All Questions
71,131
questions
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answers
2
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Water line valve moves into off position but will not turn off
When I try to research this question it mostly shows valves that are stuck. Mine actually moves into open & closed position but stays fully on.
All the water valves in the house are very hard to ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
19
views
What is this bendable thing found in a closet?
I found this thing in the closet of a room which someone recently moved out of. It is flexible/bendable. I was wondering what it is?
Thanks.
- 735
0
votes
0
answers
12
views
Ceiling fan not receiving power when other devices are working and there is continuity in the wires
The wiring to my ceiling fan -- wiring and fan both installed by a licensed electrician in 2020 -- stopped powering the fan after I installed the switch, and I have not been able to diagnose and fix ...
0
votes
0
answers
6
views
Recess lighting not working properly
I have 3 lights on a circuit and when I turn them off one light stays on but very dim, when I loosened that bulb the other bulb goes on
0
votes
0
answers
21
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Mouse issue-- critter trapped in interior wall
Sleepless nights due to a presumably large and very noisy mouse in our bedroom wall... what are the best ways to kill/remove/pinpoint its location? Not certain, but think it may be trapped and unable ...
- 1,061
1
vote
1
answer
27
views
How to grind exposed edges of bathroom wall tile to fit a recessed medicine cabinet?
I had a tiler company who has put me through hell and back on multiple occasions with my bathroom remodel. I've had them back here multiple times to fix their screw ups. The next issue I just ...
- 583
0
votes
0
answers
20
views
Sink Drain Building Pressure
I live on the bottom floor of a 2 unit condo (neighbors above) and the bathroom sink seems to build up pressure in its drain and begin leaking at the tailpiece connection above the p-trap (which is a ...
- 167
1
vote
0
answers
24
views
Contaminants in very old water pipes?
Suppose they're 100 years old and metal - unsure if iron, lead, or neither - and inflowing water before the pipes is clean. What contaminants are expected in tap water from such pipes? Heavy metals? ...
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votes
2
answers
29
views
Upgrading a subpanel
I am upgrading a sub-panel from 60A to 90A. The original feeders were #8, which I will replace with #4 copper. Can I leave the #8 neutral and ground that bond the main and sub-panel in place, or ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
31
views
Convert pipe wrench to crescent wrench
Has anyone seen any sort of jaw covers for a pipe wrench to be able to convert it to a crescent wrench (would also need to adjust the angle of the bottom jaw of course)? It'd be nice to have able to ...
- 428
0
votes
0
answers
16
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Hot at both ends of three-way switch - any ideas (it's not legal I know that!)
1979 house, bought in 2003. I installed three-way X10 switches with no issues in 2003. They switch a pair of spotlight cans (now upgraded to LED spots) which are in a vaulted ceiling - so I cannot see ...
-1
votes
0
answers
16
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Which one is better to install Rudd Air conditioner or Airtemp system? [closed]
I am not sure how a brand of air conditioner and furnace matter. But I was thinking which one out of Rudd air conditioner or Airtemp is better. Thanks!
- 119
-1
votes
2
answers
25
views
How wire a 3-way motion sensor switch when replacing one of the 3-way toggle switches (with load between the switches)
I have a 3-way light circuit in a basement stairwell controlled by two 3-way toggle switches (the load is between the switches).
I want to replace one of the toggle switches with a 3-way motion sensor ...
0
votes
0
answers
46
views
Repairing a ceiling hole about 4' x 5’
I have rolled insulation that I wanna put up in the ceiling. How would I make that hole?
Do I have to get up there and stay but it’s a mobile home.
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
56
views
Simple stringerless outdoor stairs, is this design feasible? [closed]
I have a large amount of reclaimed external timber from a dismantled car port and was wondering about building a simple stair down a steep slope in a corner of my garden that's not really walkable in ...
- 276
3
votes
2
answers
194
views
What do E and COM mean in a blower motor wiring diagram?
I'm a bit confused with the wiring diagram of this blower motor. Is the COM the neutral wire or the hot wire? And then would the E be neutral if the COM was the hot wire? Or is it the ground?
I ...
- 31
3
votes
3
answers
324
views
Can I use a wood hardener on particle board?
I’m staying a friend’s place for a few days, and being a bit OCD I’ve been fixing the things that I can.
But they have kitchen cabinet doors that lift up, and one has ripped out of the particle board ...
- 7,186
0
votes
2
answers
72
views
How can I find the centroid of a trapezoid with equal angles at the ends? [closed]
Trying to find the center of a trapezoid with beveled edges and there are 153 holes to be drilled. I know the easy way would have been to find it before I made the bevel cut but I wasn't thinking ...
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
46
views
What sort of tape/flashing is required to prepare for window installation in a timber frame wall?
I'm self-building a small timber-framed structure (essentially a 2x6 stud wall which will be externally sheathed and clad), which will include some UPVC double-glazed windows.
I'm aware that the ...
- 276
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Interesting electrical ceiling box with downward pass through bolts
I'm trying to mount a heavy ceiling fan but ran into a unique ceiling box I've never seen before. Two bolts come down from the metal horizontal piece and pass through the plastic box.
This was the ...
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1
vote
0
answers
66
views
How do I turn this leaf-covered area into a grassy yard? [migrated]
This yard was full of brush and trees. I have cut down most of the trees I want to remove and used a lawnmower to get rid of all the brush.
The ground is now covered in years of leaves, probably an ...
- 397
0
votes
0
answers
25
views
I'm installing a nest thermostat. The wires at the base are R G Y W
On my 24v transformer there is a C POST. I have wired the nest thermostat with the 4 wires R Y W G. Nest says the termostat needs a c wire,Can I just run a wire from the C post on the transformer to ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
Blade guard won't lift
I own a King 10" mitre saw. The blade guard won't retract when I lower the saw blade to make a cut.
The manufacturer has discontinued replacement blade guards.
What I discovered is there are ...
- 1
5
votes
3
answers
790
views
Moving a bottomless metal shed
I have this shed I want to move about 10 meters from its current location in my backyard. This shed is metal, without a floor, sitting on paving stones which appear to have been cemented together.
...
- 569
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
DAP caulking inside cabinets safe?
My apartment has some old handmade cabinets with some large seams at the edges. I started closing them with DAP latex caulking (alex Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus). I noticed that once dry if I swipe on ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
95
views
Laundry drains overflows during laundry, but handles full blast hose
The drain for my laundry machine overflows fairly quickly and spills water out whenever I do laundry.
If I put a hose in the drain, and turn it on full blast, it can keep running without it ever ...
- 185
0
votes
1
answer
60
views
Could this be my water pressure reducing valve?
Can’t seem to locate it. My house was built in 1986 on a slab.
- 227
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Can I take a generator and add a 50amp receptacle to it
I have a generator that is 9400 watts with a 50amp plug in. No problems running the panel on a food truck. Now I have a whisper generator 9500 watts but only a 30amp plug in. I'm sure it's the 30 vs ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
NEMA 10-30 Ground & Neutral Bonded
Remodeling a 1970’s era condo. The current dryer receptacle has a NEMA 10-30R on a 30 amp breaker. While we are going to be using gas instead of a 240v dryer, I decided to pull the plate and make sure ...
- 343
1
vote
4
answers
80
views
Lift Master Garage Door - remote hardly works from outside the garage
Scenario
When pulling up to our home the garage door opener only works sometimes - roughly 1/10 clicks. Our Lift Master was installed in 2011.
Troubleshooting
tried new batteries in all remotes
tried ...
- 223
3
votes
3
answers
815
views
Secure live wire - 3 wires cut at same length still in sheathing
Wire coming in from electrical box (120V) - 3 wires, black, white, ground, all together in their sheathing, not stripped. Have been cut all at the same length (together).
My understanding is that live ...
- 31
-1
votes
0
answers
26
views
Looking for specific type of LED display [closed]
I'm looking to use an LED display in an art project. I know that there are some available on websites like Adafruit, but nothing that is the scale I'm looking for. The ideal display uses large RGB ...
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0
votes
1
answer
50
views
Is it possible to remove and old concrete balcony from a brick home and replace with a standard wood/composite deck?
I have a brick home built in the 1930's with a concrete slab "cantilevered" off the back of the house with 2 support columns. I am unsure if the balcony was original or added later but I do ...
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1
vote
1
answer
49
views
Replacing failed smart switch with dumb switch
I have a two-switch box (2 gang?). One switch (right switch in pictures) is a 3-way switch that controls an overhead light, while the other is a smart switch (left switch in pictures) added by the ...
