Questions tagged [fire-safety]

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Fire door from indoors (the house) to garage does not fit the jamb properly. Sometimes it's very difficult to close the door as it hits the threshold

This old fire door and frame does not fit properly. The metal door sometimes hits the threshold at the bottom and will not close. I have to put shims under the threshold outside to lower the inside of ...
Elizabeth Singer's user avatar
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What are my options for a low ceiling garage door opener?

I have a two car garage with a low ceiling and limited side wall space. Whoever installed the two garage door openers decided that they needed the head room and cut out a strip of drywall running the ...
achao's user avatar
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1 answer
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Fire / smoke detectors with email notifications [closed]

Are there any fire / smoke detectors that can send an email notification when activated? I don't want mobile phone notifications, only email. It's not important if it meets any fire safety regulations ...
b7031719's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

What’s the ampacity for 18 AWG wire, at 24 V AC

I’m wiring up some door bells for my company. Have at 120v to 24vAC 50VA transformer. The length of wire is somewhere around 200ft at it longest single length. I’m just wondering what’s the max amp ...
Dalton's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is it safe to have an unused bulb socket in my ceiling fan?

I don’t have a bulb for my ceiling fan but it has a glass cover. Is that safe? The bulb popped and I haven’t got a new bulb yet and was wondering if the open socket would be safe.
Bryan's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
122 views

Would blown-in insulation provide any degree of blocking in balloon construction?

As I understand it... One of the problems with old-style balloon construction of walls was that since there was a continuous space between studs which ran the full height of the house, a housefire ...
keshlam's user avatar
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1 answer
637 views

How do I avoid overcharging the inverter battery and keep it healthy [closed]

I have installed the Luminous Inverter Battery (lead acid) as power back up for essential electrical appliances at home. There is not much electricity cut. I just want to be sure that I'm not ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
278 views

exposed ceiling around ceiling box

A fundamental tenet of electrical wiring safety is that all connections (of AC household wiring, typically 120 or 240v) be enclosed in rated electrical boxes. However, ceiling light fixtures and fans ...
RustyShackleford's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
173 views

How do I take the slack out of a door closer chain?

There is a cylinder with a spring inside. Presumably when the spring is compressed it will pull the external chain attached to it to be taught, I.e. not slack. But I can't keep the spring compressed ...
therobyouknow's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
426 views

Reflective bubble insulation for making stairs fire-resistant?

I recently moved into a two-story home that has a storage cupboard under the stairs. There is no finish underneath the bottom part of the stairs, and the bare plywood is exposed, which is a fire ...
Kevin's user avatar
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Can junction box be placed on insulation above ceiling drywall?

I am thinking of installing these lights on my ceiling. Each light comes with its own junction box that you just leave inside the ceiling. My ceiling, however, has insulation right above it. Is it ...
sprogissd's user avatar
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What causes a rainbow sheen on wire jacket?

I've got this wire running through my wall that has a bit of a rainbow sheen to it. I feel like that's probably an indication the wire has gotten a bit toasty in the past and should be replaced. Is ...
Wayne Werner's user avatar
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3 answers
3k views

Can I connect a 1-3 adapter to a 12/3 extension cord?

Before I ask, I understand how extension cords work to a point. I understand if anything is plugged in, it needs to stay under the rated wattage and amperage. I also understand the way cords are rated ...
user282951's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
5k views

Is it safe to use foil heat tape inside the dryer?

The metal air duct pipe inside my electric dryer does not seem to completely seal against the plastic housing of the exhaust blower fan. Is it safe to use metal foil heat tape to join them together, ...
culix's user avatar
  • 167
6 votes
1 answer
437 views

Back stabbed outlets

A number of years ago I had our electrician change all of our quick wired/back stabbed outlets in our new home to the screw terminals for better and safer connections. Recently I discovered he didn’t ...
Jban2020's user avatar
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2 answers
582 views

What can be safely attached to a gas furnace cabinet?

The gas furnace in my house is in my laundry room about 3 inches from a stacked washer and dryer. As such, my laundry room is short on space, so I had the thought I could add some organization by ...
Merlin -they-them-'s user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
2k views

How can I make my electrical box dustproof?

