0
votes
0answers
12 views
How can I prevent aluminum window frames from heating up when they're in full sun?
There is a room that has a window, the frame of the window is made of aluminum. This window is subjected to direct sunlight a long time of the day, which makes the aluminum get really hot, and start ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
What features should I look for in a full-house surge protector?
How does one select a surge protector for a typical home?
We get surges and slight drops in line voltage. We are the last pole on a small town electric provider, three miles from town. Surge ...
1
vote
2answers
20 views
How do I pre-treat and stain my hardwood floors a dark color?
I'm about to embark on my first floor-refinishing adventure and I'm jumping in the deep end — not just refinishing, but also staining. And not just staining, but staining a light wood pretty dang ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Why do I get water hammer after turning water supply back on?
I shut off the main water supply in the evening to replace the shower cartridge. I came back the next afternoon to finish the job. When I turned on the water main I started getting continuous water ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
What post size should I use for a 20'x24' deck [closed]
My deck is 20' by 24'. Should we use 6x6 posts or 4x4 posts? Which will look better on such a large deck?
1
vote
1answer
34 views
How to install this cheap metal curtain rod?
I bought one of these cheap curtain rods for my home theatre blackout curtains:
But it doesn't appear to have come with any instructions. I mean it appears that I'm supposed to just screw those ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Low-Cost 2x2 Ceiling Tile?
I don't like the look of the standard drop ceiling tiles in my finished basement. I'd like to replace them with something like the one picture below. However, the cost of these is prohibitive given ...
0
votes
1answer
24 views
Why is my shower cold even though there is hot water?
My shower gets full hot water with the cold turned off, but once I turn the cold water back on to the house my shower is barely lukewarm. I replaced the mixing valve on my single handled valve. When ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
How can I remove this flapper alternative?
I had good luck in the past using this product to replace a leaky flapper valve.
However, this new toilet does not have a flapper hinge on the base of the flush valve. Instead, there is a ...
1
vote
1answer
20 views
How do I remove a small amount of water based concrete sealer from a painted floor?
I was using a water based concrete sealer on my painted concrete floors. I did something wrong, and one tiny section didn't dry clear.
My question is, what can I use to remove a small portion ...
-2
votes
0answers
53 views
What is the name of a transparent nonflammable solid nonbreakable material? [closed]
The material is easily processed and easy to screw up screws. Perhaps there is a nonflammable (refractory is a requirement of the specification) transparent material used in construction (ie easy to ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
How do I repair a leak in a ferrocrete overhead water tank?
I have a ferrocrete overhead water tank. It has developed a leak at the edge. How do I repair this leak?
1
vote
3answers
48 views
How can I remotely monitor a GFCI receptacle?
How can a sump pump in a crawl space only accessible by crawling down a hole in a closet have its GFCI protected outlet monitored from the living room?
I am imagining the best way to run the pump is ...
2
votes
4answers
54 views
What can I use to stop drawers in an organizer from sliding out all the way?
I have purchased several of these small drawer units:
However, when I open the drawers, they come straight out - there is no mechanism to ensure that the drawers stay in the slot.
In the past, I ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Is there a glue which holds to glazed porcelain tiles?
My shower does not have a cabin, only a curtain. Said curtain tends to wave around while I am in the shower, clinging to my legs and letting water flow outside.
My best idea for a low-cost solution ...
3
votes
0answers
25 views
How should I connect 2x4 (or wood horizontal railing pieces) to exterior painted wood?
I'm planning to add a 10-foot railing to a patio that has a 6x6 wood post on one end and the exterior of the house on the other end of what will be the railing. I'm planning wood horizontal rails ...
3
votes
1answer
30 views
How should I mask when spraying trim?
I am getting ready to spray the trim in my house using a 211 tip. How much of each room needs to be masked or do I just need to mask everything (except the trim)?
1
vote
1answer
31 views
What underlay is used for installing pool tiles
Is it concrete? (i.e. cement and water)
Is it some kind of special caulk?
