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Is there really any difference between yellow and white PTFE tape? Yellow PTFE tape (aka Teflon) is supposed to be used for sealing gas pipe thread, and white PTFE tape, for water. But is there really any difference between them? I had always thought that yellow was specially formulated to resist methane and other natu...	In many jurisdictions you MUST use double density tape on gas piping, so inspectors will look for yellow. The CURRENT standard is: White = single density tape and is ONLY good for small fittings up to 3/8 in.
Oven shuts down the power in the whole appartment when it heats up I own an appartment in the residential, 2-storey building in Edmonton, AB, Canada. There is an older oven that always worked well with no issues. I recently cleaned it thoroughly. In the process, I unscrewed 2 crews that hold the top heating element a...	My advice before hiring an expensive electrician if you have skills on diagnostics...first check all element connectors to ensure no residual metal from the stove covers has been placed between the connector and the element. This can cause grounding and shut the stoves trip GSFI.
How can I remove smeared latex paint from a wood floor? I recently had some painting done, and the people who were responsible did not use anything to protect the floor from paint dripping. It also looks like they walked all over the paint, smearing it on my wood floors. See the following photo: Now, if the paint wer...	There are various chemicals/solvents that will remove dried latex paint but all have the potential for damaging the underlying finish. IMO, whatever damage occurs will hopefully be limited to a slight dulling of the floor's finish in that area, and that will look a hell of alot better than what it looks like now.
Can I legally run wiring through a window or its frame? I am planning on hooking up a hot tub in our in backyard and we need to run a wire from the breaker panel to the tub. Although we could run the wire through the concrete, there is an unused basement window and it would be easier to run the wire through the window ...	Otherwise you'd want to permanently remove the window from service as a window, by doing a surface treatment on both sides that renders it not a window. My advice...drill a hole in the wood or brick and run properly.
Uneven ceiling, best way to fix it? Contractor responsible for preparing the ceiling and painting, neglected to mention the ceiling for bathroom is visibly uneven. 7cm difference from one end to the other. Looks also a bit concave. The contractor said it's not his responsibility and blamed it on someone else. Said best...	When you hire a finisher to repair problems, you have bad results. In many cases a ceiing in an older home if replaced needs to have an attic strongback installed to occomdate the new ceiling. If it's not in the contract, it's not the fault of the trades.
Going from conduit to NM in new framed wall (commercial) I'm framing up an office inside a warehouse using 2x4 lumber. There is a framed wall against an existing side wall of the warehouse. Along the existing wall is conduit and two boxes with receptacles. I was going to remove the entire thing, but one of these boxes ...	But if you feel you must, if there's no wire into the wall from that box, you can reposition the box by pulling out the wire, cutting the conduit and using a conduit coupling to shift the position of the box along the conduit by the amount you cut off. You can make a transition with a EMT to Flex adapter or build one o...
Sauna has regular plug but pops the breaker My Sauna draws 17 amps and blows the breaker after about 10 minutes,would I be ok to install a 20 amp breaker on this circuit.I realize that it is only 14 gauge wire but the sauna is only on for 45 minutes at a time and only 2 amps over.The sauna was plugged into a basement ...	The circuit breaker is protecting the wiring between the breaker and the plug from becoming hot due to over-current draw. A 17-Amp load should not be installed on a circuit protected by a 15-Amp breaker.
How to seal a unused thimble in exhaust chimney I have a 1955 farm home which has a chimney currently being used to exhaust an oil furnace. The furnace is in the basement, and on the main floor there was a thimble extending out on each side of the chimney. When I had a chimney expert out to inspect the chimneys, he sug...	Our local fire inspector has approved sealing a masonry flue opening by use of 4-inch fire-clay bricks and refractory mortar, although it may technically leave a "defect" in the masonry liner of the chimney.
What is this thing that looks like a light socket but isn't I recently moved into a new (to me) house and there's a thing in the crawl space that looks like a light socket, but it's not. It might be some sort of fuse? There's a chain I can pull but I'm not sure what it does. What is this? Please see pictures. https:...	It's a broken light socket. These are simple 2 wire fixtures with a pull chain on off switch. and there are some plastic ones that can be found for less than 5$. Make sure to turn the power off Remove the 2 screws and lower the fixture. I put in 7 of these from a major brand (made in China)
60A subpanel service - when does it trip? I am looking at running new 60A subpanel to my shed. According to what I understand from the electrician, there will be two HOT wires and neutral wire running on 6/3 wire. My question is, since the sub-panel will be supplied with a 60A @ 240V, will each hot wire allow 60A?Wil...	The double pole common trip breaker will trip when either pole exceeds 60amps. If those branch circuit are going to supply high intensity lighting, the circuit wire should be no smaller than #10. They do not trip as you slowly exceed the stamped value until the inverse time / current values are exceeded.
Can I run a kitchen sink drain 19' through a hollow stud wall with seven 90-degree turns? I am adding a kitchen sink to a basement and want to run the sink drain through a hollow stud wall to reach the existing soil stack. My concern is it is 17' away and requires seven 90-degree elbows. Yes, seven. I know it's crazy, ...	Sump-style ejectors have to be vented all the way to the attic and require a hole in the basement floor. You would also need to add at least one two-way drain clean-out strategically placed near the center of the run and it would need to remain accessible. The sheer number of studs impacted, including two corners, woul...
Choosing a material to cover wood and paint with emulsion We're using a floor to ceiling stained pine bookcase to subdivide a room. On the front side it looks great. However, the back of the bookcase is quite ugly. I'd like to cover the back with something that I can paint with emulsion so, from that side, it looks l...	I have built a bookcase (attached to the floor and ceiling, so functionally a wall) with a drywall backing, mudded the drywall as usual and indeed the other side looks just like a wall.
insulate knee wall with faced or unface Looking for more info on the insulation process of a knee wall. I was thinking of insulating the diagonals of the roof line. not what I'm unsure of is, was is the correct type of insulation faced or unfaced for that part of the knee wall? Thank you for your time <Q> The kraft pa...	The short answer is that if you're going to randomly add insulation to a wall, adding unfaced insulation is the best answer without more information.
How can I replace this P-trap This metal p-trap in my kitchen has rusted out at the bottom and is leaking. I removed it and in this case the nut goes on the trap side and the piece it connects to is threaded. I'm used to seeing the opposite where the trap is threaded. All the traps I saw at HD were threaded as well so ...	Then you can buy a PVC kit that contains both the trap and the wall tube.
layman terms: Lengths of not more than 6 feet from an outlet Below is an amendment to my village electrical code. Can someone please help me understand what #2 below means? Does this mean we can not daisy change can lights using BX? Can we use use junction boxes to tie it all together, or can we only install can li...	You can use up to 6 feet of BX cable from this junction box to the light fixture, keeping the BX cable above the ceiling.
Can I safely disconnect this television outlet? I have what appears to be an old tv antenna outlet connection in our bedroom. This outlet has since been replaced (elsewhere in the room) by coaxial cable. I would like to disconnect this cable and cover with a solid wallplate, however, want to make sure there are no haz...	You could put a wire nut on the bare wires in the box or wrap each of them in electrical tape in case the same wire runs to other outlets or is connected to your coaxial distribution. If you want to do it correctly, you might need to consider this part of the National Electrical Code (NEC): 800.25 Abandoned Cables.
What's this wiring contraption in my closet? I recently moved into an old apartment and found this contraption in a closet, with wiring going in different directions around the door frame. Some of the wires are cut in places mid-wall and have been painted over into the wall. Right adjacent to it, by the closet door, is...	The device is simply a junction block for telephone wiring. The hole in the center is used to screw down the cover plate which is missing.
How many heating watts can I draw from a pair of tied 15A breakers? Currently there are 3 baseboard heaters (750, 1000 and 1500) 3250 watts total running on 2 tied 15 amp breakers. I want to change all three heaters. What is the maximum number of combined watts I can install? <Q> Resistive heating loads are required...	You must balance your heaters so neither circuit exceeds 1440W. For instance, a 2000W heater is out of the question. Each of the two circuits can drive 12A of heaters, or 1440W. But if you use a load for a long time, the heat builds up in the wires, calling for a safety derating of the circuit. Branch circuits supplyin...
I have a car EV charger with a NEMA 6-20 plug and a different 220v receptacle -- adapter? I bought a 220V car EV charger with what I understand is a NEMA 6-20 plug: But the socket is some other 220V that I can't find the specifications for: Is there an adapter I can get to use this plug for this socket or do I need...	As the number implies, that should be a 50 amp (40 at 80 percent) socket. A NEMA 6-20 plug "implies" a current limit of 20 amps but more accurately, one should avoid approaching that figure.
How can I trim out a supply pipe passing through a tile floor against the toilet base? I need a recommendation for a product that I can use to hide where this pipe meets the floor in my bathroom. There was a metal piece here but I had to cut it off since the new toilet comes so close to the pipe, it was hitting it. I...	If you are crafty, you could possibly make one from floor tile scraps (to match floor) or plain while tile to match toilet. The simplest approach is to buy a solid round escutcheon and cut it to fit. Might have been best to notch the one part one you had, but too late for that now. Generically, it's an escutcheon, and ...
How can I clean high roof gutters? My house is a tall colonial. At the tallest point the gutters are almost 30 feet above ground. I do not have a tall ladder and do not want to climb on a roof which is even higher. I do have a gutter cleaning gadget with a steel fork at the end BUT it is only 5 feet long. Is there a e...	I use extension tubes on my wet/dry shopvac, along with a J attachment.
How can a steep driveway be kept safe in snowy climates? I looked at a house today and one of its drawbacks was that it had a very long, steep driveway. In New England we get thick snow, sleet and ice and with a steep driveway I am concerned the car might have trouble getting up it, or might slide off it going down. T...	Having lived a good portion of my life in an area where heavy snowfall is common I can say that the best way to deal with snow in any driveway is to keep it shoveled out down to the underlying surface.
Quickest way to identify line wire and load wire in a multiway switch I am upgrading a lot of light switches in my home to Z-Wave smart switches. It is easy when it is a simple switch, but a 3-way, 4-way or n-way switch circuit is trickier. When doing so, I need to know where the hot "line" wire is and where the most d...	Two identical odd-color wires running together are quite distinctive. Those are always at 3-ways, always on the ends, always on black screws, and are always either always-hot or switched-hot . So, if you opened up the boxes and locate a 3-way switch and then turned any of the interior four-way switches off, you should ...
Filling in drywall gaps I had to remove the panel for my shower to get at the pipes behind it. I cut a square around the panel in the drywall to take it out - now I need to fill in the gaps between the panel and the rest of the wall. I want to cut drywall to fill in the holes and then putty them together however I need...	First, know that drywall tape joints are actually quite strong. It doesn't look like the wall was furred out for the flange, so I'm not sure how things will fit, but doing so might benefit by it being a thinner piece.
Water heater anode rod replacement, teflon tape or no? For replacing an anode rod in a residential water heater, there seems to be some conflicting opinions regarding using teflon tape to prevent leaks. The rod manufacturer's instructions say to use it. Some people say to not use it as it prevents making a good electri...	Yes, teflon tape may reduce the effectiveness of the anode rode by electrically insulating the rod from the water heater chassis.