I have a 1-gang box that I'm installing a switch in, for my wood shop. I need to make it dust-resistant, if not absolutely dustproof. I can't use a waterproof box because I don't think they're made ...
user278411's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
371 views

Fire safety for room on interior of home

I’m looking at a house that has a room on the interior (highlighted in red below) with no window/door to the outside of the area. Knowing that this isn’t fire code compliant to be considered a bedroom,...
coreyg's user avatar
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2k views

How do I Re-Light My 1995 Magic Chef free stand stove Model# 3110PRW & the pilot Light for the Oven also needs Lit?

It’s my vacation home ,It was working until I removed burner plates, to clean stove top. Next day it wouldnt turn on, even with a match, The pilot light for the oven , off also ? Do they work off one ...
Barbie's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
2 answers
187 views

Is wire arcing a potential danger?

I have a cable running along my basement ceiling. There is a cord connection (looks like an extension added to it) but where they connect is all metal (it looks like an AUX jack). There is slack in ...
Jennifer Walker's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
352 views

Extension Cords - Electrical Hazards & Safety

We are looking at purchasing a Residence that has a Home Office Area attached to it. It is Commercially zoned in a Canadian Province. Upon doing a walk through, we noticed an extension cord layout ...
Ted's user avatar
  • 29
21 votes
4 answers
2k views

Should lintels above wall portals be considered for smoke alarm placement?

I need to place a smoke alarm on my first floor (no sleeping areas). There is a wall portal with a 15" lintel (see image) between the living room and the dining room. I am unsure whether one alarm is ...
Darryl's user avatar
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0 answers
61 views

2 seconds of darkness

I got a 240 plug in room a, running 4 1000 watt lights. I got a table lamp in a 110 in room b When the 240 kicks on in room a, the light i have pluged into the 110 goes off for a second or 2 in ...
Brandon's user avatar
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2 answers
1k views

Is it safe to stuff some insulation above my electric stove?

I have a coil-style electric stove with a "hood" above it. The hood has a nice light fixture built in. It also has an exhaust fan which I frankly never use. The problem is that there is a gap where ...
aparente001's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
338 views

May I block off all windows in a mostly below-ground basement?

I have read Is it necessary to put a special egress window in a basement bedroom if there's already a window above ground. My situation is similar but different. My basement has a furnace, a ...
aparente001's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
3k views

Refrigerator should be away from LPG cylinder. Why?

In India (and probably other parts of the world) there's general advice regarding refrigerator positioning. It is suggested that we keep the refrigerator away from the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) ...
Krishter's user avatar
  • 123
0 votes
2 answers
409 views

18 gauge wire on 18 branches

I have 12 gauge wire to a 20amp circuit going around a bedroom. Then I have a fixture with 18 G9 LED bulbs on a chandelier. Do I just wire all hot leads to the hot 12 gauge and wire all the whites ...
Dean Hiller's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
5k views

Part identification: Thermal cutoff within baseboard heater

We had a contractor paint our baseboard heaters with white thermal paint. He gutted the radiator's electrical components, in order to prepare the chassis for painting. In doing so, he snipped what he ...
Alexander's user avatar
  • 183
0 votes
2 answers
201 views

Are lightbulbs in a wooden range hood safe?

I'm building a wooden range hood and I'd like to know if my lighting setup is safe. I have two recessed fixtures with 5 watt LED bulbs. I know that LED bulbs don't really get too hot, but is it a ...
user3080392's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
3k views

Should I use Fire Bricks in Wood Stove

I recently bought a new place with a wood stove which needs the Fire Bricks replaced. I have read they reduce heat generation in the room and might not be needed. (More efficient without but possibly ...
FreeSoftwareServers's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
98 views

Why is my electric wall oven suddenly causing strong hot chemical odor?

Friday solar panel company was in attic crawl space doing wiring for panels. Solar not yet energized. Sunday used electric wall oven, had very strong hot wire/chemical odor, never had this before. ...
Sandy's user avatar
  • 11