All Questions
85,013
questions
2
votes
1
answer
6k
views
How to attach an anchor to a corner bead?
I'm trying to hang a blind mount to my window frame.
While doing so, I've noticed that I'm hitting the corner bead.
I was wondering, if someone can please point me out to a tutorial, how to use an ...
- 23
2
votes
2
answers
20k
views
Removing a stuck/frozen compression fitting
I have a home built in the mid-70's and we are wanting to do some remodeling in the bathrooms. Since I can't turn off those old valves under the sinks, I thought this would be a great time to replace ...
- 867
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Repair or Replace Cut Floor Joist
After removing an old bathroom floor in a historic structure, in order to sister joists for a level surface to install new subfloor, we found that one of the original floor joists was notched, and ...
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Replacing a dimmer switch to a normal switch
I have 4 switches on my switch board. One regular switch and three dimmer switches. I need to swap one of the dimmer switch with the regular switch
I have a dimmer switch which has three wires. one ...
- 145
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Should I staple new wires to studs in an existing wall?
I have some wires that were originally pulled through a wall from a junction box to an outlet. The drywall is off the wall right now and I'm doing some work on the wiring. Would best practice be to ...
- 165
2
votes
1
answer
10k
views
Bulbs for dusk to dawn outdoor light fixtures
I have 3 outdoor light fixtures controlled by a simple single pole switch in my garage. They had old incandescent light bulbs in them.
I replaced one with a CFL bulb and it worked fine - until the ...
- 247
2
votes
1
answer
179
views
Water heater in close with wall ajoining breaker panel?
I have an electric breaker panel in the bedroom closet.
On the other side of this wall is a hall closet.
I want to move my hot water heater into this closet however the contractor says that it's ...
- 21
2
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Is it safe to connect dish washers and laundry machines to hot water?
Is it a good practice to connect the dish washer and laundry machine to the hot water line, instead of the cold water line?
My house has heated water, so this would save energy and time; I wonder if ...
- 135
2
votes
1
answer
715
views
How do I change a bulb in this flush mounted light fixture?
I need to replace the bulb in this flush mounted ceiling light with a glass dome but cannot open it. There are two handles (springs?) that I assume should be used to achieve that but I could not ...
- 151
2
votes
2
answers
225
views
Cosmetic plug for 3/4" hole in drywall?
I want to move my router from my office to the hall, directly through the drywall on both sides, and then run the router power cable (low-voltage because it is post-transformer) and two Cat6 cables (...
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
11k
views
can you immediately apply a coat of joint compound over the tape?
After applying mud to the drywall seams and then bedding tape, can you immediately apply a coat of joint compound over the tape? Or will this cause bubbling?
Is it best to let the tape dry in the bed ...
- 628
2
votes
3
answers
17k
views
Drywall thickness requirements
In a two storey house, is 5/8" drywall required on the ceiling of both the first floor ceiling and the upstairs ceiling? Or is it only required between the second floor ceiling and attic space as a ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Surface mount power outlet under kitchen sink
Can I surface mount a power outlet under the kitchen sink? Or does it have to be a box that sits on the surface of the cabinet wall?
- 254
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How can I build a subpanel off a 3 prong 220V dryer outlet?
I have an unused 220V, 3 prong (2-conductor) dryer outlet in my garage and would like to convert that into 2 110V supplies to some overhead lights and a ceiling outlet for a garage door opener. How do ...
- 413
2
votes
2
answers
15k
views
Multiple circuits in the same conduit to outbuildings
We currently have a single 15 amp circuit feeding the pool filter, then the pool shed and then the gazebo. We recently buried a new conduit from the house to the location of the pool filter receptacle....
- 183
2
votes
1
answer
562
views
Change switched outlet location
I recently moved to an apartment with no ceiling lights. All wall switches are wired to a specific outlet in each room. Unfortunately, the switch each one controls is in the worst possible location ...
- 123
2
votes
1
answer
331
views
Should I rekey new locks before or after installing?