Can I use 10 gauge to first distribution point, then 12? Can I replace 12 gauge line to attic with 10 gauge when distributed wires will remain 12 gauge. Can I then increase Circuit breaker amps as each distributed line handles little amperage and only short main line to circuit board may have higher amperage. Changing ...	Your larger breaker (30A, the maximum 10 gauge is rated for) will not trip in this situation and the 12 gauge wire may start a fire.
previous owner painted over door latches, preventing doors from closing - how to proceed? This door (pictured below) used to work just fine, but my superstitious mother, may she rest in peace, painted over it to prevent it from closing. Now it is sealed open. Since it is the door to the bathroom and I intend to rent ou...	Or if you goal is just to do something quick to get the door to open and close: take a hammer and smack the latch into the door - the paint will break off and the knob/latch will be functional.
How to Use GFCI Square Cover? I have a 4" square box which I'm going to put a GFCI outlet in. I got one of the raised covers with a rectangular cutout for GFCIs. However, the outlet itself doesn't sit flush with the cover. When I put it over the outlet, the screw holes at the top and bottom of the outlet stick out...	Use the bolts and nuts supplied with cover to attach the outlet to it. The small ears have a crimp that allows them to break off with a few twists front to back. I just had to deal with that last week. dump the accursed raised cover (you certainly don't need the cubic inches) and go with a 1-gang mud ring for a 4" box....
Is voltage drop calculated from the meter or the service panel? In sizing underground feeder wire to a detached garage/shop do I calculate voltage drop based on distance from the main service panel on back of house to the shop(175feet)? Or do I include the distance from the meter to the house main service panel(160feet...	For a sub panel fed from your main panel normaly we size base wire size on the distance from the panel to the load or location using distance and the max load or supply breaker size. Both voltage drops add up.
Can you have both 15 and 20 Amp receptacles off the same 20 Amp GFCI? Currently, in my kitchen I have a 20amp GFCI receptacle (faceplate only accepts 15amp plugs but back says it is 20 amp rated) off of that GFCI outlet there are 3 15amp receptacles, one is for a garbage disposal, the other 2 are at counter top level f...	You are fine with the 20 amp receptacles. Yes, you can have either or both kinds of outlets on the same circuit, and it will work well unless you exceed the amperage allowed by the circuit breaker. Either way you are good. The garbage disposal is just fine as it is don't worry about it. The breaker protects the wires. ...
Add combo (switch and outlet) with only two wires out of wall for the current light) I probably have this diagram for my project. Or problem. Facts : a) only 2 wires out of wall, B & W; b) switch ON, lights ON Ceiling electrical box : One black and one white connects to the ceiling light fixture. Project : I ...	Always-hot and neutral go to your smart switch w/ receptacle. The two existing wires go to the switch side only. The wire gauge depends on the breaker size. So 12/3 (or 14) needs to be added. And these three go to the lamp/receptacle combo, always-hot to the common bar, switched-hot to the switch side, and neutral to t...
What are these fasteners on this hinge? Just moved into a new apartment and one of the doors is mounted with these fasteners I’ve never seen. I’d like to take this door out, but I’m struggling to figure out how to remove these without breaking them. Any help would be much appreciated. <Q> The only way to remove them,...	A (usually) reversible way to remove a door is to drive out the hinge pins. Looks like they used rivets .
Existing 40 amp breaker with a 50 amp range spec? I have a 40 amp breaker for the range receptacle, but the new range specifies a 50 amp circuit. Can I just have a 50 amp breaker installed or will it require rewiring? <Q> In general, no. <S> Installing a 50A breaker on wiring only designed to support 40A is dangerous...	It's possible, although very unlikely, that the wiring used in the circuit is #6 and thus could support 50A (maybe somebody was planning for the future), but for some reason a 40A breaker was used.
Is this wiring safe? Purchased a mid 50's built house last year. Knew that a switch in one of hallways had a switch that appeared to do nothing... Having done many simple wiring projects (lucky to have done renovation with a friend who was an electrician) that passed building inspection, I thought I'd check this out m...	It's not uncommon to see a hot chained across multiple switches. Having hot wire leading "somewhere" in the house is not good idea. Pigtails would fix that. If you are not sure, disconnect the switch, blank the cable to C and write it down somewhere.
20 amp Circuit, 15 amp switch that controls receptacles ok? I have a 20 amp circuit in my home (the breaker is 20 amps). On that circuit there is a light switch rated for 15 amps that controls three 15 amp receptacles. Is the 15 amp switch ok, or should it be a 20 amp light switch? <Q> Dean MacGregor is correct. <S>...	Well, the breaker won't trip (unless you go over 20 as well) because it's a 20amp breaker so the switch will be overloaded and could heat up and start a fire. Any protection shall break first with large enough margin, no matter what and how it protects.
Sheath is too short! Can I finish in EMT? Gah!! My fat, expensive #4 SE cable going to a subpanel... Somebody stripped the sheath a little too far back. I have tried my darnedest and cannot find enough slack to bring the sheath inside the panel. So here's my plan. I want to use a 1" knockout to a very short nipple ...	Put a rigid coupling on the out end of the nipple; install a 1" NM connector into the coupling. It is not legal to unsheath a cable and use its individual conductors in place of THHN wire, mainly because those individual conductors are not marked/listed as such. This nipple is now simply a sleeve that is being called i...
Window treatment that allows for a projection to be visible? As a creative project, I'm trying to project some lines or text onto a window. That is, I have a large window that I still want to see out of, but I want to use an LCD projector from the inside to project onto the window. Someone looking at the window would...	Depending on how much optical interference you can tolerate, you can either use a translucent film like they use for this product: Window Wonderland
Sharkbite fitting connection is leaking around painted pipe I just installed this sharkbite valve. 1/2 copper pipe. The right side of the valve is dry, but the left side is leaking. What could be the problem? I tried pushing more of the right side of the pipe into the valve but it won’t go any further. What can I do fr...	If it still leaks, you've messed up the fitting; get a new one. You can also use any number of abrasive or sanding products but that paint has got to go.
How to remove chrome sleeve from copper pipe on vanity? enter image description hereI am getting ready to replace the vanity in our older home. The problem I have is how do I remove the chrome sleeve from the pipe so I can attach fittings to the copper pipe. This looks like a compression fitting. Is the sleeve attached...	If there is not a shut off valve I would probably install one then use a flex line instead of hard line a lot easier.
Is a tilted drywall joint at an angled roof intersection to be expected? We have an older house and looking to sell it. We have a contractor in to add a small closet to my son’s room since we didn’t have one in there. The problem is that the joint between the wall and slanted wall is crooked. When I asked the contrac...	Perhaps a real drywall pro would have some trick to help. But then you'd likely end up with a misalignment of the opening on the wood floor (blue arrow), which in my opinion would be much more visually apparent. I really think it looks pretty good anyway and will look better when textured and painted.
How can I bolt a microwave to the upper cabinet if the bolt hole is stripped? Of course this happened on the very last step... I am trying to install an over-the-range microwave. I've got it hanging on the bracket that attached to the back wall. All I need to do now is bolt the top front to the upper cabinet. But the *...	If there's a threaded nut in there then go up one size on the bolt and drill and tap the nut for the larger bolt.
Dog-friendly mouse hunting strategies after a year of using standard products? TL;DR: When commercial products have been ineffective or proven dog-unfriendly, what are some other mouse-catching strategies when the mice hide in baseboard heaters and have learned to avoid most traps? Context: I bought an old home in a...	The snap traps are good for monitoring for mice
Why does my home's power fade and surge when I plug things in? I live in Texas. I ran 300 ft of aluminum electric direct-bury 4-4-2 from the pole on street to my new home. The pole is metered and yes, I had my utility's blessing to do so. Everything worked perfectly for 6 months, but now suddenly if I plug anything (...	If you find this condition then there's nothing you can safely do to resolve it without involving the utility at least. This is a power outage even though it doesn't appear so -- the fluctuations in light and heat you see are because the 0V reference mark for all your 120V outlets is no longer acting as such, resulting...
Does my extension cord have too much internal resistance? We had a snow storm yesterday and today I found in my front yard the 25-foot 110-volt outdoor-rated extension cord had caused a melt depression in the 5-inch snow. (In the picture the curving line is the extension cord) I'm not looking for system optimization h...	But of course you should make sure the current load is no more than the cord is rated for, and that the two ends of the cord are both well protected from water intrusion if you're going to use it with snow falling or on the ground. Second, check the rating: Cords come in different wire gauges, ranging from light duty c...
Can different gauges of wire be used on the same circuit? My father-in-law is a builder. He has put in 20 amp and 15 amp breakers, and ran 12-2 as the home runs to the switch's and the first plug to make them hot. He then ran 14-2 to feed the rest of the plugs, lights, and ceiling fans. Is it okay that he used differ...	The National Electrical Code allows circuits protected by a 15 amp circuit breaker to use #12 AWG copper wire but #14 AWG wire cannot be protected by anything larger than a 15 amp breaker for power and lighting. So if you upsized to #10, you can't connect it to that receptacle directly , you must pigtail the receptacle...
How can I reduce the noise of a street in front of the house? Situation: A rented flat with a busy street right in front of it.The bed room faces towards the street with a window front.As the flat is rented I can not build something permanently like new windows or a wall. I already thougt about styrofoam plates, other ...	Any insulated glass will be much better than non-insulated glass, but you can also get special kinds of insulated glass for sound isolation. Your options are limited and not too effective due to the fact that you are renting and thus need something that is not permanent and affordable. Might take a little while to get ...
Need info on AFCI requirements Are AFCI breakers required on 30 amp dryer circuits and 50 amp furnace and stove circuits or just the 20 and 15's? I haven't done residential in a long time. Thanks fellas. <Q> Assuming that you're concerned with AFCI requirements in dwellings , the generic National Electrical Code (NEC...	Again the 240-volt circuits are not required to be protected by AFCI. In some jurisdictions, in 200-Amp service alterations, i.e. new panel, meter base, service raceway and service conductor, etc; as long as the panel in not moved more than 6-feet, they are not considering that as altering the 120-volt circuits.
Is it safe to add shelving to truss members in my attic? I have a (I believe it's called) "W" frame loft: (sorry about the quality of the pictures - maybe I should ask in the photography Stack Exchange how to take such pictures) There are no floorboards, just ceiling joists, but I had an idea that I could create so...	Adding loads to a truss which are small relative to the weight of the truss itself (e.g. an attic light fixture) should be safe, but adding loads beyond that could be dangerous. Also, don’t attach anything to the side of a truss.
Would two 1x10 placed together be as strong/load bearing as one 2x10 I have a rotted joist in my floor that I can access through my basement, but is above several pipes. I could squeeze a 1x10 through the gaps but can't get a 2x10 to fit. So wondering if I got two 1x10 to fit, then affixed them together, would that hav...	I’d fasten them together with minimal number of fasteners, because they’ll tend to “buckle” under extreme loading before the wider lumber. But do consider the type of wood. Because the two 1x10’s have the same surface area as the single 2x10 from the neutral axis, it’s the same strength.
