of gravel and sand, and then used a standard concrete mix for the top several inches. By standard,...	If you want to get a smooth finish after-the-fact, there are some great products out there that will set smooth and very thin - a real 'feather edge'.
Is there a trick to opening a tube of caulk? Is there a tool especially designed for opening a tube of caulk, silicone, or construction adhesive? <Q> Yes! <S> the tool is called a caulk gun. <S> Use the spout cutter for cutting off the tip of the tube; then use the seal punch tool for poking holes in the foil seal. <...	A knife to cut the tip at the desired spot, and a nail to puncture the seal inside.
Should I use an additive to my septic system? I recently bought a house with a septic system. In researching maintenance for a septic system I am getting mixed messages about if I should be putting an additive (Rid-X or bakers yeast) down the toilet every few months. Some places have even recommended putting some raw h...	I have never used additives and so far all is well. Every single offical source I have ever consulted explicitly states that they should not be used, and do more harm than good.
is it legal to cut of factory stab in plugs and replace with wire nuts Electric code on wiring lights with factory stab in plugs can stab in plugs be removed and replaced with wire nuts <Q> Yes... <S> Maybe... <S> Technically, probably not. <S> But let's talk first about why you want to cut off the quick connect ...	I would look to see if you can release the wire so you don't need to cut it off.
Can I unplug attic fan over garage I recently moved into a new house and during the inspection, the inspector noted that there was a fan in the attic space above the garage. He also mentioned that I could probably just unplug it because they do not typically install them anymore now that houses have air conditioners ...	If your garage gets uncomfortably warm in the summer it may be worthwhile to run the fan. Definitely keep the garage attic fan (and install one in the house if appropriate).
Does a roof with 3 layers of asphalt shingles somehow last longer? I have a building with 3 roofs on it, the top layer is starting to curl, etc, due to its age. My question is if having 3 layers of shingles will extend the useful life of the roof? I know this is vague but I hope you see where I'm going with this. <Q>...	Layers of shingles on top of each other shorten the life of the roof due to the newest layer sitting on an uneven lower surfaces.
New garage door opener belt sags when opening I recently replaced our chain driven garage door opener (which functioned fine for 9 years) with a Chamberlain MyQ opener which runs off of a belt, instead. It was nearly a direct swap and all works as desired except... when opening the door, the belt on the non-pulling ...	It's possible that this is happening because of stretch on the loaded side of the belt. After contacting Chamberlain tech support, they told me that I needed to increase the belt tension using the nut on the spring tensioner.
Touching up black aluminium window frame I have a set of folding doors (interior <-> exterior) that have been badly scraped and scratched during a renovation project. I have purchased the correct colour touch up paint from the manufacturer, but there are no instructions on how to apply. My initial thoughts are that I ...	What's critical is to use the same based touch up paint as what is already on the door. A better easier way would be to buff out those scuffs with a buffing wheel .
I have to reset switch in basement if I don't turn off space heater when I use the blow dryer My husband says I have too much plugged into my side of the bedroom- 1) lamp 2) laptop 3) cell charger 4) a blow dryer. All are plugged into a Phillips box that plugs into an outlet. I am no Thomas Edison ( or Nikola Tesla...	You could install hardwired electric heaters on their own circuit, the heaters are cheap, the power to run them is expensive. The lamp would also be inconsequential if you'd put LED bulbs in it. A heater is also a huge load that takes 80% of a circuit's capacity. Most devices will state their watts. Is there room in th...
Can I connect a dishwasher and an outdoor outlet on the same circuit? I bought a "fixer upper" and I'm remolding the kitchen. The previous "hack & wack" investor added a dishwasher but to power the DW they installed an outlet box and powered that box by cutting the power cable to the outside outlet and left that outl...	I'd have no concerns about doing so assuming the exterior outlet is a GFCI If it's something you're going to use only occasionally when the dishwasher is off there shouldn't be any problem.
How can I make my outlets more secure in their boxes? The holes for some of the receptacles in my house are a bit too big: So when I screw them to the box they are wobbling. Any easy way to fix it? <Q> Various products are available specifically for leveling a device in an oversized opening, such as this bracket. <...	If the wiring is in metal conduit and metal boxes are used, then the grounding of the receptacles may be accomplished by secure contact of the ends of the receptacles with the box. Selection at big box stores may be limited, go to an electrical supply house if you can't find similar.
120 V between Ground and Neutral? I had a new cooktop installed but it does not work. The unit replaced an old one and was simply plugged into the existing outlet. After checking the basics (no tripped breakers, etc), I whipped out the old multimeter and measure the voltage difference between each input. The results...	I would open up the receptacle box if possible to see what's going on, but the only way I can think that these readings would be plausible would be if the outlet neutral is not connected to a neutral conductor going back to the panel but is instead shorted to H1. If you have only hot-hot-neutral wires and want ground a...
What type and size plywood is appropriate to reinforce a box spring for 425 lb user? My boxspring is crumpled in pretty bad in one section and its causing back issues but i can't afford a new bed. i was told by the physical therapist to get plywood to stick between the mattress and box spring but i have zero clue what ...	If the damage is in the mattress with seemingly good supports all around, just about any plywood half inch or thicker is going to work fine for this purpose.
How to (safely) retract and lower a 40' extension ladder? Last time I was using a 40' extension ladder, it was a major challenge to retract it back from being extended and up against a wall. There were two of us and it was seriously scary. Could have gone wrong and crashed, doing damage or worse to nearby building, veh...	To retract, lift the ladder a few inches using the rope, which allows the retention brackets to release, and lower the ladder extension with the rope.
