Questions tagged [safety]
For questions generally relating to preventing or avoiding injury in the home or on the job site.
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Can a gas dryer leak CO thru a second dryer via a y vent connection?
We have a second stackable electric dyer on the first floor that is vented via a Y vent connection from our primary gas dryer in the basement. The electric dryer actually gets warm when the gas dryer ...
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Is the exhaust from an electric dryer harmful?
We seem to have an exhaust leak from the dryer, as I can smell it when it's run.
Is this an urgent issue?
Since it's not gas, the exhaust should just be warm air, right? (though in that case, why can ...
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Kitchen shelf placement
I've bought a large, wooden kitchen shelf that I wanted to build up onto a wall above the stove, but my roommate said the heat from the stove will destroy the wood, and will become a health and safety ...
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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 ...
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Is my Non-Contact Voltage Tester from Klein Tools safe?
There are many questions regarding Non-Contact Voltage Testers. They are a great safety tool when used as recommended and when they are functioning as designed.
Has mine been recalled?
Model: Klein ...
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Unidentifiable worms appear on apartment floor
I found some worms on my apartment floor. I can’t find anything rotten around the apartment, but I don’t know how they got there. Are those maggots?
video link
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I live in an older home without ground wiring. Is it safe to install 3-prong GFCI with only a hot and neutral?
I live in an older home that doesn't have any ground wiring. Is it safe to just install 3-prong GFCI outlets and use devices and appliances that expect a ground wire connection when I just have the ...
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Is it safe to use circular saw without workbench or saw horse?
I'm building a chicken coop, and I want to build it in-place using a cordless circular saw. I did not purchase the saw yet, until now I've used a Jigsaw, but for that I need to take it down that will ...
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Is there any research about how risky it is to have a circular saw?
Is there any research about how risky it is to have a circular saw? I want to buy my first one. I already watched many YouTube safety tips. But, I am still concerned. Is there specific data on the ...
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How to repair (and prevent) pool cover tear & holes
We have a safety cover for an inground pool. Over the winter, heavy snow melting and refreezing caused it to be weighed below the surface and tore up a few holes where the cover contacts the concrete ...
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Voltage detector beeps on the sides of smart dimmer switch after installation
Possibly similar to Should a smart switch (that requires a neutral wire) cause my non-contact voltage tester to beep? but slightly different symptoms, and only on one switch.
After installing Leviton ...
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Yellowish residue from within water pipe
I was changing a valve today and used tissue to wipe water off the threads. While doing that, I also wiped the inside of the old pipe a bit through the opening, and I got yellow residue on the tissue (...
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How to handle carpet offgassing?
I moved into a new apartment and the carpet is offgassing VOCs. I'm quite sensitive to chemical smells and it irritates my nose and throat constantly. The carpet is around 1 year old, so it will ...
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How do I safely transport a heavy item downstairs?
I want to put a freezer in our basement. The models I'm interested in weigh around 60-75kg.
The shops will happily deliver the item to our front door, but from there, I'm on my own. I'm a 75kg middle-...
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Using air humidifier wick cleaned with home detergent - Any health concerns?
I have been using humidifier with rotating wick, and used to clean it with domestos detergent.
This detergent as said by manufacturer contains:
Non-ionic surfactants <5% - particular type not ...
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Is it safe to use a drill bit with a half broken tip?
I broke the tip of the masonry drill bit. The tip looks like this now. Half of it is missing, and it seems that the tip itself moved slightly towards the center (since at the bottom, it is parallel to ...
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Can I connect Ground from UPS outlet to another outlet which has no Ground?
Simplified situation: I live in a rented room. My room has two two outlets, namely Outlet A and Outlet B.
Outlet A has connections only from main supply. It has no connection to UPS. And, it has two ...
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Me and my mom and dad moved to a older house since we have moved in we have had health problems
Me and my mom and dad have been having health problems since we have moved in our house in October , have brain fog and anxiety and my alleges and ashms and rashes and my mom and dad have been having ...
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Rim joists sitting on top of notched post
My older deck doesn’t have a beam. Instead, the rim joist is attached to the 4x4 posts, most of which are notched and serve as both support for the rim joist and continue up as railing posts.
I ...
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Can I move a joist a few inches left without the ceiling falling on my head?
The ceiling above the stairs in my house (1950s, Minnesota) is too low.
I want to remove the offending joist (the one that's vertical in the picture), cut back the adjacent joists (horizontal) a few ...
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Electrician connected LED dimmer to halogen bulbs, worried about safety
An electrician replaced a rotary dimmer with another one that is rated for LED GU10 bulbs. The six existing halogen bulbs connected to the dimmer weren't replaced however.
The electrician said that ...
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3
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What are the safety concerns in running low voltage wire to LEDs behind a wall?
I've been using some fairly cheap 22AWG wire for running between flexible LED strips and their transformers. Some 24V some 12V, but all well below the amperage rating for this gauge.
The wire says it'...
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What is the best method and tool to detect harmful non-carbon-monoixde gases?
I recently cleaned my home's air filters and discovered a significant increase in well-being.
Previously, staying at home during the weekend for more than 1-2 hours resulted in fatigue and dizziness,
...
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Is it normal for GFI test button to trip GFI when the circuit is dead?
My welder has been tripping the GFI on the circuit in the garage after I have been using it a while. I finally took the cover off and discovered the electrician saved himself, what? $2 and used a ...
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Dead end in pipes and legionella risk
Today a plumber removed a sink from my house and sealed the two corresponding pipes at the location where they branch from the rest of the system. I expressly asked him to do this because I wanted to ...
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What kind of glove offers the best protection when using an angle grinder?
I wanted to start doing metalworking for a long time and I finally got an angle grinder of 4 1\2". I also bought the appropriate safety equipment face shield, some safety glasses and I'm planning ...
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Why don't bookshelves come with wall mounting screws included?
I was assembling an IKEA bookshelf, and one of the most important steps to ensure safety is the installation of the L-bracket to secure the bookshelf to the wall. All the parts, including the bracket ...
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Propane and septic pipes
Is it safe to have a propane line (within a PVC conduit) cross a septic pipe (house to septic tank) underground?
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Should twisted wire joints to 5 kW water heater be soldered?
Say I'm connecting a water heater (~5kW) to the mains and I need to make a joint, not just replace the cable with a longer one.
Considering the high power consumption, would soldering the joint help ...
user6459
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Is it safe to use dishes that have had turpentine on them?
A rag that had turpentine on it was rinsed off in my kitchen sink that had dishes in it. If I wash the dishes with soap and water will they be safe to use? Should I just throw out the dishes? I don’t ...
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How to demolish old stone walls safely?
We are renovating an old property in France where three walls of an old stone schoolhouse (10ish meters high I'm guessing, maybe more in some places) sit adjacent to the more recent house (1950s). We ...
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How is the elevator inspection area on top of an elevator accessed? [closed]
Does anyone know or have any experience with how one typically accesses the inspection area on top of most elevators?
It's a fairly large set of elevators in a 20 story building if that makes a ...
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Mask for Cutting Hardie Board
Is there a standard mask to protect the lungs when cutting Hardie board? While specifics masks suggestions are appreciated, I am trying to understand how to avoid sub-standard masks and avoiding ...
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Does build up in lead pipes make them less dangerous?
Maybe this would be more likely in warm water pipes. A place I saw had a super slow warm water tap, which someone with a plumbing background said was from the passageway in the lead pipe decreasing. ...
user131131
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How to test that GFCI works?
I hired an electrician to install a GFCI outlet outdoors. I need this to power some pumps in an aquaponics system, so I need to guarantee it works, so kids don't get hurt while playing in the water. ...
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What is the risk of using tandem breakers in a panel that doesn't allow them?
I have a PoN Square D QO 200A rated panel with a 100A main breaker. Model QO154M200P
This panel allows 10 tandem breakers, but as some of you know the older QO double breakers (without the hook) fit ...
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Could a Cadet heater release metallic nanoparticles?
I have a few Cadet wall units in my house. (These are about 12x8 in units mounted in the walls.)
One of the units has a built-in thermostat and a knob to adjust the temperature.
I don't know how old ...
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Is the advice "don't operate light switches barefoot" outdated?
I was taught in my young age (1980s-1990s) not to operate light switches (or anything electrical) barefoot. Is this advice still relevant in 2021 (in a modern house in Western Europe with grounding, ...
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TV mount in plaster wall with no studs
Is it possible to mount a 65in tv on a 1.5in thick plaster wall over a fireplace? there are no studs, and about a 3in air space before its solid again. probably insde brick chimney wall. i never use ...
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How can I stabilize the footing of a ladder?
Whenever I saw a professional on a ladder, there was someone else at the foot of the ladder holding the sides of the ladder.
Now that my rain gutters are frozen solid, they are creaking, and I'm ...
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1960s light switch issue wiring
If the top bracket in the image here came out and didn’t go back in, would it be a safety issue to turn the circuit back on? There was no wire connected to the screw/bracket — it seemed to just be ...
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What are the dangers of operating a mini excavator?
I plan to rent an excavator like this:
I am aware that it is quite dangerous if someone walks by and is hit by the bucket, but assuming I can clear the area of passers-by, what are some common ...
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Grounding nightmare
Please don't laugh (too much), but maybe someone can tell if this is safe or not? It looks at best a total bodge job to me, and at worst downright dangerous, but I don't know what I'm on about to be ...
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Small shop fire safety for liquids/wood dust
I am setting up a very basic wood shop. Basically a car garage. But I am away for it often for a few days at a time. It does have a fire alarm which of course depends on someone hearing it but I've ...
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Why I am having eye irritation problem with oil radiator in my home (in India/Asia) when I never had such problem in Europe
I used to live in Europe, and I loved electronic oil radiators as well as central heating.
This year, I decided to buy an electronic oil radiator for my home in Delhi, India. But whenever I use it, my ...
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Safe to plug a travel adapter into a power strip?
I've got a dual voltage (110/220V) lamp that has a European plug and want to plug it into a North American outlet that has a power strip plugged into it. So I will have to use a plug adapter (not ...
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Is there a reason I shouldn't use an oil radiator to heat a 1400 sq ft (130 sq m) space? (Why do commercial buildings use electric air heaters?)
I moved into a studio apartment in a commercial building turned residential. It has this kind of heater—
—which I believe is an electric air heater. It's loud as hell.
Everything I'm reading says oil-...
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Can you safely install high-pressure sodium wall packs indoors?
I really like the appearance of old street lights (the high-pressure sodium kind). To get the same effect indoors, I was thinking of getting an ordinary high-pressure sodium wall pack (like this one, ...
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Is it ever ok to wash a towel that has had mineral spirits on it?
I use mineral spirits as a degreaser on metal, usually removing manufacturing or packing residue. Usually, I use paper towels, let them dry, throw them in a sealable can and then store it until I have ...
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Killing Cockroaches Safely
I am renting an Airbnb in South America. To kill cockroaches, the owner put a fine layer of white powder (from internet searches, I believe this is either borax or diatomaceous earth) on the floor ...
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