How to deal with the trapped air in a loft attic? I live in an apartment (not a house) with a loft attic. It has enough space and I use it as a study room. In summer, the air is extremely hot as I walk up the steps to the attic. Initially I was thinking to get a solar powered roof fan installed on the roof with its o...	As for ventilation you can either as you said, add a vent fan to send the hot attic air outside, and setup other attic vents to either draw air in from outside (normal for an attic space) or draw air up from the living space (not normal, but might be what you want as you are using the attic as living space).
Is it permissible to have exposed mains conductors in holiday lights? I've just had a holiday lights company install some outside tree lights, and I found they had done it so that at several places the prongs of mains cable plugs had been left exposed, and carrying mains voltage. I've put a couple of pictures here: ht...	As a practical matter I would buy a bare NEMA 1 socket for about a dollar, and slip that over the bare contacts, tape it down with electrical tape (to make it obvious this should not be taken apart) and call it good.
Are light socket to outlet adapters safe for outdoor holiday lights? We just moved into a split level house about 40 years old. This will be our first Christmas and I cannot figure out how to put up lights because we don't seem to have any outlets outside. I could buy socket adaptor and put it on one of my outside li...	As long as you don't overload the fixture or the circuit, those socket adapters would be OK, especially for a temporary setup like Christmas lights.
Building a DIY window-opener In my bathroom is one small window, which handle is 3 m above ground. Underneath the window stands my washing machine, so after showering, to get the humidity out, I need to climb on the washing machine in order to open the window. That is somewhat annoying and I am afraid the top of the ma...	My immediate thoughts are to get a large diameter wooden dowel (30-40mm, sold as stair railings or closet rods) and screw a large eye-bolt into the top of that and use it just as the tool you pictured. If you also have a clothes dryer in the area and it is vented outside properly, consider a setting of no-heat tumble a...
Replacing existing ceiling fan but there’s no junction box I’m replacing an older existing ceiling fan in our home hat was built in 1997, located in Corydon, Indiana. We’ve lived here for 4 years. When I removed the existing ceiling fan, I️ noticed there was no outlet box, the wiring is simply staples to the ceiling jo...	If you have access to the attic area above this ceiling the best way I've used to secure the electrical box in place for hanging a fan or heavy lighting fixture is to cut several pieces of wood that span across the ceiling joists as shown in the picture below. Indeed this is a code violation and shows that some previou...
Can I double-feed a low voltage DC system? I am trying to make some lighting resilient to breaker trips. (I.e. You trip the breaker and the lights don't go out.) Naturally it's all LED, and I am favorable toward low voltage DC lighting. I want to have a DC always-positive and return bus (e.g. Red and black) the...	Setting 1 supply at a different level has the higher voltage one doing all the work and possibly failing earlier than if both are set at the same level. The problem you have with multiple DC power supplies is that they are switching power supplies.
Is it safe to use an old fridge after 14 years of non use? Recently our fridge broke. We have a working one in the kitchen, standing upright in the same position in the kitchen for 14 years, it just hasn't been plugged in during that amount of time. It's clean inside and out and was working fine last time it was on 14 ...	If it runs and cools down it should be fine and other than door seals there should be no problems. From a health point of view you should obviously clean it really well. I would be concerned about the mold and mildew that has grown in the evaporator coil and fan area.
How can I prevent the nuts in my shelving from coming loose? So I got "creative" with these shelves I installed. Looking for ideas to keep these nuts from loosening. I considered just gluing them in but that would make it annoying in future if adjustments are required. Thoughts? I know they have nuts that specifical...	Or, post-installation, drill a small hole through the nut and rod and place a locking pin or wire in the hole. Locknuts are often thinner, and strangely they cost more than normal nuts, so its totally workable to use two normal nuts threadded onto the rod together.
Are the washer drain and electrical outlets underneath up to code? My daughter got her washer and dryer only to find out that the water supply/drain is 6 feet from the ground. Obviously none of the hoses can reach. I am aware that the maximum height for washer drain is 36"....anything higher can cause overflow/backfl...	The basement should support a standard washer. Then if need be get the longer fill hoses as well.
Power a ceiling fan motor and light from the supply side of a three way switch I currently have a standard three way switch: 14/2 source -> three way switch -> 14/3 wire -> three way switch -> lights. I would like to add a ceiling fan. I have room and access in the box with the 14/2 source. I can easily wire the fan t...	Now you have two switches (plus the other 3-way) to turn on all the lights and one switch for the fan. You'd wire the MA-LFQ35M at your existing line-side switch box with an "old style" 3-way loop to the MA-ALFQ35 at the existing load-side box. There are no spare wires available for signaling. Another option is to inst...
How can I secure this faucet: the pipe is not secured inside the wall The pipe leading to this exterior faucet was apparently never secured inside the wall (contractor mistake when the wall was built): So it pulls in and out in use, and no doubt lets rain water drip into the wall. It certainly means the grade D stuc...	Surely there must be purpose-designed two-part clamps available that would clamp to the copper pipe and then be secured to the wall with screws into anchors.
Insulation of an unheated workshop I have a small workshop in my backyard. The previous owner of has installed an insulation with mineral wool behind paneling on the walls and the ceiling. Now I have to replace the electric installation and that requires to remove the paneling. Currently it looks like this: My origi...	Even without heating, insulation slows the change of temperature in the building, and that can reduce issues like condensation on tools. My opinion: Keep it.