Why is my drywall mud cracking? First of all, I'm new to all this. I recently applied mud to the corners and did some texturing in my basement. Two days later I notice there are cracks in some places. Why is this happening and what should I do about it? UPDATE: Putting it on too thick was definitely what happened. I...	Drywall compound shrinks as it dries, so if applied thick or if it has too much water it will crack.
What kind of paint and texture is this? And how do you patch this area? What kind of paint and texture is this? And how do you patch this area? <Q> it looks like an older product called rockote. <S> its basically a polymer modified brick mortar thats used as a non EIFS stucco finish. <S> i think they still sell it ...	That is a rough texture achieved by putting sand or sand-like particles in the paint.
How can I add thermal mass to my house? We're part of a real-time pricing program with our electric utility company, and a good strategy for offsetting electricity use during peak demand times is to pre-cool the house. The more thermal mass that our house has, the more effective the pre-cooling will be. I've read abo...	Phase change materials, or PCMs, may be a useful lightweight substitute for thermal mass.
Should my subpanel have a neutral conductor feeding it? I have a subpanel to an outdoor patio 75 yards from the house main breaker box and don't think it is wired properly. There are two large hot lines from the main controlled by a 50 amp breaker that go to the subpanel. There is a large ground connected directly fr...	Or, if you only need 120V service at this location, you could keep this as a sub-panel but re-designate one of the two "hots" as a neutral - but this is only allowed if the wire is 4 AWG or larger, which it may well be.
What are the potential dangers of not removing the tabs on a split receptacle? If I feed a duplex receptacle from two separate branch circuits, I'm supposed to remove the jumper tabs between the receptacles. But what would happen if I didn't remove the tabs? <Q> With a 120/240V single split-phase system, there are two ...	This will cause a high current through the circuits, which should trip one of the breakers fairly quickly. In fact, this situation can go unnoticed indefinitely, and never cause a problem.
Why would holes exist behind a baseboard? After ripping out some rubber baseboard, I discovered random holes all over the place. What would be the logical reasoning that these exist (if any)? Edit: Hopefully I don't get completely flamed for this, but I'm asking because the basement that has this has been flooding re...	These are venting holes drilled by a flood remediation team after the baseboard was removed.
How can I wire two switched outlets but power is connected at the first outlet? I'm trying to connect a new switch and two new outlets (from switch) to an existing electric line. This new switch should turn the two new outlets on and off. However, I'd like to connect it as follows: Existing power is closest to new ...	At the other outlet box Connect the white wire from the 14/3 cable to the silver screw on the receptacle.
How do I avoid breaking the screwhead with Impact Driver I am a total newbie on DIY woodcraft. I am trying to drill a screw in the wood using impact driver but the screw head breaks up. Do i need to put a hole on the wood first? What I do is directly use my impact driver to drill the screw with the screw. Thanks <Q> F...	You mentioned using a hammer drill in your comment - it would be preferable to turn off the hammer function when drilling in wood (most hammer drills have a switch to control that function) because the hammer action will reduce your ability to control the drill and make a smooth hole.
Several dead outlets, but breaker is fine In my living room, when I first moved in, there was a dead outlet. Everything was tested by an electrician before I moved in, and there are a lot of outlets in the room, so I ignored it. Then some time ago, the outlet I had my floor lamp in went dead. Circuits were fine, eve...	Most outlets have a slot next to the hole that will release the wire or it may have burned loose. It's possible one or more GFCIs have tripped. Look for outlets with 'TEST' and 'RESET' buttons on them - note that they may not be in the same room, or even on the same floor.
how can I fix a tripped breaker? how do I fix a breaker that trips when the window ac is on?I have tried unplugging other appliances . The breaker box is an old one. <Q> If it's an old A/C unit, replace it with new. <S> They are much more efficient (meaning: same BTU, much lower energy draw) and it'll pay for itself ...	Install a new breaker in the panel
help with improving HVAC performance on the second floor of an old house I'm hoping some of you can offer some advice on how best to add a second AC in our home -- or on whether we should look for a different solution. I should say upfront that I've done a lot of reading on this topic and feel more confused than ever. ...	Add a radiant barrier in the attic , stapled to the bottom of the rafters--provided you have soffit and ridge ventilation. P.S. Shop around and hire a legitimate HVAC contractor who will size your equipment properly or you might get stuck with the wrong size HVAC unit. Get Low-E storm windows if your house doesn't alre...
Is a grounded (neutral) conductor required at a switch location that controls a switched receptacle used for lighting? The National Electrical Code requires that all habitable rooms and bathrooms, have a switch controlled light (210.70(A)(1)). It also allows a switched receptacle to be used, instead of a lighting outle...	Since the switched outlet is serving functionally as a luminaire, many inspectors would probably take the view that luminaire switches need a neutral ( grounded ) conductor.
4A circuit breaker for a refrigerator? I live in Pakistan and we have no electric panel or separate wires for different devices. I am going to rewire my house but before that I wanted to secure the refrigerator wire. I've been reading everywhere that there should be a 20A circuit breaker for the dedicated refrigerator ...	One is 6A lines for the lighting circuits, and another one is 20A lines for all power outlet sockets. The circuit breaker is (mainly) to protect against starting fires from circuit overloads. The 200Watts chiller is definitely consumes less than one ampere nominal current and its startup current may be three times high...

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