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How to mitigate voltage drop? I currently have a sump pump in my basement that is normally powered by plugging it into an outlet. When we lose power, I have a 100 amp hour marine deep cycle lead acid battery along with a 1200 watt power inverter to power the 1/3 horsepower sump pump.The power inverter has an automatic ...	Last you might want to look at a larger battery, placing batteries in parallel will increase the time the system will run but if one battery is bad or has low internal resistance it will discharge the other battery unless there is an isolator.
Knowing where to drill holes in steel plate? I have a concrete floor and I made two holes to bolt a 1/4"-thick steel plate. The problem is that the steel plates haven't been drilled yet. How can I determine where the holes will be drilled in the steel plates so they match the holes in the concrete? <Q> Lay the steel p...	Tape one side of a piece of paper onto the concrete and trace the holes, then put the steel plate under the piece of paper and center punch the holes onto the steel plate. You need something with a slot in it, the same width as the bolts intended to go in the holes. While the paint is still wet, place the metal plate o...
Are 15A receptacles acceptable on a 20A circuit? I have a 20 amp breaker for my dedicated man cave home theater. It's a rental unit. Recently I had a few loose-fitting plugs on some of the receptacles so I just went downstairs and found the breaker and saw it was 20 amps. So I went and bought 20 amp receptacles. Only...	Of course, if your total draw for all outlets is over 20 amps, you will pop the breaker eventually.
Can I split off a 20a with a conduit body? So I am coming out of my subpanel with 1/2 in metal conduit and using metal handy boxes with NEMA 5-20 for all the receptacles on my two indoor branch circuits. One is dedicated for a window unit AC. All wires are 12AWG stranded copper THHN/THWN. The ac receptacle is protecte...	So if you're just passing through a conduit body, it should have the same fill limitations as the conduit coming into the CB. Splicing is a good application for handy-boxes (the 2"x4" types) but watch your box fill . You don't have to do that You can run a green or bare ground wire if you really want to -- but it is re...
Is it safe to turn on sprinklers in spring and just drain backflow preventer if freeze is pending? I live in Colorado, it's quite dry here and can be quite warm in the middle of winter. If I blow out my sprinklers before the first freeze and don't water again until after the last freeze of the spring my lawn will be de...	As long as the temperature during the day is above freezing, and you're not having multiple nights of freezing temperatures in a row, you shouldn't have a problem with your plan.
Using just power from ethernet cable for security camera? I'm trying to install security cameras around my house. My problem comes when I try to find power for the locations I want to monitor. I have one camera mounted already, but it is 25 feet away from the nearest outdoor outlet. I was just going to use an extension...	If you would install CATx cable for POE, you can easily enough install a pair of wires and add a micro usb pigtail at the camera end. I've done this before with Dlink cameras.
How can I jack a steel post out of the ground? Following on from this and this question I've got to the point where I am trying to "jack" a pole out of the ground. I had a spare 3/4" bolt that I thought would be strong enough but unfortunately it bent (see image). My question: What commonly available (i.e. I can ...	You could go to a machinist supply and describe what you want and get a steel rod with more strength.
Should I replace my trunk-and-branch setup with a PEX manifold? My house is plumbed using PEX trunk-and-branch, with the main 3/4 line coming in, splitting off to 3/4" to the hot water tank, and then a 1/2" trunk that all the other branch supplies tee off from. Hot water is the same, with a 3/4" line coming from the ta...	In my climate I also like to get ground temperature water so having large branch lines increases the amount of water I have to dump before I get rid of the water in the pipe from the supply entrance to my faucet. Install a hot water recirculating system and/ or install anti scalding shower valves. Do not think that the...
What is the proper method to install a "close" metal pipe nipple? A close pipe nipple is designed so that when it is installed there is very little or no gap between the two fittings which attach to either end. What is the proper method to install one of these? Could be black iron, brass, etc. Here are the issues I ...	The correct installation technique for a close nipple is to apply thread sealant and then thread the nipple into both fittings by hand by 2 or more turn before tightening using wrenches on the fittings, never on the nipple.
Why does my furnace turn off after a few minutes, then re-ignite? I have a Goodman 80% furnace in my barn dated 1999 it runs for about 5-10 minutes then flame kicks off for about 2 minutes and re-lights. It does not go into lockout mode (keeps cycling this way). When t-stat reaches called for temp furnace will shut dow...	It's possible that your flame sensor needs to be cleaned or is on the outs. Some of the wiring might be exposed behind the cowlings and it has the potential to zap you.
When to use electrical tape rather than wire nuts? I was always under the impression that wire nuts created a better electrical connection than using electrical tape. I'm still under this impression and I think it is correct. However, I was taking apart a junction box in my basement last night and found a connection th...	In this case, the solder is holding the wires, but I really wouldn't trust solder for electrical wires. What happened here is the inline wire was pre-existing, and the hack decided to add 3 wires to it. If this is your first time laying eyes on electrical work, don't normalize it . The metal "helix" inside is like a se...
