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What size wire for 150 A main electrical service Recently had the electrical panel upgraded and relocated. The electrician showed me the main wires coming from the street (in to the meter) and indicated they were 1/0 aluminum. The breaker panel had a 125 A main breaker, and he put in a 150 A main breaker on the new pa...	Main wires coming from the street are engineered to provide adequate power by the utility company.
Going to be away for 4 months, should we turn off the refrigerator or leave it on with water inside? I have found people saying it's better to leave it on with water inside because then mould will not form. Is there any other downside except for electricity bill? It's a smallish refrigerator which will cost around 60$...	In dryer climates, you would prop the fridge door open enough to move some air around in it and then unplug it.
How to drain water from a plastic sandbox? I have a Step2 plastic sandbox as shown here (Step2 stock image, not my kid!): I live at a place where my options for outdoor play structures is extremely limited, plus I'm renting, so this is the best solution I can do for an outdoor sandbox. I also live in an area where we ...	I think a suitable solution since the water entry is intermittent, would be to add some kind of valve or stopcock through one side of the sand box.
How can I find an appropriate replacement air filter for my furnace? Background : I got a Bryant 915SA furnace with my new house and it's time to replace the air filter. Problems : The filter is not branded so I don't know what company made it. The filter is not a standard size; it's approx. 24.5" x 15.5" x 3.75"...	It's a standard 25" x 16" x 4" filter (41625 is the size as well as the part number for that filter).
Relocating a fibre-optic router-modem within a home I've just gotten an FTTH fiber optic internet provider in Canada. The problem I'm having is that the technician would only install the router/modem by the back of my apartment where the fiber comes in. He said it was completely not possible to have it next to my deskt...	The typical solution is install the fiber modem in the best place for the fiber, and then run a single ethernet line to your router.
Is 4 ten-feet 4x4s enough for a shed foundation? I've ordered a 10x16 shed and building a shed foundation right now. Basically I did 8 concrete piers and I'm planning to just run four 4x4 timber posts in parallel. Will that be enough of a support? P.S> - shed will have five 4x4 runners along the floor, like shown ...	6x6s doesn't sound right to me at all.
Glue to Secure Dishwasher to Granite Recently my dishwasher (DW) required service which meant pulling it out from under the granite counter top. The DW was secured to the counter top with two metal tabs which were glued to the counter top. The DW is operational again but I am searching for the type of glue that was use...	An alternative with a lot of dishwashers is to not fix them to the granite worktop, but to secure through the sides to the adjoining cabinets.
Mysterious cord running from wall. Safe? My wife and I are preparing to sell our home and are discovering some weird things. Our home was built in 1958, so it is older. We found this in a corner that had some furniture in front of it. We are wondering What kind of wiring is this? Is it safe to handle or remove? ...	If the other end of the wire is not connected, you can just coil up the end of the wire and wrap it with electrical tape to keep it out of the way. The tip and ring corresponds to the old style phone jacks that telephone operators used in manual switchboards. Remove the old plate on the baseboard, cut a hole around the...
Tool to wipe skylight? I've got a skylight straight up in the ceiling, about 3m off the ground. Pretty much exactly this: When it's cold, water condenses on the inside and eventually starts to drip. In winter it needs to be wiped at least once a day. Now, I've had absolutely no luck finding a suitable tool for wipi...	Peel off the plastic from one piece of the tape and position the film over it. In the end the correct course of action was to change the usage pattern of several rooms in the house to reduce humidity overall, so there isn't that much condensation to begin with. The cheapest, and most effective way of doing this is by i...
Hitting studs and not pipes I'm mounting a vanity and mirror in a small half bathroom and there's only 1 stud to hit behind my drywall (1990's build). However, this stud seems to be flanked on either side with pipes. To make matters worse, there is another bathroom right above this one so I must assume both the copper ...	If there's a pipe at that location, you'll almost certainly feel a gap first, and even if you don't you should detect plastic or metal, and either should move somewhat when pressed. Use a real stud finder and map out both edges of the stud, in several locations, before you proceed. If the mirror is not over 50 lbs or m...
How to remove screws from old decking I have some decking in my back garden and some of the planks need replacing. However, the screws are difficult to remove. Some have rusted/weakened sufficiently so that I've managed to remove the screw head entirely when trying to unscrew them while others are just very stubborn a...	When the boards having the heads are being discarded, a simple way to remove them is to cut through the screws at the joint between the board.
Sanding, staining and varnishing wood, outside I'm new to wood stuff in general and I want to build a mini closet, but my wife is pregnant, I was wondering if I can sand, stain, varnish, etc. outside and wait for the fumes to disperse and then put everything together inside, this is because I don't have a shop or empty...	When working outside do not work in direct sunlight, it will bubble the finish.
Is there a tankless water heater with instant hot water? I used to have a tankless water heater and loved that I never ran out of hot water in the shower. What I didn't like is that it took about 60 seconds for the water to get hot, which is really annoying when I just wanted to wash my hands with warm water. Is there...	There are on-demand inline water heaters that install under your sink, and provide instant hot water to that faucet only.
Do two layers of 1/2" drywall provide a fire rating equivalent to one layer of 5/8" drywall? On an existing 1/2" drywall partition, does adding another layer of 1/2" drywall over the existing bring the partition wall up to an equivalent fire rating as 5/8" drywall ?? <Q> Just to shed common sense on this. <S> Almost ...	The type of finish could effect the rating like adding Veneer plaster could increase the rating.
Can I run constant power and a three-way switch with three conductors? Picture this> I want to run power from a house to a garage. I want power at the garage at all times I want a three way switch with one switch in thehouse and one in the garage to activate the outside light on thegarage. Here is the problem. ...	The reason is the method used will constantly flip the polarity of the hot and neutral lines to the light making either wire and lamp socket parts hot depending on the switches.
Are foam brushes suitable for applying wood stain, or is a cloth necessary? Is "rubbing in" required? Before staining a hardwood floor, I sampled the stain on a scrap to test the color. The floor is oak, but the sample I had was birch. The oil-based red mahagony stain appears far darker than I expected, and far darke...	Using a cloth or foam pad doesn't really matter for the applying part.
Black and white wires crossed in the ceiling Replacing a ceiling fixture in a house (1989); removed the old fixture, which worked perfectly fine, but now I see up into the box there are 3 cables to this box that includes two blacks and one white that are pigtailed, as you can see in this short video clip . I am thinki...	I have found the often the "extra" wire is feeding power or ground to an outlet or another light.
Can I cut a hole in a 2" x 8" joist that is less than 1/3 the height of the joist, leaves at least 2" above and below the hole, but is 10" wide? I would like to redirect a 5" air pipe to the other side of a 2" x 8", second story, floor joist so that I can have the vent exit a bathroom vanity kick plate. I realize I ca...	For minimal impact on the joist strength I would drill the 2.25 inch holes spaced 2 inches apart, and run 2 ducts If i need the airflow. Where the member is also notched, the hole shall not be closer than 2 inches (51 mm) to the notch. This proposal is in clear violation of the above clause and would require structural...
What's the reason to sand after priming? I'm painting my kitchen after some hired help put up drywall and skim coated. They sanded the wall, I cleaned up and wiped the walls clean of dust. My contractor said that I should prime, sand with 100 grit before I paint. What is the reason and benefit of sanding after prim...	I can speak from experience when I say it really does help. Sanding after applying primer should help keep your surface as smooth and flat as possible, eliminating brush marks, or extra little globs.
Best way to remove old paint from door hinges I've got a number of nice heavy brass hinges with splotches of paint on them. Unfortunately this paint appears to be decades old and is rock-hard. It appears to be old oil-based paint but I'm not sure. The most visible place where paint was applied is the decorative pins...	I used a basic cheap heat gun to loosen the paint and then a combination of brushes and scrapers to clean everything up.
what flooring can be installed over existing vinyl? Bathroom remodel; plumber doesn't do flooring. Husband and I have limited talents but will need to do it ourselves before new vanity and toilet can be installed. Existing floor is linoleum from 80s but could be as old as the 60s. Glued down and also as baseboard 4" up...	You can install anything over the linoleum. If the floor isn't rock solid (eg has some bounce), don't use tile - it will crack.
Cutting a thread deeper in metal. I am trying to put together a TV Stand with 3 legs- 2 of which are supported via 18 inch metal rods within plastic tubes, screwed into the base. The depth of the hole in one of these is too shallow so the rod is easily loosened- rendering it useless. How can I increase the depth of th...	You could drill out the hole, thread it for the larger size and get a new rod threaded for that.
How can I extract more heat from my enclosed wood stove? I recently moved into a house that has a working wood burner/multi fuel. It's the first time I've had a wood burner/stove/multi fuel and I'm unsure how to use it efficiently. It's unlike conventional stoves that I see (it's all metal with no glass doors).The hea...	Damping the flue can retain heat in the firebox, but the real key to heat extraction is airflow outside the fireplace. I might try googling the make/model to see what comes up on how to best use it.
When is it necessary to do two coats of paint over a primer? The existing walls are various colors in different rooms. They range from light brown, to yellow to pink! We are using a white primer on our walls. The consultant at the paint store recommends priming and then painting two coats.The skeptic in me thinks tha...	Covering up dark colors with light colors generally requires more coats, but a good primer can reduce the number of coats of paint needed.
What is the feasibility of an elevated home extension - versus adding a floor inside a 16-foot high basement? Following on from my previous question: Can I have two storeys in a 16 foot space? It looks like the "best" use of that crawlspace area would be to build a new floor inside the 16-foot crawlspace/basement - a...	When the construction is complete, the tax adjuster will reappraise your home, and the amount of taxes could jump significantly depending on the extent of the renovation. Any kind of construction material placed down there would get damp and moldy. An addition would be a good way to add some additional space. However, ...
verify if the Ground cable is connected to Neutral cable I want to verify if electricity outlet is grounded. For this I did a test using a bulb connecting it to Phase and Neutral and it lit (to verify if bulb works). Then connected with Phase and Ground and the bulb lit up again. As I still doubted it, I found out wher...	You are doing a good test but trace it back to the breaker panel and check earth water mains copper for a ground reference with a Voltmeter.