Extension cord can't plug into christmas light string? I am setting up christmas lights. I have two shrubs which are about 6 feet apart, and I want to put an LED string set on each. I bought a two-prong outdoor extension cord to run between the shrubs. The prongs from the extension cord do not fit into the end of the...	The best solution is to replace the electrical receptacle at the end of the first set of lights with a polarized one.
When is an expansion joint required for PVC service entrance conduit? The service entrance will use 2.5" RNC, about 100' run underground, with 2 90 degree sweeps, with the second sweep coming up to a meter/panel mounted on the outside of the house. The conduit will be about 3' underground, and will rise 3-4' above grou...	In general expansion joints are used on long runs where the conduit is attached to material that may expand and contract under certain weather conditions. Upon installation, I would leave the expansion joint at 15%.
What knot can I use to connect to an eye bolt without losing tension? So I have a rope that goes through an eyebolt, like in the image. I pull from B so it's as tight as it can be. B is under the eyebolt. What knot can I use with this rope so I don't lose any of the tightness after pulling it? Thanks. <Q> 100% ...	The first knot that comes to mind, for tying to a ring against a force you can pull by hand (i.e., able to hold a hitch as you put the knot together), is the bowline, followed by the sailor's knot, or even two half-hitches, a figure-eight or an anchor-bend.
Use screw into steel tube without using nut? I have a regular round 1 1/4" steel tube, and I want to put a screw in it. The tube only has one hole (where the screw goes) so I can't use a nut. What options do I have and can I find it at Home Depot? Thanks. <Q> Not a bolt, but a screw. <S> Some of them are self drill...	Your best bet would be the correctly sized metal screw. For a quick and possibly dirty fix, I'd look for some type of expanding dowel or plug - preferably one with a large expansion area.
Ends of 25' 12/3 and short 14/3 extension cords get warm with 1500W heater I've 'tested' three listed extension cords, one at a time, by plugging a 4 year old 1500W fanned heater ($10 at Home Depot) into a 20 amp house circuit (no other appreciable load). The cords: orange 20+ year old 9 foot 14/3 round grey 20+ y...	If you must, use high-grade cords with good plugs, and expect them to get warm. I would cut the existing cord ends off, throw them away, buy and install Hubbell heavy duty replacement cord ends. I've noticed the same phenomenon at two out of three plugs in a system with two heavy duty extension cords connected in serie...
LED bulbs in lamp sockets? I have a table lamp that had standard 75 watt bulb (I believe in a 3 way socket) which suddenly lowered to about a 40 W, or less without my touching the switch. I replaced it with a new 8.5 W 60 W = . The bulb appeared to flash and burn out, I did it twice with brand new bulbs, then quit be...	A bit less critical; given the nature of mass production and the ancient technology in these types of sockets, these 3-way sockets, even brand new, can be erratic and preform inconsistently.
Why don't heat pumps run for a bit BEFORE starting the air circulation fan? I'd like to think I understand how heat pumps work decently well. My home has one plus electric heat, which I try not to resort to because heat pump is more efficient, if slower. When a traditional thermostat calls for the heat pump however, ...	Any delay would be slightly less efficient and a long delay would cause undue wear to the heat pump.
Do I need to re-sheath, wrap and side an old house just insulate it? Looking into buying this house that was built around 1900. From the photos, it appears that there is a layer of shiplap underneath the siding. Is there any way, barring ripping all of the siding off and re-sheathing and wrapping the house, that I coul...	To air-seal breezy siding, go for spray or rigid foam. You’ll need 2x6’s or add some rigid wall insulation, extra ceiling insulation or install a super efficient heating system...all of which requires a ton of calculations. If it's 118 year old wood siding outside, you don't really want to mess with it.
What is the proper way to prep and paint aluminum siding A portion of my home's 40 year old aluminum siding is discolored and needs to be repainted. What is the proper way to prep and paint it? <Q> I used primer that claimed suitability for chalking finishes and a topcoat of high quality latex. <S> It held up well for ...	If the existing paint is not sound, or if any of it peels or is discovered to be unsound during your prep work, than primer (for aluminum) should be applied (after previously mentioned prep work) prior to painting.
Is it safe to exhaust a portable electric clothes dryer indoors? Is it safe for us to breath in the house if the portable dryer vent blows into the house? <Q> Portable probably means electric, so yes that should be safe in the short term. <S> You may soon have mold problems and the like from excess moisture, if you k...	If you dump that air back into the house then it will be recirculated through the dryer.
Replace Over the range microwave with hood I currently have a ductless over the range microwave. It's too close to the range. The heat from the range is melting the microwave handle. I want to remove the microwave and cabinet and replace it with range hood. I've already ordered 30" 900CFM hood. Problem is that there is...	Keep your duct work full size right off the fan unit; reducing the duct diameter, a trap many fall into.
How can I install a steel sink if the mounting rails don't fit through the cutout? I need a stainless steel double bowl kitchen sink (33 × 22, standard size). All the ones I see have these rails under the edge. This is to clamp the sink to the counter. The hole I have cut is a bit too small so the sinks with rails won...	I got a Dremel with a cutting wheel and cut one rail off.
Why is the furnace heating the house far past the thermostat setting Problem: Furnace came on as usual in the morning but failed to shut off after the set temp on the thermostat was reached. The house temp (as measured on the thermostat) reached about 10 degrees higher than the set temp and hot air was still blowing ou...	The problem is pretty clearly at the furnace end, if switching off the thermostat does not stop operation.
Splitting a 220v line into a 110v line and a 220v line? This question reminded me that when we bought our house, I found the previous owner had taken the dryer's 220v circuit and continued half of it from the 220v outlet to make a 110v circuit for the rest of the garage. The 220v outlet still powered the dryer. E...	That means the original circuit installed is a specific circuit designed to service a dryer, not a dryer and anything else we can stick on it. Individual single-pole circuit breakers, with identified handle ties, shall be permitted as the protection for each ungrounded conductor of multiwire branch circuits that serve ...
Protection from water pressure surge Is there a way to prevent damage to your pipes from a water pressure spike from the city supply? In my case, sweated and threaded copper, no PTC. It seems like a large water hammer arrester anywhere in the system would do that, but I also have never heard of something like that. <Q...	Decent copper plumbing in the home could easily handle pressure spikes double or triple the normal water pressure entering a home, so there would be no need for a pressure arrester
The back of plywood is damaged after cut or drill. How to prevent it? When I cut a piece plywood that I have, the front looks perfect, but the back is becomes completely damage and unpresentable. The same problem happens when I drill it. I use a table saw and drill press. How to prevent such damage? <Q> put a piece ...	When using a spade bit or auger bit, it has a pilot point so you can drill just until the pilot point penetrates through the other side of the board and stop so the rest of the bit has not drilled all the way through. If you have a track saw or are using a straight edge you can use a utility knife to score the wood ( s...
Installed Harbor Breeze ceiling fan/light with remote unit - wall switch no longer functions I installed a Harbor Breeze ceiling fan/light with a remote control unit earlier this evening. I've installed several fans and never had a problem. This one sort of has me perplexed. There was an existing fan/light in place. ...	You need to take a voltage tester and check which wire is the switch leg and which wire is the line side hot to the switch by turning the switch on and off and seeing which one is permanently hot and which one is the switch leg and reconnect them to reinstall a mechanical switch.
Can I mount a smoke alarm using magnets? I am installing smoke alarms in my 1930s house. I'd rather not drill into the plaster at this time, but I want to get them mounted. I have drywall beads along the top of all my walls, so I was thinking that I could mount the smoke detectors using some rare-earth magnets. They ca...	It's not something I would take a chance on. It would be a major problem to have the alarm fall to the floor and not alert at all or stop alerting as the fire grew.
Very low humidity levels in new construction home - over ventilation? I just purchased a new home in the suburbs of Boston with move in date of November 2017. The home has felt unusually drafty and cold and i've had to increase the heat about 4 degrees above what I usually use. Ordinarily i'm comfortable at 68 but in t...	Some people use humidifiers in individual (bed)rooms, or you can install one on your furnace to humidify the entire house. I would allow the fans to run when the bathroom is occupied either by the use of a timer, or by a motion detector.
Furnace runs for about 5-minutes only and shuts off Furnace (Lennox G40UH, 12 years old) runs for about 5-minutes (sometimes as high as 7-minutes) and they turns off despite the heating call from the thermostat continuing. Flame sensor has been replaced. All vents in the house are open. Removing the furnace filter and ...	Check the temperature at the outlet of the furnace and at the inlet of the furnace. The limit switch is much higher than this number however and you should not be anywhere near hot enough to trip the limit switch. Since it is bouncing around it sounds like a bad switch.
Is my hot water circulation pump plumbed correctly? Read some related questions here but none of them seemed to address my exact problem: Bought a house this year that has the water heater in a closet near all the bathrooms. The only long run goes to the kitchen sink/dishwasher, where it will take 2+ minutes to get h...	2) not all circulation pumps come standard with a check valve. If it works correctly and has not been removed, it should not backflow.
No hot water (at all) on upper floors A few days ago, the bathrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor of my townhouse stopped getting any hot water. Nothing comes out of the faucets when they are turned all the way to the hot side. The cold water works fine. The kitchen on the main floor and bathroom in the basement still recei...	You don’t have enough heat and/or haven’t given it enough time.
Wire reqs for a 40 amp circuit I have read that I should use 8 gauge wire for a 40 amp circuit. If I had extra 12 gauge wire from a 20 amp circuit, could I simply use two lines of 12 gauge wire instead? <Q> You should not even think of attempting to wire a 40A circuit with two 12 AWG (20A) parallel conductors. <S> I...	Paralleling of conductors under 1/0 is not allowed according to the National Electrical Code.
Can I funnel the output of a portable air conditioner to direct it? I have a portable air conditioner similar to the one in the picture below. I want to direct the output flow through a small duct system to the feet of people sitting on a large table. Can I just tape a large fabric funnel on around the blades of the un...	Makeing a duct would work to channel the air to a specific location however there will be some efficiency lost but the underside of the table would be directly cooled. You will definitely loose all of your warrantee coverage.
Insulating a 2x4 wall with exterior rigid foam I'm gutting the interior and redoing the siding of my old house. Unfortunately the exterior walls are only 2x4 which makes it challenging to reach R20 code let alone go above it to make a greener more energy efficient home. So if you fill the 2x4 cavity with rock wool, th...	Since the closed-cell foam is an effective vapor barrier, it can't exit to the outside, so it must have a path back to the inside, through the drywall, to exit. Your plan to use 4" of closed cell rigid foam as continuous exterior insulation is sound, and will get your R-20 or thereabouts without any insulation in the s...
Thermostatic Control of Simple Apartment Heater My daughter's apartment has a very simple heater. As shown in the pictures below, it is an heater-coil unit with only a fan control. There is no temperature control or thermostatic feedback. So, for example, the heater cannot be left running unattended for extended period...	Add external ductwork feeding the air inlet from a thermostatically controlled fan -- which can be a bathroom ultra-quiet blower so you don't have to listen to the thing.