Is it something else?
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Can I convert a window A/C unit in to a pool-water cooled system?
I have an 18,000 BTU A/C unit that blew a compressor last year. Perfect for a small project. I however could not find a professional to help me out, so maybe it's DIYable. I know just about enough ...
3
votes
3answers
68 views
Can a TV be mounted directly into a heavy wooden entertainment center?
My dad has a built in entertainment center that is buit to accommodate an old CRT television. As such, the entertainment center itself is fairly deep (call it 24" or so), but the cavity for the ...
2
votes
0answers
27 views
Why aren't my radiators heating up after I replaced a rusted through pipe?
We had a bit of corrosion in an old pipe and it started leaking and losing pressure and so I drained all the central heating system (radiators), replaced the pipe and fitting. It was awkward and the ...
4
votes
1answer
54 views
How can I repair this wood window trim?
A small section of the window frame has rotted away (either that, or a woodpecker went at it)
Here is a picture of it
Click for larger view
What is the best way to fix this? Can I just cut out ...
2
votes
0answers
25 views
Why does my Rinnai Infinity water heater fire up after turning off the cold tap?
I have a Rinnai Infinity XR20. It's about 3 years old. I've just recently noticed a peculiar issue with it that I hadn't noticed before. If I turn on a cold tap like the one to the garden hose and ...
6
votes
2answers
79 views
Is a high electric bill for a pump house caused by a well pump running constantly?
I recently had to turn on the electric for a shared well in my name. I got a bill and it's as high as what my house bill is. The well is the only thing connected to the electric in the well house. We ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
What is going on with my central air?
I have a re-occurring issue with my central air. I have changed filters, cleaned all three intake vents and even had a serviceman out on three different occasions (two separate companies). My problem ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Where can one sell old left-over bricks? [closed]
Having had a bunch of building works done, I'm now left with a significant pile of house bricks, circa 1930s age.
Is there a market for selling this sort of surplus?
(I live in London, UK, so ...
-1
votes
0answers
42 views
Increasing Amps [closed]
I am not sure if this is the place to post this, but both physists and electricians should be able to help here, so I am going to cross post with DIY (sorry if this really annoys people - I know it ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Why is my toilet bubbling?
Last night while my washing machine and sink in the master bath was running, my master toilet started having air bubbles come up. Then this morning while I was showering I heard bubbles again, and ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
How can I wire a GFCI receptacle and a combination switch/receptacle device?
We are trying to install an outside receptacle box. We have one GFCI receptacle and one switch/receptacle combo. We want the combo to be protected by the GFCI. We also want the switch to control the ...
3
votes
4answers
190 views
Will I lose water pressure going from a 2“ pipe to a 1/2” pipe then back to 2"?
I have jimmied up a pool heater from an idea on YouTube, but just expanded it. I have a water line of 2" PVC, piped down to 1/2" copper, so it can run through a coil, then increased back to 2" PVC, ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
How can I fix a tilted concrete shed footing?
We just bought our first home, and it came with a shed (hooray! Workspace!).
The shed has a footing that's about 8" wide and runs the perimeter of shed, and at some point erosion has caused the part ...
2
votes
1answer
39 views
What could cause an old electric oven to run hot even when adjusted to the lowest setting?
I have an old (probably 1940s) Hotpoint stove/oven that came with my 1901 farmhouse. The cook-top works well enough to use but the oven runs in the neighborhood of 100 degrees F over what the dial is ...
-1
votes
0answers
29 views
Can I build my own vacuum chamber sealer system? [closed]
I've found a few examples on the internet of other's who have created there own vacuum chamber sealer (There are many advantages of using a chamber sealer compared to the bench top FoodSaver style ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
How do I calculate the proper fan size for a bathroom exhaust and the number of pickups?
Getting ready to remodel my bathroom and I'm thinking about installing an inline fan to reduce noise. I'm looking at Panasonic 120 and 240cfm models.
Bathroom is 7' x 8' x 8'. With a shower in one ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Does it mean a broken wire if a doorbell transformer works, but there is little-to-no voltage at the switch?
My family has just moved to an older home, and I've been tasked with repairing the doorbell(s).
We have two doorbells, both connected to the same (for lack of a better word) ding-dong-thing. :) I ...
0
votes
2answers
84 views
What's causing the popping noise from my speakers?
Several weeks ago, I moved into a new home. In office, I have my computer set up with a set of media speakers (older model of Logitech Z-550's). Every now and then the speakers will make a popping ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
How do I select and install a kitchen exhaust system?
I plan to make my own stainless steel hood cover instead of buying a brand-name hood.
Basically I need a hood cover, duct pipe, 2 unit exhaust fans and an exterior duct cover.
My kitchen is ...
1
vote
0answers
18 views
Why isn't there hot water coming from my faucet after stem replacement?
I just completed the replacement of the hot and cold water stems form my bathtub faucets. The hot water was leaking so I went ahead and replaced both. They were probably original to the house circa ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
Does a deck band board go over or replace wall sheathing?
I can't find an existing question that completely addresses my question, so here goes.
My outside deck was recently rebuilt by contractors selected by my HOA. The deck is effectively on the second ...
2
votes
0answers
40 views
Why is my air conditioner tripping the circuit breaker?
Our air conditioner recently stopped blowing out cold air. When I went to check on it, I noticed that the outside unit wasn't coming on. We had had problems with ants in the contacter in the past, ...
3
votes
0answers
51 views
How can I repair these cracks in my balcony wall?
I have recently purchased a flat which around three years old. The house is on 11th floor and has vertical cracks on balcony walls. Some of them are across the wall. Here are some pictures
Wall crack ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
What could cause an under-sink reverse osmosis filter to have low pressure?
The previous homeowner put in a GE SmartWater reverse osmosis filter under the sink, which is attached to the cold water. It was experiencing low pressure (the sink-top valve would spurt water for ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
Two stroke engine throttle not working [migrated]
This may not be the correct place to ask this question, but I'm not sure a more appropriate place exists.
I have a Craftsman 32.8cc 10in tiller with a two-stroke Tecumseh engine. It ran fine the ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
What can I use as an alternative for an underwriter's knot?
I want to hang a vertical pendant, but what do I do to prevent the wire from pulling through? The vertical cord is a hard nylon that can carry the vertical load of the pendant, and the hole in the ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
How to solve the problem of sticky Danish oil?
So I ignored the warnings about not getting spray disinfectant on our oak kitchen surface which is finished with Danish oil, and now the surface has become really sticky, attracting dust and crumbs ...
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Lawnmower cord won't pull [migrated]
I just tried starting my lawnmower (Lawnboy EasyMulch) after it had been sitting in my garage all winter. I pulled it out, cleaned it off (a lot of oil had spilled out), and gave it a basic ...
0
votes
2answers
49 views
How do I wire up a saeco magic deluxe coffee grinder to be a standalone coffee grinder? [closed]
I would like to make a standalone coffee grinder by reusing the grinder in an old broken down Magic Deluxe Espresso machine. My electrical skills are pretty limited but I thought I'd find an ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
Why is my Australian light fixture wired this way?
I just want to replace it with a new light fitting philips tcg701 but there's way too many wires and I don't know why it was done this way.
4
votes
1answer
68 views
What should I check when troubleshooting a doorbell?
Our doorbell stopped working a while ago and my wife finally bugged me enough to fix it.
First, I found a diagram on another site when I googled this. It is wired like the right box:
I started by ...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
What is involved in replacing leaking iron drain pipes in a house with a concrete foundation?
I noticed cracks in the walls getting larger and called someone to check on the foundation. The foundation is fine (it's previously been repaired) but the center of the house is sinking. I plugged the ...