Trouble identifying this tool G’day, I recently started a new job, and have come across in the toolbox this set of “pliers”. I’ve never seen these before, and I can’t find them anywhere online. Can someone tell me what they are and what they’re used for? Thanks! <Q> Based on the previous answers and a reverse i...	I was able to identify these as: " COIL CRIMPING PLIERS "
How can I reliably determine whether a wall is load-bearing? I remodeling my kitchen and opened up the entrance to kitchen to be more “open concept”. An inspector has asked me to determine if the wall is a load bearing wall. I need to “verify” but not sure what they mean. Do I verify myself? Ask an engineer for proo...	Investigate and provide evidence yourself.
Can I disconnect a dishwasher from a GFI and leave the circuit otherwise intact? my dishwasher is wired into a GFI outlet under my sink. Can I remove the wires that go to the dishwasher and leave the other wires intact to use the GFI outlet ? <Q> So your Dish washer is wired through as a load or wired in parallel and d...	Locate remove the dishwasher wiring from the GFCI.
How to finish jagged edge of kitchen subway tile? Did our own backsplash tiling in the kitchen, and didn't realize until we were finished that the cap/trim/edging goes UNDER the tile. Not on top. So now we've got an ugly looking edge to the tile (our cuts weren't very clean — we assumed we would cover them after). Pic...	When you are setting the tile, make sure there is a little extra glue on the edge of the tile where your end point (line) is.
Mismatched baseboards tie in My daughter and son-in-law did a kitchen renovation, but there is some finish work still to do. The pic says it all: As you can see the kitchen base board is thicker and has a different profile from the thinner base board in the living room. Also, there is a step down from the kitchen to ...	The profiles at the top are pretty close to being the same profile and can be "faired in" together by a little finesse by sanding.
Does a bathtub spout with a diverter have to be on the same side as the valve, or can I move it over to the side of the tub? I'm putting in a shower/tub unit and we want to have the tub spout on the side of the tub in the middle. The valve unit will be in the usual place on the end of the tub, with the shower head abo...	From a plumbing standpoint it might work, but it would be very unusual.
How do I rip vinyl plank flooring? I'm installing CoreTec One vinyl plank flooring and I've had trouble finding directions on how to rip it to width. Most of the "vinyl plank" installation guides I've found are for thinner, more flexible product which can be scored and snapped. I've seen suggestions that one can us...	I recently did some rip cuts on luxury vinyl plank and just used a table saw. The table saw was not damaged after use, but the vinyl plank leaves a ton of dust behind that looks like rubber eraser dust, which I had to shop vac. A lot of people say to score and snap but every time I watch a how-to video, they will only ...
How do I mount a power strip to the smooth metal support structure of a banquet table? I bought a heavy-duty power strip from Walmart which I would like to mount to the metal support structure of a banquet table. This is the power strip: https://www.walmart.com/ip/49557487 This is the banquet table: https://www.stap...	First of all make sure you have cleaned and prepped the back of the strip and the metal surface you are attaching to.
How strong can i expect wood glue to hold Let me start off by saying I have some basic knowledge of tools (basic home repairs and patch jobs), but no experience with "actual" woodworking projects. For my first project I wanted to try and build a simple serving tray. Similar to this one. My question is, where th...	Better wood glues make the claim that your joint will be stronger than the wood itself.
Why does the voltage drop when my office circuit (115V) is under load? 3 circuits (red, blue, black, neutral white; approx. 100ft in metal conduit [ed: alongside 2 other similar 4-conductor MWBC]) feeding several outlets in a couple rooms. Voltage tests 110V(ish) on all three, neutral-to-earth voltage is around 9V. P...	The original installer may be trying to run some of the circuits on the neutral and has switched the ground to use it as the neutral for some of the circuits. If you are looking for the obvious answer, uncommon voltage drops are usually caused by poor connections. So go through the entire three circuits and insure all ...
What kind of metal is safe for DIY BBQ repair? The flame deflectors in the propane BBQ are rusted to bits. They sit an inch or two above the flames. For making new ones, I know to not use any galvanized or painted sheet metal. What kind of sheet metal would not be a potential health issue? <Q> Best would be a cast iro...	Best performance is heat resistant high alloy steel with large portions of nickel, molybdenum and others. Stainless is a waste of money, heat over time will both make it brittle and leach mystery compounds like chromium into nearby surfaces. I would use mild steel if making a part , many grills are painted or powder co...
Can I Add a Plug to Lights Designed to be Wired In? So I purchased these lights on Amazon, not realizing that they don't actually have a wall plug, they're just bare wires. Can I attach some wiring and a plug to the wires to be able to plugin them into the wall? If so, what all would I need to accomplish the task? ...	You'll want to use a plug that is for 12 volts DC I have thought of using sockets like NEMA L3 that are so obscure no one uses them, but conversly, no one sells them either at a sane price. If you need outdoor/waterproofing, then hit up electronics supply shops for automotive grade sockets and plugs, with the little ga...
What to do with a spare 220 line? I took out an old oven and replaced it with a new gas one so now I have a spare 220 line that I don’t need anymore. It backs up to the garage and I’m Wondering if there is anything useful I could use it for other than just capping it off and putting it in an access panel for the future...	A spare 40 amp that is acceptable from the garage can be used for all kinds of things , welders, compressors or an electric vehicle charger to name a few items.
Can I reuse mounting holes into a stud for a shelf? I'm painting and I have to take a big shelf off the wall. The shelf is screwed into the studs because of it's size. The wall is drywall. Will I be able to use the same holes as before and keep the same strength? Or do I need to fill the holes with something? <Q> Assu...	Just to be complete:In brick walls I suggest to replace the plugs with new ones to restore original strenght (if regoular self-drill screw are used), if standard thread ('bolt' thread) was used the old screw and plug can be kept.
How can I know if I damaged any electrical wire while drilling a hole in my wall? I have a relatively new house (built 2014) with circuit breakers etc. I just drilled a couple of holes at around the same level as the electrical outlets and I put 1 5/8 inch screws in them. I probably should have drilled the holes below...	The cables might also run along the studs from above or below. Drywall adds 1/2" at least so you would be fine using 1 5/8" screws straight into the stud. The strict answer to your question is that you can't, practically speaking, at least without a visual inspection. Carpenters aren't expected to have X-ray vision.
Need to split water line behind refrigerator to add an espresso machine Just a quick explanation of what I'm trying to do. I'm not a plumber by any means, but I'd like to try to get this done on my own. I have an espresso machine on the counter next to my fridge. I want to plumb it in, so I bought an Everpure ESO6 fil...	Pressure regulator would depend on your incoming water pressure.
Flush and seal refrigerator HVAC leak? So my fridge sprung a refrigerant leak and leaked out a bunch of its freon, I I thought I could Easily fix it by refilling it witth R134a with leak sealer. However it continue to leak and this eventually caused the compressor to grenade itself (presumably due to the oil absorbing ...	You will need to pull a complete vacuum on the system let the vacuum sit for a 24 hour period make sure that the vacuum has been maintained during that time period - if not you have a leak and need to find and fix it first. Flush the system with a flushing kit.
Primed wood and painted with white paint but looks yellow. Why and how to fix? I have a new door that was installed a year ago. The frame is raw wood and I didn't paint it until recently. The wood is basically untreated. It hasn't been exposed to water much because it is under a shallow roof. I primed it one time the...	I have used zinser and kilzs with success over wood and rooms that had smokers to stop the bleed through.
What size is this wallplug, and then what drill size (and type) would I use for brick? I'm trying to hang a hose "butler" from Home Depot (Model CHH200HB). It comes with three wallplugs and screws, so should be simple, but there is no sign of what size the plugs or screws are, nor which drill size to use. Can anyone he...	The correct term for your wallplug dodad is an "Anchor". Also you can go at local retailer and buy few 7mm 'fishers' and use them instead, suggest 'empty wall' version that is foine for both 'full' bricks and hollow bricks.
Are splices required in a junction box? If I have a conduit with 6 wires (3 separate circuits), and I want them to split at some point, can I send the conduit (A) to a 4-inch square junction box and then send 2 wires to leave the junction box in conduit B, and 4 wires to leave the junction box in conduit C? All wit...	You can use a conduit body, instead of a junction box. A properly done wire nut will not fail, but avoiding it still removes that small chance of a mistake. You have to be able to access the cover without tools.
Can I run drainage pipe a short distance above the frost line I live in SE Michigan where the frost line is between 3 and 4 feet. I have a house with a basement I'd like to finish and would like to run the water as far away from the house as I can. Clay soil. However, while I have a decent lot of 1/2 acre, the availabl...	As long as you have even a little downward slope, the water will run out (it will run out even if the pipe is horizontal).
Any hidden disadvantage to lever-type door latches? I have a lever-type door knob on one of my bedrooms and I like it a lot more than the ordinary round knobs. I am considering replacing all the door knobs in the house with levers. Is there any reason to not do this? Why do people use round knobs at all? <Q> It‘s inter...	Lever-style knobs would not have as much contrast (vs. handles), and are not needed/available for cabinet doors. One big downside was our young children , who instantly knew how to open them and escape.
Sizing circuit for mini split heat pump I'm getting ready to install the Mr Cool DIY 24K Mini Split Heat Pump in my garage. https://www.homedepot.com/p/MRCOOL-DIY-24-000-BTU-2-Ton-Ductless-Mini-Split-Air-Conditioner-and-Heat-Pump-230-Volt-60-Hz-DIY-24-HP-230A/207085061 I'm having trouble determining a few things abo...	The unit package should include a wiring cord that communicates between the units and provides power.
Inducer Fan Blowing Out Flames and Pilot Light on Carrier Furnace? I have a Carrier furnace and have recently replaced the inducer fan assembly in it. The old motor assembly had a piece of sheet metal dangling under it; whereas, the new one does not. The unit worked fine for one day; however, now, after the main burn...	It could be caused by the new motor not having enough umph for the exhaust setup in your house or a pressure switch having become too sensitive over time.
Is a dedicated circuit to gas furnace always required? USA NEC 2014. Is there any way to dodge the requirement for a dedicated circuit for a gas furnace? I need to hang one more small hardwired load right near the furnace, and would rather not run a new circuit. The other load is not HVAC related, and this is an of...	I don't think you can dodge the requirement with Gas Furnace; the code is quite clear about this so dodging it is not possible unless an inspector is blinded by a vision of Ben Franklin (not an endorsement of using such a method, just saying something not right would have to be going on to 'dodge' the code) .
Why do the screws on my fence snap after install? I have installed a wooden fence in my yard using outdoor use decking screws. I've noticed that some of the screws in the boards I've installed last year are starting to snap in half and I'm having to replace them. Is there a reason why this is happening? Or is this just...	With small diameter screws and a frequently wet location , failure by corrosion is a small possibility.
How can I attach things to the inside of a shipping container without compromising the water tightness? I just got a shipping container for use as storage/workshop and need to figure out how to attach things to the container walls and ceiling, without causing it to leak. I'd like to hang a garden tool rack on the insi...	Consider using the screws they use to attach metal roofs to attach your furring strips to the ceiling/walls.
How do I replace a non-standard sized AC closet door? We inherited this AC closet setup from the previous owner of the house we bought.The HVAC unit is framed in so that it's pulling the return air from the vent below. Combustible air for the furnace is supplied from a duct coming from the attic - which means (I guess)...	If you can't find off-the-shelf shutters the right size, there are places that will make you a custom sized one if you want a single piece that looks like a door.
Is it safe to run a propane appliance from a portable propane cylinder? I want to install a small propane range/stove in my cabin, but don't want the hassle & expense of a giant propane tank in the yard. With the understanding that I use a regulator and the lines have to be sealed and leak-checked, and that the orifice...	The size and shape of the tank might affect how quickly the tank can replace the gas being drawn off if you were feeding a monstrous requirement, but for typical residential use, appliances won't care what kind of tank is feeding it. If you use your 100lb cylinder you can get POL regulators and also POL - QCC adaptors....
Painting over reversed drywall I had a painter come over to paint the garage drywall (it was reversed for some reason). https://imgur.com/V9Q5jcW https://imgur.com/Uhajs6q He used Sheetrock Dust Control to cover the nails and seal the drywall gaps. Later used 3 coats of Glidden Premium Exterior Paint for the walls...	From the current condition, I'm not sure how much sanding would give enough for the new paint to hold. This surface needed a good sanding, and probably some ready-made drywall joint compound, to make it even and clean.
Is exposed wire dangerous if neutral is capped? An electrician left this in my attic with the circuit breaker on. You can see my non-contact tester lighting up. All the neutrals are capped, and the three hot wires are sticking straight up, exposed. Is this dangerous? It was like this about 2 weeks before I crawled int...	As told most probably those hot are disconnected and no-touch tester is reading a false positive: easy way to discover is to measure wit a multimetre set to AC the voltage between bare ground or neutral and the exposed wires.
Combining Circuits to have common powerline So have individual circuits for each room in the house so each room has its own breaker as well. My main objective is to be able to use the TP-Link AV1200 powerline internet extender from the basement to the 2nd floor. Most of the breakers are 10A. I wanted to combine 2 li...	The only situation I can think of where this might be an issue is if either or both of these circuits you want to combine is/are part of other multiwire branch circuits, meaning their neutral is shared with another circuit's neutral. Current NEC codes require arc-fault protection in bedrooms (as well as many other livi...
home not getting 220v The power company turned off power due to late payment. The power is now on. Lights, tv, etc work. What's not working is the water pump, dryer, ac/heater. Called the power company and their side is good. So here is what I have done so far: Checked the inside house breakers, none tripped...	If you turn all the home 240 breakers off , the low voltage on the one leg may disappear as the voltage from the one leg is traveling through the load and showing up on the leg that is not connected. -> call an electrician (failure is on your side) There should be full voltage 120 or close from each leg to ground at th...
Tuff Shed and adding climate control I live in north TX near Fort Worth. Not a humid place but a very hot place, averaging 104 degrees in the summer outside in afternoon. I was planning to buy a Tuff Shed 16 X 20 shed with asphalt roof and a standard home door and a single small window. I contacted Tuff Shed and d...	If you are handy I would recommend "poor man's spray foam". Tuff Shed is too smart to get involved with vapor barriers and insulation.
Why the Neutral wire is hot One of the outlet has no power in my house. I found the neutral wire is also hot like the black wire. There are only two wires, no ground wire involved. The wiring in the house is very new (~ 1 year). What would be the problem? <Q> Any plugged in and turned on device, for example a light b...	To test whether you have a broken neutral, turn off everything in the circuit which has the hot neutral.
Chemical Smell After Tankless Water Heater Install I recently had a plumbing company install a tankless water heater in my crawlspace. Everything with the install works and looks great, but we are experiencing a very strong chemical smell (like nail-polish remover or a strong sharpie marker) that comes out of our fauce...	After the heater has been idle for a while, the water that has been sitting in it gets a strong chemical smell.
What do flanged power inlets attach to? What does a flanged inlet like the one in the picture mount on/attach too? I need to mount it on a 1 or 2 gang standard receptacle box. Does it need a certain type of mounting plate? <Q> Physically you could almost certainly cut a hole in a blank box cover and then bolt the inle...	Flanged devices like that would usually be mounted to a piece of equipment, a hole would be cut in the panel of the equipment and then the flange would be screwed/bolted to the panel .
Why does Knob and Tube need an air gap? I know that knob and tube wiring needs an air gap to dissipate heat. I know that modern sheathed cable does not need an air gap. I know both are made of copper, one is grounded, one not. So why does one need an air gap and one does not? <Q> The air gap isn't primarily about hea...	The real issues are that most knob and tube circuits are undersized for the modern need, so many homeowners (and some electricians) upsized the fuses.
Could I use a pressure washer with a well pump? Could I use a pressure washer on a house with a well pump? Should I be concerned about the pump running for a long period of time i.e. 4 hours? half a day while we wash the outside of the house? <Q> Experience showed that the well pump water pressure is set to match most ...	Make sure your pressure washer has a good inlet screen.
What is this black sooty material on the inside of my roller shutter? I have a bedroom window that looks out over the east (a backyard with mostly tiles and little plants) with a roller shutter which over the past couple of years has gotten a serious buildup of some sort of black soot, which I can't really figure out w...	Clean it up with bleach and a sponge (chlorine is the main ingredient of mold-cleaners). If your home is humid (RH >55%) consider installing a dehumidfier so with less moisture you get less mold. The only other thing that comes to my mind is graphite powder.
Suggestions for properly mounting 4' shop light Suggestions for installing two 4 ft LED flush mount shop lights in unfinished basement ceiling perpendicular to floor joists (see pictures)? Specifically, what ceiling box to use and would you mount LED light directly to joists or install something over joists then LED li...	Some of my lights are parallel to the joists, so I placed 3" x 3/4" strips across the joists and screwed the back plate to that.
Is there a functional difference between a $200 freestanding grill and a $2000 built-in grill? We are planning on potentially building a budget outdoor kitchen in our pool area. As part of that process we'd like to add a nice-looking built-in grill. However, upon starting to price-shop online I'm finding that built-i...	There MAY be some real differences.
Inducer Motor spins up then shuts down Upon starting the heat cycle the inducer motor spins up then shuts down it does this sometimes 3 or 4 times before the burners lite. Sometimes even after the burners lite it seems to shut down prematurely. I have replaced the flame sensor and the air pressure switch to no avail. ...	It's the inducer motor, more specifically the start/run capacitor. Try removing the capacitor, shorting it out across both terminals and then making sure the resistance is within tolerance.
How can I pull up tack strips nailed to concrete? I am pulling up carpet and putting down a floating, vinyl plank floor in a three-season room built on slap. The tack strips are nailed into the concrete. I see How to repair concrete damage from pulling up nail strips but am looking for advice on the easiest way to ...	Do not pry up once the nail is free as this will splinter or break the strip at the next nail location, just continue whacking all the nails and when you get them all the whole tack strip will be free and easy to dispose of.
Outlet giving off a burning smell There is an electrical outlet in a room in my house giving off a strange smell. It smells kindof burnt? It happens almost immediately when something is plugged in/turned on and I promptly turn off/unplug every time so I don't know what might happen if left on/plugged in for an extended...	Check for things like outlets that are warm to touch, outlets with blackened ends, and other indications of unsafe wiring. This is not an item to spend time on and off for troubleshooting. Be sure to call in professional help if you are not certain that you have found the problem. This is a serious matter. Here are som...
How do I ground a new outlet that only has the black/white wires? I am adding a new outlet but want to make sure it is correctly grounded. I have outlet A that I am going to be creating a new outlet B. I tested A and it says it is grounded and want to ground outlet B the same way. How do I see how outlet A is grounde...	A self-grounding receptacle (it will have little clips on the yoke that bear against the mounting screws) should be used here, and the ground wires in any cables you are running from there should be made up to a ground screw on the box.
How to pick the correct white? After repairing some damage to a wall , I need to re-paint the repaired area to match the rest of the wall. I have been given the wrong colour by a shop assistant and it has made it worse (See photo). The paint he's given me is British Standard white, which looks like cream and not whit...	It could also be down to the way you applied the paint: patching up using a paint brush leaves a different texture to using a roller. Stores often have a machine for mixing paints to an exact match.
How can I prevent an exterior GFCI outlet from tripping so often? Presently I have a GFCI (120V) located on an outlet in my utility room of the house. From this outlet on the LOAD side, I have a #12 3 wire cable running in Schedule 40 conduit underground 150 feet to a pole outside in my yard. Things worked Ok for a wh...	Although the paper is not touching the copper of the line and neutral in romex, if water is in the conduit, the cable could have deteriorated and could be shorting to ground slightly. This is rated for direct burial or use in conduit. Do not connect the ground wire to a ground rod at the pole! You can try going at insi...
How to make a long straight cut in a board at an angle? I have a board about 1.5" thick and 12" wide and 8 feet long. I need to cut the board diagonally and want the cut to be as straight as possible. (I am cutting the board diagonally. This does not involve a bevel cut.) How can I do that? I have a circular saw an...	In your specific situation, I would mark the line you want and then take the guide and line up the edge of the guide parallel with your marking.
In knob and tube wiring, how to identify neutral wire vs a dead wire? I'm in the US, Ohio if that matters. I have an old house with many circuits still on K&T wiring. I haven't been able to find information on how to identify a neutral wire - most guides just tell you how to identify hot wires, and whatever is left mu...	Measure voltage from extension cord "hot" to the mystery wire.
How do I get crisp, clean edges in the corners where two paint colors meet? I am about to renovate my room. A part of this plan includes painting all but one wall and the ceiling white, the other wall will be bright green. My walls are lightly textured and if this makes any difference, the original surface under most o...	First paint over the edge of the paper tape using the same color you're going to use on the wall without the tape, and then paint your final color once this has dried. By doing so you can control the position of the brush edge and work toward the corner with precision. I've used the Shur Line brand edger tool with grea...
both wires are white how can i determine the hot wire? both wire are white on the cord for my ac unit i need to know how to find the hot wire with my cen-tech p37772 multi meter. I am replacing the plug on the end and cut it without noticing which wire went to the hot. <Q> You need to pay attention to the comment by @H...	Then you could ring each wire with your ohmmeter, mark and install them correctly. It's also likely that a replacement cord won't be any more expensive than a replacement end.
How to put a sidewalk on a slanted hill? If I had to guess I would say grade along my house is about 30%. I am just wondering if there is another way besides leveling off the part for the walkway. <Q> If you’re working in the “Right-of-Way” you’d better contact the City and verify compliance with their Standards for Co...	There's really no alternative to leveling the path.
Draining problems in dishwasher. Is this drain setup ok? I have issues with dirty water in filter area and dishes not coming clean. This is a new dishwasher. Old one had similar issues so I think it is the drain and not dishwasher. Is the drain setup ok? Would it be better going to disposal? There is no possibility of ...	Instead, you can use a flexible hose from the dishwasher that loops up above the height of the sink drain, as far as possible to the underside of the counter and then loops down and into the disposal.
On heat load calculations My question is simple. Is heat load calculation the same for sizing air conditioners as it is for sizing radiators? I.e if an AC guy gives you the heat loads which lead him to select particular air conditioners can you use those BTU figures for sizing radiators or designing your hot water radi...	If done correctly, the numbers they provided for heating are valid for any heating system you install.
How to mount a power strip without holes to the wall I got a power strip ( this one ) that doesn't have holes on the back for mounting to the wall. I had figured I'd use Command Strip adhesive and be done with it, but it has little grippy feet on the bottom that raise it up off of the surface just enough that a command...	Screw screws through the holes (from the inside of the power strip) and twist plastic wall anchors onto the screws (use strong, medium-large ones). Of course you know, the electrical code only allows power strips with flexible cords for temporary use - not to be used as a substitute for the permanent wiring in a buildi...
Correct way to use jack post These photos show the way the previous owners of my house used a jack post to brace sagging floor joists. I'm not sure of their method, so I wanted to check what the correct method is. Angle 1 Angle 2 <Q> This detail is better suited for longer beams, covering more joists. <S> Somebody ha...	Typically, there is a beam put under the joists, then the post are put under each end of the beam.
The blower on my HVAC runs sometimes when it should be off The blower on my HVAC runs sometimes when it should be off. It does not run all of the time. The furnace is in the attic and the abnormal running seems to be related to the attic temperature. Observations: When the attic is not hot, all functions work p...	It's definitely the fan limit kicking in A metal box inside a hot attic (which is what your furnace is) could easily reach 120°F inside it on a hot day, and when the fan limit switch feels that, it doesn't know that it's the fault of the conditions outside the furnace, so it turns the fan on to cool the furnace's heat ...
How to make a small piece of wood smaller with limited tools I have a piece of pine that's 1/2" x 3/4". I want 1/2" x 1/2" and I can't seem to find that at the big box stores. For tools I have a jigsaw, circular saw but that's it. I don't really have money to invest in a bandsaw. What else can I use to make this smalle...	a nice pull saw would actually let you cut it pretty clean.
cooling city water in the summer First off, I live in Phoenix, AZ. This is desert here. I live in an area where people mostly have natural desert landscaping rather than lawns. Now, this will sound really odd to folks who live elsewhere, but the house I'm in now does not get "cold" water in the summer. I can literally...	You could install a pressure tank that's simply fed from the water company supply, and in turn supplies the cold water for the house.
Is outlet box required to be mounted? I would like to know if I hard-wire an outlet from another with wire running across floor to non-mounted outlet is this considered an extension cord. <Q> "Wire", eh? <S> Romex NM/UF/SE/MH/whatever multiconductor building cable is out of the question. <S> It's not flexible, and is...	First, if you hardwire into an outlet, by definition it cannot be an extension cord. I am against any method of having live circuitry just lying around on a floor exposed to damage and other hazards.
Why do insulated screwdrivers have a maximum voltage that they're rated for? I have some insulated screwdrivers and the packaging says "Protects from electric shock up to 1,000 volts" . But it's not like the insulation can conduct electricity at higher voltages, right? <Q> Wrong. <S> At some point, any insulation will...	To start with, electricity is perfectly capable of going around insulation in an arc, so even if you had a theoretically perfect screwdriver handle, there's a point where electricity would ignore the handle and use the air instead.
How do I attach a gate where the swing end is 90 degrees to the wall? I have a gate which fits neatly between two walls running between my house and the next door neighbour. For now, I have tethered the swing end with a simple loop of rope which tags onto a hook screwed into the wall. Unfortunately, it's not too secu...	Another alternative, would be to sink a 4"x4" in front of the gate where you want it to stop on the non-hinged side.
Getting 200 amp from 2 different 100 amp service This is for my shop - i have 2 units with separate meters - each unit getting 100 amp service. Each unit has its own electric panel. Now what i want to do is to pull two 100 amp circuit from each panel - and joining them parallel to a 200 Amp Disconnect. From the Disconn...	Their supply lines and equipment are simply not factored for a load that large! You need to do this anyway, as you cannot simply slap a 175A load on their line without permission . M-G sets with overrunning clutches, or railway-style substations where you feed an ungrounded transformer then rectify to DC and run your m...
Replacing 4-wire outlet and didn't label the order -- does it matter? I'm replacing an outlet that has 2 black wires and 2 white wires. When removing the old outlet, I didn't keep tabs on which black wire was on top and which was on bottom (as well as the whites). I'm not really sure why the order matters (if it does) ...	Be careful, the old receptacle could have been a half hot, meaning one wire goes to a switch and the other is always hot.
How to fasten rotating pieces without self-tightening (or loosening)? I'm trying to make a "slider crank" mechanism for cheap out of 1/4" x 1.5" aluminum, where all the movement is in the xy-plane (parallel to the ground). Total linear movement is ~6 inches. Not my diagram, but essentially this: I've seen plenty of e...	An alternative is to use a nut locking compound (a sort of nut glue ), and not fully tightening the nut, but the removable type will probably also eventually loosen, and the permanent type prevents easy disassembly.
Is a Garage considered a 'Dwelling' for standalone electric service? I just wrapped up adding new overhead 100 amp service for my parent's garage outside Chicago. My Mom is a retired ceramics teacher and wanted a 30A two phase kiln and/or welder in there and the original install was terribly inadequate, with buried #10...	So unless your stand alone garage meets all of these requirements, it cannot be classified as a Dwelling Unit. That does not mean you couldn't classify it a something else, for example the NEC does have a definition for just a "Building" which actually describes your situation better.
Need an extension cord with lever or magnetic switch I'd like to put an appliance in a tall pull out drawer in pantry. Ideally I want it wired so that it only receives power if the drawer is pulled out - once the drawer is pushed in, power is cut to the appliance. Thinking the easiest way to accomplish this is some...	The other option, is to use a low voltage circuit to control the line voltage to the device. So you'll want to used properly secured and supported wire, that's approved for permanent installation. They're most commonly used, to turn lights on when closet doors open.
Water pressure drops bad when using 2 appliances Just bought a house. When using more than one anything in the house, the water pressure drops significantly. For exmaple: flush the toilet. While it's filling back up, the sink will just trickle water out. This is true for any 2 combinations of shower/faucet/toilet/w...	You need to check the size of the installed plumbing and if you want better delivery you may need to replace some of the piping.
Holes in offset sistered joists To be able to handle live loads, we recently reinforced the 2x6 joists in our attic by sistering them with 2x8s. To achieve level, the 2x8s are not flush with the 2x6s on the bottom; they range anywhere from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch higher. The question is then how to apply the guideline...	If the two joists are secured (nailed) together and the tops and bottoms are not aligned, then you’ve moved the neutral axis from the center of the beams. I'd aim for the approximate center of the overlap if possible, that should be the strongest spot to drill through.
Passing a generator extention through a wall for use in a power outage When the power goes out and I use my generator I am currently running an extension cord through a cracked door from the garage into the house, down the basement stairs and to my sump pump (which is all that I'm concerned about during a storm, when t...	You need a generator inlet that feeds a single outlet.(you seem to know what an inlet is, but it doesn’t need to feed the breaker box, it could just feed a single outlet.) If you had an especially long outage, you could run 12V from your car to top it up.
Is an orbit sander preferable over a belt sander for tabletops? Since I will be using a sander rather infrequently, I figured I'd save myself collecting more hardware by buying just a (portable) belt sander and using it for both serious sanding (areas on floors that are unreachable with a machine) and light-weight sand...	Your biggest problem is that handheld belt sanders are optimized for removing large amounts of material quickly.
Gas-fired water heater safe to have in living area of home? A un-licensed renovation on our house was performed about 15 years ago, which turned a former garage into a 200 sq ft den directly attached to the rest of the house. In this den is a gas-fired water heater. It is not enclosed, and still has all the same vent...	As long as the gas appliance is vented properly, it is not a CO hazard. As with all building codes, they are just recommendations for localities to follow.
How can flood water come in through a toilet? Video on Facebook Fredrick Maryland is experiencing severe flooding and one home owner has flood water gushing in the house through the toilet. You can view the video from the Facebook link above. What I don’t understand is how water can come backwards up the toilet? Aren’...	Some municipalities do require backflow prevents, which prevent sewage from entering the building.
Remove cam lock pushed the wrong way into Ikea furniture I messed up trying to assemble an IKEA bed. I accidentally pushed the cam lock with the smooth side facing out. Now I have no way to rotate it to tighten the cam lock and bolt to secure the two pieces of wood. How do I remove it? I have attached some images. The...	Sometimes you can knock them out by striking the wood furniture next to the hole, either with your hand or with a hammer. If that doesn't work you can try drilling it.
Is this small slope a problem installing vinyl plank? We are going to install luxury vinyl plank flooring in our basement. This product clicks together and floats, much like laminate. Two questions: The cement slab/subfloor is fairly level, with one exception: There is a 36"W walkout door, and the floor slopes down ...	Lift off the marble threshold, cut a piece of 1/2 inch plywood to place under the transition to fit. If you don't stabilize that flooring by leveling the floor beneath, you will find the floor will sink under your feet as you step on it in that point, and since there's a fixed threshold, you'll create a tripping hazard...