I'm buying several Schlage smart locks for my house. I'm gonna buy one to make sure it fits on all my doors and then buy the rest.
Is it better or cheaper to these rekeyed before installing them?
- 123
2
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Are these fibers in my drywall asbestos?
While removing/cleaning the bathroom fan hood, I noticed that the edges of the hole in the drywall ceiling have a very fibrous-looking layer/sheet on each side of the gypsum.
This house is very old (...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
is fire alarm system conduit color clearly identified on NFPA or UFC?
Inspector says that I have to use red emt conduit for fire alarm system. I want to prove that it doesn't specified in any standarts.
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
270
views
Is there a way to stop an external door being slammed
I live in a block of flats and we have an errant social housing tenant who gets in in the middle of the night and slams the front door.
We have a hydrolic door closer on the door - although only one ...
- 137
2
votes
2
answers
12k
views
2 x Wire Lines in Ceiling Electrical Box - 2 White/2 Black - 3 of them are always hot
I took down an old large chandelier to replace it with a new smaller one. It took a few weeks to repair the ceiling and find a new chandelier and I didn't take a photo of the original wiring setup.
...
- 33
2
votes
1
answer
240
views
Did I wire this dimmer switch correctly?
We just bought a house built in '74 and all the lights were on dimmers except for one in the hall by the bedrooms. I wanted to to put a dimmer in so my daughter can use it as a faux night light if she ...
- 227
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How can I install/remove ceiling lights from the attic? [closed]
I have a home with vaulted ceilings (20 ft high) and recessed lighting. I have access to the fixtures and wiring from a stand-up attic. I have needed to rent a very high ladder or scaffolding to ...
- 21
2
votes
3
answers
17k
views
can I fill a water tank from bottom?
I'm about to place a water storing tank at ground level and connect the water feeder pipe at the bottom of the tank. Would water fill normally as the top filling? Would atmospheric pressure + water ...
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
374
views
4-wire or 3-wire kitchen upgrade?
Our kitchen wiring is getting updated because right now we are running everything off of two circuits. The electrician recommended we put a 4-wire system in versus a 3-wire since he will be pulling ...
- 1,055
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Should switch cover plates be installed before final inspection?
For final inspection should I put the switch/outlet cover plates on? It's a minor pain because we still have to tape, sand and paint. We are in Portland Oregon. This is in a bedroom, not a kitchen or ...
- 211
2
votes
1
answer
157
views
Odd smell from hot water if I don't use it for a while, what could it be?
I moved in about 3 years ago. I noticed when I was running hot water I got a terrible fart smell from the water. I ran all faucets on hot in the house to drain the hot water heater and fill it with ...
- 135
2
votes
2
answers
762
views
Do truly air-sealed electrically-actuated duct damper exist?
I need to install an exterior makeup air duct to provide makeup air for my new stove hood.
My house is fairly tight, and I've been making energy efficient improvements including tightening the ...
- 879
2
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Water heater temperature and pressure relief valve plumbing
I recently bought a home in Florida where the electric water heater is located in the garage. I seem to have felt some odd water temperature fluctuations where one day it felt much cooler than normal ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
24k
views
Drywall skim coat has bubbles. How to fix?
I primed my walls yesterday and noticed that there are tiny holes (1mm diam) from bubbles in the skim coat. I primed it anyway thinking that the primer will fill the holes.
What's the best way to ...
- 5,030
2
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Removing Oxbox GripTip
Hey guys! I'm trying to install a drainage line and I came across this Oxbox drainage line cover. I couldn't figure out how to remove it and have been attacking it with pliers to no success.
Does ...
- 123
2
votes
1
answer
14k
views
Why doesn't my dehumidifier stay on the humidity setting I select?
This is my 40 pint dehumidifier. I need help setting the humidity it just keeps jumping to 76• and I need it at somewhere around 45•.
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there any difference between wood screw and anchor screws?
I have purchased a screws and plug set from IKEA. However, I want to secure a bookshelf on a stud.
May I use the screws from the set? Is there any difference between screws with anchors and wood ...
