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Does code prohibit using salvaged materials in new electrical work? Does code prohibit using salvaged materials in new electrical work? Can wire, receptacles, switches, wirenuts, boxes, connectors, etc... be reused? <Q> As long as the components meet current code they can be reused. <S> For example if I replace all th...	To the best of my knowledge, no one's code forbids the reuse of all most anything (that the manufacturer does not explicitly state 'single use only' - like flexible gas lines), provided it is in good working order. Wire can also be reused but I usually will not save romex under 10 awg
Can I wall mount this pedestal sink? Is there a way to mount this sink on the wall?On the right side of the back of the sink, the outline of the 4th hole is molded onto the sink and I thought perhaps I can drill into that spot to reveal a hole that would allow me to hang it the sink on the wall. I cannot access the ho...	Hung sinks typically have brackets that connect high up on the sink. Unfortunately, it looks like you have a wall that's already tiled, so you don't have any depth into which to set this bracket.
Standing water in dishwasher I accidentally opened the diswasher mid-cycle. Then i closed it and it went back to normal operations. But after the cycle ended, i see some standing water at bottom on tub for the 1st time. I quickly looked at airgap and it seems all clean to me. Please let me know1. If i can start the d...	I experienced this once and it was because I’d replaced the sink disposal unit but forgot to knock out the plastic plug inside the dishwasher waste hose nipple on the disposal unit.
Will concrete poured over wet ground be more likely to crack and disintegrate? What if you’ve had lots of rain & humidity. Our area is slightly sloped. The ground is clay, rocks & some sand. I’m concerned about having concrete poured on a wet ground. We need to have the area graded and sloped slightly in the opposite d...	If the ground is dry, the ground will absorb moisture from the concrete and it won't cure properly.
Crack in new drywall joint so we just drywalled all walls in our bedroom. And now (~ 3 weeks later) one of the joints is cracking in the middle edge of the tape . Summary : The house is concrete. Built 1970s. All drywall boards are glued onto mostly concrete walls (some of the lighter interior walls are made of...	If the underlying problem is that the joint compound was too wet, then one would expect cracking at at least some of the other joints mudded from the same batch or container. There is no need to “wait for it to settle and crack more”. Those issues as pointed by others deserve consideration as possible causes, I'm not s...
Is it safe to cut the plug off a power strip (then reattach it) in order to run it through a wall? I'm trying to hide the cable for the power strip that my TV is plugged into by running it behind my drywall. However, I have to go through a stud.I'm thinking I can probably drill a hole through the stud small enough for ...	You'll want to use approved wiring methods to get power from the existing receptacle, to the new receptacle behind the TV. However, what you can and should do is: To get a hole through the stud, you'll want to use a flexible drill bit and positioning tool.
How to rule-out certain causes of 15 amp breaker that keeps tripping One of the breakers in my apartment keeps tripping even after resetting. It’s a 15 amp circuit that feeds a bedroom, being used as a home office/recording studio with a laptop, 2nd monitor, a mixer, stereo amplifier, synthesizer, modem, wifi router, p...	If the amplifier was unplugged during the storm, then I would suspect that a surge damaged the breaker slightly, causing it to trip more quickly on a surge. Probably the easiest way to determine whether the breaker has gone bad is to swap the breakers between two 15 A circuits. There is no way you can verify without a ...
How can I resolve a "vent intake or termination" problem on my furnace? It's June so my furnace has been off for a while. But it's cold today and I have a sick kid home so I tried to start my furnace but it's not working. I'm getting an LED code with three red flashes which, according to the label on the inside of the ...	A bird must have gotten into the intake and got sucked into the inductor motor, which then seized up. I went through all the air lines to sensors, and such and discovered small amounts of debris and water in each of the lines.
Knob and Tube Wiring with AFCI We have a rental house that still has some knob and tube wiring. We did not know about the knob and tube wiring when we bought the house 18 years ago. We didn't know such a thing existed but remember the seller telling us her father was an electrician and updated some of the wiring. Some ...	If the loose insulation were to get wet between conductors it could begin to heat up. Well, look at it this way, knob and tube wiring is a wiring method that is almost 100 years old. AFCI is a superb way to protect any wiring you're worried about.
Shaving off wood in 4"x4" to fit ez base? I bought several of these 4x4 Simpson EZ bases , but most of the 4"x4" pieces of wood don't fit. Some of them are a very tight fit, but most of them are a tad wide. What tool can I use to easily shave off the additional millimeters from the lumber? <Q> However given the eye-p...	If you want a more precise cut you could measure the exact width of the opening and use a table saw with a slight angle set on the guide and mark the base of the 4x4 for cutting. The best option in hand tooling is a wide rasp. Rotary wood shaper might do the trick.
Portable air conditioner produces nasty smell in fan mode after running AC My Haier HPN12XCM Portable Air Conditioner, 12000-BTU air conditioner produces a horrible smell whenever it is in fan mode after I run it in AC mode. To reproduce the problem, I do the following: Run the AC unit in AC mode for 20 minutes. No ...	I'd take the cover off and use a hose and carefully rinse it without getting electrical components wet.
Will adding a cool air return in the basement help with summer AC power usage? Pretty much the title. I have a full basement. Part of it is unfinished and has the water heater, furnace, and washer / dryer. The other part (roughly 1/2 of the total space) is partially finished. It has a dropped ceiling and wood panel wal...	If you put a return into the basement and open the taped up vent, then even more conditioned air will go into the basement--the opposite of what you want. I have just done this and my electric costs have actually gone down. I have installed air intakes in basements many times.
Vinyl flooring poor air quality and toxicity We're looking to install luxury vinyl flooring in our home and recently came across some claims that vinyl flooring significantly reduces air quality in the home and can release carcinogens in to the air as it is often manufactured with PVC along with other unsafe materials....	However, certain types of vinyl have antimicrobial properties which is why they're used in the healthcare industry.
Using PEX as wire conduit I have some 1/2" PEX-AL-PEX left over and thinking about using it as conduit for ~20' ethernet or phone cable. Pipe is appropriately orange. Will the aluminium layer provide RF shielding? (assuming I manage to ground it) Is this a bad idea? <Q> Because this is an indoor run, I'm not entirely...	If you just want some physical protection for the Cat 5 cable then PVC electrical conduit will perform nicely. The only way I would do this is if you have an open wall and want to be able to run wires later. If you have 1/2", you're not likely going to be able to pull it through at all if it's terminated, and you proba...
what are my options when it comes to updating my recessed lighting? i want to start by saying thank you for the few that helped answer my question yesterday. to make a long story short....i am a fairly new homeowner and unfortunately did not have a father who was much of a fixer upper growing up. so when it comes to ...	And technically you should use Halo trims, but I would use another brand in my own home if it was convenient and or priced right.
Can I splice the common wire of two different circuits in the same junction? I have a single 4way run that shares a 2 gang box with another circuit. Both circuits run off of the same sub-panel. Is phase an issue here? I can't seem to find anything that indicates whether or not this is acceptable. Thinking about it aga...	It would be a code violation to use the neutral from a different circuit, it would also create a safety problem in the future if 1 circuit is turned off there could be power from the other circuit on the one that is off But there cannot be any connections between the hots or the neutrals of the two circuits.
Staple Through Electrical Wire I was installing a new bath fan and had it all done. I was cleaning up the wires in the attic and accidentally put a staple through the wire as I was securing it to the lumber. I put some electrical tape around it and seems to be working. There is not enough slack in the wire for me to c...	If the conductors are not damaged then you can reinsulate any skinned conductor insulation with good quality electrical tape. In a max-current scenario it could burn and arc. You don't need an electrician to run a new cable between the fan and the switch box, for example.
Alternatives to knobs for kitchen cabinets? I have very old oak kitchen cabinets that I just can’t see replacing because they are in beautiful condition yet we never had any kind of knobs or hardware to open and close them with. Now that we are older and arthritis is setting in we need the extra help that the knobs wou...	Using a “hook-type” cabinet knob Like this: https://www.build.com/top-knobs-tk500-cabinet-pull/s973468 seems like a “red-neck” way to solve this issue.
How can I use an off-peak controller with my 240v air conditioner? My unit's window mount A/C unit is pictured. I am looking for a converter of some sort so I can use a utility supplied shutoff device. The Unit itself does not have a temperature control or setting. Just on/off, high/low. The electric company provides...	While most houses in the US have 240V, most outlets are only wired for 120V. Consider sun shades, an attic fan, or other passive or less costly methods to keep the temperature down. YOU CAN DO MORE WITH SIMPLE CONSERVATION THAN FANCY ELECTRONICS.
How can I remove broken pipe threads from inside a galvanized tee fitting? As I was trying to break loose the galvanized pipe from a Tee joint, the pipe snapped at the joint. I applied PB blaster to the rusted connection and let it set for about 30-45 minutes before attempting to loosen it. Is there a way to remove the...	Since a part of the piping is already PVC with glued fittings you could remove the iron pipe and fittings back to other joints and then replace this problematic TEE and adjacent iron piping with PVC pipe and PVC fittings.
Are there drawbacks to installing GFCI outlets in sequence? Are there any big downsides to Daisy chaining GFCI outlets? I understand that protection would be redundant. I have an outside outlet that's protected by an upstream GFCI that's located inside the house. I am replacing the outside outlet and am thinking of rep...	When there's a ground fault, they all will trip by design.
20 kW generator overkill for a home? I see 20kW backup generators advertised for homes, but this seems like total overkill, or maybe my math is wrong? According to my energy bill I use about 400 kW hours of electricity per month. So, that would be about 13.3 kW hours per day or 0.5 kW average load. Now, if a generator...	Your generator needs to be sized to provide enough power for all the loads at once.
How can I prevent this ice build up on my driveway/walkway? My house faces North. I have down spouts on all four corners of the house. My challenge is that in the late winter/ early spring, the sun melts the snow off the roof and comes down the downspouts. On the South side of the house, it's warm enough that the wat...	I would dig a trench to somewhere convenient, put in a drain pipe and run the downspout into that.
Trying to replace the adjuster screw on a screen door -- low-profile threaded screw insert and bolt (identification needed) On my sliding patio screen door there is an height adjuster held in place by flat-profile screw inserts. I'd like to obtain more of these threaded bolts and inserts, but I have a nomenclature issu...	Try "connector screw", "knockdown bolt", or "cap nut".
Capping off a single (large) wire? I have a five-conductor 2 AWG cable (three phases, neutral, and ground) connected into a 22.5 kVA (i.e., very big and dangerous) power supply. This is being used for research relating to ground faults, so the points at which the system is grounded are carefully controlled, and the gro...	At number 2 wire that is not live I would use super88 electrical tape. You pull on the end of the coiled plastic and it unravels, leaving the silicone cap to shrink onto the end of the wire.
How should coax cable enter the house in a harsh climate? In our house, coax cable comes from the utility in a rear alley, then is joined to a separate cable that enters the house on the second floor. Here's a photo: The black cable on the left comes from the utility; the beige cable on the right enters the house. ...	PVC electrical conduit is cheap and if you can limit exposure to the elements it's worth the effort. The connectors shown in the image are "contemporary technology" and have sealing gaskets incorporated into the design.
Coating copper with aluminium powder I am about to install a copper weathervane which will also work as lightning conductor (it will be mounted on top of an earthed aluminium flagpole). Because: exposed to weather, copper will corrode and become looking likethe Statue of Liberty; and I want the weathervane to look ...	About any "silver" colored paint contains aluminum flake as pigment and would satisfy your requirements.
Ways to add proper ventilation to attic with ridge vent on roof? We got a new roof about four ago. The attic is unfinished. It's a split level home, and hot as Hades upstairs. Unfortunately, the roofers didn't consider attic ventilation. They installed a ridge vent, but the only intake is a gable vent near the peak ...	Another option is to put an exhaust fan in your attic, on a thermostat. If it's aluminum soffit I've replaced solid panels with vented also and you could space them out and put in as only as many as desired.
Can you run 230v powertool on single pole 20 amp breaker? (Location: Ontario Canada if that makes a difference) I want to run a 230V 1 PHASE 9.6 AMP table saw. I only have a single 15amp breaker that is not being used left in my panel. To run the saw, is it enough to replace the 15amp breaker with a single-pole 20am...	You need a 2 pole breaker, each pole connected to one of the two bus bars in the CB panel (there is a reason for that stipulation). AFAIK, Canada uses the same split-phase arrangement as the USA to deliver 230 V to the premises, with the center tap grounded as the "neutral" wire.
LEDs are burning out quickly I am an DIYer and replaced bathroom light fixtures 3 years ago. Was using halogen and incandescent bulbs, but decided to switch entire house to LED. I admit that I purchased these bulbs from the dollar store and that may be part of the problem. Four of the nine bulbs have burned out afte...	If the fixtures were designed for old-fashioned incandescent filament light bulbs, which don't mind getting very hot, it is possible they don't provide enough air-flow to cool the LED bulbs, which are generally more sensitive to overheating.
AC condensation line dripping from attic drain and splashing onto drywall During the summer when it gets 90+ degrees outside my ac creates a lot of drainage from the attic. The drain line was made to just drip onto the garage floor by the homebuilder. Well the water, especially on 90+ days, is splashing onto the drywal...	If not I would cut the drain pipe that goes to the closet near the AC unit and see if water runs out. Long and short Pics of the AC unit in the attic will help diagnose the issues, but most certainly a call to the AC Service Company is most likely a good thing if they have not been out to Service the AC system this yea...
Re-painting drywall after patching leaves tones I patched a few scrapes and small holes in the drywall, then got a can of color-matched paint in the hardware store (I took a sample with me, they color-matched it and prepared the paint). It is a white color anyways. However after I applied a first coat, I clearly see t...	Your paint may never match perfectly Paint age matters - and no matter how good the technology, 2 cans of paint are 2 cans of paint.
How long do tree stumps take to decay? I had a large tree in my yard cut down to about 8' above ground. It now has two stumps joined at the base. I am planning to build a treehouse for my kids around the stump with the weight being held by 1/2 inch threaded rods through the trees holding up 2x10s. The stumps are abou...	From my experience, the stump will outlast your kid's interest in the playhouse...
How best to drill pilot holes through hardened steel exterior door frame? I'm trying to drill pilot holes through my exterior door frame in order to install a weather seal. I purchased a few new cobalt drill bits labeled for hardened steel. However, each new bit was only able to drill one pilot hole before losing i...	Your bits are almost certainly dull from turning too fast with-out enough pressure. A Steel Step Drill Bit. Carbide point mason bits have poor geometry to cut steel.
hanging a water hose holder on stucco... do I need to find a stud? I am hanging a water hose holder for a 50 foot all-rubber hose. This holder can be mounted with 6 screws (2 rows X 3 columns). Would it be necessary to try to at least get that middle column attached to a stud or should standard wall anchors be suffic...	but yes you should try and hit 1 stud. Yes, you want to find a good solid stud to anchor into, because if the teenage animals that you live with are anything like the teenage animals that I live with they will not be kind to it.
Will 1x4 or 1x6 boards span 3 feet between beams for a walking bridge? I have a foot bridge I wish to plank with 1x4 or 1x6 material. The bridge is 3' wide. The planks will be simply supported at each end by 4" beams. Will a 1x4 or a 1x6 3' long support a 200 pound load? <Q> The boards will flex something awful, which...	I personally would opt for the 1x4 if all other things were equal.
What happens if I use the DC Voltage setting on an AC line? What about the reverse? I have a run of those low voltage lighting systems in the hallway. The kind that have a two parallel exposed wires, with fixtures that clamp on in various spots on the wires and then take an MR16 bulb. I am curious what the voltage is ...	With a digital meter that auto-senses polarity, you will get a negative accurate reading if you have a DC setting and measure DC with the polarity reversed.
Are adapters unsafe? Plug G to plug F (UK to Sweden) I'm thinking of buying an instant pot ( https://www.instantpot.co.uk/product/instant-pot-duo-8-litre-electric-pressure-cooker-220v/ ). It's a UK version and I live in Sweden. The voltage and frequency seems to be the same (around 220-230V and 50Hz). I know I nee...	Many adapters have a lower current rating than the sockets they adapt between. If you have no plans to visit the UK, I would cut the plug off and fit a Swedish plug.
How to protect the AC from power spikes - a hardwired surge protector, or UPS? As I understand, power surges can damage the AC boards, compressors and fan motors. Looking into hardwired surge protectors I found devices ranging in current, maximum protecting voltage and protection modes, whose prices also range from $20...	You'll need a hardwired suppressor
How can I bypass this switch? I know this might be a really stupid question, but how would I connect these wires if I wanted to bypass the switch? <Q> The black wires are already connected together. <S> Connect in the red wire to this also, and the switch will be bypassed. <S> Remember you must put a junction box...	Given this you can just short the red wire with the black and the switch will be bypassed.
remove plastic film off porcelain tile I just had "marble like" porcelain tile installed. the plastic film over each tile is too had to get off. The installer gave up and left it on, said he never seen plastic film so hard to come off. So far tried a glass scrapper, hot rag, and just manually picking it off by hand.....	Immerse tiles in fairly hot water and it will peel off quite easily.
Proper fasteners for Post/Beam/Joist intersection So I am building a deck, and I have a point where a post, the deck beam, and a joist all meet together as shown in the (crude) drawing attached. What would be the appropriate fasteners to use in this case? I can notch the post if needed. To clarify, I plan on fastening...	Something as simple as large nails or lag bolts toenailed through the beam into the post are likely adequate.
How do I tell if a window I have is tempered glass? (I need to cut a hole) I have a full size double-pane all-glass patio door that I'd like to put a hole in for an air conditioner exhaust hose. I plan to drill a hole with a glass drill bit and then use a carbide rod saw to saw out the 5" diameter hole. I realize this ...	If it breaks into larger jagged pieces and shards it is not tempered.
Installing a sub panel to a GE split bus panel I want to install a sub panel to my GE split bus panel. The diagram indicates that I could replace the two full sized 2-pole breakers (2 inch wide each) on the upper left with three compact 2-pole breakers (1 inch wide each). The diagram indicates that this is not an optio...	The Code does not address using a split bus load center to feed another panel board. When you remove and add breakers to this panel, you are modifying a panel.
Is it safe to use a battery charger to test the capacity of a non-rechargeable battery? I have this battery charger at home. It has a voltage test function. I also have a lot of non-rechargeable batteries lying around. Is it possible and safe to use the charger's test function on non-rechargeable AAA or AA batteries?...	What you want to do instead is get yourself a digital multimeter that can measure voltage of any battery that you may have laying around.
How can I mount a railing in concrete steps when I encounter rebar in the hole? I need to install a handrail in concrete steps. The problem is that after drilling ~2" (5 cm) down into the concrete, the drill bit wouldn't go any further. I suspect I'm hitting rebar. This is about 2 & 1/2" (64 mm) from the edge of the st...	Rebar is a fairly soft steel, so a common drill bit (not carbide tipped) should be able to drill through it.
Bath and sink connected on same pipe - bath gurgling when sink emptied The bath and sink are connected to the same pipe as shown on schematic below - pipe has a gradient downwards towards the main pipe (yes, I have found some people fit it with an upward gradient!). When I empty a bucket into the sink or empty a full ...	The difficult fix is to open your wall and install a vent for the sink - and maybe for the tub too, depending on distance.
How to remove concrete slab I have this concrete slab at the front of my house which I want to remove. The slab has 2 air brick holes in it too. These are surrounded by bricks with cement on to give a rounded look and then painted. They are obviously like that because the surface of that slab is higher than the air bri...	Sledgehammer will work, but it is way too hard work.
Where to start laying hardwood floor in "T" shaped room I'm getting ready to put down hardwood in a newly constructed room. The room is "T" shaped as such: I understand that I should start on the longest continuous wall and work across. However, in this case, if I start on "A" for example, and then fill-in between D...	When laying wood floors or tile you always start in the middle of the room and lay out to the edges. The other advantage is that starting from the middle effectively cuts the error from the creep or gaps in the boards in half giving to a much better looking job. You can do do measurements from each wall A and B to find...
Ganged Circuit Breaker has strange ganging configuration. 40-[30-30]-40 I have a scenario where the Circuit Breakers for a Dryer and a Range are intertwined in the CB panel. In the picture below 17 and 20 are ganged together with that wild ganging clip. 18 and 19 both 30amps are ganged together normally. Is this kind...	This is a bit backwards, but OK as long as the breakers have a common trip mechanism inside them Normally, you'd see this configuration as a 30-40-40-30, but either way, this is a quadplex breaker, where the outside half-poles are ganged together to form 1 240V circuit while the inside half-poles are ganged together to...
Covering a 30-in x 7ft space that's suited for a door? We have a bedroom with 30-inch x 7-ft opening that takes me to a bathroom and a closet. This opening is ideal for a door, but it's solid concrete and very difficult to drill. So I was thinking of putting something that would cover this hole, but is easy to install...	You could mount curtain hardware on the ceiling and use a curtain to close off the opening. It's very cheap, has virtually no installation, lets you pick a wide variety of fabrics from fine to cheap, and doesn't look out of place.
Was it allowed to not ground light switches? I apologize if this has been answered before but I couldn't readily find this question here. My house was built in the late '80s and all of the light switches have grounding terminals but they are not used. There are regular 14/2 or 12/2 with grounds going in to the electri...	Meaning you could ground it once at any location as well as use a mounting screw or any metal piece attached to the fixture, much the same way we used to use conduit as the grounding return, and it actually does ground the fixture.
Does this look like asbestos insulation? Found some spare bits of it in the attic, was curious what it is. Fibre glass? <Q> No, that is fiberglass. <S> Asbestos was never used in a batt form of insulation which is what your picture is of. <S> https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-identify-dangerous-asbestos-insulation-4...	When it comes to asbestos insulation, it is found only in loose fill types, and in a solid board configuration. The typically greenish colour and the smaller gaps between the fibres suggest to me that it's mineral wool (aka "rockwool", although that's technically a brand name) rather than fibreglass.
CO detector starts beeping every morning at 6am My 2-years old CO detector (small, wall-mounted device with battery, no other power source) started beeping every morning for at least few minutes, sending sharp chirps once every 10 sec. It starts around 6am. I don't see any visible fire or cooking in my apartment or ou...	A low battery is the most common cause of seemingly-random chirps in smoke and CO detectors. Chances are the battery should've been replaced long ago. The chirping is a universal (as far as I know) method for indicating that it's time to change the battery. It's normal for gas and smoke detector batteries to indicate i...
What is a hacksaw called that has a single, straight handle? I'm in need of a hacksaw like the one on the left in the image link provided. Ideally i need it with six inch or more blade protruding to fit down a pipe. I have seen one in a store but now cant find another <Q> I believe shopping assistance is off topic for...	According to Lowe's , it is a Cross Cutting Hand Saw.
How to Sync Booster Fan with Furnace Fan I own an old house. Some of the rooms in the house that are too far away from the furnace are not getting enough air, the airflow is too weak. I tried to close as many of the other ones as possible, but the airflow is still too weak. I am going to be installing a booster fan. No...	, booster fans shouldnt go in the duct work because of the condensation in the vents. If I were you, I would find out what you have installed including the size and capacity of the equipment, the capacity of the duct work, the location of the supply and return registers. Please try and find a "good and knowledgeable" c...
Help diagnose a compressor problem My fan on my A/C compressor unit seems to start and even spins up to a reasonable speed, although not quite the speed at which it ought to spin, but then 5 seconds later slows down to a very low speed where you can almost see the individual blades. The run capacitor was clearly blown ...	What this looks like is that your fan has a start capacitor and that gets it going but your run capacitor is not working.
Power outlet inside a kitchen island. How do I protect the back? My kitchen island has a wire for power. Surprisingly, nothing is connected to it so I'm going to install a power outlet. I've replaced power outlets for walls before and generally the rear where you stick the wires in are exposed (because it's inside the...	You need to mount an electrical box to the wall of the cabinet and put the outlet inside it. BTW, in a kitchen, GFCI outlets are recommended. Below is a nonmetallic box, which might or might not be acceptable.
How to fix joist hangers where joist is not fully on seat of hanger This is an old house and pictures show the framing and joists around a stairway opening. Compared to the “before” picture, you can see that the wood was removed from both sides of the double header. The ledger shown in picture #1 (before) was remove...	A logical solution is to just remove the hangers and replace the ledger.
Will installing a beam under my shed's floor framing eliminate the bounce? The previous owner of my property built a roughly 16x12 outbuilding on posts. Besides doing many things in slightly stupid ways, the building overall isn't awful. I've converted it into a manhut where I drink beers and butcher deers. The floor...	Attach the beam loosely on to the joists above, then put jacks under each end and raise the beam (and the shed) until you can slide supporting blocks under the ends of the beam.
How to fix a slate floor tile in my kitchen I’m renting my house and one of the slate (it looks like slate rather than the white ceramic type stuff) tiles from the floor has come loose, intact, just come loose. Rather than go through a tedious process of reporting a fix through the letting company, I figured I’d just...	What you have there is a ceramic tile that is glazed and textured to look like slate.
How can I dry out a soggy floor in my kitchen? some wooden floorboard in my kitchen got some water that had not been cleaned up for an hour and the timber seems to have absorbed some of the water and make a soggy sound when walked over. how can I dry it out pls? thanks guys for the answers, the thing is I am in Lond...	Airflow is key, and if you're able to keep the relative humidity down in the home, do so. Use a shop vac with the crevice tool on every joint you can get to.
How to diagnose and fix apartment AC that makes intermittent whooshing noise My AC recently (I think, it's pretty new, possible I just didn't notice before) started making a whooshing noise. It sounds kind of like a sudden gust of wind, but it repeats every few seconds. Another way I can think of to describe it: imagin...	I am thinking your filters are the wrong type.
Why do clothes washed with my new Samsung top load washer have an odor? New top load washer that we purchased about 5 months ago is putting off a bad smell to washed clothing. I wouldn’t think the washer is dirty already. Any help would be great. <Q> We had the same issue with our new top load Kenmore. <S> There's too...	This washer is designed to be water saving and perhaps needs to be cleaned this way periodically.
Is there a "universal" flux core welding wire for repairing any kind of iron? I need to weld a railing and am not sure what kind of metal it is made from. For the time being, I'm going to assume it's iron until I can do a magnet test. But short of getting a sample tested in a lab or doing the "spark test", I don't kn...	Wrought iron" is an archaic name for very low carbon steel ; unlikely to be in your railing but it would weld the same as mild steel.
Jacking concrete slab with shed We have a 10x10 wooden shed sitting on a concrete slab that is under water when we get lots of rain. Is it possible to raise the entire thing, slab and all maybe 6" somehow to get it out of the water? Edit: I'm not at the house at the moment, but here are some shots I have of it: https:...	If there are no cracks visible lifting a little at a time shouldnt crack a 4inch slab. Once you get the slab to the right height run 6x6 or 4x4 hardwood underneath the slab then reverse the process until the slab sits on the new base of hardwood.
Should I glue or nail hardwood flooring in several widths up to 6 inches? I'm preparing to install 3/4 inch solid white oak in a bedroom using 3-1/4, 4 and 6 inch width boards. I'll be using a alternating pattern of 3-1/4, 4, 6, 3-1/4, 4 and 6. I'm told if a board is over 5 inches wide, gluing the boards is the best ...	Installing over sleepers on a wood subfloor is a waste of time and money. If you are going to put down a layer of felt, you could not glue it.
Cut a severe taper (70 degrees) using a compound mitre saw I want to cut a few hundred stakes from scrap 2x4 lumber. The stakes would be 4ft long, and have a 70 degree taper at the end. The most efficient method I can think of for cutting the tapers would be to use a compound mitre saw. However, the most severe angle...	There are also wood augers that might work better, as they aresimilar to the standard twist drills, except with a much larger groove forremoving material.
Can I use three phase existing wiring for a single phase a/c unit? I am replacing an old 3 phase a/c unit with a new single phase a/c unit. Can I just use 2 of the three legs at existing unit disconnect to power the new single phase unit? Is that done by capping one wire or maybe removing one wire from breaker? <Q> Yes...	You may be able to use the disconnect - it's OK to have an unused pole - but again it would have to be rated for the new load, and the new load may be higher with a single phase unit.
Building work on concrete in a very wet environment - natural spring My garage area, which is currently just a concrete slab for parking cars on, has a natural spring that pops up just at ground level. The water never stops, and the concrete there is permanently wet all over. Im hoping to create a channel so that the...	If you are going to cast in place a concrete channel or curb to divert water, I would recommend drilling some holes in the existing slab, setting rebar into them with epoxy, and wire-tying to these vertical pieces of rebar some more pieces that will run horizontally inside the length of your casting.
Putting up my new ceiling fan into light fixture I have 4 ceiling fans I ordered to put these up into 4 light fixture. This one is a bit different that I did put up into replace an old ceiling fan and it was easy for me. I am not experience with the light fixture because it is different than the ceiling fan. I have t...	Yes, if the new plastic box in your picture is listed as a fan support box, than that is all you need.
Why did the builder install an OSB Wall behind Drywall? In my garage, the builder looks to have installed an OSB wall adjacent to the Living Room. The other walls are just dry wall and studs whereas this one has OSB and then dry wall on top of it. Is there any reason why they would have installed this wall? I'm lookin...	The OSB board could be a “shear” wall, it even has solid blocking in the joist space above the wall. It's laterally structural to support the building's side-to-side forces. If you cut holes in the wall to mount things, (or to install a utility access, like you say) will void the fire rating.
Alternative to a basin wrench? I'm in need of a tool to tighten a nut such as shown below: Because of the tight space (area below the basin faucet), I'm never had success with the many wrenches that I used. At last, I came to know about the basin wrench which (as shown in the pic above) seem to be just what I'm looki...	Another wrench type for this situation is the socket type.
Issues with 4 Prong to 3 Prong Conversion I've really been at a loss trying to figure this out. Quick backstory: GF moved into apartment built prior to NEC code change so it has a 3 prong outlet. Her GE Profile dryer had a 4 prong plug attached. I may ask the complex to see if they will update the outlet to a 4 prong, ...	Other than that, easiest to retrofit a ground wire from the socket to anywhere in the equipment safety grounding system (ground wires or metal conduit, the wires must be at least 10 AWG) .... or grounding electrode system (the thick bare wires going from panel to ground rods or water piping). Once a ground wire is retr...
Mounted tv too high, OK to use same studs to remount? I mounted a tv (60") on my living room wall too high. The heavy-duty mounting bracket uses large screws that required that I drill a 7/32" hole into the studs and used a socket wrench to tighten them in. (Total of 4 screws, two in each stud placed vertically maybe a...	A notch is when you cut the entire cross section of the stud out, to a given depth - that is, if you were to cut the stud's entire width out, 25% deep into the stud, you'd still be fine.