- 113
0
votes
2
answers
64
views
Is this case of paint detaching a sign of water damage?
Living in and administrating a condo building, I recently noticed some of the paint had started detaching from the ceiling, nearby the front entrance. See pictures below.
I fear it might be a sign of ...
- 101
1
vote
0
answers
47
views
Brand new exterior paint is failing (bubbling) on old cedar siding
Northeastern U.S. here (very humid). Our house was built in the 1960s and we have lived in it for 14 years. Cedar exterior siding. The exterior paint has started to fail and chip away over the last 5 ...
- 434
6
votes
3
answers
938
views
Securely mounting to drywall corner with no stud
I have a child gate I am trying to mount at the base of a staircase. On the left side of the staircase is a thin wall. When facing this wall, there is only a 1.5" gap between the stair trim and ...
- 163
1
vote
2
answers
60
views
New bathroom exhaust to soffit/eave? [duplicate]
I'm installing vent fans in both bathrooms on 2nd story of my two story house. Open attic access. Instead of venting to the roof or through the gable which requires risky ladder work, Wanted to vent ...
- 531
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Can I salvage my disaster of an under-sink cabinet for actual storage? [closed]
I have recently moved into a newly built house and after initially putting things in places I'm now going through and reorganising and finding the snags etc.
Come to my disaster of a cabinet under the ...
- 344
0
votes
1
answer
155
views
Are these studs actually structural?
First question on here so apologies if getting it wrong. I have removed old lath and plaster wall from under stairs to install cupboards but there is a lot of wood that appears to be structural ...
- 1
0
votes
3
answers
66
views
How to reduce sway on this ikea console table
This tall ikea table is 74” long and I use it primarily as a kitchen counter/workspace. Unfortunately it sways a bit when I apply weight or pressure longways. Any suggestions for how I can brace or ...
0
votes
0
answers
57
views
How do I fix the tempertature differences between 3 floors in my house?
In my ~5000 square foot house, the finished basement is very cold, A/C set point stays spot on the main/ground level at 76F, but both upper loft areas 80-84 on hot days!
It is a full height 2 story ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
Generac GP8000e/Need to be grounded? Remove Neutral?
I have a Generac GP8000e generator that I plan on back feeding the main panel of my home with the portable generator, power inlet box L14-30a and breaker. First, I will install an interlock between ...
1
vote
2
answers
54
views
How to remove tub drain?
Take a look at attached picture of my tub drain which is corroded.
I tried this tool with no avail.
When I used more force with that tool, some pieces broke apart from it.
Now I ended up with what you ...
- 950
-1
votes
1
answer
45
views
Can you install a rim joist inside wall joists and does it need extra support? [closed]
I'm looking at lowering the ceilings of my first floor/floor of my second. Can I nail or bolt the new rim joist to the inside of my wall joists and expect it to be properly supported for a floor? I ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
IKEA Poang install problem
Slats for the back got put on backwards. Everything unscrewed except one screw which looks like it’s stuck spinning. Any idea on how to get it out?
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2
votes
1
answer
109
views
What does this (2x 30A breaker) circuit panel in my apartment mean?
I recently newly moved into an apartment in the west Bay Area, in California. Because I have an electric car & want to use L1 (120V 12A) charging, I took a look at the breaker panel to see what ...
- 21
0
votes
0
answers
77
views
Do I have a mold problem in my bathroom vent? [closed]
Under my bathroom sink it smells so bad. The best I can describe the smell to would be of ammonia, pee or cat urine. My whole bathroom smell like this but it smells really strong under the sink so I'm ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
44
views
Looking to install a cgfi outlet next to an aquarium. If outlet has red, black, white and ground coming in & out of the box. How is the gfi wired? [closed]
The old outlet had 2 black wires on the bottom hot pole, 2 red wires on the top hot pole, and the 2 white wires on the top silver screw of the outlet. All grounds clipped together with one attached to ...
0
votes
1
answer
45
views
Why are there 3 cables going into 2 switch electrical box
Three main cables going into this 2 switch junction box. Going to move the switches up 6” and don’t understand why there are 3 main cables going to this box.
There is an outlet below and to the left ...