Trimming or spackling the edge of a tile schluter to drywall (Large Gap) I would like to get any suggestions for closing this gap. The bathroom studs were out of plumb in an older house. The edge of the schluter goes from 0 at the bottom to 3/4" at the top on one side. And the other side it goes from 0 to 1/4". I at...	I would use a setting type compound (durabond or USG easy bond type) for this because it will enable a deeper fill with less shrinkage and also, in my experience, does a bit better with humidity over time in bathrooms and other wet settings. Use a smooth clean knife and the stuff goes on like butter, and it's easy to s...
Can I use (share) a 120 leg of the 240 with the neutral to a 120 duplex receptacle in the same box coming off the 240 circuit breaker? I have a 240 volt 20 amp receptacle in 4x4 box. There is a neutral wire not being used in the box. Can I use (share) a 120 leg of the 240 with the neutral to a 120 duplex receptacle in ...	Branch circuits recognized by this article shall be permitted as multiwire circuits.
Why did my drill stop when trying to pilot a screw hole in framing lumber? I am trying to mount a 23" monitor to a wall. I located the stud and used a bit to drill through the drywall into the stud. I went as far as I could before it started to smell and smoke. I then attempted to drill the large screw into the new hol...	In my 1950s house which uses 2x4s from a bygone era (dense Douglas-fir), I have to predrill any stud into which I intend to drive a screw or nail. Even if you have an older NiCad battery, the strain of this situation could bring the drill to a sudden stop as the wood heats and binds. It could be possible you hit a knot...
Keep bedroom doors closed or open with radiators? I see that with induced hot air heating it is advised to keep (bedroom) doors open, but I am wondering if the same advice applies for heating with wall mounted radiators. I have a two bedroom apartment on two levels. Should I keep the upstairs bedroom doors closed or ...	You can close off doors - and the radiators within - rooms that are not used (guest rooms, e.g.) so that you are not heating those spaces.
What is the min. voltage cordless drill should I use to drill a hole in a 2 cm thick stainless steel I have a 2 cm thickness (3/4 inch) stainless steel that I would like to drill some holes on it. What is the min. voltage cordless drill should I use? Are there other alternative beside drill to create holes on the stain...	There is only safe and portable drilling process I can think of, clamping a 12+mm mild steel plate to the stainless steel and drill it with a battery operated magnetic drill.
Help getting a consistent stain across different types of wood I'm working on a project with a few different types of wood and I'm struggling to get a consistent stain across them. They're all pine, but the troublesome piece is plywood. I'm using minwax pre-stain and minwax wood finish, both oil-based, and I'm not doi...	You can also experiment with sanding sealer when using a stain on any wood following stain application and light sanding, as this will essentially lock on the work you have done before adding another layer.
How bad is Latex Paint down drain and how to remove it? This falls under the category of "I should have asked before starting the job"! I've been painting a bedroom with latex paint and to clean the brushes/rollers/etc at the end of the day I take them to the outside sink in garden (basically just a basin with drain t...	If you dumped it down the sink, you might have a problem but should be OK if you flushed it down with plenty of water. I'd remove the trap, clean if possible and replace if not, and see how your sink runs.
What do you call conventional wood staining that doesn't result in a glazed effect? I am shopping around for a new kitchen, which I want to have finished in stained wood. What seems to be quite popular these days is "glazing" which seems intended to highlight any texture, relief, milling, etc. in the wood surface, dark...	The term is stain, or there are occasions where wood dye is used.
How can I cut a vinyl chair mat to shorten it? I need to cut a few inches from this PVC chair mat (if this isn't PVC, can you tell me what material it is). How do I achieve this? I though of using an acrylic knife; will it work? The line will be straight and 40 inches long. <Q> Then secure a metal straight edge alon...	I cut my chair mat using tin snips. I've cut chair mats by laying them on a flat work surface.
Grounding a 3 switch metal device box Is it acceptable to ground outlets or switches through a metal device box (not pig tailing)? The switches are connected to a long ground wire going to the light which are also screwed to the back of the box. The Ground form the lead (cut short) is screwed to the back of the box a...	A connection shall be made between the one or more equipment grounding conductors and a metal box by means of a grounding screw that shall be used for no other purpose, equipment listed for grounding, or a listed grounding device. U ground outlets and switches in a metal box do not require the ground be on the switch o...
How can I mount outlets securely where drywall was cut from around outlet ears? My contractor's worker (son) cutout the drywall from around the outlet ears on my receptacles in each room. Apparently, he didn't know what he was doing... Now my outlets are loose in the wall. If I tighten them up they fall far behind the...	Purchase some small washers and stack them in appropriate quantities behind the outlet, around the screws.
Why is electric heat capacity calculated using floor area instead of space volume? Doing some homework for a customer who wants to install electric baseboard heat. As I am trying to determine how many feet/watts I need. I ran across some guidelines that make sense, except they use the "X" number of watts to square foo...	All the heating needs come from the transfer of heat through the outside surfaces, and not the interior of the room. Floor area is used for two reasons:
Add light and outlet to attic I would like to add lighting and an outlet to my attic. Very similar to this project here with the exception that I would like to have a hard wired light fixture rather than a plug in. The attic is accessed by a hole in a closet from a 2nd floor closet, with no permanent stairs or lad...	Now, run a new wire from this new box into the existing light fixture. Armor clad is to protect wires that are exposed to high traffic areas where the wires could be damaged. If you use Romex, do keep all the wire on the trusses and not on plywood of the roof slope (to protect the wire in case the roof is replaced at s...
