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1500 questions
28
votes
3 answers
Now I realize I used too many GFCI outlets. How can I reclaim them?
Yeah, so the building inspector redflagged a bunch of outlets for not being GFCI. Before I understood how the LOAD terminals work, I just replaced every single one with a GFCI outlet. Most had a second cable for onward power, so I just attached…
Harper - Reinstate Monica
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28
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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28
votes
3 answers
Why are the inside diameters of some pipe larger than the stated size?
I'm looking over some specifications for black pipe. I understand why dimensional lumber is smaller than the stated dimensions, but why would the pipe manufacturers give you more volume than what is expected?
Does anyone know the history on this?
…
gnicko
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28
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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28
votes
9 answers
How do I prepare an already painted wall for new paint?
We are repainting a number of rooms in our home, do we need to put primer over the existing paint?
Are there any other gotchas that we need to prepare for before repainting the walls?
Noah Goodrich
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28
votes
13 answers
Locating source of excessive energy use
Background Info: My house is all electric.
Last month when I got my electric bill, I flipped. It was triple that of any month prior. Now I know the cold (heating) can affect this so I decided to turn my thermostat back, even though I never had to…
hack3rfx
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28
votes
6 answers
How to improve HVAC system to make upstairs rooms more comfortable?
My home was built in 1985 in the US with conventional HVAC design of that time. Wooden frame house. It has central air conditioning (ducted) and we upgraded to a natural gas furnace recently. We experience both hot and cold temperature extremes in…
allquixotic
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28
votes
5 answers
Do I really have to fasten interior-wall electrical wire to a stud to keep it from moving?
I am fresh out of cable staples and would rather not go all the way to Lowe's just to get a box. What are the implications of not fastening loose electrical wires to a stud? It's not like there's going to be that much vibration in my house.
Edit:…
oscilatingcretin
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27
votes
4 answers
How do I remove and reinstall baseboards (Skirting Board) without damaging them?
I need to temporarily remove the baseboards in a couple rooms. I am interested in some suggestions for removing the baseboards without damaging them so they can later be reinstalled. Suggestions may include
Helpful tools
Pitfalls
Removal…
Mario
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27
votes
5 answers
Do you really need a p-trap on bathroom sinks?
If I do away with the trap what is it going to hurt? Will something bad happen?
A friend had a problem with clogs. He took his out and has had no more problems. Can you tell me why that is?
Michael Hodnett
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27
votes
8 answers
Is twisted and taped splice on cable, objectively any less stable than wire-nuts or terminal blocks?
In Brazil, electrical connections are almost always done splicing electrical cables by twisting the strands together and insulating them with electrical tape. Here is a video showing some of the connections the way they are done in Brazil. Terminal…
Luiz Borges
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27
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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27
votes
3 answers
Can anyone tell me what this little white box on my outlet is?
Recently bought a house that's about 40 years old. The previous owner was clearly very fond of doing the wiring himself and has left me some idiosyncrasies to work out. One is this box in one of my bedrooms. No idea what it is, or is supposed to…
Misanthrope Meanguy
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27
votes
8 answers
How do I compensate for the sun confusing my garage door opener's sensors?
Only during summer and only when the sun is close to the horizon the light from the sun confuses my garage door opener and in order to close the door I have to hold down the wired button which is a real pain if I'm leaving.
A friend suggested I use…
tooshel
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27
votes
6 answers
How to prevent batteries leaking out in devices?
Is there a common method of preventing batteries from leaking out and destroying the device? Why does this happen in the first place? I have laid another head lamp to waste because it was sitting in my truck unused for several months. Could it be…
amphibient
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