Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

source stringlengths 620 29.3k	target stringlengths 12 1.24k
How to repair warped sliding door frame? I've got a south-facing sliding door, the frame/track has warped stopping the screen from closing. I've seen replacement tracks, but the issue seems to be that the channel the track should ride in is too warped for a track to sit in cleanly. I was thinking about just trying to c...	In order to “fix” a twisted frame, you’ll need to 1) remove the track (threshold), 2) clean the track and where it’s placed, 3) straighten the track, and 4) re-secure the track to its correct position.
Should I cover or move this outlet? I've got this lovely situation in my garage where there's an outlet right above the deep sink, and while I don't have my tape measure handy I'm fairly certain this is less than 6' from the sink, and the washer is plugged into it. Should I seal this outlet off (with a blank wall plat...	In that case then you could omit that receptacle above the deep sink and make that simply a junction box for the wires if something else is fed from it and cover the box with a blank cover over it. Leave the outlet, convert to GFCI breaker or first outlet in the garage and use a cover like this . I would go to the next...
I have 10/3 wire. Can I replace my 3 prong outlet with 4 prong for a dryer? In my house there was a 3-prong outlet for the dryer and when I opened it I saw that there is 4 wires and the ground and neutral are on the same terminal. Can I change the outlet to a 4 prong? The hot wires and neutral are 10 gauge, but the gro...	Although the old 3-prong outlets were effective at providing power to dryers, they had one major flaw: the ground and neutral wires were grouped together, creating the potential for shock. First, separate neutral and ground at the receptacle, that should never have been done.
Am I using packing tape wrong? Whenever I get a roll of packing tape, I hook the tape under the little teeth underneath the blade (pictured). Yet somehow, after I rip off a couple pieces of tape, the excess escapes from the teeth and falls back onto the spool, seemingly disappearing . You know this feeling. I then s...	Make your life easier and buy a real Packaging tape dispenser .
electrical fixture replaced now lights dont go on/off I installed a new track light to where the old fixture was.I have power to the light track but the on/ off switch does not work anymore and the lights stay on, unless I turn off the circuit breaker. I replaced the switch thinking it was faulty, but did not help. The...	At this point I think your next step is to verify your wiring, because something does not add up.
Cut rebar in concrete I opened up a hole in my concrete wall to pass a threaded PVC 2 inch male adapter. On the other side there is an aluminum metal sheet. The problem is that I hit rebar and can not change the position of the hole. I just need about a quarter or a bit less of an inch on each side of the remaining reb...	Just make sure you get the best metal cutting blade you can find for it and plan on going through several blades if the re-bar is hardened, as it often is in vertical walls.
Can I install a 60A main breaker in a load center rated for 125A? Following my previous question about feeding a sub-panel... I have access to a new-in-box 125A load center, which is more current than I need, but the form factor is good. Can I drop to a 60A feeder wire and breaker setup without running into any obsc...	Yes you can get a 60A main breaker for this panel
How to get rid of CO₂ in a house with A/C in hot summer? Recently, I've been measuring the CO₂ concentration during multiple nights and the levels in the bedroom where I sleep are very high and unhealthy (over 1600 ppm). I use an AirVisual monitor, which is high precision and catches the trends. I opened the window l...	Basically, you pipe in fresh air, but have it cooled before, while you heat out the air that is going out. Try to calculate how much O₂ you turn to CO₂ while you sleep and make an estimate of how large the CO₂ concentration should be after one night.
How to remove heavily rusted hinge This hinge has seized so needs replacing. But I can't even see the 4 Phillips screw head clearly, and a screw driver just slips so it's likely stripped. What's the best way of removing these screws? I was thinking maybe use a Dremel to cut a new slot for a regular screw driver but i...	You drill a hole in the screw, then use the screw extractor bit in the hole you drilled.
Why does my water leave this pink film? I have noticed that my water will leave a slimy pink film on certain surfaces like a sink drain, bath toys, or dog water bowl. What would cause this and how can I fix it? <Q> What you're most likely looking at is a bacteria called Serratia Marcescens. <S> According to ...	You can also disinfect areas affected by it by using vinegar and water.
What breaker configuration does my new on-demand water heater need? I purchased a on demand water heater.my old heater is hooked to a 20 amp breaker(see photo). Do I change out old breaker to a double-pole 60 amp breaker or do I have to move connection to a different breaker? <Q> I don't know what a "double pull" break...	So yes, you must move to a new spot - and in fact you must move to TWO spots that are adjacent, in order to get the 220v 60A you need.
Help with creating a DIY low voltage garden pathway light? I would like to create DIY garden pathway lights from complete scratch. I have some very nice outdoor metal lanterns that I'd like to retrofit and use for my design. I really don't like most of the options available for a variety of reasons. One being that you...	LED is definitely the right technology. Good starter materials include candle-based lanterns (cheap), glass bottles, existing (used) lights (which might be broken or outmoded OEM-wise), xmas lights, LED strip, LED COBs (though watch out for heat), and LED fairy lights.