Making a bookcase look perfectly flush with the wall when the wall is not a true 90 degrees How would one go about fixing this highlighted gap in the photo: The bookcases are attached together and level (though the potato quality photo may not make it appear that way) But as you can tell from the zoomed in version,...	I might cut another board and put it along the side of the bookcase at the bottom so I can shove the bookcase into the corner and not stress the facade piece. Then take a compass or something to hold your pencil at the right distance and scribe a line along the board following the wall contour.
Continue to use hardwired smoke detectors? I am going to replace all the old hardwired smoke detectors in my house. In my research I have found some of the features available include 10-year batteries and dual sensor types (photoelectric & ionization) . However the 10 year battery doesn't seem to be available in a ...	Some people simplify the difference by saying "photo electric" see and ionisation - smell. 10 year batteries are available for you to install in your AC w/battery back-up units: If they are interconnected, then it would be advantageous to keep that system, so that when one alarm detects smoke, all of them alarm. Most o...
Can I get 240v out of a 120v generator? How do you wire the neutrals and is it safe when running a 240v home appliance (a window air conditioner in my case) from a 120v generator by wiring a 240v breaker that pulls from two of its 120v outlets and outputs to a 240v plug? <Q> What you describe won't work, and it's not s...	Your best option will be to get a generator with 120/240 output.
what is the name for this type of air intake gap on a residential roof which has no overhanging eaves and lacks soffit vents What is the name for this type of vent, that is, an approximately one-inch gap above the fascia trim, and where in the IRC is it referenced, if it is? P.S. I'm not referring to the louvered dr...	If you like, call it a "roof edge vent gap".
How to confirm screw is attached to stud through wood plank and dry wall? Vaulted drywalled angled half ceiling (15'X13') and would like to attach barn wood planks . It's an aesthetic ceiling - meaning it does not actually follow the roof. Rather, it is an angled "box" inside the attic, over that room, with a 2 foot...	I think you might consider nailing or screwing furring strips to the ceiling and then nailing the planks to the furring. I suggest you keep marking the centers like you've done and as each plank goes up, copy that mark to the face of the plank. You may not hit a joist every time, but I really doubt that you actually ne...
Framing an appliance opening in a load bearing wall? I bought a fridge that is much too deep (first time buying a new house/new appliances) and unfortunately the appliance place does not take exchanges or returns. I am considering recessing the fridge into the wall and framing a door would be practically what I would n...	Make sure your fridge will lay flat. If you have a water line, I would protect it up the wall to a point - lots of ways to do this. I would also likely need to have a structural engineer look at it due to the location of the wall - there are 2 beams, 1 longer one that runs from the front to back on the other side of my...
Test Connection for vintage lighting fitting Out apartment has one of those vintage light fittings, with the edison bulbs in. It also has 4M high ceilings. One of the bulbs has popped and repeatedly pops if i replace it. so i'd like to take the fitting down from the rose and check the connections both in the base and t...	Your problem seems in poor contact between the central lamp pin and central pin of lamp socket.
Caulking around base of toilet I just remodeled my bathroom by the master bedroom and the toilet needed to be shimmed since the tile around the flange was a bit higher than where the toilet bowl ends. After shimming there is a slight gap exposing beneath the toilet. I attempted caulking it on a whim but it did not loo...	DO NOT CAULK AROUND THE BASE OF YOUR TOILET. Try to fill the void fairly flatly so you're not pulling a lot of caulk along as you tool it out.
Can I splice a clock cord to a lamp cord so I only have to use one part of the power outlet I am trying to combine my clock cord and my lamp cord into one so that I only have to plug one thing into the power outlet. Would it be OK to splice them to a single plug? <Q> What you are proposing is unsafe and unnecessary. <S...	Safety-wise, you really shouldn't do that. It would be easy to end up with a cord that could be pulled apart, leaving house voltage exposed and ready to make your life overly interesting . Thus: before starting any modding with electrical devices: tell somebody that you are going to do it, and where. If you want to con...
Fixing hole in ceiling for recessed light after water damage I recently had to deal with a little water damage from a leak in the second floor bathroom. The ceiling appears to be dried out after a few days of pushing air through it and the only real water damage occured around the edge of a recessed can light fixture ...	Piece working, close to fixtures that rely on the drywall for support, never ends well, and usually looks worse, if it doesn't fall back out; landing on something important... something like this, really needs to be secured properly. I would use a hardening spackle (not taping compound or a lightweight filler) to fill ...
Figure out if I have gas or electric heating I have a year 2000 house in Bay Area California. The Honeywell RTH2520 thermostat that came with the house doesn't work anymore because the metal things on the side of the AA batteries became aqua colored and corroded. So I'm replacing it with a Honeywell RTHL2310B. This new...	While it's running, if you seem flames or light coming from it, it's a gas furnace.
What are the risks of sending low-current neutral through the ground wire? I have an existing switch that controls an outlet. I'd like to replace it with a smart-home switch, which requires a neutral wire to power the switch itself. However, there is no neutral wire at the switch. It's infeasible to run a new wire b...	If someone working on the electrical system, testing, troubleshooting, etc. assumes the EGC is safe, but it's carrying bootleg neutral current, they could receive a shock. In the event of a ground fault it will very, very briefly be energized until the fault is cleared. Enabling alternative paths can create shock condi...