Can I stabilize the tire tracks of a gravel driveway with hot tar? I have a gravel road with a number of hills but one is long and steep. Generally this guy is close to un-drivable within 6 months. I do not have the money to asphalt this hill, nor can I fix this twice a year. That leaves all kinds of folks refusing to ...	The work to create the V-grooves that you propose seem like it could be labor intensive and still demand a lot of materials that make it expensive.
Why is there 4 inches of metal at on each side of this column? I have a column in my kitchen. As far as I can tell this is a decorative column, and doesn't contain anything structural -- I live in a high rise, it really cannot contain anything structural. Yet, according to my fancy stud detector, it has metal 4 inche...	It could be metal pipes.
Bottom shelf of cabinet, support weight of itself? I have another question posted about making my kitchen island movable. To do this, I have to put it on casters. The most aesthetically pleasing method is to have the casters inside that 4" void below the cabinet's bottom "shelf". We all know cabinets rest on the ...	This depends a lot on the construction of the cabinet.
Attaching a towel hook to a glass shower door We have a glass shower door. We have nowhere else to hang our towels in our tiny bathroom except on the back of the door. We've tried Command hooks, and we've tried using them with what we were told was an "industrial" adhesive for them, but they keep coming off. What's th...	Or use a supermagnet hook on one side of the glass door and an non-hook supermagent on the other side EDIT: Here is a link about attaching metal to glass. I'd also consider cyanoacrylate (super glue).
Insulating that attic hatch - the type with fold-out steps This attic hatch does have fold-out steps inside... It would be great to put a layer of insulation at the level A: unfortunately, once the steps triple-fold and you put the hatch up, the folded steps come up an extra at least a foot .. the height of "B" or...	Framed, insulated walls immediately outside the hatch opening with an R-value appropriate for your climate zone, flush on top of the hatch opening (or as tall as needed to clear the folded stair set).
How can I fix a chipped acrylic tub? I dropped something on my Kohler white acrylic tub while installing CBU and it took off a small chip from the corner. What is the best option for fixing this? Here's a picture of the chip: <Q> I would suggest a 2-part white epoxy putty. <S> You will need to clean/prep the area then...	I’ll bet a surfboard fabricator could fix it too.
Indicator with two-way switch We have a two way switch for an exhaust fan. The fan is out of sight from the switches. So, the problem we face is we have no clue if the fan is on or off looking at the switch. I tried to see if there are two-way switches with indicators attached (like this one for a one-way switch). ...	The lamp will burn out, or the fan will simply not operate if connected in series. A perverse solution requiring two neon lamps.
how specific must rocker switch specs be? My son has this little car he drives around and the reverse direction stopped working. I took it apart, did some hard-wiring tests and found that the switch was failing (both gear work if I hard-wire the connection that the switch is responsible for making.) This is the exact ...	A standard R11 DPDT switch 16 amp switch is what power wheels use.
Help cutting/squaring floor joist for shed I am a novice, and i am trying to build a shed myself. I don't have any framing experience. I purchased a miter saw, and a circular saw. The plans call for 2x8 floor joists with 3 inches shorter on the inner short boards. So i purchased two 2x8x10 boards, and two 2x8x12 boar...	Once you get proficient with a circular saw you can cut very well by just making a straight line and free hand cutting on the line.
115V to 230V converter In the US some air conditioners require 230V outlets. My apartment only has 115V outlets. Is there a way to convert 115V to 230V so AC can run without loss in cooling power? <Q> However you must understand that transformers can trade off voltage for current <S> but they can't magic power out of t...	It is in principle possible to run a 240V load off a 120V supply using a transformer.
10-50 to 6-50 wiring Suppose someone has a 240V 50A plug at a rental house. It is wired to a 10-50 receptical. My understanding is that this is a deprecated standard, and my guess is that it is 6-50 wiring that was put into a 10-50 receptical. Suppose they want to change the receptical to 6-50. There are three wires...	This is indeed the wiring to support a 6-50 receptacle What you appear to have is a 6/2 MC cable where the neutral has been retagged to a second hot -- That's not quite what's happening. They are supposed to be kept totally separate, with equipotential bonding created between neutral and ground in one place - the main ...
Calculate conductors for box fill I have a 5 gang switch box I'm trying to calculate how many "conductors" I can have in it. Basically my main question is, do wires that originate and terminate inside the box count as +1 each (wires in nuts/splices going to switch)? Or is it only wires that originate outside the box an...	Wires originating and terminating inside the junction box are not included in the minimum fill calculation. Pig tails that connect a group of wires then connect to the switch or device are not added. So plan how you are going to splice and connect all of your conductors carefully. The biggest problem I have ever faced ...
Removing masking/paper from skirting I've recently renovated my kitchen, which amongst a great many other things involved putting in new skirting boards, which needed painting. So, to protect our new timber floor we decided to slide A4 paper into the very small gap between the skirting and floor and then paint. This s...	You should carefully cut through the paint at the paper with a sharp utility knife (sometimes called a razor knife).

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