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1500 questions
26
votes
14 answers
Does Pex tubing have any advantages over copper?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Pex tubing? How does it compare to copper?
Tester101
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26
votes
3 answers
Is it possible for a gas fired boiler to consume more energy when heating intermitently versus having heating at all times?
I have an argument with my dad regarding energy consumption of a gas-fired wall radiator home central heating system. Their current setup involves no thermostat and the boiler deciding when to fire based on some kind of curve calibrated to use an…
KubaFYI
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26
votes
4 answers
Replacing hardwood floor in 100 year old house with no subfloor
This is a 100-year-old, single family house in Washington, D.C. The floors are aged and worst of all terribly squeaky. The main issue we are trying to solve is to not have the floors squeak.
Unless we hear better advice here, I assume this means…
ssm
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26
votes
5 answers
How can I protect a frozen heat pump in cold weather while waiting for service?
Yesterday I noticed that my Carrier heat pump was struggling to keep up with my thermostat settings inside the house. It was around 35°F (2°C) outside, I had the thermostat set at 72°F (22°C), but the internal temperature wasn't rising above 70°F.
I…
user3103523
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26
votes
3 answers
Do I really need to include a wall switched lighting outlet in every room?
According to the Black & Decker Wiring book, the NEC indicates that each room should include at least one "switch-operated lighting outlet". Is that true even in rooms that have overhead lighting, or does that count as the "outlet"?
Trevor
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26
votes
12 answers
How do I hand saw in a straight line?
Whenever I use a hand saw, I find I keep subconsciously curving the cut, no matter how much I consciously try to compensate.
In this example in photos, to get this cut straight I kept rotating the pole, but from the messy spiral shape, you can see…
Stewart
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26
votes
8 answers
How to find electric device(s) driving a high electric bill?
The cabin electric bill came and I gave it what I thought would be a cursory glance and it looked unusually high. Not just for this cabin, but in my experience with our houses. Our main house is a 1965 crapshack in Northern Virginia, very poorly…
user122950
26
votes
10 answers
Is it harmful to remove gas stove knobs on a regular basis?
I have a propane stove whose knobs are at the exact height of my elderly mother's wheelchair handles. I kept finding the knobs in a semi-on position and have figured out the source is definitely the chair.
If I remove the knobs and push them back…
Bookaholic
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26
votes
3 answers
Why does US Code not allow a 15A single receptacle on a 20A circuit?
Living in the UK, where we have a different system of mains wiring, my curiosity was piqued by Is it okay to install a 15A outlet on a 20A dedicated circuit for a dishwasher? and its answers. Although there is some debate in comments as to whether a…
TripeHound
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26
votes
9 answers
How do I fix a sticking toilet refill float?
After flushing, my toilet doesn't sense that it needs to refill. See the below image. If I so much as gently touch the gray piece, the toilet starts to refill. Any easy fixes?
maxedison
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26
votes
2 answers
What's the 1 inch square knob sticking out of the wall?
I noticed there is a square knob sticking out of my basement wall. Does anyone know what this is?
H Woo
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26
votes
11 answers
Is it damaging to turn off a small fridge for two days every week?
I am a student who studies in a different city than my home so I go home almost every weekend or second weekend. I recently brought a room sized fridge and to save electricity costs, whenever I go home, I turn off the fridge which is usually for…
khawajayy
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26
votes
4 answers
While drilling into kitchen wall, hit a wire - any advice?
While fixing the extractor hood yesterday, I accidently hit a wire when drilling and exposed the copper. The wires are too tight to get some kind of a box in there and putting an electrical tape may be too fiddley.
Any advice will be greatly…
user1607035
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26
votes
1 answer
What is this bolt in my basement floor?
In my concrete basement floor, there is a rather large bolt and washer. The washer is about 4 inches in diameter, and the bolt has a 1 inch head. What is it?
All I can think of is that it's some device to keep this from happening:
Chris Cudmore
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26
votes
3 answers
Diagonal brace left in the basement by builder. Can I remove it? Replace it?
I have a diagonal brace running across an interior wall in the basement, and it even goes partially into the floor concrete. Is this meant to be permanent, or was it supposed to be removed during construction?
I want to finish the basement and put…
Egor
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