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1500 questions
20
votes
7 answers

How do I safely replace a worn out electrical outlet?

I have a number of outlets that are old and worn out (plugs fall out of them mainly.) Obviously I need to turn off the breaker to replace them safely. Any guidance on how to rewire them, how to properly ground the new one, and how to safely test…
JoshReedSchramm
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3 answers

How do I fix a squeaky floor below my carpet?

I have a squealy floor below my carpet on the 2nd floor of my house. It sounds like the subfloor under the carpet is moving up and down a little and makes this awful load squeak when I step down on this specific location. It can be reproduced at…
mohlsen
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4 answers

Should the backer board be in front of or behind the tub flange?

I'm installing a new bath tub and shower. I've removed the old tile down to the studs. Should the backer board be in front of or behind the tub flange? I put it on the rear tub wall from floor to ceiling at first, but I can easily remove it if it…
SAM MCKNIGHT
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20
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17 answers

Is it worth it to insulate hot water PEX tubing?

Is it worth the time and expense to put the foam pipe wrap on pex hot water pipes? I've seen mixed statements. What is your thought? But more importantly, can you back it up?
Dilbert789
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5 answers

Should I cover my air conditioner for winter?

Should I cover my air conditioner for winter? It's difficult to find an appropriate cover, but finding a cover for an evaporation cooler is easy (and because they allow for air flow from the outdoors, it makes sense). See this answer for things to…
JYelton
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16 answers

Is fiberglass mesh tape a good choice for drywall?

I'm going to be doing some drywalling shortly and was wondering what experiences other have had with the self adhesive fiberglass mesh tape. Is it a good choice or am I going to regret using it?
Dilbert789
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4 answers

What are some scalable, affordable home automation options?

I've been looking to set up a home automation system in my house for a while now, but I'm having trouble committing to any one starting point. I'd like to set up an initial system that controls maybe two or three outlets and one or two overhead…
Daisy Sophia Hollman
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20
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10 answers

What's the best way of replacing a plug or switch in a house with aluminum wiring?

My house has aluminum wiring, which from what I understand isn't recommended any more. How do I replace a plug or switch since the new unit only takes copper wiring?
MattGrommes
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15 answers

How can I stop bolts from loosening over time?

Here is a picture of what I intend to use: I believe (and could be wrong about this) that over time as the structure is moved, the nut that was fastened to hold the structure together will gradually loosen. Is there way to make the nut so tight and…
quantum231
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10 answers

Why does bleeding radiators save energy?

I wanted to bleed my radiators by myself for the first time and I was wondering what is the reason that bleeding radiators saves energy? Most of the guides on bleeding radiators mention that this is important for saving energy but none explain the…
user161351
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3 answers

Male plug installed in wall

Have a male plug installed into drywall about a foot above the baseboard level. Above that, at tv installation level, is a normal female outlet with a tv cable line. What would the male plug be used for?
Lani
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2 answers

What is this tool used for?

I can’t figure out what this old tool is. Does anyone know?
Honey
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20
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2 answers

Where do measurements start on a ruler/tape measure

I feel really dumb asking this question, but I need help reading the lines on my tape measure. I need to make precise measurements, but given the thickness of the inch lines, I'm not sure how. I've added lines in the following picture. I assume 1…
Ben A.
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7 answers

How can I remove a dead animal stuck inside an underground stormwater drain pipe?

An animal, probably a fat rat, has got stuck in an underground 100mm (4 inch) stormwater drain pipe and blocked it somewhere in our front yard, possibly under the driveway. The drain has started to stink and rainwater to pool in the backyard. The…
Reza
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7 answers

What can I do to keep my shed (or house) free of spiders?

I've got an old shed at the end of my garden, this summer I gave it a complete cleanout, but within a few weeks it was back to its cobweb infested state. Being quite an arachnaphobe, it makes getting stuff in/out quite an uncomfortable…
user155695
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