All Questions
70,903
questions
0
votes
3
answers
66
views
Siemens GFCI+ARC combo keeps tripping
It was being temperamental, working for periods, and then tripping for periods.
So I replaced it with another Siemens combo breaker, but it still trips. If I replace it with a non GFCI breaker it ...
- 111
0
votes
3
answers
175
views
What's the best way to use our bathwater to water our garden?
Every year nowadays, we have a heatwave that dries up our garden.
Every morning, I have a shower that uses a whole load of clean water, and still leaves it reasonably clean; clean enough to water the ...
- 99
0
votes
1
answer
54
views
Ac lines a frosted a bit and fan not blowing as hard
My ac line has a bit of frost on it and isn't blowing as hard. This has happened 3 times now. So I turn cool off and just run the fan for an hour and it works fine for a few days. I've changed the air ...
0
votes
1
answer
28
views
New pool heater install wiring question
I am installing a raypak natural gas pool heater in my garage. It has dual voltage 120v or 240v. There was a pool heater in the garage at some point, previous home owner removed it. There is a Gfci ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Floor drain is overflowing next to furnace
We have our furnace on the second floor of our home. There is a pvc pipe coming from the top part and it leads to what looks like a floor drain. The last couple of weeks when our air conditioner is on,...
1
vote
2
answers
62
views
How to reduce leaking at plastic click-on 2-way coupling?
How can I reduce the leaking seen here?
It is leaking at the standard single o-ring hose connector 2-way plastic click-on connector such as this that came with the kit.
The water pressure is already ...
- 113
0
votes
1
answer
83
views
Does anyone know what the black cables that are taped together, and how do I get this grounded?
I went to replace a light in my hallway and there is no ground wire. There’s a red wire connected to the black wires from the light and a white wire. I noticed a bunch of black wires taped with ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
How Many Circuits Should I Add Upstairs?
I bought a single-family dwelling in the USA last year with this scenario on the 2nd floor:
Circuit #1 - 15 Amp
Bathroom lights
Living area (395 sq ft) lights & 7 duplex receptacles.
Attic lights
...
- 1,012
0
votes
1
answer
36
views
Fixing skirting boards to wall with significant gap in between
We have had a wall re-plastered, due to a damp issue caused by rubble in an old fireplace and plaster bridging the concrete floor and the wall.
The plasterer has left a gap between the floor and the ...
- 101
1
vote
2
answers
79
views
Can electrical conduit indoors on surface of finished wall penetrate ceiling without special portal?
I'm running some THHN wires from surface-mounted receptacles in a finished kitchen up the surface of the wall and into the attic. Surface run is wiremold 700 raceway, conduit in attic is flex. I've ...
- 1,540
0
votes
3
answers
115
views
When 2 Jointed White Neutral Wires are separated, one becomes Hot?
Electrical Socket in Ceiling Issue
I wanted to replace a ceiling light in the foyer after 7 years. The ceiling light electrical socket has 3 wires.
Two Black wires joined together (capped & not ...
0
votes
1
answer
74
views
How should I reconnect my ceiling fan to this three-way circuit?
I am replacing a kitchen ceiling light/fan in a house I just recently purchased. It has two separate cables coming into it. Each contains a red, black, white, and ground wire.
The box is controlled by ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
64
views
How can I better brace the walls of my timber building to avoid blocking window openings?
I'm rebuilding a wooden structure on a brick base, approx 5x3m footprint.
The main frame is built of 6x3" timber, to increase rigidity we have added corner braces in each direction, at the ends ...
- 276
2
votes
1
answer
61
views
Two P-Traps on Single Vent?
I am replacing the old washing machine drain stand pipe, p-trap and clean-out. I am adding a utility sink to the garage laundry area washing machine vent stack.
Am I creating a possible issue by ...
- 344
0
votes
0
answers
48
views
Can you install a heat pump with 4 wires?
I currently have a central AC system. I'm looking into replacing it with a variable speed one. I've been told that if I'm replacing it anyways, I should look into getting a heat pump instead for a ...
- 343
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What's the purpose of this lumber resting on top plate of the wall?
Today I was doing some due diligence to open up an interior wall on the first floor or 2 story house built in 1968. The wall runs parallel to the joists so presumably is a non load bearing. When I cut ...
- 193
1
vote
2
answers
40
views
weather resistant wood board on loggia
I have a loggia (=balcony where the sides are closed so that weather can only come from the open front).
I want to put a board with short legs on the side of it (like a very low table, around 30cm ...
- 167
1
vote
2
answers
116
views
Building a concrete basement one year and the structure on top the following one
Suppose you pour a concrete basement (consisting of a foundation at the bottom, four walls, concrete slab over the four walls) one summer, then return the following summer to build a bungalow on top.
...
- 505
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
Question about AFCI breakers
I wanted to change my breakers to AFCI, but don’t know if it possible. I have 4 20 amp circuits running to my kitchen. The wiring is 12-3, but this is where it gets weird for a DIYer, like myself. One ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
Will i compromise the structural integrity of my I-joist if i hang two 4×8 garage storage racks
I am looking to install two 4x8 overhead storage racks in my garage. Will I compromise the structural integrity of my i-joist, that is, 2"wide × 1 3/8"high × 3/4" to the web if I drill ...
- 13
-1
votes
0
answers
36
views
How to connect:wiring of 4 whites,1red,1blue,1greenand 1gold to 2 white wires socket [closed]
My home front camera got disconnected.
I need help in connecting it.
Pls help.
In plug in side there’s 2 white wire.
In the camera side there’s 4 white wire, 1 blue wire, 1 red wire, 1green wire, 1 ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
Gas pressure drop across run - safe to elevate house pressure?
Gas pipe ratings have a certain amount of BTU with a certain pressure drop. Looking at https://www.gastite.com/downloads/pdfs/gastite_sizing_tables_natural_gas.pdf for example, it says in table 7-6 ...
- 426
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Mystery telephone connection block in old cottage
enter image description hereThis is the old connection block as the wires come into our cottage.
We have been trying to figure out why the phone stopped working
- 31
0
votes
2
answers
62
views
Can I put more than one single-zone ductless mini split on a single branch circuit?
I’m planning to replace my old central forced air HVAC with mini split systems, but for a number of reasons, it will be more than a single multi-zone compressor. In that regard, am I required to have ...
- 397
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
Is a floating mortar bed an acceptable way to install natural cleft flagstone on a concrete slab that has a long crack?
I like the features of a floating mortar bed.
Thick-bed installations are based on the traditional method of packing
a mortar bed over a surface before installing the tile. The tile is
adhered to the ...
- 836
0
votes
0
answers
60
views
low gallons per minute from main water supply
Our house (built 1953) has galvanized piping for the cold and copper for the hot water supply lines. We had good water pressure (85 psi), but low flow (2.5 gpm).
I had a plumber replace the ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
Is it ok to split the hose bib for underground irrigation
I'd like to install an underground irrigation system for 4 zones. There are 6 - 7 sprinkler heads with Hunter MP rotator nozzle per zone. The main poly pipe will be 1" and it runs to the most 1/2&...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
67
views
Does cable for a 30A circuit between garage studs need shielding?
I am trying to add a 30 amp service for my garage-parked RV. I have plenty of open slots in the electrical panel (which is mounted midway on the wall in my garage) and the plan was to do a 2.5 foot ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
22
views
Pool plaster strengthening additive which reduces cracks
Does anyone know of an additive to add into pool plaster when it's being mixed to help reduce the chance of fine cracks later on? Perhaps some sort of bonding agent or polymer? I couldn't seem to ...
- 426
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
If I have storm windows, should there be condensation on my interior windows?
I live in an old home with single pane windows. My house gets very humid 50-60% range and higher if I don't keep the home very cold. My hunch is that my windows are very leaky and the outdoor summer ...
- 187
1
vote
2
answers
51
views
Fixing leaking outdoor spigots in 1950s home
We moved to a house with "older"/original spigots which we want to replace since they are leaky, old and not very useable (probably not up to code either) - assumption is that they are ...
- 111
1
vote
2
answers
77
views
mini split line set run
I was looking to do a diy dual mini split unit one condenser 27k BTU 22 seer. Two heads 12 & 18k.
One head will be in the garage next to the electrical panel and the run for that is less than 10ft....
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
Lampholder with Socket but no Ground Wire
I was replacing a ceiling lamp holder with chain with a new unit that has a socket however the metal electrical box has 2 wires (black and white) but no ground wire. I replaced it and it is working ...
- 1
3
votes
2
answers
837
views
Lake Irrigation System 220v & 110v needed at end of long run
I bought an older home with an existing lake-feed 2-zone irrigation system. The system uses manual valves near the 220v 1.5 hp pump, no zone controller. I want to replace the manual valves with ...
Mark Bauer
1
vote
1
answer
62
views
Do hanging ceiling joists form a roof truss?
Consider a house with a gable roof that looks like this:
/\
/--\
/ \
/ \
/ \
====[]====
| |
| |
| |
+--------+
(the [] is a load bearing beam coming out ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
95
views
Reducing sound through a vent
There is a vent above our shower that we keep closed all the time. Despite being closed, we can hear everything in a neighbor's kitchen, and they can hear everything in our bathroom.
I'd like to ...
- 143
11
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can You Help Identify This Tool? Assuming It's 1800s!
My grandfather was gifted this tool and we're trying to identify what it is. It has no unique markings other than the portion where engraved "US." It has a rivet on it, and that's as far as ...
- 111
0
votes
3
answers
193
views
Is it even feasible to drill two 8" holes in the load bearing wall of a high rise?
I know this is a question for a structural engineer -- especially because this likely also need a permit from strata and even the city. But first, is there a point in starting the process?
As you know ...
- 165
1
vote
1
answer
55
views
Routing a dryer vent 2x6 rim Joists
In preparing to move our laundry to the basement I am stuck looking for a route out for our dryer vent in our basement.
My initial plan was to run it out a rim joist like all the other posts I found ...
- 11
1
vote
0
answers
32
views
Connecting flush mount split service panels
I have split service (I think) - 2 panels with separate 200A switches. The panels are flush mount. I want to install a Sense monitor which requires linking between these two. What's the best way to ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
28
views
Anyone have any experience with NovelAire's ComfortDry 250 hot water dessicant dehumidifier? [closed]
I live in an ecovillage where we try to minimize our energy usage, but we are in an extremely humid climate and need to control the moisture in the house. We have experience with solar hot water, so ...
0
votes
0
answers
12
views
adding Dow Cladmate extruded polystyrene insulation to wall between attached garage and the house
I have a home in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada built in 1975 with an attached garage. The garage is uninsulated.
In the winter months, there seems to be a lot of cold air coming inside through the ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
83
views
How do I secure freestanding shelves to a concrete wall with a sewer pipe in the way?
I would like to put some freestanding, open-backed shelves in my basement and secure them to the concrete wall. I believe the shelves I am considering are designed to be mounted to the wall through ...
- 229
0
votes
3
answers
97
views
Replacing old deck boards where screws have been cut off, how do I avoid hitting old screw body when securing new boards?
I'm replacing some old deck boards. It was impossible to unscrew these old boards so I pried them up. Now I have many rusted and bent screws sticking up from the joists. Not sure how I can unscrew ...
0
votes
1
answer
52
views
Leaking PVC in garage…
We have a small pvc pipe in the ceiling of our garage. It’s been dripping lately and I’m not sure if it’s because we are using the a/c more or if it’s because it’s been raining the past week. Can ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
73
views
Washroom faucet: Is the hole for the stopper rod sealed against water?
I have a small washroom sink. Sometimes, when washing my face or hair, or using a water pik, water gets on top of the neck/spout of the faucet (see image below). The water trickles down the spout ...
- 157
6
votes
1
answer
204
views
Is This Receptacle Up To Code?
I recently added this receptacle to my bathroom because I am putting a vanity here that has a built-in power bar and previously the only receptacle in the bathroom was the GFCI outlet at the top of ...
- 63
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Is a plywood subfloor with outdoor carpeting glued on appropriate for a screened in porch
We have a 20 year old screened in porch that had a plywood subfloor with outdoor carpeting tacked on. We just pulled the carpet up and noticed blackish areas - mold? The porch floor does get wet ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
37
views
Can I reorient the T&P valve on a water heater?
I've replaced a few water heaters lately. In each case, the water heater had the T&P valve located on the top and facing backwards. While I can run the pipe around, it would be easier to simply ...
- 153
0
votes
2
answers
52
views
how to replace the MR-16 bulb from this lamp fixture?
I am wondering how to open this lighting fixture to be able to replace the MR-16 bulb.
The fixture seems smooth with no openings or bolts. It is a bi-pin halogen MR16 bulb. The is a indented ring in ...
