All Questions
13,085
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
6
votes
0
answers
118
views
Incorrect breakers in Thomas & Betts Panel
I have a Thomas & Betts panel with 40 slots and was going about trying map out the circuits when I noticed a few suspect breakers. The entire right side of the panel contains only T&B (type TB)...
- 61
5
votes
0
answers
326
views
How do I adjust a Blum 170° face frame hinge?
My parents have some cabinets in their kitchen and the door suddenly stopped closing. It seems the bottom hinge is the issue. I tried adjusting it following this PDF but it still just won’t close. I’...
- 151
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is my garage door header calculation correct?
I'm adding an 8' opening to an existing 2x4 wall originally built almost 30 years ago. The wall is definitely load bearing as it currently supports the ends of 30' trusses on 24" centers. I live ...
- 47.3k
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
HVAC Suction line freezing
I woke one morning to find the suction line on my York YCJF48S41S2A (with blower assembly AHR48D3XH21A) frozen and realized I hadn't cleaned my coils in two years. I cleaned both the evaporator coil ...
- 51
4
votes
1
answer
369
views
Replacing a three-way switch wiring with smart switch(es), is it possible?
I have a 3-way setup and I'd love to make it smart, but I'm not sure how. Here's my setup:
Box #1: 2 Wire Cable (Black, White) + 3 Wire Cable (Black, White, Red)
Box #2: 3 Wire Cable (Black, White, ...
4
votes
1
answer
360
views
Required Circuits for Waterfurnace Geothermal Unit and Aux Heater
I am pulling the permit and installing the electrical wiring for my Waterfurnace 7 Series 4-ton Ground Source Heat Pump / Furnace. These are the components:
7 SERIES 700A11 Model 048 (Reference ...
- 153
4
votes
0
answers
157
views
Can water percolation pit affect RCC column and footer
We have water percolation pits installed around the house to handle waste water from kitchen , washing machine and bathroom.
I worry whether this water percolation pit can affect the RCC column and ...
- 135
4
votes
2
answers
406
views
OK to drain 2nd vanity sink like drawing? Will this meet code?
Hope you can take a look at the drawing and let me know if its ok to hook up the waste like this. The plan is to remove a section of gal at both locations in red and install a pvc sanitary tee and ...
- 49
3
votes
0
answers
84
views
How can I demonstrate to contractors that a gas pipeline is unused?
We are trying to build a home on an empty lot. There is an abandoned 6" gas pipeline running through where we are able to build it. We've done a lot of work to understand the history of this ...
- 131
3
votes
0
answers
143
views
Is it a problem that a door installer cut out most of the trimmer studs?
My contractor cut the stud around the rough opening very aggressively to squeeze a wider door in, and I wonder how bad the damage is to the structure and what the consequences are.
Here are the ...
- 151
3
votes
0
answers
51
views
Does NEC 2023 require conduit mounting hardware to be listed?
I only have the NEC 2020 edition on hand, but from what I'm reading on 358.6 for EMT listing requirements:
EMT, factory elbows, and associated fittings shall be listed
I think it's safe to assume ...
- 131
3
votes
0
answers
73
views
How can I resolve this plumbing venting issue?
Twice in the last 5 years ALL of my drains have stopped draining at once. Plunging, snaking, etc do nothing. Water bubbles with the pressure of a plunger then painfully slowly drains. I'm 99% sure ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
125
views
Does an original service disconnect without neutral bonding violate code?
Single family home built in 1987. Question is regarding the as-built: Is it grandfathered and does not be updated?
There is no neutral-ground bond in the 100A breaker equipped main service disconnect ...
3
votes
0
answers
82
views
Help with 3-way switch/light troubleshooting
I've been helping a friend out to add some improvements to his house, and we've run into some issues with a 3-way switch/light setup and could use some assistance. For context, he bought the house ~3 ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
148
views
Reinforcing concrete wall of outdoor hot tub?
I just bought a home with a hot tub/pool in the backyard, and the hot tub is slightly elevated over the pool, and designed so that water will flow over the side of the tub and into the pool below (...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
178
views
How would I create my own Paste Wax?
I really like SC Johnson Paste Wax for protecting my cast iron tool surfaces (such as table saws and planers). However it has been discontinued. There are other brands of paste wax but they tend to be ...
- 141
3
votes
1
answer
129
views
Cabling problems to consider at 30m
I have just had a workshop built on the side of the house and will be setting the electrics up.
The question I have is based on the distance I have going from my mains inlet (via a Henley block) and ...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
329
views
Attaching ledger board to brick and block wall?
I'm building an enclosed 1 floor addition on the side of our house which will extend our side entry to become a mudroom and provide for a pantry off our kitchen.
We need the space under the addition ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
174
views
Is it risky to have soak pit of septic tank near building
I have series of soak pits connected by pipe and this soak pit takes grey water from Kitchen and bathroom only.
I have to call septic tank lorry frequently to pump out the filled up septic tank. ...
- 135
3
votes
2
answers
298
views
Pressure spikes causing water heater TPR valve to drip/open
System is a AO Smith power vented 50 gallon gas water heater about 8 years old. 2 gallon Amtrol ST-5 expansion tank (charged to 65 psi) on cold water supply side was installed in December 2022 to ...
- 39
3
votes
0
answers
109
views
Why can a common vent configuration be too big if we disconnect the gas furnace?
Our house has an electric AC and natural gas furnace heater setup. The AC is getting old and having issues, so we want to replace it, and are thinking of upgrading to an air source heat pump. We ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
1k
views
How many wires can I put in this recessed light junction box?
I’m installing some recessed lights (halo) in my basement, and I’m wondering how many conductors I can put in the attached box (pictured), since this light will be at a 3-way junction. I calculated ...
- 171
3
votes
0
answers
208
views
Is it a violation of the Canadian Electrical Code to re-label circuits in my electrical panel?
I have an old house, and some of the labels for the circuit breakers are incorrect or extremely vague.
I have mapped out where the breakers actually go. I would like to use a label maker to print ...
- 141
3
votes
0
answers
39
views
How can I implement an NRV in brickwork or masonry?
Location: Nagpur, India
Glossary:
NRV = Non-return valve / One-way valve
PVC = Poly Vinyl Chloride
SWR = Soil, Waste, Rain
Over the years repair/renovation of the street in front of the house has ...
- 391
3
votes
0
answers
411
views
Pro foam gun leaks at can adapter
The can appears to be seated correctly and screwed in firmly. And yet it is leaking foam around the adapter - I saw it starting to slowly ooze out along the mating surface immediately after screwing ...
- 505
3
votes
2
answers
221
views
What is the proper way to perform a maintenance flush on a water heater?
Should I completely close the cold water inlet and attach a hose to the drain valve (located near the bottom of the water heater)? or should I leave the cold water inlet to the water heater open and ...
- 572
3
votes
0
answers
664
views
Skirting boards over vinyl - seal with silicone?
Thinking of sealing under the skirting boards, as the flooring is waterproof.
I have laid 22 square metres of vinyl planks in an apartment; the sort that lock together as in the photo. Now I am ready ...
- 1,466
3
votes
1
answer
137
views
Can I connect a vent pipe from a defunct waste drain to a different, active waste drain pipe instead?
My goal is to remove as much defunct plumbing as possible.
My scenario is:
Former sink in basement (removed), drains to septic under slab
Current sink in kitchen, drains to septic through long pipes ...
- 113
3
votes
0
answers
142
views
Plumbing Piece(?) Identification From Stop Valve Removal
Posted a question here to help me debug low water pressure to my kitchen faucet. Link to post here:
kitchen-faucet-low-water-pressure-cold-only
Basically, there was low water pressure only on the ...
- 41
3
votes
1
answer
435
views
How can I seal holes in a roof after moving an air conditioner?
On a single story flat roof private home I need to move a rooftop air conditioning radiator 20 cm for a solar panel install. Fortunately the original install left enough electrical cable and ...
- 373
3
votes
0
answers
5k
views
How far can you move the toilet away from the vent stack in NJ?
I plan on moving the toilet bowl to a different spot in the bathroom, further away from the stack. What is the maximum horizontal distance? Is it 9 feet?
As per New Jersey Plumbing Code 2018, 12.8.4:
...
- 131
3
votes
0
answers
271
views
Viconics E117 / P117 replacement by Honeywell Lyric T5
I just moved into my old neighbourhood after being away for 15 years. We bought this old house (1957) and it seems that the heating/cooling system got changed through times (Oil to electric in 2001 ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
177
views
How to clean a toilet water flush "limitator" (bump?)?
Apologies for the non-technical expressions, I am not a native English speaker.
I have the following embedded water flush:
The problems with that water flush are the following:
it usually flushes ...
- 395
3
votes
0
answers
169
views
What should I know before upgrading this electrical switchboard?
I have this very old switchboard, I want to upgrade it to prepare for the following changes:
Install of a home battery system
Ensure that I can install an induction cooktop in the kitchen
As you ...
- 289
3
votes
0
answers
527
views
Drilling holes in crawl space block foundation
I did a crawl space encapsulation myself. I used foundation pins to secure the vapor barrier to the walls every 16". Unfortunately, my walls were so wet I couldn't use a butyl tape like the ...
- 243
3
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Can a loss of power cause a dry fire condition, or vice versa?
I had a Rheem Prestige Hybrid Electric Water Heater installed on in my pacific northwest home last November.
In January, one day our breaker tripped twice, for no apparent reason (no abnormal or heavy ...
- 143
3
votes
0
answers
378
views
Replacing my Honeywell thermostat with a Nest heatlink in the UK
Can someone help with this.
Trying to pick the C wire and the NO wire from here.
Please note I am in the UK
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
200
views
How to fix a French drain
We have an interior French drain around the complete perimeter of our basement and has been working fine for 18 years until December 2020. I should note the company that put it in is no longer in ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
7k
views
What's the difference between Henry 547 UniPro and 549 Feather Finish?
I'm preparing to smooth out my 3/4 tongue-and-groove plywood subfloors for an LVP installation, using Henry products per the flooring's installation instructions and local availability.
I had settled ...
- 461
3
votes
0
answers
5k
views
What are the differences between trowels for concrete and plaster? Are they interchangeable?
I have some paving steps to lay in concrete, and will buy a trowel for smoothing them off.
There's an enormous range of trowels/floats available, with almost identical ones for plastering and for ...
- 10.6k
3
votes
0
answers
354
views
Identifying Vent in Unfinished Basement & General Bathroom Layout
I am looking to finish my basement and wanted to get validation on my vent tie-in locations.
I believe I have correctly identified it in the photo (top right of photo).
I believe the builders have it ...
- 71
3
votes
1
answer
168
views
I'm having trouble fixing a mysterious toilet leak
I have a Caroma (Australia) eco-style toilet. There is a recurring leak around the base but ONLY when the water supply main valve is turned on.
The toilet can have water in the bowl, and water in the ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does my new bathroom plumbing need a cleanout?
I am working on new plumbing for an addition we just built. Does anyone see any issues? Do I need a clean-out at the end of the run?
I plan on using a 3" elbow in lieu of a combo to keep ...
- 39
3
votes
0
answers
114
views
Generator Connection
I picked up a used 10kva (45a) Generac unit and want to get it connected thru the transfer switch. Just looking for some feedback on how to get it connected. I was going to use 1" schedule 40 ...
- 201
3
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Cannot remove ceiling recessed canned light trim/can
I'm trying to replace my kitchen ceiling recessed canned light/trim. I turned the breaker off.
I cannot see or feel any springs on the exterior or interior of the can. I've tried twisting the trim ...
- 557
3
votes
0
answers
1k
views
How is an air handler's fan controlled if its control board doesn't have a G terminal?
Background
I have a 2-stage cooling heat pump unit from Bryant, installed ~2006 (central Florida):
Condenser model 698BNX048-B
Handler model FE4ANB006
Shortly after moving in ~5 years ago, our evap ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
104
views
3 Wire SE Feeder 4 Wire Appliance
I have a 50 amp circuit wired with 6 Gauge AA-8000 Aluminum SE wire from the panel that goes to my oven/microwave combo, and then continues on to my cooktop. Both the oven/microwave combo as well as ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
769
views
USA: What is a code compliant method of running 12/2 through wood ledger board and into outside junction box?
I need to run one circuit of 12/2 from the basement (ranch house) up to the attic and then outside via the ledger board of the roof over my deck. Should I screw a short nipple into the back of the ...
- 502
3
votes
0
answers
69
views
Order of operations for getting electrical service turned on in Philadelphia
Let me start by saying I appreciate any information. Hopefully, Philly is not all that different from anywhere else, but Ideally Philadelphia specific info would be preferred.
I'm remodeling a ...
- 1,277
3
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Can someone assess my original thermostat's wiring setup?
This is a new world for me, I haven't messed with circuits since physics 101. When I watched a quick youtube tutorial on setting up my Nest E, I thought it'd be a simple "move wire in old C, to new C ...
- 31