- 167
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Outlets that work only part of the time
In one of the bedrooms there are two outlets that work part of the time if you plug something in you might have to wiggle the plug to make it work. The bedroom next to it the closet light does the ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Shower pump humming when taps opened, but no flow
I've got a Salamander CT50 Twin shower pump that provides pumped hot and cold water to the shower. The hot water output is also piped up to the hot water tap in the bathroom (the cold water tap runs ...
- 185
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
how do i connect a plastic shower drain to my old metal sewer
I am remodeling a shower how do i swap this drain, with my old drain, for my old school mortar shower pan?
this is how it looks like on top
- 510
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
non-permanent construction adhesive?
I'm building a small floating wall about 3.5' wide. almost 8' tall. It will be 'floating' 8" away from the ceiling, floor, and perpendicular wall via 1/4" steel pipe connected to floor flanges. It ...
- 24.3k
2
votes
1
answer
860
views
Light fitting plastered into ceiling
Hoping someone can help...
I recently had some plaster work done throughout my house. Skimming on the walls and new board on the ceiling.
Annoyingly, the chap has plastered around the light ...
2
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Only 1/8" of NM cable sheathing in electrical box?
I live in Massachusetts and I'm having my unfinished attic turned into living space; I failed the initial rough inspection for a variety of reasons. One of the things the inspector told me is that the ...
- 763
2
votes
1
answer
253
views
Can I tile my shower in stages on different days? [duplicate]
I am trying to decide if I want to tile my shower myself. Can I tile in sections on different days? Say if I can only get a few walls done and have to stop, is that ok? I have built an L shaped shower ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
499
views
What could cause only one radiator to not become warm? [duplicate]
I have gas powered hot water heat in a home I purchased. When I tested it this morning I got a lot of whistling and other noises that subsided for the most part. After the heat had run for 20-30 ...
- 129
2
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can I use silicone to glue drain gasket to drain before setting tub?
I am about to set a bathtub onto an already installed drain. Before moving the cast iron tub into place I need to first set a rubber washer on drain assembly. Since there is very access and the tub ...
- 123
2
votes
4
answers
21k
views
Why is there whitish gunk in my fridge water even after changing the filter
Why is there white filaments like in the water coming out of our fridge? We have changed the water filter 2 weeks ago, still no improvement.
2
votes
1
answer
817
views
Is my nearby neighbor's foundation excavation a concern for my home?
Hope someone can answer my Question. I live in Milwaukee WI.My neighbor just informed me she will have to have her basement excavated. The side of her house is 14 feet away from the side of my house. ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
627
views
No sunlight in kitchen
My kitchen used to get plenty of sunlight through windows, but a building being constructed next to ours has completely blocked the sunlight from entering the kitchen. There is no proper ventilation ...
- 121
2
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Nest Thermostat Wiring for Baseboard Heaters
I'm using a Nest Thermostat to power baseboard heaters (240VAC).
I have 4 wires that I have access to:
2 wires: Red/Black from a transformer which outputs 24VAC
2 wires: 24VAC from a thermostat ...
- 123
2
votes
3
answers
976
views
How can I preserve paint and brushes between projects?
I'm painting up a project, where I don't have the space to place all the pieces in the open and paint them all at once. So it's
prime a piece (wait X hours)
lightly sand it
spackle/fill spots
topcoat ...
- 284
2
votes
1
answer
97
views
Hardwood floor help
Any advise on how to clean these floors after pulling up carpet would be great or is it time to just get a sander and refinish?
Much thanks in advance.
Charles
- 23
2
votes
3
answers
10k
views
How can I repair a torn out cabinet hinge mount?
So the story goes that our roommate (who does not live with us anymore) slipped in the bathroom and somehow managed to break the cabinet door off the wall part of the cabinet. The point is when she ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How can I repair decking and a joist damaged by a small fire?
Whoops.
My deck caught fire and now I need to replace the burnt parts. From what I can tell, I need to pry up the deck boards to access the burnt joist. Then replace the decking that was damaged on ...
- 123