All Questions
12,322
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
5
votes
3
answers
680
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
5
votes
0
answers
107
views
Shore up stone foundation cap at house sill
I need to shore up the crown of a quarry/limestone foundation where the foundation meets the sill. This sill runs parallel to the floor joists and most of the damage is located between two windows.
I ...
- 151
5
votes
0
answers
185
views
blum 170 degree 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 followingthis PDF but it still just won’t close. I’ve ...
- 151
5
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
- 43.1k
4
votes
2
answers
121
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 ...
- 41
4
votes
1
answer
245
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
1
answer
71
views
Help me Understand Hydronic System Boiler Circulator RPM / HP / Head / Flow / System Pressure
Help me understand the correlation between boiler circulator RPM / HP / Head / Flow / System Pressure - see the particulars at the bottom.
CASE: My 1986 boiler came with Armstrong S25 circ (same as B&...
- 61
4
votes
0
answers
124
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 ...
- 225
4
votes
1
answer
134
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 ...
- 365
4
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Should a backflow preventer be installed upstream of a hose bib or just the irrigation branch?
I am getting ready to install a Zurn 34-720A Wilkins Pressure Vacuum backflow preventer on my DIY irrigation system. The main water supply is the pipe coming out from under the storage shed. It tees ...
4
votes
2
answers
367
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
95
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
37
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
95
views
What is the Name of this Window Part
I have double hung windows. The rectangular plastic piece in the middle of the image is on both sides of all my window sashes near the bottom and seems to act as a spacer. On completely different ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
94
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
105
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
1
answer
83
views
This shower door isn't closing in the correct position. How do I fix it?
Having a issue where this shower door swings open and doesn't stay closed. I have to take a shower with the door swinged into the shower or open letting water out. These are saloon style hinges so ...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
185
views
Nightly overwhelming sewer gas smell from shower drain only while in use
Ok here is a doozy we have been dealing with for over a year.
House was a new build 2012 and we had never had any plumbing issues until we had our roof replaced a bit over a year back and around the ...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
59
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. ...
- 225
3
votes
0
answers
96
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
653
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
151
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
277
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
119
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 ...
- 570
3
votes
0
answers
551
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 ...
- 1,458
3
votes
1
answer
117
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
112
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
2
answers
1k
views
Help deciphering rafter span table from International Residential Code
I'm wanting to have a better understanding of how to read the IRC rafter span table - Here's an article which shows a couple of tables which I am including here.
Now let's say I have a 12:12 roof - ...
- 150
3
votes
0
answers
4k
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
238
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
0
answers
159
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 ...
- 279
3
votes
0
answers
425
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
1
answer
203
views
Gas pipe behind gutter, causing water damage on facia
During a room addition long ago, gas line was rerouted to travel through addition, then along facia toward furnace. Because it travels behind gutter, water rides behind the gutter in some spots along ...
- 175
3
votes
0
answers
349
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
176
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
6k
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 ...
- 337
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to add a washing machine drain to an existing cleanout in basement
I have the current setup in the basement, as shown in the photos below. I would like to see if any wisdom can be shared here to add a proper drain for the washer, i.e., a 18" standpipe with a p-...
- 31
3
votes
0
answers
265
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
154
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
993
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
109
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
962
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
102
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
729
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 ...
- 492
3
votes
0
answers
68
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 ...
- 1,247
3
votes
0
answers
874
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
3
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Bending radius for NM cable through stud
From what I understand from the NEC, bending radius for an NM cable must be at least 5x the diameter of the cable bundle (“romex”).
But how do you calculate this in a real life scenario. Is the ...
- 399
3
votes
0
answers
318
views
How do I manage grounding when installing a metal extension on a plastic box?
I've been repairing an outlet that's not supposed to be recessed, but is, so I purchased a box extension from the local hardware store. When I tried to put it in, I realized it interferes with the ...
- 149