Can I mount wall 75 inches (50kg) tv on plasterboard? I am going to mount a TV to a wall in my living wall.The only problem I have is the TV weighs about 50kg and I am little bit afraid of hanging this amount of weight on pure plasterboard. Is it safe to do so? TV i am trying to put on the wall: https://www.samsu...	If you can position the mount so you can attach to one stud, and use toggle bolts to attach the four corner holes of the mount, that will be fine too.
recessed led worked fine for 3 months but today turned on today and its blinking on and off; not on a dimmer and not using a 3-way switch help. For the past 3 months my recessed kitchen light has worked fine. Controlled by standard switch. Not a dimmer and not a 3-way switch. Today I turn on and started blinking on and...	Try replacing the bulb with a smaller one, or one that has better heatsinking (doesn't get as hot).
How can I cut extremely heavy cast iron? I want to cut up a large piece of cast iron (think storm drain cover ) with thicknesses greater than 1". What would be the cheapest way to accomplish this? It doesn't have to be a fast method. Could this be accomplished with: A hacksaw with a special blade? A 4.5-in ang...	The angle grinder is probably going to be your best bet for making cuts in the cast iron piece.
can I convert a hanging light to a light with a switch First, I know nothing about electric and will get an electrician to do this.... if it can be done. So guess I'm wondering if it can even be done. I bought 6 gorgeous single light fixtures from Habitat for Humanity. They are on a pole with the electrical stuff/pl...	Based on reviewing the pictures, yes, a qualified electrician can easily wire these to be controlled by one or more wall switches.
Ramifications of adding a second HVAC air return (in parallel)? Years and years ago a HVAC tech told me that one of the best things to do for a HVAC system was to add a second air return. He stated, basically, that doubling the size of the HVAC filter area would make the system quieter and put less stress on the HVAC ...	One of the best things to do for a HVAC system is to have it properly sized and balanced. When doing remodels we added a secondary return at the opposite end of the home usually 14x18" if memory serves, this helped to balance the draw through the home especially if the bed and bathroom doors were closed and reducing th...
How bad is it for my A/C unit if I cut the power while it's working? I have a rental apartment with two a/c units. I installed magnetic contacts on the windows of each room and a small module (a sonoff basic flashed with tasmota firmware) that shuts off the a/c relay (25A) whenever a window is open. It was a proof o...	Killing power it tough on the electronics on these units but turning the thermostat down or off won't cause a problem on these units.
Help making room on 200 amp panel for 50amp breaker I have got a couple different opinions from electricians and they all tell me something different. One said I could make room by pigtailing and another wanted to install a sub-panel to make room. Their prices were also between $1.5k and $2k. I need to add a 50amp brea...	Moving some circuits to the indoor subpanel is an option provided it has the spare spaces and ampacity to support such; even if it is short spaces, the fact it's a subpanel makes replacement relatively easy. A triplex breaker will let you fit the 50A breaker into this unit... If you have additional work in the near fut...
Is this plaster over gypsum wallboard? In a Philadelphia-area house built in the early 1950s: I cut out a piece of wall to fit an old work box. The piece I removed is shown below. The original walls were finished in plaster, but I can't understand what I'm seeing here: There's half an inch of plaster on top of what...	The plaster is installed the same way it is done with the wood lath with the exception of the "scratch coat" needed for wood lath. This was done over the whole wall or ceiling, so that each 16" X 4' section was staggered over the preceding section below. I found that I could patch with 1/4" drywall stripped on studs an...
How to repair this hefty wooden fence gate? Our place has a large wooden fence and gate. There's a gate for people, and then the fence itself can actually be opened by pulling up a latch from the ground. The gate for people ("door"?) has become unhinged this year and I want to figure out how to best repair it. Photos b...	If it was my gate I would drill holes all the way through and use a nut and bolt as opposed to wood screws to re-fasten the hinge.
Help with lights flickering at weird regular interval Lights flicker for ~17 seconds at 1 flash/sec, then normal for ~23 seconds. This cycle repeats itself continuously. The video starts with the 23 second "normal" period, followed by 17 seconds of flickering, and shows 2 cycles. May need to turn screen brightness up,...	If this isn't a wiring problem and the flickering is once every minute or so - like mine, just swap the LED bulb for a dimmable LED bulb. This can be caused by a central heating system turning on or off, or an oven or something else. In my case I am suspicious that it's something going on with the meter.
A guest pushed in my shower wall tile. How can I fix it? Some guests stayed over at our house a couple days ago and one accidentally leaned a little on the shower wall. Leaving behind a gap between what seems to be the drywall or backing and the actual tile! Now we’re not up to the idea of spend hundreds on tearing it...	Being in the middle of the wall it will be tough to match but can be repaired, however I would recommend a complete replacement and you won't be going back in in a year or 2 patching another area. Unless the person was huge and really slammed into the wall, this damage is evidence of a seriously substandard shower wall...
Cutting ceiling joist for attic ladder install Looking to take advantage of some open space in our attic and want to install an attic ladder. This would require cutting some of the ceiling joist. Before I do can anyone help me answer the following questions: 1) Can the joist be cut to make room for the attic ladder. ...	The consideration of the rafter tie direction and subsequent placement of the attic stair location may very well place some constraints on where the stair opening can be located.
Should I install an air conditioner pad on existing unit? In budgeting time and money for a house I just purchased, the inspector noted that the central air conditioner is mounted outside without a pad underneath. The unit is a Carrier 38CKC024330, manufactured in 1999. The product data I found online lists using a...	Whenever you need a pad you can simply fill the mold with concrete and wire mesh and make one. Don't try to have someone left unit to install, it may cause damage to the unit. You have a old system, get an installer to replace it.
Garage remodel: can I leave garage door in and put an insulated wall in front? doing a garage remodel and wondering how best to keep the garage door on facade and still be able to have A/C in the garage? I live in hot and humid south Texas. Is this a ridiculous solution to cutting cost of new brick facade. Are there an...	I wouldn't brick the door off since removing the garage door in a permanent way like that might impact the resale value later on.
How do I mate two 2x6s together to make a 4x6 beam? I need to make (3) 4×6×12 beams and (2) 4x6x10 beams for an acquaintance who is building a lean-to horse shelter. What type of fastener should I use and how many? Must I use adhesive and if so what type? <Q> Keep in mind that lumber nominal dimensions are not actual ...	You must laminate them together (somehow).
How to reset the breaker on this smart dimmer light switch (switched receptacle)? My condo came with these dimmer switches. You push once on up or down to fade the lights in or out fully, or press and hold to fade the lights slowly, releasing to set the light amount. I don't know the brand. The switches always glow gre...	Switched receptacles for lighting are legal.
Do you remove an AC Capacitor from the circuit before or after you short it out for safety? Is it safe to short (discharge) an AC capacitor before you remove it from the circuit. Or do you have to wait until after you remove it from the unit? <Q> Always short the capacitor as early into the disassembly process as you ...	In most cases properly designed electrical equipment will have built-in provision for draining the capacitors. After about ten seconds of shorting, I double-check that the voltage across the leads is zero before considering it safe. I wouldn't short the cap to discharge it.
Diagonal brace left in the basement by builder. Can I remove it? Replace it? I have a diagonal brace running across an interior wall in the basement, and it even goes partially into the floor concrete. Is this meant to be permanent, or was it supposed to be removed during construction? I want to finish the basement a...	Yes, you can remove the brace because: The wall is non-load bearing (not carrying a load)
Add additional circuits after 3-way switch I would like to add a circuit at the far end of a 3-way switched circuit. I choose to wire the first circuit this way: I have the source coming in from the breaker to a light switch with 14/2, then continue with 14/3 to the light and then continue with 14/3 to the far switch...	With your existing wiring, you'd need to install a wireless dimmer / switch at one location, and a Pico remote mounted in the cover at the other. You are correct -- there is no way to add independent circuits off the second switch. You can accomplish this using a SPDT relay. If you're not into 'fastidious', don't feed ...
Should I install radiant-barrier insulation in a walk-up attic roof in Pennsylvania? I have a walk-up unfinished attic in an old ranch house in Pennsylvania, where we see summer temperatures over 100F and winter temperatures well below freezing. Because there is planking over the joists the in-joist insulation over mo...	I have concluded that I am not able to put down radiant barrier as I most likely have airs leakage through the ceiling causing heat to meet the cold.
What foam is best for sealing radiator pipes in floor to prevent mice from getting in? Is there a specific foam recommended for radiator pipes coming up through the floor? <Q> Some of them will eventually kill the mouse, but there's always another one, and another one, and another one to pick up the task and eventually...	Check the perimeter of your home at ground level and fill any holes you find to stop mice getting though the walls and into the structure or under the floor. I've tried steel wool, it didn't stop them. No foam product will stop them, they will just chew through it. Aluminum or steel flashing is the only tried and true ...
I'm worried about a fire this is my second question on this problem, i hope it's ok to ask another question because i'm pretty stressed about a fire in my walls like someone said could happen. In my kitchen we had a outlet that would crackle when i plugged something into the outlet on the other side of the counter. So...	: It wouldn't save you much money on the electrician's fee (because diagnosing is much easier for him than fixing it) and he probably wouldn't want to take your word for it anyway, since he has no way of knowing that you know what you're talking about. Turn the circuit breaker off. This is a very common problem and eas...
How can I handle this splice joint between two shorter pieces of lumber? I want to build a mostly ground level deck. I have created plans and I want it to be 16' x 20' one long side will have a notch for a circle of rocks and a firepit. my issue is along straight the 20' side. I don't have 20' lumber available. How can...	You could double up on the Joist back to the blocking and just have one rim a bit longer than the other.
Is updating/avoiding this splice worth it, and if so, what's the easiest way to plug the hole? An outlet was discovered to be midway through a segment of unsafe (too thin gauge for circuit, no ground) wiring. Let's refer to point A as a junction to the rest of the circuit (which is all good to go), point B as this outl...	You could patch the drywall... As long as the inline splice is properly connected at B, e.g. using proper wire nuts, it is not considered a major hazard. If you decide to remove the outlet, I would leave a service loop of wire in that location when you pull the new cable in. In my opinion it's not worth the effort and ...
What is this PVC pipe in my basement I recently purchased a newly built house. It has an unfinished basement. There is a white pvc pipe that comes from the floor. It is about 4 feet tall. Out of it comes a sewer smell. Some days worse than others. What is this pipe? How can I stop the smell from coming into my base...	It may be a stubbed out pipe for a future toilet that is plumbed to either the sewage line or an underground sewage waste tank.
Is it safe to enable a service panel that has been recently flooded? My breaker panel started gushing water during a storm. Is it safe for us to turn it on now that it's over? Does it need to be replaced? Will we get electrocuted if we turn it on while it's still wet though no longer gushing? <Q> Oof! <S> Shut this thi...	Once the breakers go under water they must be replaced.
Is this a wood destroying insect? I live in Austin, TX, USA. Just looked under a wooden table in my dining room (shares wall with outside of house) and saw this little tubes hanging underneath. A few still had live worm-like guys protruding. I'm guessing some kind of larvae. There were little granules of something o...	You need someone familiar with dry rot as well as termite infestation and a professional, private, licensed home inspector is the best and first way to spend money on this problem that is rapidly reducing your investment. Gosh, this looks like termites, the white dudes are larva and that sawdust is sawdust that has bee...
How can I calculate the neutral load in a single phase circuit with disparate bus loads? In a 240 volt single phase, bus A has 4000 watt load and bus B has 7000 watt load . WHAT IS THE NEUTRAL LOAD? <Q> In typical split phase service, the neutral carries the imbalance of the current between the two legs, so the neutral...	If you correctly engineered it to be one of the other conditions, particularly split-phase, the answer is 7000W because you can't count on that 4000W load staying on , the neutral must be able to handle worst case.
Do washing-machines provide a AC connector which is live when the machine is working? I am considering to install an electrical valve between the water outlet and the pipe bringing this water to the washing machine (I have some traumatic memories from a pipe breaking and water flowing in an apartment for a week). This...	You could plug the washer into the master outlet then control a water valve with one of the slave outlets.
Does my three season porch ceiling outlet require a GFCI? An electrician put an electrical outlet box in our covered porch ceiling. We want to hang a light fixture (one with a cord and plug over a dining table). I will be installing the outlet myself. Do I need a GFCI outlet or just a 15 amp regular outlet? The wiring ...	The extra level of protection a GFCI offers is worth it as long as you don't create other problems in the process. You can use a plain receptacle, and if GFCI protection is even required , that can be provided from another GFCI device upstream. Also, having a GFCI device past a light switch is a bad idea , so if this i...
Is it safe to store a wheel/tire set in my garage loft area? I'm not sure how much they weigh. I assume around 50lbs a piece. Here is the area I will store them in: Any specific way I should arrange the load or am I worrying too much? <Q> I'm no expert, but I suspect that there won't be any harm in storing them there...	Tires are not that heavy, but you definitely want it to be strong enough to carry the weight of a person safely.
Is electrical tape enough to insulate contact that may be touching wall? I have a 3-contact switch like this. As you can see, the switch doesn't have an OFF position, it diverts the current either between middle and left, or middle and right contacts. Had to attach it to a wall lamp that didn't have a switch, by dri...	The other insulation barrier may be secure fitting of the switch in such a way that it will not touch the chassis.
Water dripping from basement ceiling during heavy rain I would appreciate direction on investigating this water issue further: I have had water dripping (from ceiling) during heavy rain , along inside wall of basement only on one side of the house. Fortunately, this is also not a chronic issue. It happened only durin...	I would expect the amount of water in a light rain to be insufficient to make the basement ceiling wet. A heavy rain on the other hand might be enough. Clean your dryer lint trap after each load. I just saw something similar in a parking garage stairwell.
Proper reinforcing of electrical box on drywall There is a 2-gang outlet/electrical box that holds plugs rather well (hair dryer, vacuum, etc). That is usually great, however when pulling the plug from the socket, the whole electrical box gets pulled and bends slightly. It always bends back after the plug is removed, t...	Or you could use the special metal clamps designed for this purpose to secure the box to the back side of the drywall. Since the box is so far off the stud, my suggestion is to take that existing box off and put an old work double gang in.
Electrical - 50A to 20A Adapter for heater? I am currently in the process of remodeling my detached garage and have run into a snag with the electrical. The previous owner ran 6-2 wiring out to the garage into a 50A outlet but then pigtailed a 20A outlet off of that (see attached pictures). I have a Cadet Garage Heat...	If the heater has a built-in breaker or fuse, then I would just make a cheater cord.
Is it ok to use push-in connectors for testing? Soon I am going to replace my 2 prong outlet with a 3 prong GFCI that will protect downstream devices. I am wondering to test the line and load if it is ok to use Push-In connectors Gauge 22-12. I just want to use them while testing. I appreciate any help. <Q> I don't bel...	To simply cap single wires, insulating the stripped bit at the end for safety, wire nuts are fine for anyone - while it takes a little skill to get a good splice with wire nuts, anyone can cap a single wire - as long as the wire nut isn't too big.
How do you remove a Carrier / Bryant Infinity thermostat control from the wall? I have a Carrier Infinity system with model # SYSTXCCUID01-V thermostat/control. I need to temporarily remove it from the wall. I found a diagram of how to install it: ( diagram source ) I do not know how to release the interlocking ta...	My advice is to gently pull straight out. I used my finger tips on top of the thermostat to push opposite directions on the thermostat and the back mounting plate.
Is copper piping required within a certain distance from a water heater? I have read that National Code requires you to use copper for 18 inches from your water heater. How can I do this when everything existing is PEX? I need to replace my existing low boy water heater next to my kitchen sink. It was installed by ...	Another potential restriction could come from piping manufacturer's rules or recommendations. Use 18" copper flex line, sweat a PEX starter to it.
How can I accommodate high washing machine drain flow rates with older plumbing? Newer machines have a drain flow rate which overwhelms older drains, and there's no adjustment. The only answer I ever hear is tear up your floor and put in new bigger drain pipe. That is not an option in some cases. Getting an older mach...	Maybe a change to the old style of drain hose would allow plumbing in a PVC ball valve or maybe a smaller diameter drain hose would by itself restrict the flow enough to prevent overflow.
How do I flash two joining peaks of different heights? I'm trying to figure out how to flash this part of a shed I'm building that has a peak meeting flush with a larger roof section next to it. But I can't figure out what this sort of roof section is called so I can't seem to find any good information on google. Wha...	You could flash it with 2 pieces of sheet lead, which will stretch enough to feather with sufficient overlap.
Safety equipment for a pressure washer I'm planning to use a pressure washer for the first time, as a "once off" task, to clean and remove caked-on and ground-in mud, dirt and debris from rebar and concrete beams, before I pour concrete to embed them. The pour was delayed for over a year, during which time everythin...	I believe a rain suit and face shield should be enough, I regularly pressure wash my big tractor and have never been injured by the blow back from a 5000 psi 3gpm industrial pressure washer, if you will be working in the trench a pair of rubber boots may make help, I use rubber boots in the winter and even with my gern...
Adding permanent bolt holes in a sliding door I need to cover 3 large windows in a sliding door every winter. I want to be able to use the same mounting holes every year. The outside of the door seems to be aluminium with wood between. Tee nuts are one possibility but are there better options? <Q> Threaded inserts ar...	While threaded inserts, T-nuts, or expanding anchors may be the most aesthetically pleasing solutions, they are not the strongest, easiest, or cheapest.
Can I use #8 wire in a 15 or 20A circuit? I have a customer with a detached garage/shed unit that wants to install a few outlets and light fixtures/recessed lighting - common residential use, meaning no heavy power tools, washers/dryers, etc. The CLOSEST power supply to the unit is 8 AWG wire rated for 40A-- which is ...	There is nothing inherently wrong with mixing wire sizes, provided that a few rules are followed: The breaker must be sized according to the smallest wire / lowest-current-device in the circuit. yeah, use of existing wire. There's nothing in code against oversizing wire (where you would change the breaker to 15-20A) or...
Correct crimping tool for these sleeves? Are these the correct sleeves? I recently bought these aluminum sleeves for 3/16" wire, and this crimper tool . They will be used with this 1/8" wire coated to 3/16" I started using it today, and it seems the tool is too small. I pressed as hard as I could, and not even a ...	If you have solid wire then those sleeves are not the correct method to join or secure the solid wire.
Turning 100A Main to subpanel of 200A new main I have a 100A old-style circuit breaker main (~1970, 2 conductor & ground) in the basement. I want to upgrade the circuits in the garage to allow for solar panels and PEV cars, so my thought was to install a new 200A service main outside the basement, turning the old ma...	I would say you are good to go. First off, you'll need to convert this panel to a proper subpanel -- the box bonding jumper will need to be removed, and the grounds moved to a new ground bar (an Eaton GBK21 should suffice given the size of the enclosure).
GFCI with 2x 20 amp 1 pole breakers I had a 15 amp 1 pole breaker connected to a gfci in my backyard. Now I need more juice. I decommissioned this 15 amp circuit. I fished a 12/3 from a 2 x 20 amp 1 pole breakers thinking I was connecting a regular outlet outside as I've got 2 hot wires now. I thought the GFCI would...	The bigger problem for what you want to do though is that you need a two pole GFCI to protect a multi-wire branch circuit, and those only come in breaker form. You already have this problem in several places on this panel. It is a 1-pole breaker with both hots on the same pole.
Can an electronic ballast be used for a G23 lamp? I have a Rayton R3 UVB lamp for phototherapy. It consists of a this PL-S 9W/01/2P bulb with a G23 base, and the ballast is magnetic 120v/60hz. I would like to swap the ballast for a 240v/50hz ballast, and all I've found is a universal electronic ballast ( here ) but ...	There might be also electronic ballasts for 2 pin tubes with built in glow starters, but usually electronic ballasts need access to all 4 pins of the tube.
Will water damage a spliced coaxial cable? I have some R6 coaxial cable that runs from the alley underground and into my house to provide high speed internet and TV service. The line was cut by mistake while digging in the backyard. I've spliced it together and service is restored (yay!) but I wonder whether the splice...	If water gets into the splice, it will certainly effect the performance of the cable. If your cable company charges you to replace a house drop, you can dig your own trench and ask them for a length of coax to replace the entire damaged run. The (presumably) steel connectors will rust, and the copper core conductor wil...
Borewell circuit box button coming out When i turn on my borewell, after some minutes it stop pulling water and there is a button on circuit board which come out. When i press it in and restart the borewell it just start working and after some time same happen. What is the purpose of this button and why it come out? ...	If it comes out regularly that means something is wrong/broken and the equipment should be inspected by a qualified electrical engineer.
What type of crawlspace setup do I have? New home owner here - I’m working on sealing the furnace ducts that run through our crawlspace. Previous owner used silver duct tape and not the proper mastic or UL approves aluminum tape. Long story short - I realized there are ducts in our crawl that actually blow heated air i...	Heat flow into the crawl space through the un-insulated floor of the heated living space above might keep the pipes from freezing.
Why is 2-3 volts on 120 v circuit that is not connected I see 2-3 volts on a 120 volt circuit that is not connected to a breaker. <Q> Disconnected wires are a radio antenna. <S> They pick up all sorts of junk which high impedance DVMs can see because they are so sensitive. <S> Mind <S> you, on AC mode your meter d...	Digital voltmeters are highly sensitive and some can detect micro-amps of current.
How do I connect the two cables entering a switch box for a light? I removed the original light fixture from the side wall which was not connected to a light switch but had a button that turned the light on and off on the fixture itself. I took the original wire in the wall and extended it further down the wall where I...	Here is what you do: hot (black) from panel to switch - if the switch has a screw labeled "line", connect it to that screw. Originally you had hot (black) and neutral The neutral is not used by an ordinary switch. But it often is out of convenience, and that's OK. So I'll try:
"nuclear option" for mold growth on ceramics and other tiles? I have to clean a long-neglected area that has mold growing on tiled walls and floor. Soap and a good brush is called for, but I'd like to "fortify my assault" with household chemicals. Is there any way that I might spray either a dilute bleach solution, o...	I spray the mold growth with a strong water/bleach mixture (about 4 to 1) water to bleach.
Do the quick connectors in my new bathroom fan need to be in a junction box? I recently replaced a bathroom extractor fan. The new model uses "quick connect" electrical connectors, where I stick the house wiring into this little plastic device, and apparently that's all! The previous extractor fan used wire nuts in a...	All connections must be in a junction box. If you're using armored cable, then you need to attach the appropriate fitting to the wiring hole on the housing. But the manual clearly shows this model DOES have a box. Having installed a Hampton Bay myself (Home Depot's in-house brand) I was surprised to hear it didn't have...
Should I overlay or replace 3/8 inch drywall during my room update? I have a living room that I am looking to update. It currently has 1/4" Wall Paneling over 3/8" drywall. The drywall is in very good shape, but has not been taped. The house is from the 50's, so they used nails to attach the drywall to the studs. T...	If you find that removing the 3/8" drywall would be cumbersome, just overlay it with 1/4.
Replace ceiling fan with fan + light I have an old noisy ceiling fan that I plan to replace. Can I install a ceiling fan with a light fixture regardless of the wiring, or do I need to open it up to see what I'm working with before buying the new fan? There's only one switch that controls the ceiling fan, I'm not sure ...	What I would do if I were in your shoes is open up the switch box for the switch controlling this fan to see if an extra conductor is present in the cable from the fan to the switch.
Do I need to switch off A/C external breaker for winter? My home’s A/C has an external circuit breaker. Do I need to switch it off for the winter? <Q> There is no need to switch off the external breaker serving the outside condensing unit. <S> I have never done so in 40 years at our house. <S> I have never heard of any...	It will have no advantage to switch it off. Many of the houses run for long time with external circuit breaker that is working along the HVAC system.
Why do Contractor Levels have two vials with the same orientation? It seems to me that having multiple vials in the same orientation is redundant, but many levels seems to include this feature. What am I missing? There has to be some reason. <Q> It's useful when using the level in the vertical direction (to e.g., che...	With multiple, you can keep working and continue to use the tool, rather than halting work (which means progress and income stops)
Two capped hot wires in wall box I'm installing a light fixture in my dining room and there is an existing wall box just below where I want to put the light switch. I'm assuming this old box also contained a switch. I was going to run the lines from the existing box through my switch and to the light. However, when I o...	The other cable would have supplied power to a light or to a switched receptacle. Neutrals - one from the panel to the switch and one from the switch to the fixture, so they are connected together. Sometimes you will not even find the neutral inside the switch box because it doesn't actually need to be there. If a fixt...
How are mini drill bits mounted on a regular sized drill? I have no prior knowledge of drilling but I've stripped a screw on one of my electronics so I need to drill it out to access the insides for a fix. From basic research, I understand that the 'drill chuck' is the hole on the drill where the bit sits. However th...	As an alternative, simply purchase hex-shank bits which will be securely held by even a worn traditional chuck.
Is an exhaust fan required by code in a new basement half-bath? I am building a half bath in my basement. Is an exhaust fan required by code? Since there is no shower can it be vented into unfinished space? <Q> I can't say for sure about code - it varies a lot by location. <S> But generally either code requires or it...	An operable window on an outer wall so that you can vent hot/moist air, chemical fumes from cleaning, etc.
What's with the whole window thing? Why am I bothering with windows? I am looking at building an addition for a study and one issue is the need for windows. Frankly, I don't need to look out a window at a tree when I am working in my study and much of my work is at night, so the whole "natural light" thing is irrelevan...	A well-done addition or remodel is one which 'improves mass appeal' of your house, because then it's easier to sell and more people bid on it. As for your heat loss claim... windows allow solar gain as well.
Avoid rust where railing anchors into concrete If you have seen railings anchored into concrete, you may have noticed how they tend to rust at the junction between the railing, the concrete and the air. Here is a photo of a pretty typical example: How can this be avoided when building a new railing? <Q> Honestly, I d...	Make sure the steel is hotdip galvanized to a coating thickness of100µm zinc or greater. Aside from using solid "tubing", which is unrealistic, the only other thing I can think of is to "try" to treat the inside of the tubing in areas where water can seep up in to the tubing, such as an anchor point.
