23
votes
Accepted
Do I need to replace this valve that a plumber claimed needed to be replaced?
Yes, it needs to be replaced. It is severely corroded and will probably fail when the pipe is replaced. It looks to be a 3/4 inch gate valve, and a new one will be cheaper than having to take the ...
- 556
23
votes
Should I replace two 75-gallon (gas) water heaters in series with a tankless heater?
We live in the Midwest in a large home that was built 20 years ago. At the time, we installed two 75-gallon gas water heaters, and the plumber did this in series, not parallel
That is the correct way ...
22
votes
Multiple holes in exterior wall studs for electrical wiring
Looks like a standard install.
You can only run so many wires in a hole without de-rating the circuit capacity.
The holes are set back at least 3/4" from the stud surface, add 1/2" for drywall and ...
- 12.6k
16
votes
Should I replace two 75-gallon (gas) water heaters in series with a tankless heater?
Option (0) would appear to be to "address this" by fixing the defective installation, without replacing anything major, since it's very likely an installation problem or a simple part ...
- 174k
14
votes
Accepted
Will old anchor holes in a concrete slab reduce its useful life?
The concrete looks intact enough for re-use, I can't see if the anchor bolts are good or not, if they can't be reused getting old anchors out of concrete can be tricky: you might have to move your ...
- 17.7k
14
votes
Will old anchor holes in a concrete slab reduce its useful life?
If you wanted to keep the post centered in it's current location, you could rotate the post 45 degrees and re-drill in place. You might not even need to do anything to the old bolts, as it's unlikely ...
- 416
13
votes
How do I identify and replace unusual screws?
A well-equipped hardware store will have a drawer with many common fasteners used in this type of flatpack furniture.
I mean well-equipped. Home Depot is not a hardware store. ACE or better. ...
13
votes
Accepted
Where can I find a cover for this external breaker box (1961 SFH in CA)?
Uh-oh, it's a Zinsco!
Unfortunately, just buying a new door isn't enough to restore this panel to a serviceable condition, as it's a Zinsco (from the design of the breakers), with its attendant ...
- 79.1k
12
votes
Accepted
Is it necessary to shut off the water supply to a radiator in order to replace a radiator valve?
You need to drain the water from the heating system, effect the remove and replace, then refill the heating system.
Some circulating-water heating systems are filled with tap water from the home's ...
- 14k
11
votes
Accepted
Why are the areas (square footage) for carpet removal and for vinyl plank installation different?
There are two main reasons:
When you install planks there is a requirement that the ends of the plank must be within a certain distance of ends of other planks on adjacent rows. This means you ...
- 47.3k
11
votes
Is this sink faucet removable?
Yes, the faucet can be removed. You have to turn those black "nuts" counterclockwise to remove. You'll need a faucet wrench or a pair of chanellocks to remove them. They will be stuck on ...
- 72k
10
votes
Should I replace a carport post as it was originally built or with an upgraded column?
The post looks reasonably adequate as it was originally built even by modern standards. If it wasn't you'd have seen disaster long ago, when it first started to decay.
To maintain the style detail I'...
- 120k
9
votes
Accepted
Should I replace two 75-gallon (gas) water heaters in series with a tankless heater?
A completely different cause (unrelated to the water heaters) might be failed anti-scald valves in one or more of various fixtures around the house.
Due to design of such valves, the fixture does not ...
- 174k
8
votes
Is it necessary to shut off the water supply to a radiator in order to replace a radiator valve?
Heating systems can vary by region. I have answered this from a UK perspective as you appear to have bought from B&Q.
If the broken part is the white thermostatic cap, then it would be much ...
- 593
8
votes
Accepted
Why is this 50's junction box so immobile?
There's a connection that you can't see or get to without opening the wall. Like this:
- 5,631
8
votes
lighting fire safety
No, that is not safe. The 23W CFL limit means that you should not use a bulb that uses more than 23W of power. A 30/50/150W 3-way will use more than that on its lowest setting.
If you don't want to ...
- 23k
8
votes
How to replace bolts in an office chair?
You don't need to match those bolts exactly. Remove the good one, take it to the hardware store. Match the thread pitch and length to a 'generic' bolt they have on-hand. It's almost certainly ...
- 525
8
votes
How difficult is a fuse box replacement?
Well, I can see a few reasons why an electrician would say "I'm not touching it unless we make it a full-replacement job." Fully replacing that panel with one that's big enough to cover all ...
- 24.4k
7
votes
Is this sink faucet removable?
If you look closely at your first photo, you will see a black plastic nut on the two water line connections. This is called a "faucet nut". You will need a "faucet nut wrench" ...
- 23k
7
votes
If the lumen and kelvin of two light-bulbs are identical, does wattage matter?
TL;DR Lumens = amount of light, Kelvin = color of light, CRI = quality of light, Watts = power used
There are a number of different measurements of a light source. Note that I said light source, not ...
6
votes
No hot water at faucets after replacing water heater
Check all the supply valves to ensure they are open.
It is not uncommon for old valves (particularly gate valves) to break whilst operating, leaving you with a low or no-flow situation (sometimes ...
- 33.9k
6
votes
Accepted
Is This Wood Still Good? (Water Stained or Rotten)
It looks like water stains. Take a screwdriver and press it into the surface especially in the groves. If the wood is rotten the screwdriver will dig in. If the wood is sound it will just leave a mark....
- 101k
6
votes
should 30 yr old home have some/all breakers replaced with AFCI /GFCI? If so, which ones?
You've told us almost nothing about your house, and it's possible you wouldn't even know how to tell us what he is seeing.
On the one hand, there are certain reasons why such breakers can be a very ...
6
votes
Use a 24V LifePo battery in a UPS designed for lead acid batteries?
I would say NO.
Yes 24 CFC is 24v and that would not matter but the charging circuitry for lithium ion is radically different than lead acid and using the APC battery charging circuit may cause the ...
- 101k
6
votes
Use a 24V LifePo battery in a UPS designed for lead acid batteries?
Ed Beal is correct. The answer based on the information provided is NO. However, there are battery replacements that are advertised as "drop-in" matches for lead-acid versions. They ...
- 10.1k
6
votes
What kind of gloves should I use to change a projector lamp?
Having spent some years doing this as part of my job, (i.e. "professionally") wash hands, dry hands, use a clean, dry paper towel.
If you screw up, wipe it down with isopropyl alcohol on a ...
- 174k
6
votes
How difficult is a fuse box replacement?
OK, here's what I see going on: The main power is supplied via the breaker on the upper left in the breaker panel. That's a little unusual as normally there would be a main breaker on the top lugs. ...
- 22.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Window anatomy, by example
This is either a single- or double-hung window, depending on how many of the sashes are operable.
A just looks like the wall framing header. There's often a two-by laid flat along the bottom and ...
- 120k
5
votes
Accepted
Why should I replace the starter every time I replace a fluorescent tube?
Modern electronic ballast technology (T8, T5) doesn't use starters. I associate starters with old, inefficient magnetic ballast installations. I haven't had to replace a starter in years because they ...
- 11.2k
5
votes
How would I replace this light bulb in the pic
That whole plastic base pulls directly out. That is a compact fluorescent bulb, be careful not to breathe any powder/dust that comes out of the broken tube(s), not good for you.
- 33.9k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible