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1500 questions
30
votes
5 answers

What is the best method to patch a large hole (2-3 inches) in drywall?

I have a large hole where a TV wall mount once was (I believe the hole was used to run power and coax cable to the TV). I have since moved the TV and would like to patch the hole. What is the best way to do this?
mmattax
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5 answers

Is there a trick to opening a tube of caulk?

Is there a tool especially designed for opening a tube of caulk, silicone, or construction adhesive?
Ben Welborn
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4 answers

Why are homes wired using solid wire rather than stranded?

If stranded wire can carry more power for a given wire gauge, why are homes typically wired using solid? If solid wire is less expensive to make, that provides a compelling reason why solid is used, but if an electrician or homeowner wanted to use…
JYelton
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29
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7 answers

Are "1/4 turn" water supply valves more reliable than "multi-turn" valves? Or vice-versa?

Aside from personal preference, is there any reason why I would want to buy a "1/4 turn" water supply valve instead of "multi-turn valves"? Is one technology/design clearly superior than the other in terms of reliability? Or is this purely just a…
Mike B
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29
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9 answers

How do you determine if a door is Right Handed (RH) or Left Handed (LH)?

I am replacing a few interior doors and I need to know if the existing door is Right Handed or Left Handed so I have them drilled correctly. Sounds like the acronyms for this are RH and LH. This also would apply for new pre-hung doors as well I…
mohlsen
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29
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7 answers

How can I reduce noise coming in a window for under $100?

I live 200 feet from a 6 lane highway, and the noise is rather annoying to say the least. I would like to reduce the noise coming into my 58"x 70" bedroom window by at least 50%, as I think the noise is causing stress and tension. Unfortunately,…
fixit7
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29
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3 answers

Unused outlets get warm when others under load

When we run moderately high power devices (around 8-9 amps, e.g. vacuum cleaner, portable AC, small space heater), the other unused outlets on the same circuit get warm/hot after 15-30 minutes. The devices are plugged directly into the outlet, not…
iondune
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9 answers

What to do with wood shavings and sawdust?

Been doing a lot of woodworking recently and have many bags of sawdust and wood shavings. I haven't the facility to compress them into the pellets I get from my local woodyard which are useful for my woodburner, but am reluctant to take it all to…
Tim
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1 answer

Why is there only one receptacle in this outlet?

This looks like an outlet with only one receptacle, but why? It's mounted about 7' up, in a basement-level room in a school building. It is stamped 15A/125V, but I've never seen something like this before. My question is, is it indeed a standard…
nuggethead
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29
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4 answers

Why does my shed door expand/shrink?

I built a shed door last summer and have had a few problems with it since. Using pressure treated outdoor timber I made a fairly simple shed door. I wood glued the long planks together and then used four straight braces across the back that I glued…
GamerGypps
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29
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10 answers

Propane appliances throwing orange flames suddenly and generator's back firing

So here's the deal: about 1.5 to 2 weeks ago, our generator started backfiring like crazy and our cookstove, water heater and heater are throwing yellow orange flames intermittently as well as producing soot blackening the ceiling and range hood. We…
Vermonter802
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29
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3 answers

How did my ground and neutral become energized by a short in the buried main line?

Long post, because I'm not sure what information is critical. The ultimate question is what, if anything, I need to do to ensure there are no hazardous conditions in my home. Friday night, the lights flickered for 10 seconds and then the house lost…
Larry
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29
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5 answers

Is it unsafe to remove one stud from a load bearing wall?

I need to cut a hole for a recessed medicine cabinet. This wall is at the end of the house. I only need to cut one stud to make a frame for the cabinet. Will this damage the integrity of the bearing wall?
Sonia Leon
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3 answers

Can you cut open a plastic junction box and just lay splices inside?

This doesn't look like it should fly to me, but the "electrician" hired by the seller of this property is arguing that this is an acceptable way to put an open splice into an box. I know this shouldn't be allowed, but is there phrasing in the code…
Shane
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7 answers

Are water boilers dangerous when showering?

Where I'm from (Serbia) everybody says to turn off the water boiler (the container that heats up water and stores it for use in the bathroom and shower) when you take a shower or use the bathtub. They say that if the boiler becomes faulty, the…
NeoXx
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