What is the smallest and lightest wire I can use? I currently use a regular 50 foot power cord rated for 15 amps. I use it only for two laptops and one camera, making a draw of about 5 amps at 120 volts, according to the "input" label on the power supplies. The 50 foot cord is heavy and I would like to find a lighter ...	Cordage is special stuff, with special insulation optimized for wear resistance, and highly stranded wires meant to flex often. SJOW cord would be the lightest safest option with 18-3 for a 50' run but would move to a larger wire gauge for anything longer.
Best way to remove all-metal staples from NM wire? Recently purchased an old home that has many different generations of wiring throughout it (K&T, cloth "romex", blue NM, modern NM, conduit-fed). At various points they were fond of using all-metal staples to attach the romex runs to the studs/joists. There are times ...	Lastly, you could use a dremmel to cleanly cut the staple off (using a cutoff disc) and use a new staple.
galvanized or stainless turnbuckles for exterior wire rope fence? I'm working on a wire rope fence that looks like this . The difference is that we live fairly close to the ocean, which means lots of salty air. I've bought 1/8" galvanized steel with plastic coating and stainless screw eyes attached to the posts. What...	Very pricey but, monel would be the best ; available as boat hardware at a marine supply source.
Making sure old Honeywell Thermostat (round dial) doesn't turn on I've had to cover my baseboard heater with painter's tape and duct tape because I keep getting click beetles strolling into my apartment after 6pm (I live in Michigan, and the temps are dropping). I want to make sure that when I am sleeping, the heat d...	Look for an on/off switch or a heat/cool switch on the thermostat. If 2 rooms , you could turn the breaker off remove 1 hot leg and wire nut.
Does this thermostat/furnace wiring make sense? Hoping I am positing this in the appropriate forum - please see the image below: https://imgur.com/upWbb6g Thermostat is a Honeywell TH4110D and furnace is a late 1980's installed Lennox G8D2. What is confusing to me is why the "R" and "Rc" terminals are bridged at the...	This jumper is needed because the thermostat doesn't have the electronics to figure out which terminal to draw power from on its own, and some situations (such as boilers, wall furnaces, and the likes) require the thermostat to keep the heating side power (Rh/W) rigorously separated from the cooling side power (Rc/G/Y)...
Why do I have Insulation in internal wall between two rooms? I have been carrying out a bit of DIY in my bathroom, in a new wall which was put up with my loft conversion which happened of the winter. Inside this new wall, I've found a significant quantity of insulation (rockwall or something of the like). Clearly this...	Insulating internal walls is also useful for heat loss. This example is not about requirements in a particular country, but about general expectations for a bathroom to "be able to be warmer than the rest of the house".
How close can CAT6 run to electrical? I've run CAT6 throughout my house, mostly in the basement where the TV area and office are. I have a cable that goes upstairs to my bedroom along the chimney from the basement to feed a wireless access point. There are 3 spots where the cable comes about 4-6 inches away from electr...	Plus, your power cables have pairs of conductors carrying current in opposite directions, so any interference they emit is going to rapidly diminish with distance.
Can I reverse my heating zone? I have a three zone hot water boiler based heating system. The boiler is currently at one end of my ranch style house. The radiators appear to be directionless (no valves or anything). One of the zones covers approximately half my house and it goes LR/DR->Family Room->Master BR then back ...	Some unconventional methods for cooling a room that is too hot is to cover the radiators with an insulating material. So, boiler-> flow-check or circulator/zone value -> rest of pipe to zone (make changes here) . The zone is one long pipe with no splits (monoflows like kgutwin said) Its normal baseboard along the botto...
How can I wirelessly duplicate a lighting switch I have a ceiling light in my kitchen, which is nice to make the room well-lit but not convenient for actually doing kitchen work (the light is in the middle of the room, so when I stand near a working surface, my body casts shadow on the surface). I want to add under-ca...	Using a pigtail and wire nut to tap the switched-hot, and tapping the neutral at the existing junction, going off into a /2 cable to the LED undercabinet lights, and that's all that's needed.
Protect hardwood floor from bed posts? I have carpet in a bedroom that I am thinking of replacing with a hardwood floor, but the bed has big wooden feet and they might scuff the floor. Is there a standard way to protect the floor? Maybe a rubber pad or cup? <Q> In addition to Jim Stewart's answer, you can buy self-adhe...	You can buy glider pads for furniture and keep them under the legs all the time. Slightly relieve the edges with sand paper so that it doesn't leave edge marks.
How do I bleed a noisy radiant heat system? I have a gas fueled (converted from oil just a few years ago) boiler in my basement with an integrated tank-less water heating system for the showers/taps/etc. The output is three zones as shown in the picture below. Only zones one and two ever get used. Zone 3 maybe twice a ...	Turn off the power to your boiler
Mounting Computer Under Particle Board Desk I would like to mount a computer under a desktop made from particle board, the desktop is 1/2 inch thick, the computer plus mount weighs about 25lbs. Would the particle board hold? How could I mount the computer to the underside of the desk and ensure it doesn't fall and br...	Most of the desks in cubicles and modular furniture are made of particle board and they are able to assemble and mount things with screws, so it should not be a problem.
Can I run #10 and #12 cables through the same hole in framing lumber? I'll begin by saying that I'm no electrician. I was just wondering about the following: TLDR: Is it ok to have two 12/2 cables and a 10/3 cable going through the same 3/4" hole? For a washer and dryer there are currently two blue boxes with two yel...	In the US, as far as the National Electrical Code is concerned, you can run three cables through a hole bored in a joist or rafter as long as you can run the cables without damaging them.
