Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

source stringlengths 620 29.3k	target stringlengths 12 1.24k
Would a vernal pond (as either a retention basin or a infiltration basin) be a viable solution for this drainage issue? So my backyard is showing some heavy pooling issues. I am in Southern Maine, USA The lowest point (picture 1) is, unfortunately pretty close to the garage pier foundation, and when the water pool...	Dig a channel and leave it open, maybe gently slope the sides to make it look good like a old small valley or depression Dig a ditch and put in a drainage pipe and cover it up.
Can I steal neutral from fixture for 3-way switch device with no neutral? my 3-way switch is wired this way, because i am unlucky: so i have neutral in the line box, no neutral in the load box. i want to use a leviton smart switch that requires neutral in both boxes. if i were crafty enough, could i pigtail a new lin...	The neutral must be in the same cable or conduit as the other wires. Your problem isn't what you think it is Getting neutral down to the load-side switch for the remote (DD00R-DL) used with your dimmer (Leviton DW6HD-1BZ) is easy enough; the white wire in the existing cable can simply be un-redesignated
How to build long, chunky bed supports I'm trying to build a bed frame similar to the one shown below. I'm struggling to design the long, chunky white support beneath the top bunk. It looks like its about 200cm x 18cm x 8cm. For such a long structure, I've thought about using two softwood CLS beams glued together wi...	If you like the wider top surface of the beam next to the side of the bed then that could be easily attained by using two of the typical 2x8s side by side or spread them a small amount and then cap the top and bottom with thin plywood.
Why do floor tiles exist? Floor tiles: We all know them, we all love them, but who are they really? Floor tiles can be beautiful and stylish, adding color and interesting patterns to a room. But 90% of the time, they're anonymous squares that you never even think of unless you're stuck home in quarantine. My quest...	Most floor tiles are very functional and can take a lot of abuse which is one reason they are used in commercial settings.
Germany - wire 3 core garage to 4 core mains We have an external garage and a 4 core (brown, blue, green/yellow, black,) cable is supplied from the main property. The garage is supplied with an electric door opener, wall sockets and an internal light. The cable in the garage is a 3 core (brown, blue, green/yellow) cabl...	And a possible switch should be searched, easy done if an extension cable (drum) is pulled back from the garage outlet into the main house and a radio/TV or audio system is connected to the drum plugs in order to hear the interruption when testing all switches. I'd check carefully that there isn't a grey wire cut off s...
What is this pipe coming out of the basement floor? I’m finishing an old (1930) empty basement and have a random pipe coming out of the floor. ⁠I have no clue what it is or what it went to as it sits alone in the space. ⁠It is metallic (tested with a magnet). ⁠It’s currently capped off and did have threading.⁠ I would ...	If it's not oil, it could be gas going to the original furnace location. If it is, you could rig up a set of long leads and test the pipe's association to any other pipes in and around the house. You can also have a buddy quickly turn on and off the gas while the cap is off and you can easily confirm that it's a gas li...
How to child-proof a floor vent? Our upstairs playroom has a floor vent leading to the furnace that children like to throw toys down. Is there any kind of vent cover that can be substituted that is less likely to result in this activity? <Q> It sounds as if the vent is completely open - hope that isn't the case. <S> I...	The wire would probably work best under the vent cover. Extend it up higher and put a 90 or U bend with a grille on it. I would probably look for a piece of "perforated" steel, i.e. one with small holes closely spaced.
Toilet Supply Valve Not Turning Off Novice here.The fill valve was leaking and causing the water to coming very very slow. Like 45 minutes to fill up tank. I bought a fill valve top and replaced it. Let me add that I did turn water off at the supply valve but water was still trickling up the fill valve. Like the water ...	If the valve is not compression but is sweated on and there is 3 or 4 inches of stub behind it you can cut it off with a hacksaw right behind the valve and relace it with a Sharkbite style fitting like the one below that will push on to the stub.
How to tighten big wires into circuit breaker holes? I am installing this. After tightening the screw hardly, the big wire still falls out if I pull it a little bit with very small force. I am not sure that I am doing like others would do. Do you have any idea to tighten the wire into that hole? The wire is 105C - 600V...	That I am aware of, it is not to be tightened gently, it needs to be tightened rather snugly, typically there is a torque rating that is given, that will be on the breaker itself, if not on the makers website.
Threading cable through existing pex-like tubing My apartment (top floor) has runs of 3/4" (-ish) pex-like tubing (photo attached, Switzerland if it's relevant) running from a central point. One such tube carries an existing coaxial cable (landlord provided, I do not want to detach) from a satellite splitter in my apar...	Tubing like this that has a split is designed to be used where the cable can be inserted into the tubing without having to thread it in all from one end. What you're looking at is most likely ENT (Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing, aka "smurf tube"), not any sort of tubing/pipe intended for plumbing work.
The plug for my laptop is slowly changing colour, is it still safe to use until I get a new one? So, right now my charger plug, that connects into the extension cord is slowly changing colour and it looks like it has small bumps, I can’t really tell though. Is it because i’m using an extension cord or is it something ...	Another possibility is that the socket part of your extension cord is worn out and/or poorly made, so it is not making a good connection to the prongs of your charger and that is creating resistance, making them heat up. A laptop AC plug should not be warm st all. Plastic often changes color and distorts when heated up...
Safety cover for exposed brick exhaust inside a bedroom My husband and I just purchased a 95 year old Dutch Colonial with an old brick stack now being used to exhaust the gas furnace. The brick is exposed in one of the upstairs bedrooms which currently belongs to our oldest son who is disabled with autism. We are conce...	get some screw hooks and some wall plugs drill into the bricks fit the plugs and attach the hooks, use the hooks to support your padding material consider fitting an automatic vent to deal with the heat. This could be built to sit a couple of inches (4 - 5 cm) away from the brick to create a dead air space behind the w...
What is this tube sticking out of my roof? I'm not sure what kind of vent this is for, but I'm wondering if its supposed to have a cap to protect from rain. Sorry for lack of description. I'm completely ignorant to whatever this is. If it helps at all, I have two turbines on my house plus this pipe. So I know it's n...	It's a vent pipe for the plumbing it connects eventually to the sewer.
What is this architectural shingle condition called? Is it reparable? I have architectural shingles. I noticed on a few of them that the some of the lower portions of the top layer of the shingle are loose, as shown. What is this condition called? If I search for delamination, I get results about the seal between two...	This is a manufacturer defect and more commonly happens on steep or mansord roofs!
How do you make flush cuts to a precise depth? I'm renovating a small shed that was built with 2x4 wall studs on top of 2x6 bottom plates, for some reason. I'm realizing that this will create a problem once I get to the drywall and flooring stages, as I will need to either raise the subfloor, thicken the walls, or cut ...	You can use you circular saw to do some of the work in between joist. Install drywall flush with 2x6 and put trim on top of that.
Wobble in the Desk I am building I have started to build a farmhouse table and now facing an issue in the build. The Storage Area i have built is rocking and i believe one of the legs as shown in the attached picture is a slight 1 - 2 mm above the ground and guess this is causing the wobble. Any Suggestions on how do ...	First, for leveling the table I'd suggest a belt sander on the long legs, just make sure you measure and mark where the sanding should stop.
Electrical outlet arcs only for non polarized grounded plug Let me start by saying I have ceased the use of this outlet, and will be contacting maintenance for a replacement. I have a grounded outlet in my apartment that has had a power strip plugged into it for nearly 2 years. The plug on the strip is 3 prong without...	Perhaps the bad connection is there because of a broken plug, perhaps because of a broken outlet, perhaps because of a combination of the two. The load must draw a current high enough to sustain an arc. I'd turn off the breaker for that outlet until it gets replaced. There is nothing special about a normal power strip ...
sewer waste coming from main line clean out Please help, I need advice. I have sewage waste coming from second cleanouts that connects to neighbors and city. My inside plumbing shows nothing no issues, nothing coming up in the sinks, toilets flush normal. I have two clean outs in my backyard and I have contacted the ...	If your inside sinks, toilets, etc. are higher than your outside cleanout, then a plugged drainline will cause the waste to empty out the cleanout when you flush or drain your sink.
Can I use 2 black THHN wires for a 240v line? I'm going to be wiring a 50A 240V circuit to a shed through an MF conduit. There will be about 3 feet of conduit connecting to a subpanel and it will remain above ground. I know the neutral wire must be white or grey and the ground _must be green, yellow-green or bare. Ca...	The answer is yes you can run your 2 hots the same color If you are going to a shed and want 120V, you will really, really want a neutral wire. The other answers cover the matter of neutral and ground conductors which will also be needed.
Right tool to drill a 3 to 4" diameter hole approximately 3ft deep through remnants of a ground up tree stump I'm installing a very basic fence with welded wire mesh that will be fastened to galvanized steel T-posts. But I've run into a snag. At the very end of my run on one side I cannot dig into the ground. This is b...	The amount of torque it would take to auger even a 3 inch hole in a tree root would be way beyond what you could safely do with a hand drill. An auger bit would work very well for this situation.
How can I shorten a reciprocating saw blade? This rather dated article recommends using a shortened reciprocating saw blade to punch through drywall. I have an old blade (intended to be used to cut wood, as far as I can tell) that I'm happy to cut short for this purpose, but the page's recommendation of cutting throu...	If you also own a jigsaw you may find that its blades will fit well enough in the recip saw that you can use them instead.
Electrical breaker and outlet wiring question I want to run a dedicated circuit for my air compressor. Can I run a 20 amp breaker with 12-2 to a single 20 amp receptacle for an air compressor? <Q> Including an air compressor. <S> If that is the case, I'd then look at provisioning a 240V (two-pole) breaker of appropri...	However, for an air compressor "dedicated circuit" the FIRST question I'd ask is whether the motor can be converted to run on 240V, and if it can, I'd strongly suggest doing that unless you have strong reasons not to (such as this being a portable compressor that you often take to job sites where 240V is hard to come b...
Brand new shallow well jet pump, noisy and slow 1/2 hp Red Lion shallow well jet pump, 20 gal pressure tank, well water table was measured 8 feet down the well pipe. When priming the pump, water came steady but not at a good rate. Not knowing how fast the water should come out without going through the pressure tank I...	Make sure that the rotation of the pump/motor is correct.
Will low well water pH cause plumbing damage or health problems? Our well has been having some bacteria issues so we are installing a UV filter system. The installer also recommended a system to correct the acidic quality of our water which is PH 6.0. He said it can corrode pipes and its not healthy to consume copper. ...	A pH of 6 for a natural water is surprisingly acidic in my experience.
Can an AC condenser be wired inside the wall, underneath siding? The label on the disconnect box says this is a 60amp, 240v system (box might be oversized for this unit, it's old and a 2 ton I think, I doubt that it's truly 60A). I know that I need 6awg for it, and the wiring currently is in metal conduit on the outsid...	In other words you can't just exit the wall through a hole in the siding and run into the bottom of a surface mount box, and for all of the surface mount ones I have seen, you can't enter the box from the rear because that's where the disconnect device is. If a maintenance receptacle is not needed, then said 1/2" ENT c...
Can a water leak cause a fire in a light fixture? The upstairs bathroom got too much water on the floor and it dripped through to the kitchen below, by the ceiling light fixture (discoloration on ceiling around light fixture). The place was built about 7 years ago, with circuit breakers. Is there a fire risk having the...	If the light fixture uses an electronic transformer, LED driver or LED lightbulbs and that gets wet, I don't think it can cause a fire After fixing the leak, you should check inside your light fixture for corrosion (turn off power at the panel first). The most likely thing to happen is nothing at all. But I consider it...
120v house equipment with 240v generator question Tornado took out power around here for a good while. Parents aren't here and I'm stuck with the task of hooking up a generator. I'm not savvy with this stuff very much at all. Here's the issue. The connection coming out of the house is L14-30P. The generator has L14-30...	Do yourself a favor and just run some extension chords from the 120 V outlets on the generator into your house and plug the appliances you need into them. If you are not familiar with the setup don't mess with it. To answer your specific question, the difference between L14-20 and L14-30 is maximum amperage , not volta...
How to keep a window from opening too widely? I am moving into an apartment, and I have a cat. I need to alter the windows in a way so that it can’t be opened beyond a couple of inches - little enough that there’s no chance of that cat slipping out. Here are the catches: We can’t alter/damage the window frame in any ...	The shim that would have been inserted between the bottom screw and the slider now has a slot to allow it to pass around the bottom screw. In the image above, the top represents the view from above if the flat aluminum is thin enough to fit in the groove/lips.
Intermittent power outtages to only part of the house. Power can be restored by turning the stove on for just a second, then turning it off I have the standard, split phase power to my house. (Two hots and a neutral). There's a meter box and breaker panel outside, which has the main service disconnect. There's an ad...	This is likely at the main breaker since the power company was in your meter box, they would typically have seen if the problem was there.
Is this closet wall load bearing? Wanting to remove this closet that is by my front door. Nervous that the wall that is parallel to the door is wall bearing. First time renovating. [![enter image description here][1]][1] [1]: https://i.stack.imgur.com/HdXz4.jpg <Q> From the 2 images you've attached, this is not a l...	It would be many times more unusual for the wall -parallel- to your front door (thus parallel to your roof framing) to be bearing.
Electric Power comes back when I open up warm tap water and then goes when I close the tap I've run into a electric power problem today that I can't seem to explain it. The problem began when I opened up the warm tap water and I heared a sudden loud noise coming from the instantaneous water heater; I realised afterwar...	That breaker apparently did not trip - or the heater does not have a combined triple circuit breaker , but only 3 separate ones, which is against the standard/code. What's happening is when the unit turns on, it's having the effect of connecting the live phase(s) to the dead phases(s)
Is this a stress fracture or natural cedar characteristics on a swing set? This a 3 year old (lightly used) weather exposed swing set. Should I be concerned about the cracks? <Q> This is typical of wood movement. <S> The wood will eventually start to rot because of the "pockets" created by the cracks. <S> Those will h...	Yes, it that it is necessary to fix the situation by protecting the wood from further damage. It is not a structural issue right now
Accidentally left hose on and now have no pressure Yesterday I turned the hose on to fill a swimming pool. We have been running it for about an hour every other day. I got distracted and totally forgot about the water and it was left on for about 5 hours. We have an artesian well with a submersible pump. We stopped ...	The amount of pumping done may have stirred up sediment at the bottom of the well that may take a while to clear out.
Options for current armored cable 12/2 but need 12/3 I currently have an armored cable 12/2 with green (ground) leading to a light switch, running outside the wall (simply runs from the light fixture to a surface mounted box where the light switch is).I will convert this light switch to an outlet light combination.That...	As an NYC dweller, there is no reason for you to own any kind of non-metal cable: not NM, not UF, not SE anything, not MH. You can use armored cable, FMC flexible metal conduit, EMT hardshell conduit, IMC or Rigid pipe-threaded conduit.
Why do different meters show different voltages between hot and ground? I am measuring voltage between hot and ground wires on a light box. Why does one voltmeter show 4 volts. And another shows 0 volts? How many volts should there be between these two wires? <Q> Any time you see wack-a-doodle voltages associated wi...	This is because the internal resistance in the multimeter is in series with any parasitic capacitance, inductance, or resistance from the floating line to other parts (e.g. coupling through the insulation to an adjacent hot wire, or for ungrounded gear, through timber to ground). If your question is correct, the readin...
