16
votes
Is it safe to have an unused bulb socket in my ceiling fan?
That is safe. The concern is if the socket is (a) uncovered and (b) within easy reach. You indicated it has a glass cover and ceiling fans are generally not within easy reach. Don't worry about it, ...
15
votes
Accepted
How can I make my electrical box dustproof?
Use a weatherproof box and a weatherproof extension ring (or rings if you need a lot of depth) if you cannot find a weatherproof box to suit.
Or, just seal up the box with duct seal (non-hardening ...
- 190k
15
votes
Accepted
Should lintels above wall portals be considered for smoke alarm placement?
Yes and fantastic question, the lintel/header/apron will absolutely delay detection...by quite a lot. Therefore, I absolutely agree with Jack that you need to place the detector closer (the lintel ...
- 10.3k
10
votes
Is it safe to have an unused bulb socket in my ceiling fan?
If it isn't where someone will stick their finger or other object into the open socket, it's entirely safe. To make it even safer, leave the old bulb in place until you get the new one.
- 25.4k
9
votes
Should lintels above wall portals be considered for smoke alarm placement?
The Code (See ICC R314) requires a smoke alarm located:
In each sleeping room.
Outside each sleeping room area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
On each additional story, including a ...
- 23k
5
votes
Accepted
Reflective bubble insulation for making stairs fire-resistant?
Wrong rating for the wrong job
The "Class A" fire rating you see on a package of reflective-bubble insulation is an ASTM E84 surface burning rating, measured using a horizontal apparatus ...
- 80.7k
4
votes
Back stabbed outlets
A sloppy job, but you're overthinking it.
Having been cut, no current is flowing through the backstab, so no heating, no arcing, no problem other than if you handle the outlet while the circuit ...
- 190k
3
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to use foil heat tape inside the dryer?
To be absolutely clear, this duct carries the fan-blown and lint-filtered air coming OUT of the dryer drum. It is NOT the duct carrying the heated air into the drum.
Given that, the upper working ...
- 6,219
3
votes
How can I make my electrical box dustproof?
Look for switch/outlet insulators, like this one (Note: just the first one I found in a search, no recommendation of vendor or retailer implied.)
It's a thin foam gasket designed to go under the cover ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
Can I connect a 1-3 adapter to a 12/3 extension cord?
So long as the total draw of all devices plugged in remains below the amp capacity of the power strip, the extension cord, the permanent wiring, and the breaker, you'll be fine.
I believe the ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
Should lintels above wall portals be considered for smoke alarm placement?
Where would a potential smoke source be coming from? The direction of the Dining Room or the Living Room? Both ceilings could have a smoke detector, but if a fire only has a possibility of starting by ...
- 33.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to stuff some insulation above my electric stove?
Use your exhaust fan. It removes grease, products of combustion and most of all moisture. Do you just never use your stove top? I suppose if all you ever do is microwave and use your oven you don't ...
- 12.8k
3
votes
Accepted
Part identification: Thermal cutoff within baseboard heater
Possible manufacturer could be: https://www.emerson.com/en-us/catalog/therm-o-disc-10h
Product bulletin describes how the thermostat works:
The 10H capillary tube is vacuum-charged with selected ...
- 316
3
votes
Refrigerator should be away from LPG cylinder. Why?
If you are talking about a Refrigerator that runs on LP gas the tank needs to be away from the fridge because the fridge has an open flame inside, on a hot day it is possible that the LP tank can vent ...
- 102k
3
votes
Why is my electric wall oven suddenly causing strong hot chemical odor?
When a new smell emerges immediately after electrical work, and the smell has any chance of being electrical related, that is an emergency.
Fire inside the walls of a building is the most ...
3
votes
Accepted
Would blown-in insulation provide any degree of blocking in balloon construction?
Any insulation will slow down air convection so would be better than none.
Even the wood based insulation is fire-retardant and is easy to use, it’s what we used as our first time build and the ...
- 26k
2
votes
Are lightbulbs in a wooden range hood safe?
I strongly recommend against having any flammable material (wood) anywhere in, on, or around your hood. Light bulbs are the least of your worries -- imagine a grease fire. With a "normal" all-metal ...
- 3,917
2
votes
Accepted
Are lightbulbs in a wooden range hood safe?
You need a heat shield if your fixture is capable of taking an incandescent bulb.
It is an immutable law of nature that if your fixture has an Edison or halogen socket that an old style light bulb ...
2
votes
Should I use Fire Bricks in Wood Stove
Stoves designed for firebricks should have them.
Stove metal can be corroded and burn through if incorrectly used.
This can be caused by poor combustion due to wet wood or poor draught.
As the OP ...
- 26k
2
votes
Should lintels above wall portals be considered for smoke alarm placement?
Quoting https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPA-Journal/2017/January-February-2017/In-Compliance/NFPA-72
If the depth of wall section above the door is 24 inches or less, ...
- 9,661
2
votes
Refrigerator should be away from LPG cylinder. Why?
As Ed touched on, LP gas canisters must be outside because they have a pressure relief valve that will vent petroleum gas. It is designed to protect the tank from exploding from overpressure.
...
2
votes
Extension Cords - Electrical Hazards & Safety
If it's zoned commercial, you may have some permitting issues, because inspectors are not idiots, and they know that you're going to put a Point of Sale system out on that counter/island. If that ...
2
votes
Accepted
Extension Cords - Electrical Hazards & Safety
This is really a subjective question, and there's a lot of slop in the definition of "temporary".
If you know you'll use this space for the long term as it is, I'd work on getting some hard outlets ...
- 126k
2
votes
What can be safely attached to a gas furnace cabinet?
The external surfaces of the furnace and ductwork are not hot enough to be a fire hazard with the items you listed. As we don’t know if this is a newer sealed combustion system or older gas vented ...
- 102k
2
votes
Can I connect a 1-3 adapter to a 12/3 extension cord?
12 Gauge.
3 Conductor.
USB devices are so low current I wouldn't worry about them.
You can plug in as many things as you want as long as the total current is below the cord's specification.
- 6,096
2
votes
Accepted
How do I take the slack out of a door closer chain?
Looks like I need to twist the chain to increase the tension, according to this Q&A: How to stop self closing doors from slamming
Thanks to jsotola for their input.
There is another faceplate, ...
- 219
2
votes
exposed ceiling around ceiling box
This is acceptable.
NEC 410.23 states "Covering of Combustible Material at Outlet Boxes. Any combustible wall or ceiling finish exposed between the edge of a luminaire canopy or pan and an outlet ...
- 2,381
2
votes
Accepted
How do I avoid overcharging the inverter battery and keep it healthy
Lead-acid batteries should be charged to a lower voltage for "float" duty, which is basically what you are describing.
2.25V/cell @25°C, or 13.5V for a typical 6 cell "12V" battery....
- 190k
1
vote
Is it safe to use foil heat tape inside the dryer?
I have what appears to be the same dryer. I just did the same thing. Replaced a belt about 5 months ago. It was full of lint all inside the dryer. There were spots of burnt lint in the heating element....
- 11
1
vote
Accepted
Fire safety for room on interior of home
Swap the lower-left office and the center "bedroom"
The easiest fix for this will likely be to swap the office space in the lower-left of your picture with the "bedroom" in the ...
- 80.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible