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1500 questions
26
votes
5 answers
Marijuana smoke migrating to my condo!
I just bought a condo which is a three-level townhouse and was built in 1980.
I am adjacent to my neighbor and share a common wall. My neighbor, an older couple, smoke weed frequently and do not air their home.
The smoke gets to my side and it is…
Na Sim
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26
votes
5 answers
How to drive a nail in a confined space?
I keep finding myself needing to hammer nails in places where my hammer is too long to actually make the hammer head contact the nail. This isn't a situation where I need the leverage provided by the handle - I'm choking the hammer anyway for added…
Jeremy W. Sherman
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26
votes
12 answers
Avoiding dust scattering when you drill
When I drill into concrete, stone or similar materials - a lot of dust gets scattered. I realize this might sound like a newbie/trivial question, but - how can I avoid this? Both dust getting on me, and even more importantly - into the air people…
einpoklum
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26
votes
9 answers
Why does my house heat up, even when it's cool outside?
Summary
The question pretty much says it all. It's probably a ridiculously easy one to answer. It's cool outside but I know that my house is heating up because my AC kicks on periodically. I've had this experience in multiple houses, so I presume…
conman
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26
votes
2 answers
What is an air conditioner compressor hard start kit and how does it work?
My air conditioner compressor wasn't functioning properly recently. The compressor wouldn't start when the start relay energized. A HVAC technician diagnosed the problem nebulously as "It needs a hard start kit because the compressor is getting old…
ndemarco
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26
votes
20 answers
When wiring outlets should I use pigtails or both sets of outlet screws?
I'm replacing the outlets in our house and pulled out one that had two black and two white cables. My first thought was that it was two circuits, one of them being switched, but then realized the tab between the two circuits wasn't broken.
I hadn't…
DA01
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26
votes
5 answers
Does a refrigerator compressor need settling time after being laid on its back or side?
A friend of mine mentioned that after laying my fridge on its side or back, that I need to let it sit for several hours before plugging it in.
In the discussion, he said that it was to allow the lubricants and refrigerants settle back toward the…
kyle_engineer
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26
votes
3 answers
How much gap to leave between basement concrete floor and bottom of drywall board?
We have a dry basement with a concrete floor. When putting on the wall boards, how much (if any) gap should there be between the concrete floor and the bottom of the board? The boards are 3/8 inch, I was thinking about using a scrap piece drywall…
Jon Raynor
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26
votes
4 answers
What is the best tool for cutting up scrap wood?
I have some wood left over from building a patio, mainly some planks. Normally when I'm creating firewood, I just use an axe a split the wood, but these are too long for that. I really don't want to try and cut them with a wood saw or an Axe. The…
AidanO
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25
votes
8 answers
Why do my toilets flush slowly and often incompletely?
I have three toilets that all flush slowly and incompletely. I've adjusted the chain to ensure the flap raises completely. I've raised the float to ensure the tank fills nice and high. Yet I have this nagging issue on all my toilets. It often takes…
allnightgrocery
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25
votes
9 answers
Is there a freezing-water-resistant metal pipe?
I want to install a water outlet on the outside of my house for gardening etc. Outside temperatures here in Latvia fall to -25°C sometimes, so I cannot use a common water pipe; it would burst when the water freezes. Is there a formula to tell how…
AndyZ
- 460
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25
votes
6 answers
How can I find the source of a mysterious bad smell?
We have recently moved home, and all is fine appart from a mystery smell which I'm unable to track down. It's driving me crazy (actually, my wife thinks I am crazy as she can't smell it). I'm hoping someone on here could offer some tips on how to…
UpTheCreek
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25
votes
28 answers
How do I remove polyurethane spray foam from my hands?
I should have worn gloves but sadly I didn't. Now I have yellow stuff all over my hands. I got most of the stickiness to go away by using WD-40. Is there anything that will get this off without giving me chemical burns?
Engineer2021
- 3,285
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25
votes
4 answers
How can it be dangerous to feed a water heater from two separate panels?
In a recent question, a user asked "Can a water heater be installed between two apartments and wired to both apartments' breaker boxes, effectively splitting the bill between the two?". One of the answers suggested that it was okay, and the poster…
Tester101
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25
votes
6 answers
Safe/professional way to transport lumber with just a roof rack
I'm doing some home improvement, and have the necessary skills, tools, etc, for the job. There is one thing I'm lacking: a large pickup truck for transporting lumber. A buddy of mine used to have one, but he had to trade it in for an SUV to get the…
Cloud
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