Why would these wires be stored this way? My house was built in the 1920’s. My living room only has two wall sconces until I found two additional hookups within the plaster walls. I have tested them with an old light fixture and they turn on with the same living room switch. Why would they store them in the wall like t...	The smaller black wire and smaller white wire are pigtailed off the feed and were probably hooked up to a fixture at one time. Otherwise put the wires back into the junction box and cover it with a blank cover plate. When the fixture was removed, it was easier to just cut the smaller black wire and white wire and tape ...
High temperature aluminum to copper connection Summary 120v Oven power wire connector melted and shorted out. Was going to splice the wires together with high temperature wire nut, but found that internal oven power wires are aluminum and the power cord wires are copper. Oven wire sheathing has 150*C temperature rating...	I'd also inspect the mating connector and replace that component too if it shows damage. First I will suggest that the wire is tinned copper there is no such thing as high temp aluminum.
Can I use toggle bolts to install faux wood beams to the drywall in the ceiling? Unfortunately the ceiling ceiling joists run in the wrong direction.I was wondering if I can use toggle bolts to support ~50 pounds of faux wood beams on ceiling dry wall. It would be about 4 toggle bolts across a 16.5 ft ceiling holding ...	Another option would be to put expanding braces like used to hang ceiling fans inside the ceiling and use the beams to cover the holes
Garage door opener will not close unless the wall button is held I do not know if this could cause the problem or not but it is hooked up to an extension cord (not sure what size). There are two garage doors plugged in with extension cords. One is working but it is closer to the outlet. Could this be the cause of the p...	The 'not supposed to work' signal comes from a safety sensor near the bottom of the door and near or on the metal door track. Usually it is simply a misalignment of the transmitter, it can't see the return signal not because something (or someone) is physically blocking it by being in the door way, but rather because i...
Fixing cuts in floorboards We've noticed some cut in half floorboards, underneath old carpet looking to see if it is possible to repair these cuts with some way. Or does the entire floorboard need replacing? We can't put on new carpet until these are fixed, we noticed dents/rips in carpets previously because the floor...	It should be pretty straightforward to screw a block of bracing to the nearby joist. Then add additional support below for it. If that doesn't get rid of the uneven surface I'd look into sanding the surface to make the bump smoother, similar to what is done to sidewalks when there is differential movement between two s...
Why not use tile instead of mineral wool for sound proofing? I read that the heavier the material the better it blocks sound. Then why do people stuff their walls with soft insulation like mineral wool. Why not just put clay/ceramic tiles or wooden boardsIf the purpose is to decrease decibel levels ? <Q> This is...	Tile is also much heavier.
Mystery Clog & Backup in Upstairs Bathtub I've got a bathtub upstairs that won't drain (at all), and slowly fills with water apparently from fixtures in the same bath room and the adjacent bathroom. Whatever is going on doesn't appear to be impacting any downstairs fixtures (sinks, toilet, washing machine). I tried to...	Snaking a drain dry or without a water load behind it will almost never clear a clog. The clog could be further down than you think or could be related to venting from other fixtures.
Is EMT or PVC more durable under a porch that gets rain? I have a 2nd story porch that I want to put lights under. I'm not sure whether EMT or PVC will be more durable in the long run. It will get both rain and some sun, and I'd like it to last a long time. What's more long lasting ? Will the EMT rust over time ? <...	PVC conduit will degrade in the sun.
Clamps for cutting PVC or other circular objects This is about as simplistic as it gets... They make wood clamps, C clamps, etc, for securing objects with a flat surface that you are about to cut. Whether it's a circular saw, sawzall, jigsaw, whatever. Is there a clamp for securing various circular/cylindrical objec...	But if you like, cut some wooden Vee blocks and use them to help apply a normal bar clamp to the task of holding down your pipe on top of the sawhorse.
Does a small bolt cutter exist which tensions with a wrench? Does anyone know if there a bolt cutter which tensions using a wrench? The closet I can find is a nut splitter, but it is not really intended for cutting... Update I need to cut iron rods (I would prefer to use steel rods, if I can cut them) of 5mm to 10m...	If you look for cordless rebar cuttes you will find such tools, quite compact, but also very expensive.
Placing tiles on concrete wall The bathroom tiles in my shower began to let loose, we decided to rip them off (I'll admit it wasn't a good idea), but with the tiles, the cement also came off. I would just cover it in cement again and place some new tiles but the cement at the top and bottom also came lose so the tiles ...	That looks like some kind of concrete board material (if that) with mastic slapped on and tiles.
Whirlpool oven gas shuts off one second after turning on Problem: I have a Whirlpool oven in the US, model WFG540H0ES0 (photo) . It's worked fine for the last 3.5 years, but a few weeks ago the oven stopped igniting. When I start the oven in the control panel, the following sequence takes place: I can hear the gas ...	In addition to checking the control valve as others have suggested, it's possible you have low pressure or an obstruction in the gas line to the stove.
Are there different tiers (good/better/best) of door hardware? We have a new house (3 yrs old), and have been having problems with the door knobs all coming loose and sliding around. I thought it was something we were doing, but talked to a couple of neighbors, and they are all having similar problems. I figured this w...	Another factor at play is the difference in the way doors are made and the way knobs / lock sets are installed. The one category that you can look for is "commercial" and you will generally get higher quality parts (also at higher prices).
How do I drywall when the studs are not flush? I have a problem with my bathroom. I recently had someone come and switch the door from the kitchen side to the other side while redoing my kitchen. He did a great job and the kitchen looks great. That being said he used new studs to re-frame the wall and those studs are s...	If that is the only place then I would put some expanding foam drywall adhesive on the studs with the gap and screw in the older stud.
Can I hire non-licensed architecture firm for residential project? I recently considering on a major renovation/remolding of our house in Los Angeles, and we do contacted a few candidates from online, the talented one we like told us that their small firm is not a licensed architecture firm in California. And we are to...	California might not require it but there could be some legal problems down the road if someone gets hurt.
No power at light fixture I am installing a new vanity light fixture, but after installation it did not turn on. I reinstalled the old one and now that one doesn't turn on either at that fixture. So I used a multi-meter on the wires and it does not detect any AC voltage - I've checked the breaker and it has not tripped...	If there is a GFCI outlet in the bathroom or surrounding area you need to reset it.
Smells in kitchen sink We have a smell that only comes from the kitchen sink sometimes. I have tried cleaning it all different ways many times. Have taken the plumbing apart by the Ptrap and have done the baking soda thing all different ways. We put in a new dishwasher a few months back and the smell subsided. It is...	I found that the source of the smell had been gunk in the drain pipe and especially just under the drain cover piece.
Hanging a Tree Swing I was going to buy a swing for my two boys, each weighing under 100 pounds. I can't imagine more than three of them on the swing, so 250/300 pounds max. This silver maple is the only viable place for me to hang it in my backyard. I was planning on using an single I-bolt, directly through a large...	If the tree had a single trunk up to about 20 feet ,it would likely be strong enough.
Need help to ID and remove electric outlet cover I Need some help identifying and removing an electrical outlet cover in the kitchen. I removed the middle screw but the cover is still not coming off, no screws on the sides either. <Q> Loosen the center screw and then pull (or pry if it's stuck) around the edges. <S...	They are installed by removing the cover plate, plugging in the extender, then inserting the center screw and screwing it into the existing outlet's cover plate screw hole. I would shut off the circuit, then test the sockets are all dead (test all, I'm paranoid.) It might help to use warm air from a hairdryer to soften...
Hot and Neutral on Same Circuit Breaker I just installed a new GFCI and it keeps shutting off even though I connected it properly. I traced the wires and found that the neutral was connected to the same Circuit Breaker as the hot. WHY? And how can I fix this so my GFCI will work? <Q> You'll need a 20A GFCI breaker fo...	Neutrals can never share screws (3 grounds probably can, if your panel labeling says they can).
Wrong wiring color used for 240V appliance (white/black instead of red/black) We had the electrical system in our house upgraded as part of a remodel. While investigating an electrical issue, I noticed that our AC unit (which is rated 240 volt / 25 amp) appears to be wired with the wrong color wiring: it uses white/bla...	If there's a conduit run, the hot wires should be any of the hot colors (black red brown blue yellow orange purple...) and not white or gray or green - but only if there's conduit, not cable.
Running electrical to a shed I have a shed in my backyard about 200ft from the house. I would like to run electrical to the shed to install 2 or 3 power outlets, and two LED lights for the inside. Currently from the house to about 50ft from the house there is an exterior power outlet on a pole (no light on the pole, j...	but if your needs are going to be adequately met by 20A 120V power and the loading is sufficiently low that the voltage drop from 200 ft of 12Ga wire won't be a huge issue, yes, you can do that.
Shower runs cold, then hot, then cold. Faucet in same bathroom runs hot after shower The 50 gallon gas water heater is on the first floor. Water pressure coming into the house is roughly 40 psi. On the second floor the kitchen and bathroom faucets are cold when turned on. I mention it, but it might be due to the design...	Based on the various change in water temperature with the hot water at the various faucets is most likely due to sediments in the hot water lines and fixtures.
Setting fence post in gravel/backfill? I am attempting to build a privacy fence that will sit just behind a retaining wall (as in, on the ground behind the wall and not on the wall itself). While digging today I realized that while the ground behind the retaining wall does have ~10" of soil on top, underneath the thin...	I think that it is probably most likely that the problem you'll have is not getting through the gravel, but actually that the gravel will be too loose and want to fall back into the hole as you dig it.
Splice new outlet branch in attic I’m adding an outlet above our fireplace and the “easiest” way is fishing a 14/2 with ground NM down 24” from the attic. Very close to where I want to go fishing is an outlet run in the attic. What’s the best way to tap into this run? I’ve drawn up my thoughts on a whiteboard and attac...	Think about using two 4" boxes and connect them together with a 2" nipple or piece of EMT.
HELP! Need advice for Bike Wall mount So the first installation of my bike mount, I failed miserably because the wall isn't completely straight above the door and has a slight angle to it. I thought it'd still be able to hold up my bike but nope, the weight of the bike started pulling out the mount from the drywall (I ...	An alternative is to get a rectangular piece of 3/4"+ thick plywood and anchor it to the two adjacent studs, then mount the rack on that piece of plywood.
How to reduce brightness of LED spotlight permanently without dimmer? Some of my LED GU10s (dimmable) produce too much of light and I'd like to reduce it. I'd like to use on/off switch on those GU10s with permanently reduced light. How it could be done and what kind of components I should use? <Q> They're called cinema...	You might consider a dimmer switch that has a "slider" that is separated from the switch.
Why do unused Refrigerator Appliances Grow Mold, while unused Cabinets and electronics don't? I have a refrigerator that I thoroughly cleaned out and washed with soap/baking soda, and let thoroughly dry. They always recommend to keep Doors Open for long term refrigerator storage.This prevents mold and mildew growth eve...	Other items such as cabinets and electronic devices do not generate a moist environment, therefore the growth of mold is substantially reduced.
Is the insulation on this cable burned? I read in other answers with similar photos that this is tar from insulation. The insulation is not that old (30 years). Is this burned cable or tar or something else? <Q> First, de-energize the cable entirely until you are sure. <S> Dip a rag in paint thinner, not dripping, ...	If it spreads all over the place and eventually cleans off the cable entirely, it's tar.
Extension cord for 220 outlet? I have a 220 outlet for my air-conditioner. I just got a tanning bed,also 220. The cord on tanning bed is too short to reach the outlet. Is it ok if i make an extension cord to reach the outlet? <Q> Depends what you mean by "make". <S> If you mean hokey-doke something together out of ...	The instructions that came with the tanning bed probably say not to use an extension cord and doing so would void the warranty. If the blades on the plug line up with each other search NEMA 6-15 extension cord, if opposing NEMA 6-20. You can probably get a 220 Volt appliance cord at your home store or an electrical sup...
Is this the transformer for my door chime? I'm looking to install Ring Pro doorbell. I have looked around the junction box for a transformer and couldn't seem to find one this is the inside of the chime. If this isn't it where could it be ? <Q> No - that is not the transformer. <S> If you are installing the Ring door...	The transformer could be located in the furnace closet, the garage, laundry room. From your picture, your original doorbell was AC power, so that is good. There may be a box behind the chime base look to see if you can tell which way the wires go.
How do I limit the water flowing through my neighbor's fence into my yard? Our neighbors yard is elevated and they water their yard a lot. The water flows over into our vegetable garden and floods it. I would like to add a barrier. Some ideas have been slim pavers with a plastic sheet, or a tree root guard. I looked at...	If you put a thick layer of mulch on your garden it will soak up the water and release it slowly into your garden, turning a problem into an opportunity. Get a board rated for ground contact.
Removing and adding skirting boards when installing floors? I read for carpet it should be installed without removng skirting. For laimnate, wood and tiles one should remove the skirting board, lay the floor, then re-add the skirting board. . Why so? What about for vinyl sheet, is it recommended to remove the skirti...	Walls are never exactly straight, and it's difficult to cut the flooring to fit just right without an unsightly gap. Because all the floor coverings you mention expand / contract as the temperature changes, but carpet does not.
Why is my lawn sprinkler system timer on but not operating the valves? My lawn sprinkler system was working perfectly last summer. When I went to turn it on this summer, I've noticed that the timer isn't working. Well, it is but it isn't. The timer's display is responsive and I can get it to respond to different settin...	If there's voltage, then the valve solenoid is probably bad and needs replacement. It's a common failure.
Tandem Breaker is in half-off position. Unable to reset I recently bought a condo (2002 construction) and have no experience with electric systems. So please bear with me if I am using incorrect terms. A few days ago, the plug point where the water kettle was connected stopped working. On the opposite wall of the kit...	It might be connected to a GFCI breaker, or wired with another GFCI on the same circuit that protects both outlets. The halfway position is the normal "tripped" position. The outlet in the picture you posted should probably be a GFCI because of how close it is to the sink.
How far can a 2x4 or maybe 2x6 support over a 10' span? I am creating a shelf in my garage to go over the front of the car. The rules of the town home community is that we can't have anything that puts weight on the structure of the garage, so have created two by side supports designed to have something go horizontal...	the best bet would be a Stressed Skin Panel also known as a Torsion Box Common construction for that as a DIY is two sheets of plywood, (one top, one bottom) and some sort of spacers plus lots of glue. It is a garage shelf, if it sags a little over time it is not the end of the world.
Outdoor spotlight stuck on without a switch My Grandma has an outdoor spotlight that hasn't worked for quite some time. I realised there wasn't actually a bulb in it so I ordered a new one, switched off the mains, fitted it, put the power back on, and it works, the light comes on! There's only one problem - it won't sw...	Some motion lights need to be reset, and a quick on off on some models will turn them on while a longer off on cycle may turn it off.
How dangerous is to repair a stopcock without closing the main water entrance? I have, more or less, the situation bellow. I have simplified the scheme. It's a bathroom, (A) is a shower, (B) is a tap.I would like to repair both A and B. The main stopcock doesn't work anymore.Assuming I keep both A and B open while repa...	I think you must ask the manager of the building to shut off the water at the tank long enough for you to change the shut off to your apartment.
Can I swap parts from a new to old shutoff valve instead of soldering a new sweat valve? The shutoff valve on my water heater has an extremely slow leak. A couple years ago I disassembled it by removing the handle and changing out either the packing or the rubber washer, or maybe both (can't remember now), which did he...	You might be able to find a valve with interchangeable parts
Buying 110V power tools for my father in law to take back to 220v Russia My wife's mom and dad are here from Russia. We'd like to buy him a dremel tool, a cordless drill, and a 1/4 sheet palm sander for his birthday to take back. I know the cordless drill is not a problem for a converter since it's a battery charger....	Actually better to have multiple tools to end up with extra batteries and even a 2nd charger so that he is set if things go bad. Almost all hand operated power tools these days are available in battery/portable versions.
Drain line higher than sink outlet ^^^ UPDATED PHOTO ^^^ I recently purchased a mobile home and have changed out the vanities in the bathrooms. In the master the drain line was to low and had to extending the sink drain to hit that line, which was easy. But now the second bath the drain line is HIGHER than the P-tr...	Looking at your photo I would shorten the drain line from the wall. There is no required maximum depth of the trap, but if it gets too tall, you may get waste standing and rotting in the trap.
Why is my house wired with two coax in every room and an RJ11 splitter? My house was built around 2005, though I've only owned it a year. Setting aside from the insane cluster of coax wiring we found in the attic, I'm trying to understand why every room in the house has at least one, and usually two outlets that look ...	The same setup is sometimes used to connect two phone lines to one outlet. The phone line was so the satellite box could phone the company and report whatever purchases were made via the remote (like pay per view)
Install a new tub that has cracks? first question here. We're having a bathroom remodeled. The first tub that was delivered had a huge crack in it, so we asked for a replacement. The second one took 2 weeks to arrive. It has two tiny cracks in the corner. One appears to be (shoddily) covered over by plaster. We're rea...	If tubs are cracking during the shipping process I would not trust them to stay in one piece when there is a bunch of weight and water in them.
How do you add a T join in to an existing underground drain pipe? I have an existing drain pipe that takes water from our roof catchment, and sends it down into our drinking water tank (this is our household water supply). We now have a new building, and I wish to route the extra rain water from this roof into the sam...	Oatey and other makers of PVC piping have PVC saddle tee kits that cost about $20.00, that allow you to make a tee in an existing pipe layout.
Prevent sun shade pole from rotating in base I have bought a centre pole sun shade (a Doppler Sunliner) for my balcony, along with a hollow base filled with water for it to stand in, which works fine. But as soon as there is a tiny bit of wind, the sun shade starts rotating. How do I prevent this? As far as I can ...	I would drill a hole through the base and umbrella poles, then thread a bolt through the new hole to stop the rotation.
Is my repair to this plug safe? The red copper wire was burned so I took out the burnt part of the wire and reinserted all the wires by myself. <Q> You should trim the extra copper off <S> it will not help to have it hanging out there. <S> You also need to make sure when you put things back together <S> the clamp is on...	This way in the unlikely event that the cord grip fails and the cable gets ripped out of the plug the wires should become disconnected in the safest possible order.
How do you store a magnetic base and a dial indicator to prolong their life and retain accuracy? I'm getting into turning with a lathe, starting small with some decent-used tools from the local ebay(trademe) and some janky chinese-grade tools. But I want to learn Best Practices. Right now I have one mag base/noga-sty...	While you're obviously working with metal here, if you're into wood working at all, build yourself a small custom storage box for it.
Why are there ovens with control panel toward the back? I often see ovens with their control panel behind the elements, mostly in US American settings, like in the picture below. Where I live, the controls are always in front of the appliance. It seems unnecessarily dangerous to me that one has to reach over the pots ...	In addition to the useful comments already posted, the design prevents accidental turn on's due to leaning up against the stove to stir a pot, etc.
Cracks on second-story cement slab I just purchased a 50-year-old condo. I pulled up the carpet and found the second floor to be a concrete slab. There are thin cracks in areas and a small pit in one area. What are my options for resolving/minimizing cracking. Rhino Crack Locks Tear it all out and start over, my le...	Its purpose isn't structural at all but to dampen noise for the levels below when you walk around. If repairs/sealing of the cracks is to be done, I would go with two types of products, liquid/self leveling for the thinner-fine cracks and a heavier product for the larger cracks.
How can I enlarge an opening in wall tile for an electrical box? When the backsplash was installed, the hole left for an outlet box is a tad too small. What is my best option to enlarge the hole to slide the box in? <Q> It's very messy, of course, so have a helper hold a strong vacuum right near the blade as you cut. ...	An angle grinder with a diamond-dust blade will cut that tile easily. Wall tile is relatively soft, but the glaze isn't, so expect some dulling of such tools to occur.
Furnace intake on both floors I have a furnace located in my basement in a small enclosed room. I also have a large vent upstairs above this room in my kitchen. I always thought that the furnace takes the air from the kitchen upstairs, heats it up and circulates it back. However, when I was changing the air filter toda...	The more recycle air supply , the more efficient your furnace. Today, in order to save money on the installation, most if not all of the of the multi-unit housing plans are opting for the single returns.
Electrical socket is tripping off light I had a builder install some lights and also an electrical socket. He used a junction box to do this from the loft lights as it was easy access. However, the hoover and hair dryer is causing this now to trip. I was wondering what may cause this and if there is a better solution. ...	But if the breaker and the wiring is made for higher loads, most likeley the GFCI did trip, which could be an indication that grounding and neutral are connected somewhere downstream the GFCI or another device in the same circuit is faulty. The hair-dryer & hoover are probably drawing too much and tripping it. The exis...
How to lock an inside door with round doorknobs turning both clockwise and counterclockwise (without a key)? I'd like to lock an inside building door, which I'm pretty sure is possible. The lock/doorknobs look like the pictures. The doorknobs can turn both clockwise and counterclockwise. How do I lock the door with...	I am not sure about you door knob but on some older door knobs you push and turn to lock.
Why is electric bill all of a sudden $300+ when normally it is under $100? My dads been pulling the last of his hairs out over this. The past two years around this time, the electric bill jumps to about $300 when typically it’s around $100. Nothing has changed, we haven’t acquired any new appliances ( all kitchen a...	If you have central forced-air heat pump with natural gas backup, it could be that over the winter your heating system is almost exclusively using the natural gas (which these days is much cheaper than electric).
What could be a reason for RCCB triggering? I have RCCB/RCD with four circuit breakers at the entrance of my aparment (I am actually not quite sure how it is called in english, so here is RCCD and CB is ABB s231r with different max amps) Recently, I've been setting up electrical socket in the kitchen, so I turned of...	It might be that your type of meter is one that measures by looking at the potential difference by putting on a small load, so the act of trying to read voltages was a condition that the RCD interpreted as a short.
Bathroom fan do I use 12-2/20a or 14-2/15a Hey guys I am hooking up my bathroom fan and wanted to get clarity on the electrical requirements. The fans requirements state: “Run 120V AC house wiring to the location of the fan”On the box is says 120V/60Hz My current 20a/12-2 will be to much power for this fan correct?...	For a 20A circuit, you need all 12-gauge wires (or bigger.)
Bathroom lights went out, but breaker isn't tripped I just bought a house built in the late 90's. While upgrading some lights in the bathroom, I replaced a recessed can light with an LED version that uses an adapter for the bulb socket and simply fits over the can. The only wiring involved is a ground wire. After gett...	Well, obviously the person went to a lot of trouble to put GFCI protection to the downline circuit, and obviously the lights were accidentally swept up in this. While getting ready to call an electrician to figure out what was wrong, and making a last desperate attempt to find a subpanel, I found a "dead front" GFCI in...
Does leaving the Central AC on all day and all night cause the motor to burn or compressor line to freeze up? I'm not suggesting doing this or whatever, I just want to know the answer. Let's say it is 80 deg F outside and I put the AC on 50 deg F. Obviously this will cause the AC to run all day, would this running al...	This is yet another safety so no a properly operating hvac system will not burn up if left on all the time.
Regrouting, what to do with screw holes We are going to regrout our shower tiles due to some cracks since the technical inspection said it was leaking into the wall which could cause water damage. We removed one soap holder and it seems that there has been leaking water behind it, it was a bit rusty and maybe even mold...	Grout everything, including the screw holes.
Should loose underlayment nails be driven in or removed? When installing vinyl sheet you should not allow nails etc to be sticking out because these will show in the floor. When taking up the old floor you will often find nails are sticking out. How did this happen and if one was to hammer them in, wouldn't they come...	If you wanted, you could remove the proud ones and fill, or drift them just below surface and fill, but with decent thickness vinyl there should be no need. I’d remove them, fill in the holes and re-nail or screw the underlayment down.
How can I repair or remove my bathroom sink's tailpiece? I easily removed the S bend pipes, but the "last piece" actually in the sink is leaky. (I do not know what that piece is called.) Notice I've got it a bit loose .. close up .. close up underneath ... is there a special tool for this maybe? notice the l...	There is usually a rubber gasket that seals it but it may have gone bad.
What is this fastener attaching electrical box to concrete wall and how do I remove it? I have a ranch house built in 1985 in Pennsylvania. The foundation is poured concrete. I want to replace one of the electrical boxes in the basement with a 2-gang. What is the white plastic fastener seen in the photo (there are two...	The anchor is set by driving with a hammer, but can be "un-set" by unscrewing the pin because it has a twist thread on it. It's just a plastic wall plug, sometimes called an expansion anchor or by various brands names.
Lift for storing stuff above my fridge I want to lift stuff (chairs or a baby stroller) and store them above my fridge. I was thinking about installing some floor to ceiling rod and somehow connect a winch to pull some platform up and down.The thing is that I need this system to have 2 axis, since once the platform wit...	I was thinking about attaching a threaded rod to the wall and connect a platform to a linear actuator sliding on the rod. You really should consider the folding step stool as suggested by Jasen or even a full fledged step ladder instead of the scheme that you seem set on. All that stuff about winches etc sounds bulky, ...
How many 240V wires per hole in studs? Background: New construction, 2x6 load bearing wall that will contain insulation, installing individual cooktop modules in the kitchen and the run from the breaker box is 40'. There are 4 cooktop modules (these are Miele combisets if you are curious what I mean by cooktop module...	It is also enough for pretty much any other typical combination of ovens & cooktops. Running a 3/4" ENT ("smurf tube") instead of the bundle of cables provides far more flexibility for the next installer, who may wish a range or a conventional cooktop instead of the multi-module arrangement you describe. This is especi...
Turn off hot water without hot water valve I have a leaky pipe on the hot water side that I'd like to fix. Following the pipes back to the water heater, I don't think there's a shutoff valve installed anywhere in the line, not even at the water heater outlet. At least, not one that is obvious for me to identify. How in...	Another simple and easy approach might be a repair clamp , search term " repair clamps for pipe leaks". The solution is pretty simple - turn off the cold water inlet and drain down the entire system, hot and cold.

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