Condensor went, HVAC guy is blaming electrician, is this possible? My brand new HVAC unit, the condensor died. The unit has a sticker that says the following: Minimum Circuit Ampacity 32 amps Max Fuse / Breaker 50 The electrician ran a 8 gauge wire with a 40 amp breaker to the ac. The HVAC guy is telling me it ...	If the breaker never tripped and the wire never failed, then the condensor was almost certainly faulty, since there is no mechanism by which the wire or breaker could contribute more current to the fault. The sticker on the condensing unit stated MAXIMUM 50-A breaker. A 40-A breaker satisfies this requirement, but it s...
Re-surface desk for laser mouse I have an IKEA desk with a subtle fake wood grain paint layer (black) on the surface. The paint in the area that my mouse moves has worn away leaving a shiny textureless surface that the laser mouse doesn't detect. What's the simplest, cheapest, most effective way to re-surface that ...	You could remove the gloss by light sanding (we painters call it 'scuff sanding'), but there still needs to be an underlying pattern. Note that if you're going to laminate cloth (or a paper pattern) and stick it to the desktop, you're essentially making your own shelf liner, so isherwood's idea is a lot simpler. As you...
What kind of sound input socket is this? I have this surround sound system at home that is very old and have these strange sound input sockets that I have never seen before. Does anyone know what kind of input socket this is? <Q> They appear to be the 220V inputs (source feeds - Fuente alimentación) for each device; (L...	Wikipedia specifically mentions a version of the two pin female din where "Most common is a three-hole female connector with one circular hole on either side of the spade hole, one of them with an aux contact and one without, which provides the option to leave the internal speaker connected by inserting the plug twiste...
How to hang mosquito net on the security bars of a window? We have a long window with security bars, I've set a mosquito nets on the outer side of the bars as you can see in the images bellow. The issue we face is that our cats (who love to spend time there watching the world) are jumping on the net (mostly when bird...	If you're unable to do that maybe you could try mounting small diameter chicken wire fencing on the inside of the bars to help prevent your cat's nails from reaching the mosquito net.
How can I use a standard prehung interior door on 2x6 studs? We framed in a bathroom in our metal barn. To allow plenty of room for installation and for added strength we used 2x6s. Is it possible to adjust a standard prehing door to fit? <Q> You can buy pre-hung doors for 2x6 studding. <S> See here . <S> Some door...	If you already have one for 2x4 studding then it could be adapted, but it would be better to return it and get one designed for 2x6 studding.
Fact-check on metal roof quote by roofing company I hope this is an appropriate place to ask this question. We've just bought our first house and it is in need of a new roof, so I'm shopping around for quotes. Metal roofs seem like something we'd be interested in for their "cool roof" (thermal) effect and their longevi...	Roofers need to be certified by the metal roofing manufacturer before they are allowed to install that manufacturer’s roofing. Insurance companies often give a discount for metal roofing.
Dehumidifier to help a portable AC? I have asked How to get cold air from one room to another now I am thinking, the AC will be in the bedroom but what if I set up a dehumidifier (perhaps with a pump) in the kitchen connected directly into the drain? This last week mid day we had 60-70% humidity with 30 C temperature...	Dryer air does contain less heat energy, and therefore would cool more readily.
Use of 20 Amp Breaker and 12/2 Cable for Circuit Containing 15 Amp Duplex Receptacles What is the rationale behind using a 20 amp circuit breaker with 12/2 cable for a circuit that only contains 15 amp duplex receptacles? I understand the rationale behind using 12/2 cable instead of 14/2 cable, but do not understand th...	In short, it's fine to use receptacles and switches rated for 15 amps on a 20 amp branch circuit with a few exceptions.
How can I prevent sewer gas coming from the drain of an infrequently used shower? I have a shower stall in my basement guest unit. As it's only used occasionally, sometimes the P-trap dries out. Other than remembering to add water periodically, if I haven't had any guests or I anticipate a long period without use, ca...	Mineral oil might not be good for PVC drains, and is probably not recommended by the city sewage dept, but in small amounts probably would not be harmful to most plumbing and to the sewer treatment processes, but is unnecessary. Next time you notice the trap is low, top it up and add some baby oil.
Is there harm in using a GFCI outlet as a switch? I have a GFCI outlet in my garage which is about 4 feet off the ground. I have a couple work lights plugged into it which can only be turned on and off by plugging/unplugging them. I have recently just been using the "Test" and "Reset" buttons on the GFCI outlet to turn...	As noted in another answer, there are some GFCI devices that either include an separate On/Off switch or are switch-rated . Those are certainly options as well, though they may be harder to find (i.e., may require going to an electrical supply house rather than Amazon or Home Depot or Lowes). If you're fitting a deadfr...
Mini Split Condenser in Garage? With ventilation? I live in a fairly warm and dry environment and due to HOA restrictions am unable to place a window A/C unit, outdoor unit, or a system on the roof. I understand that A/C shouldn't go in attics due to the heat. However, I was wondering if an A/C unit could go into a g...	Encase the system in a box with the vents use a powered fan either temp controlled or if the unit has an aux contact on the motor contactor that can turn on the fan on. I made a plenum with a 1/4 " fiberboard with a white plastic finish , so from in the garage you see a white box near the ceiling .
How is telephone distributed in a home? I know in modern commercial buildings, "phone" jacks are wired like data with CAT5e (or higher) cabling to a patch panel on a 19" rack. How does it work in small home with POTS? <Q> Only 2 wires (red/green) were used, with 2 spares (yellow/black). <S> All the phones were in para...	Traditionally in the US, residential POTS was daisy-chained via 4-wire copper cable with drops at junction boxes or sockets. Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) is very robust - almost any cabling type & topology will work.
Is 15/32" Plywood okay for Subfloor under tile? Is 15/32" plywood thick enough to be used as a subfloor under tile combined with a 1/4" hardiebacker board? The joists underneath are 2x8s that are 16" apart on center and only 4' long. <Q> Most tile and mortar manufacturers want 1-1/4" (nominal) even with polymer-modifi...	However, remember: subfloor during construction and underlayment during finish phase (installation of tile). Also I would never lay 1/4" hardieboard in a joist foundation. Even vertically-oriented 2x4s would do if fastened well.
Upstairs Story Not Cooling Despite Working AC? My house has 2 zones for air conditioning (Upstairs & Downstairs) with 2 different air conditioning units. We have Nest energy saving thermostats, which are great for keeping track of energy history, and I noticed that the downstairs AC is virtually never on, and the upst...	If the upper story does not have its own return air, then the returns will be sucking air from upstairs down to the lower floors when the system is on.
How should ground wires be handled when updating switch loops in an older home? I have a house built in the 1950’s with fabric covered NMC wiring still present in most circuits. Those original wires are all 12/2 with no ground. I am currently in the process of replacing some of my old switch loops with new 12/3 romex...	No fake grounds: Don't create "islands of grounding" Grounding must start at earth, via your grounding electrode system, to the main panel and its equipotential bond. - Grounding has an exception for adding switches where there's no grounding wire available, depending on the NEC rev applicable in your jurisiction, it c...
Is it ok to place a window AC unit in front of the window instead of hanging outside? I just put a window AC unit on a table in front of a window instead of hanging out of the window. The back is flush with where the screen would be so the heat is pumping outside.. but the side vents that are normally outside the house...	A/C gets rid of the indoor heat by taking outside air and heating it, discharging it outside.
Home not cooling at night Recently, we've started using the AC less for cost and environmental reasons. When it gets below 82 degrees (F) at night, we open the windows. My understanding is that the cool air from outside should eventually replace the warm air in the house. This generally has worked ok the past few mon...	The home stays at the same temperature if there's not enough breeze and/or the temperature differential is small.
Pulling wire rope so it's tight? I have 3/8" wire that needs to be tight (not sagging) between two wooden posts with screw eyes. I don't want to purchase turnbuckles if I don't have to. How can I pull them and then secure it with a crimp sleeve? This is different to the other question because in the other one I was a...	If you have access to a vehicle with a winch, you could use that to stretch the wire rope.
Latch won't retract into my door unless I turn the knob Starting about a week ago, the latch on my back door knob won't retract into the doorknob unless I turn the doorknob. This means to close my door properly I have to unlock the doorknob, turn it, close the door, then lock it again. If I try to just close it, the l...	I ended up just buying a new latch assembly and that solved my problem.
What handle and lock for sliding door with no internal mechanism? My house, built in 1959, has a sliding door with no internal latch or lock mechanism or space for one. I'd like to replace the current "handle" (a bolt with nuts). Are there handles designed for a door like this? The simplest solution I have so far is to...	If you don't mind a separate locking mechanism, cabinet or drawer pulls might suffice.
Why is one mounting screw left behind each electrical panel's cover? I have three electrical panels in the house and with each one, one of the face screws is under the cover as seen in the picture. So it's clearly intentional. What's the purpose of it? <Q> If I am seeing your photos right, it's a mild security feature....	Looks more like a screw that was left in the panel frame prior to the cover needing to go back on... Like most locks, they are meant to deter rather than completely prevent access.
Please identify this ceiling texture Please identify this ceiling texture Thank you! <Q> OK, i can identify it. <S> It is That ugly texture for the 70's that the neighbor lady talked my mom into letter her put on my bedroom ceiling. <S> I think she had stock in the mud company because it uses a lot of mud. <S> I...	She also did one on the living room ceiling that was like a swirl, she would dip a brush in mud, stick it on the ceiling ( poke the ceiling ) and turn it before pulling straight away from the ceiling.
Insulate pipes in closet The previous homeowners ran the plumbing for the upstairs bathroom through one of the downstair bedroom closest. They actually built wire shelving around them. Obviously, when using the bathroom upstairs, the noise is very loud in the downstairs bedroom. What would be the best way for me to...	Encasing the drain pipe and covering with insulation will help, but you’ll still hear the flushing from the toilet. If you're making a mess with drywall do it all at once. I’d replace the pipe with cast iron pipe
Tips on cutting curves with a jigsaw I recently needed to cut a hole in a 3/4 inch pine wood board. The hole was supposed to be about 6 inches in diameter. I drilled a hole near the edge and used my corded Makita jigsaw. I had used the jigsaw before, but only to cut straight. I used a 10 teeth per inch blade that cuts ...	Cutting curves is more difficult because the toothless back of the blade presses against the edge of the cut, forcing the toothed edge to cut sideways.
Gap between foundation and wrap I recently purchased a new house in Ontario, Canada. The grading will be completed in the following months. During a walk around the house, I noticed gaps between the foundation walls and the wrapping. How much of an issue is this? Should this be fixed by the builder? Thank you. <Q> T...	The builder will likely do nothing because any landscaping should always be sloped away from your house anyway.

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