Covering a Window with insulation I am a college student living in a cheap rental. I have a window in my bedroom that leaks a lot of cold air. I live in a northern climate, and during this recent cold snap my heater can't keep up. The window is in a recess and I currently have a thin curtain covering the window. The wi...	You could even consider cutting out flat sections of a corrugated cardboard box and fitting them over the window opening. Heat shrink window insulation kits are easy to install (5 to 10 minutes) and the double-stick tape that holds the plastic is easily removed. This solution can make a substantial difference in the ro...
Should the solenoid to a Furnace Humidifier be intermittent? This should be a simple yes or no question but I can't determine it myself. I have an AprilAire 550 Humidifier built into the ducting from my furnace. It appears that the humidifier isn't working due to water never spraying out of the line. I have narrowed it...	As you unscrew use caution as some solenoidss have a small spring . With the water and power turned off unscrew the nut on the top of the solenoid. It you give it power it should stay on.
Can I block large open vent in basement Fairly new to this house and I have a large open vent in our basement that is letting a lot of cold air in. The diameter is 8-9 inches. The inside duct is connected directly to the outside vent screen in the second image. It is in the furnace/utility room. The furnace and water...	If you block the large vent air may be pulled in from the vents on the water heater and furnace causing a buildup of carbon monoxide and because of the reduced fresh air the gas may not be completely burn. Switch to all sealed combustion or electric appliances.
Interior walls - why skim coat with joint compound? Roughly put, my understanding of the history of interior walls is: In olden days, plaster. Good/bad/indifferent - not everything was 3-coat. Good work took time. $$$ Drywall. Faster, cheaper. Largely supplanted plaster, ex in Europe and Boston. $ Then, skim ...	Skimming the entire surface with a looser joint compound just makes the entire surface uniform. In my house built 20 years ago, we opted for a 2 coat plaster system that is in my area called "hard coat plaster".
Check if propane gas tank is almost empty? We have a 100-lb propane gas tank that we use for our gas stove. We never know if the tank's almost empty, and I always wonder if we're changing it too soon. Is there an accessory that I can add to the line that will let me know how much gas is left? Thanks. <Q> Yes there i...	but if your tank is even vaguely portable you can put it on a scale to weigh it.
Does a 2100W angle grinder need an earth pin? I have recently purchased a Makita 2100W angle grinder. It has just the live (L) and neutral (N) connectors unlike the one I previously used, which had a third protected earth (PE) connection. Would it be better if I changed the connections to a 3 pin connector? <Q> Your ...	Look for the square in the square icon on the name plate of the device: You will not be any safer if you replace the plug.
Clicking noise in wall, every 23 seconds I have a 2-story colonial house (with a basement) in Michigan. I have forced-air heating. The house was built in 2001. On the upper floor, my daughter noticed that a clicking sound (similar to an old light-switch) started which sounds like it's coming from within the wall. T...	A vibration taking place in a device somewhere else can get amplified as a sound in another area simply because it is the only place where that vibration is not being absorbed. It is probably expansion and contraction of your ducts. If it does, that's the circuit.
Can I pull 120v outlets from a 220v box with no neutral? I want to run a couple of 110 volt plugs from a box that has 220 volts. Both the black and white wires are 110 volt and there is only a ground wire with them. Can I tie into one of the hot wires and just connect the neutral wire to ground? <Q> NO! <S> That wo...	If you cannot pull new cable with a proper neutral AND ground conductor separately, then the only legal way to attain 120V would be to use a 240-120V transformer and power the transformer from the 240V circuit, then let it create a new 120V circuit from it with a legal Neutral that is now bonded to ground at the transf...
Is there a way to safely have exposed electrical wires? We have a dumpster on our property for another home project and are hoping to take advantage of this by disposing of some bathroom lights and a ceiling fan. However, we do not currently have a replacement for these items. I don't believe turning the breaker off (...	With the breaker off, put a wire nut on each wire separately
No power at outlets but breaker isn't tripped. What do I troubleshoot next? My "Family Room Receptacles" have lost power. 6 total that I believe are all on the same breaker. I can not locate a GFCI anywhere. I have reset the breaker which also did not restore power. What should my next steps be in troubleshooting? ...	Breakers may occasionally go bad after tripping, I once had one burn the contacts on the inside so that it worked intermittently when reset. If your breaker has input but no output then it has gone bad.
Ground wire from the junction box Background: I am a regular DIYer just starting out. My question is regarding the ground wire while installing a chandelier. I have just moved to a new location in Ontario, Canada. The house was built in 1999. This is a picture of the previous installation of the fixture onto the j...	The arrangement of grounding connections shall be such that the disconnection or the removal of a receptacle, luminaire, or other device fed from the box does not interfere with or interrupt the grounding continuity.
what lightbulb can I use in this 250V 100W light fixture? I am located in the United States and have a light fixture in my kitchen w/ the following parameters: 250V, 100Wmodel: K512GUnot sure what this part is: 2/250 Can I use this 60W bulb in this fixture: http://a.co/eMM1v4R ? More generally, do I have to use a 25...	The voltage of the bulb must match the voltage supplied by the electric service, which is almost certainly whichever of either 120 or 240 volts is standard for your country. You can always go smaller on the wattage.
How can I duplicate this paint texture? I patched a hole in my wall. Now I am going to paint. My walls have a slight texture to them. I think it's a pretty common type of texturing; very subtle.How can I match this texture?Preferably a manual way since it's a small hole (baseball size). But if I need a product that wou...	Take a wooden board and press firmly onto the plaster, compressing it into the plastic, waiting 10 minutes. The simplest way to feather is to let your roller get dry and roll it around the edges of your wet paint to try to soak some of it back up.

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