Not possible to build into cathedral ceiling? I have a house that has a two-story cathedral ceiling. I was thinking about adding a floor and turning it into new rooms in the house. However, a web page I read said "Vaulted ceilings create no floor space. In fact, they prevent you from ever building upward and into tha...	The requirement is that the existing wall structure could support the added weight of the new floor, furniture, and occupants. Generally nothing's really impossible, but a lot of things are impractical, usually due to expense.
240 V outlet is not delivering 240 V I recently moved into an apartment with a 3-prong, NEMA 10-30 outlet. It looks like this: I bought an old dryer that I confirmed was working before purchasing it and hooked it up and unfortunately the dryer never heated up. I suspected something was up with the outlet, so I busted...	He then wired two of the phases to one leg of the 240V circuit, the third phase to the other leg. Any proper electrician would notice a "red flag" where the duplex sides can turned off individually, making it unsafe for dryer use. For example, if they used a tandem breaker - the space saver breaker that squeezes two br...
Is it necessary to use ceiling joists (ties) with conventional rafters? I am going to be putting up an outbuilding with rafters. Is it necessary to use a ceiling joist with conventional rafters? This picture shows that I need one ( https://www.carpentry-pro-framer.com/Roof-Framing.html ) However in this video ther...	Ceiling joists are used to keep the walls from being pushed out by the roof rafters.
Fixing the slope of a flat roof I consider myself pretty handy, but when it comes to roofing I have very little experience. I have re-shingled a couple of roof's but that's it. My home is a 1915 victorian home built with a roof sufficiently sloped to not require gutters. At some point someone put a flat roof sun roo...	A qualified roofer would be able to give you an estimate on sealing up any flat roof.
How to fix holes in linoleum so that I can lay down sticky tiles over it My kitchen floor has old linoleum. I want to put down sticky tiles over the old linoleum. The linoleum has a few holes. Is there something that I can use to caulk the holes before putting down the sticky tiles? <Q> For small holes I just use spack...	If the holes are larger, after I have a nice even fill and when dry I will use a paint primer so the tiles will stick better, this is a good idea with self leveling compounds also so the tiles will stick and not have the edges roll up.
How to mark an outlet as ungrounded I'll be replacing my ungrounded three-prong outlets with tamper-proof GFCI outlets in my home in the USA. Maybe I'm overthinking this, but is there a way to 'universally' mark the outlets as ungrounded for the sake of any future electrician? I figure that if I mark on the inside of...	Use the labelmaker to make GFCI protected and No Equipment Ground labels on white background material. Code requires the outlet to be marked on the outside
Is Liquid Plumr or Drano safe to use with a septic system? Just as the title asks, is it safe to use products like Liquid Plumr or Drano in a Septic system? <Q> TLDR; <S> As a one-off use, Drano® is fine provided you aren't cleaning your floor or doing a couple loads of whites on the same day. <S> What independent ...	No, all Drano® products are septic safe drain cleaners and will not upset the bacterial action in septic systems. If used in excess, or in combination with other cleaner such as bleach you may encounter problems.
How do you correctly pull the steel wire and crimp so it's tight enough for turnbuckle? So I'm installing wire between two 4x4 wooden posts. I've done two but it seems to take forever, so I know there's a more efficient way. Here's what I'm doing: The wire's plastic-coated, so I remove about 5" of plastic coating an...	I would use a simple ground wire clamp attached to the loose end, to add an extension of the same cable.
Is it better to have two A/C compressors running or just one? I'm about to get the A/C installed in my new apartment, and was wondering which of the following two situations would be more efficient: (a) Cooling 2 rooms on a single A/C compressor (same system) or (b) Cooling 2 rooms on their own separate A/C compress...	If you don't need the added reliability of two systems, I think you'll want a single compressor outside rather than two small separate compressors.
Why is my oven bulb so hard to turn? My oven light burned out. When I try to turn the new light bulb in my Kenmore oven it's like sandpaper against sandpaper. Why is this? <Q> It is bare metal, usually aluminum. <S> Cleaning it can be tricky <S> but if you endeavor to do it, unplug the oven first or turn off the cir...	The socket is probably corroded or has debris in it, using oven cleaner sprays is very hard on that socket because it is not coated with porcelain enamel like the rest of the oven.
How can I stop a toilet seat from rapidly loosening? The seat on my toilet always works itself loose. It has plastic thumb-screw-style nuts that tighten on to bolts on the underside of the toilet. The left nut works itself loose over the course of a few days of normal use. I can tighten it again but a few days later...	It is likely that the plastic nut (or bolt it screws to) is stripped. You could also replace the nuts with brass or aluminum.
Grounding issues and ground tester I put an Allied Precision Industries 15N water tank heater in a week ago and found that it's shocking the horses. Used one for 10+ years with no problems so something has changed. We have an old house. It has 100 amp service. The neutral (white) wires and ground wires are on the sa...	It is basically a big resistor that gets hot so either the jacket is cracked or the connection points are not properly sealed - You might try dropping one probe from your presumed DVM into the horse tank (or just touch it to the tank if it's metal) and pushing the other probe into the (damp) ground, and seeing what vol...

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.