Why does my house feel toasty when it's very cold outside, but cold when it's only a little chilly out? My house has gas-powered hot-water radiators for heat. Ever since we moved in, I've noticed that if the temperature is just a bit chilly outside (40°F to 50°F), the house feels very cold and everyone needs to put on ...	But when it's just a little cold out, the boiler doesn't need to run as long, so the radiators don't build up a lot of heat. This results in cool pockets that you notice, if only subconsciously.
Should the outlet that my space heater uses be getting warm? I have purchased two different types of home heaters - both worked well for many years. Last year I wanted to plug in a clock radio and noticed that the wall where the heater was plugged in was slightly warm. I checked all the outlets in the room and found ...	In layman's terms , you need to have the electrical checked by a professional, to continue to utilize an appliance that makes said outlet hot is only inviting a fire. Line voltage varies slightly by home and by region.
What should be used between a concrete tub and wall tile? I have an older home that has a large, decorative concrete bathtub/shower with tiled enclosure walls. The walls behind the tile and tub are poured concrete. (Yes, the house is very sturdily built.) I am refurbishing this area, and when I started removing the (...	I would agree with your assessment about leaving the caulk off which would allow a seepage plane through the porous cement mortar.
How to Hang Projector Screen from ceiling against wall? Let me start off with a diagram This is the projector screen in front of the wall. The vertical bars are the studs. There are probably 4 or 5 more studs between the edges of the screen). The frame of the projector has about a 3" gap from where the keyhole slo...	Since you want the screen up near the ceiling anyway just slide the board all the way up against the ceiling and attach it with screws right through the drywall and into the studs.
How to determine the polarity of a lamp? I have a lamp that has a damaged plug. I have a replacement plug, but I'm not sure which wire on the cord should be connected to hot plug and which wire to the neutral plug. I know that the plug had a polarity (it had one large blade and one small blade), but I don't know whic...	On a cord with a pre-molded plug, there will usually be ribbing or marking, and that should be on the neutral side, which is the extra-wide blade.
how can I Soundproof a room without wall modifications My My room is right next to the staircase and basically I have two neighbours that does a lot a noise, the ones right next to me and under me, the noise doesn't go through the floor but by the staircase/hallway and then straight through the walls see diagram : I...	You can use soundproofing foam, this is how we soundproof recording studios or if you want something cheaper, you can use egg crate flats. Another super ugly but effective solution is just stack rock wool from floor to ceiling until the entire wall is covered. You can tape air gaps or fill gaps with a towel or somethin...
Can I connect a 3 Pole on/off switch to 1phase 120v? My scenario: Installing new VFD (1phase 120v input with 3 phase output), 3 phase motor to Lathe I want to install a disconnect or on/off switch between the house 120v plug outlet and the VFD input. So I'll plug the VFD into the 120v wall outlet, but I want a on/o...	Note some VFD's when disconnected will fault on start if the VFD output was active when disconnected (requiring a reset at the VFD).I originally read this as a safety disconnect at the motor using the 3 phase outputs of the VFD.
setting up long runs of hardwood flooring: where to square from? So I have a 3 bedroom house, middle room being the smallest. The master is the widest covering the width of the house, and the 3rd room at the back is long and 2/3 the width of the master. I am doing the install one room at a time as there's stuff I have...	if the rooms off of the hallway or out of square, the adjustment can be made at the door where the wood floor is the shortest, by tapering that joint in the door by 1/8" in a 32" joint will change the lay of the floor going into the bedroom by a 1/2" in a 10' room.
Oil Viscosity in Snowblower Got a brand new snowblower. The manufacturer calls for 5w-30 oil but I do not have and can't get to the store before I need to use it. I have 10w-30 full synthetic and I have 5w-20 conventional. Which would be a better choice? <Q> Use the 10w-30. <S> If you store the blower in a warm p...	If you store the blower in a cold place (around -20°C) then you should replace the 10w-30 with 5w-30 as soon as practicable.
Is the receiver for my ceiling fan defective or do I need to modify my wall switch? I just got this minka aire wave ceiling fan an completed the installation but it will not turn on (neither with remote nor switch) UNLESS i take the receiver out altogether and just operate it with the wall switch. I wouldn't mind doing...	When using a remote system, the power to the receiver should always be on. I had noticed on removing the receiver that at least one of the stranded wires was poorly stripped (most of the strands cut away).
Why does my laundry machine trip the GFCI when I plug it in? My washer/dryer machine stopped working, and now when whenever I plug it into the GFCI it automatically trips the outlet (both the top and the bottom). I called an electrician in to come fix it and he said it's a problem with the laundry machine and to call a...	Sounds like your washing machine has a ground fault, and your GFCI detects this and then trips. Get the appliance serviced.
Remove a light switch to an outlet - knob and tube I have an outlet with a light switch that currently controls it. What I would like to do is remove the switch so the outlet is always hot. I considered just removing the switch and connecting the two wires, but it's knob and tube and changing anything makes me nervou...	If you can't replace a section of cloth insulated wiring the next best solution is to not touch it at all, because deteriorating insulation will deteriorate much faster every time you touch it. If you want the outlet to be hot all the time and the insulation is still good remove the switch install a wire nut and put a ...
Sealing space between counter and stainless stove What's the best material to use to seal the gap between my counters and the stove? It's a pretty tight fit but we don't want any crumbs and food bits to get in there. If we use caulk will it stick to stainless?Will it leave a mark if we decide to remove the caulk? <Q>...	There are metal and there are silicone rubber pieces with a T cross section designed for just for this purpose. Friction will hold it in place. As mentioned above you shouldn't seal the gap as the cooker will almost certainly need to come out at some point and even a small silicone bead can hold like heck...
Should I add venting to my solid soffit, and how? I am in the process of replacing some fascia boards on an eave that goes around one corner of my house. I notice that the soffit is just a plain painted board with no deliberate venting. Although after 100 years gaps have opened up in the soffit's joints so there is ac...	There are also vents that install under or in place of fascia board, which might be good for your situation (in place of soffit venting), since you say you're removing the fascia anyway.
Thermocouple measured okay, but replacing it fixed the problem? So the pilot on my furnace wouldn't stay lit. I tested the thermocouple with my multimeter and got 29 millivolts which meant it was still working. Assuming I was in over my head, I called the plumber who proceeded to change the thermocouple and now everyth...	If you are wondering, Intermittent thermocouple problems can occur if the pilot flame heats the lower 1/3 of the thermocouple.
My eq-3 Bluetooth Radiator Thermostat CC-RT-BLE is just showing "UPD". How can I "unbrick" it? The thermostat just shows "UPD" and there is no way to return to the operating mode. How can I complete the update when I didn't pair the device before or deleted the device from the app? <Q> The official statement is that ...	Open the device by unscrewing the four screws, then gently pulling the turning knob outwards, remove the cover; locate the "ADDRESS" QR code printed on the front of the circuit board; scan the QR code to retrieve the Bluetooth adress in form
What would be a good option for a non-slip entryway surface in an anteroom where the door is very nearly flush with the floor? Our home has a tile entryway/anteroom. The door to the outside is nearly flush with the floor, If you place and secure 3 post-its (i might be exaggerating a bit here, but it is far less than a ...	One option may be to use a non-slip paint additive mixed with an epoxy or compatible tile sealant.
Do I need to staple cable when installing lighting fixtures? I understand that when doing new installations (not fishing wire) you need to secure the cable with staples or another approved method, but do I have to secure the cable within 12" of light fixtures in my ceilings since it's not an outlet? The light fixtures ...	If you ever need to replace that light it will be nice to have the wire secured while it dangling from the ceiling and not putting stress at other junctions. It's not really a concern in old work where the drywall is already in place – hence why the cable can be fished behind drywall in old work applications without be...
Is it safe to use portable electric stove as space heater? TLDR: I have an unused portable electric stove . Can I use it for heating air around without putting anything on top? Long explanation:I am cleaning up, repairing and adding insulation to a basement so that I can live there. I bought a 1200W infrared heater t...	If you look at radiant heaters they have protective grills over the exposed heating elements to prevent some unfortunate person from touching the hot part, and to prevent combustibles from inadvertently contacting the heating element. Don't sacrifice safety and set yourself up for trouble when something gets knocked ov...
What is the proper way to measure the cut-out for the kitchen range? I want to upgrade my kitchen range. I currently have an old 1987 kenmore drop-in. The manual lists it as a "30 inch drop-in", but when I lift up the cooking surface, the distance from counter top to counter top is about 29.5 inches (give or take a few...	We have a GE slide-in electric range with single oven that is exactly 30" wide with an overhang on top of 3/8" on each side.
Electrical: Is this tangle of wires in a 100 year old house cause for concern? Just bought a 100 year old house and it has knob and tube wiring along with newer wiring running to the kitchen and parts of the finished basement. There's a whole bunch of wires in the basement. I'm not sure what is still being used, or wha...	I agree that the first picture consists of telephone and CAT5 grade wiring, but I wouldn't summarily dismiss it. To step back for a moment, knob+tube is a really robust way to wire a house.
No Ground Wires - Can I connect a wire to the metal box for ground? I want to install new z-wave light switches that require a ground, but it appears that none of the electrical boxes in my house have ground wires and the previous light switches didn't use a ground. Is it legal to have no ground wires? Im in Chicago ...	Since the box is grounded through the conduit (which is as good a ground conductor as any), you don't even have to terminate the ground wire to the box as long as the Z-wave switch has a metal yoke that contacts the box, although you can get a grounding screw (any 10-32 machine screw will do in a pinch), screw it into ...
How do I prevent white film forming on utensils in dishwashers? I've installed a Bosch SMS60L18IN dishwasher , best in its latest series. We were very satisfied with its first wash when it gave us clean utensils without any problems. We put a 3 in 1 tablet then. Now, I use a special salt, detergent and rinse aid, all ...	I've had issues with white film before and I solved them by switching to detergents which have some amount of phosphorus in them.
How to install floor baseboard on drywall frame with metal studs? So, I can't use a nailer, and I would rather avoid screwing it and having to patch holes later (the baseboard comes prefinished). Can I just apply a few strips of silicone on the back of the trim, and hold it against the wall for a few seconds until it ...	I've used liquid nails to attach baseboard before (in a similar situation), and it does work except where there are bows in the wall or baseboard.
Door Does Not Close Properly I have a door in my home to one of the bedrooms, that will not "catch" when you close it. If you lift up on the doorknob then it "catches" and will remain shut. I was curious, if I put a "stronger" screw in the top of the door hold (or maybe 3) would this "lift" the door enough that you n...	It's better to just move the strike plate. Re-screw all the hinges down tight before you move the strike plate. There is a way to tweak the hinges to move the door up or down, but its for small amounts like 1/16", not 1/4".
Are nail plates required on the exterior wall side of the wall studs? My steel building has 2"x6" wall studs and 2"x4" exterior purlins. The steel siding is attached with screws to the purlins. I've run my wiring behind the studs and attached it to the top of the purlins. Thus the wiring lays on the purlins behind the ...	If your cables don't go through drilled holes in the framing members (studs or purlins), 300.4(A)(1) would not apply in that case.
Suggestion to "Networkify" a dumb USB Security Camera Some background: I live in a small condo complex where we're having an issue with our collective back yard getting an unsightly amount of uncollected dog turds. The HOA board decided to put up a camera to help catch the "pooper-no-scoopers". One of the members we...	Deer cameras are designed for sticking out in the woods to surveil potential deer activity along trails.
How do I get rid of fruit flies in my fridge? Sorry in advance if this is the wrong place to post this. In my fridge there are scores of dead fruit flies lying on the bottom. I rarely see any live ones in or outside the fridge, but, daily, there are dozens of dead ones both in the main part of the fridge and freezer c...	Then unplug fridge and let it dry out. We find fridges that are very usable in this state very often during flips and the first things we do is bleach the inside (409 makes a spray and a gel that works good - the gel on the bottom). I like to spray alcohol on fruit when I bring it home from the supermarket, it seems to...
Green residue on the joints of copper water pipes I was renovating my house and have to open up the ceiling. Once the ceiling was opened up I see that our copper water piping has some green residue only on the joints. I was doing some research online and seem that the conclusion is mixed, some say not to concern whil...	The moisture, along with the solder and possibly flux, has corroded the outside of the pipe, leaving the characteristic green-blue color of dissolved copper.
Making a path less slippery I have a path (in Indonesia; rainfall 4000 mm per year) that is a combination of steps and slope. This picture shows a relatively steep slope over a brief section that's a bridge over a hole. The total path length is around 50m and I guess it climbs around 10m over that distance. It proba...	An easy way to add steps may be put a board on edge the width of the path every 3-5 ft.
Identifying cause of light flickering? I've got 2 lights in the house that have an intermittent flicker (we can go for days without having it at all, then it'll happen for a bit). I've not seen them do it at the same time. They are on the same circuit (but different switches). It's not much of a flicker really, clos...	I inserted a voltmeter into one of the sockets (removed the bulb), and when the other light would flicker, I would see the voltage drop momentarily in the socket I was looking at.
An electrician put a double 60 amp breaker in place of two 15 amp breakers A remodel was done in the kitchen, and now half the house is on the same two 60 amp breakers. When too many items get turned on, the lights flicker and sparks fly but the breaker do not kick off. I have never seen this done during 42 years in co...	If you don't see that, shut it off and don't use it again until you can show it to the electrical inspector, because the guy who did that needs to be run down and asked about all the other work he's done. If there is 14 gauge or 12 gauge wire coming out of those breakers, this is a serious hazard and a code violation.
Rigid foam board in walls between studs, plus fiberglass batt? I've got access to some discounted (factory seconds) of rigid foam board and looking to cut it up and place it against the exterior walls on the inside of an old (1894) converted house that is now four 1br apartments. Thinking of going with 1" of rigid foam...	The vapor barrier keeps moisture out of the fiberglass so it doesn't saturate and effectively insulates. If you can use the foam board and fiberglass - without compressing the fiberglass batts, then I say go for it. If you try to cobble something together, thinking you are going to get better results on the cheap, you ...
Low voltage wiring ideas for house I'm looking for ideas for low voltage wiring for new house/renovation. My house is gutted due to a massive flood. Walls are open so now's the time to upgrade. I am already pulling cat6 around the the house. Nearly 20 years in IT taught me to always pull 2 runs even if you're only g...	In your desk area, consider the wall plates that contain USB charging sockets too - they're cheap and if they go out of flavour can be swapped for the next big thing in a decade. Do put tie cables between patch panels, if you have more than one. Run at least 4, maybe more to the back of your "tv area" and one to where ...
Can I use epoxy repair putty as a permanent fix for a screwed through water pipe? Someone (cough cough) screwed through a water pipe under the floor boards in my mother's house. It's a 22mm copper pipe that I'm pretty certain is running hot water from the combi boiler. I removed the screw and replaced it with a shorte...	You may be able to repair this yourself, if you know how to solder. I would not trust it, especially in a concealed area where a leak could go unnoticed for quite some time.
Can I use marble tile on a shower floor I would like to use mosaic marble tile on my shower floor. Is this ok? If i do it do I need to seal it? My concern is not friction (this tile has plenty plus will have lots of grout lines) but the pourousness of the stone. Here is what Im considering from Lowes Home Improvement i...	Unlike many limestones, marble is relatively non-porous and absorbs very little water.
How can I trip a breaker from the outlet One time at my job we had some electrical work that needed done. The electrician had a small homemade switch box with a 120v mains plug running out of it and a switch on the front. The device basically threw whatever breaker that plug was attached to so he new which one needed...	When plugged in and the switch is closed, a short circuit is created that will either trip the breaker if it is working, or start a fire inside the walls if it is not. The answer which states that this is a bad idea is correct. The reason this isn't completely deranged at that industrial location is that certain indust...
How do I easily remove silicone? Since some parts of the siliconed area of my bath tub are damaged, I need to replace the silicone. Is there an easy method to remove that silicone? <Q> I use a plastic putty knife . <S> Some of my guys even use plastic knives (yes the kind you use at bar-b-ques). <S> The whole pu...	Mineral spirits (e.g. paint thinner) will soften silicone caulk, use that with your scraping tools as mentioned in DMoore's answer.
Is there a method to transpose specific pilot holes? Bathroom drywall with wood beam behind it. In a very specific location, created 2 pilot holes (through the drywall into the beam). Want to attach a wood plank, exactly into those 2 pilot holes. When the wood is held over the 2 pilot holes...I don't know where ...	Put piece of paper up to holes Mark two reference points on the paper outside the perimeter of the board so you can see it while the board is up (perhaps use a small finishing nail or something rather than a simple mark so you can pull the paper out in front of the board)
Are brass picture hooks ok for a 30lb mirror on a plaster wall? I've got a 30 lb mirror with D-hooks on the back and cable that can take its weight appropriately. I've put this mirror up on plaster walls before but I just want to make sure because this time it's in a 120 year old building (very good condition mind you)...	I would use anchors that are long/deep enough to actually get into the underlying brick, then use self-tapping screws to mount hooks to the wall.
Asbestos in 2005 pellet stove? After removing the brick liner for cleaning, I found a rectangle of white insulation behind the center liner panel. The manual says removal of the panel and vacuuming behind it are part of annual maintenance. Is it possible that the insulation is asbestos? See attached photos. <Q> It doe...	As others above have noted, it's not likely to be asbestos.
I'm replacing my outlets and I have too many hot/neutral wires, what do I do? I'm going through my new home and replacing my outlets. This was mostly fine, as the first outlet was very easy to replace. But, I ran into outlets that have multiple hot/neutral wires. For the most part, I just copied how the old outlets we...	Where there are not enough screws, you attach the outlets together with a connector with an additional short "pigtail" that goes to the device. Only one wire actually contains the hot/neutral power (the one coming from the circuit breaker), while the other one is meant to pass along the power to the next outlet.
How to deal with halogen lights hurting your eyes? I have gable roof and there are 4 halogen lights on ceilings. If I am sitting upright, it's good but due to the angle of the ceiling, if I move slightly to any direction the light goes directly to my eyes. Even if I look at my tablet or phone the light reflection hit...	If the lens are spots a switch to flood bulbs would put out a wider light "beam" reducing concentration of light making them more acceptable. You can purchase an alternate trim for these luminaires.
What type of screw is the most resistant to rust: galvanized, stainless steel, or deck screws? How do the following screw types fare in an outdoor (wet) long-term application? Galvanized screw: Stainless steel screw: "Deck" screw: <Q> The stainless steel screw will absolutely be the best screw to resist rust. <S...	Stainless steel is undoubtedly the best material for resisting rust and corrosion in screws.
I have a swinging garage gate that is hitting my driveway when open, how to mitigate? When the gate is closed, there is about a 3 inch gap from the bottom corner of the gate to the driveway. When the gate opens, it comes up against a higher part of the driveway and skids on it, getting the garage gate arm stuck. Righ...	Let it hang - I don't see it making a bit of difference if the wheel only touches down when it's needed, and hangs the rest of the time.
Best location to install floor door stop What distance from the hinge is the best spot to install door stop? <Q> Farther from the hinge the better. <S> When possible I use base mount door stops, one would work here as well. <S> But if you prefer to use the floor mount, keep it a few inches from the edge of the door. <S...	The correct place to install it is vertically under the position where the door-handle would strike the wall if the stop were not there. The farther from the hinge, the better.
Is the max current draw of wall outlets reported in RMS or peak? In the United States, the voltage of typical wall outlets is 120 Vac (RMS). Maximum current draw is 15 A or 20 A. Is this "maximum" expressed in terms of RMS or peak ? The "maximum" seems to imply peak. Extension to this question: If I plug multiple d...	All ratings in the NEC are in RMS.
How do I remove this marker mark on painted drywall? I have a 4-year-old boy, who loves to draw on the wall from time to time. He does it with his Washable Markers, which should be easy to clean with water. He left his marks for a while on the wall until we forgot about them. Recently, we repainted our kitchen. The co...	There is simply no way those marks would still be showing through if the contractor had done a proper job, with a stain-blocking primer and a good-quality paint.
Repair the overflow drain under a Corian sink where the tube and box has come unglued My bathroom has a Corian sink that uses a tube for the overflow drain. Unlike most overflow drains, this one is not molded into the sink itself. The sink is 20 years old. The box at the end of the tube appears to have been glue...	I also cleaned the underside of the sink and sanded old glue off. The overflow drain doesn't take water as fast as the faucet can put it in the sink, so eventually the sink will overflow. I think I have repaired this the best that I can, but it appears to be a very poorly designed overflow system. I then added some mor...

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