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1500 questions
14
votes
6 answers

How can I quiet a noisy downspout?

Possible Duplicate: How do I stop the dripping noise from my gutters? I have metal downspouts that come down from by gutters. One of them happens to be right by my bedroom window. When the rain is just right this downspout will often make an…
Brh
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In a multi-gang box, are neutral wires paired with specific hot wires?

I have a four-gang box that I'm installing new dimmers in. Currently all of the neutral (white) wires coming into the box are connected together (and not to the dimmers). The new dimmers require connections to the neutrals. There are three bundles…
drs
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14
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3 answers

Something in my home is making my family sick. How do I determine what it is?

My wife and I moved into a new rental house two months ago. Our small dog, my wife, and myself have all started experiencing symptoms such as headaches, runny nose, constant congestion, cold-like swelling in the sinuses, neck, and throat, general…
Bryson
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3 answers

What is the proper way to install a junction box above a dropped ceiling?

I'm doing some remodeling in my basement and part of that work involves moving a switch. When I was tracing the wires for the switch I found this above my dropped ceiling: Now, I'm no electrician, but this does not look up to code to me. Further…
heavyd
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4 answers

How can I make suction cups stay securely to a tiled shower wall?

I am trying to hang a mirror in the shower and it simply will not stay on the wall. It does not weigh more than a couple of pounds. There are two suction cups. Things I've tried: Cleaning the tile surface before attaching Using water on the suction…
John Conde
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1 answer

How do I know if my wiring is aluminium or copper?

In this answer, Chris has mentioned that, before replacing a worn-out electric outlet, it is important to know whether the building has an aluminium or copper wiring. How can I get this information? I live in a rented apartment, and the homeowner…
Erel Segal-Halevi
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14
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7 answers

What's the least intrusive way to find out what's in a wall?

I'm getting ready to mount a flatscreen TV on our living room wall and would like to route various cables through it (e.g. surround sound speakers, HDMI, etc). I appreciate the AWESOME tips here, but I think I'm missing something important: How can…
Mike B
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2 answers

What type of tape do I use on a dryer vent?

I need to install a dryer periscope vent in my new dryer unit, However, it needs to be sealed for leaks. What type of tape should be used to tape a periscope dryer vent?
Rick
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14
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1 answer

Will adding another layer of plywood improve shed floor bouncing?

I have shed floor that appears to be a sheet of 3/4 inch pressure treated plywood nailed to the joists. While the floor is "sturdy" in that it's holding up fine and shows no sign of rot, it feels extremely soft. My steps feel springy and even my…
SBT23434
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6 answers

How do I add more circuit breakers once the breaker box is full?

My house was completely rewired by the previous owner. They tore out all the old knob-and-tube and replaced it with modern wiring. I definitely appreciate this, but unfortunately they left absolutely no extra space on the new breaker box. Every…
bengineerd
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9 answers

Are loose-stacked bricks a suitable base for concrete steps?

We have a contractor building a set of concrete steps outside of our house (will be leading to a new French door whenever we get the door). They are using a bunch of left over bricks as filler they told us, and will rebar between them. They said…
Th3sandm4n
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14
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3 answers

How do I properly ground my subpanel that only has one neutral/ground bar?

I am adding a sub panel in an unattached building. My sub panel has the connection for the 2 hot wires coming from the source panel (a 40 amp double breaker) In addition it has one neutral/ground bar which has a green screw head for the ground and…
javelong
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14
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9 answers

What can I do about a toilet flange that is 1/4" below the finished floor?

I used two wax seals to set my toilet since the flange is 1/4" below the new tile. At first it seemed to be water tight but after a few flushes I noticed water seeping and pulled it out. As can be seen in the photo, the wax ring slid off center. I…
Andrew
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3 answers

What kind of screw is this from a bar stool?

I have a barstool that has lost several examples of the screw pictured below, and I do not have calipers to measure it precisely. The screw is pictured atop a U.S. quarter coin. Since the condition of the screw is imperfect, I should mention that I…
Joe Mack
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3 answers

What kind of pliers are these?

I saw these pliers being abused for something they’re probably not meant for. What are these pliers actually for, and what do you call them?
Philipp
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