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1500 questions
25
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9 answers

Are integrated LEDs a riskier purchase than screw-in bulbs?

A lot of LEDs on the market these days are "integrated", meaning that the LEDs themselves and the housing is all bundled together. You screw the whole thing into the ceiling, and connect the wires to your circuit. But what do you do when the lights…
gomennathan
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3 answers

Garage door suddenly really heavy, opener gives up

I just came back from a week out of town and noticed my garage door opener isn't working. When I press the button it moves about an inch then gives up. I tried disconnecting the electric opener and opening it manually but it's suddenly incredibly…
peter
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25
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5 answers

How can I monitor my roof to detect roof leaks before they cause damage?

A lot of questions have been asked about how to locate a leak in a roof, but you can only locate a leak that you know exists, and the first noticeable sign that there is anything wrong might be drywall damage in your living space. By this point, the…
interfect
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16 answers

How do I get over my fear of using power tools?

Circular saw, jointer and table saw scare the living $#1+ out of me. How do I get rid of the fear? I've watched tons of safety videos and read all manuals cover to cover and still feel wary of using them. I guess I can describe myself as a DIY'er…
Michael Kelso
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25
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13 answers

Do smart or programmable thermostats actually save money?

I am looking at replacing all the thermostats in my house. I have hot water baseboard heat and forced air A/C. Each room's baseboard heat is controlled by a thermostat in that room. I tend to prefer simple mechanical interfaces to digital "smart"…
JoshuaD
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25
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2 answers

What type of lightbulb is this?

I need to replace a faulty lightbulb but it's not one I've come across before. It's being used in a light fixture in my washroom above the vanity. Can anyone here identify it? I'm hoping I can order one from Amazon or my local Home Depot. (Loonie…
cornflakes24
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6 answers

What benefit do plasterboard/drywall screws have?

I have some plasterboard screws like this: However, without a drill I have a job getting them into the wall. Am I safe to use normal screws on hangings that aren't going to be taking a great deal of weight? In this case it is a rack of coat hooks.
Jivings
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25
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8 answers

Does a homeowner need a permit for electrical work in Massachusetts?

Does a homeowner need to obtain a permit from the town in order to do electrical work on his own house in Massachusetts? The unofficial answers I can find online (e.g., this forum and the websites of various towns) are all over the place, and…
Vebjorn Ljosa
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3 answers

Why do single electrical receptacles exist?

Given that the following are true. They are the same size. They take the same amount of work to install. Doubles are twice as useful. Double adapters are a thing. Why do single electrical receptacles even exist? I was looking at the plans for a…
Spike
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25
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7 answers

Panel breakers are alternately 90 V and 140 V

Everything in the house is acting up. The fridge has melted ice, the radio is acting strange, etc. I multimetered the panel box and each breaker is either 90 V or 140 V alternately. I have a plan to upgrade the box from 100 A to 200 A as the meter…
drmadef
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25
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3 answers

Mounted tv too high, OK to use same studs to remount?

I mounted a tv (60") on my living room wall too high. The heavy-duty mounting bracket uses large screws that required that I drill a 7/32" hole into the studs and used a socket wrench to tighten them in. (Total of 4 screws, two in each stud placed…
Puzzled
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25
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11 answers

Any hidden disadvantage to lever-type door latches?

I have a lever-type door knob on one of my bedrooms and I like it a lot more than the ordinary round knobs. I am considering replacing all the door knobs in the house with levers. Is there any reason to not do this? Why do people use round knobs at…
Tyler Durden
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13 answers

What is simplest strategy to map circuits to breakers in the panel?

My breaker box is very poorly labeled and I want to figure out which circuits may have overloaded (or close to it) and which could reasonably handle a little more. In the past I have just tried flipping one of the breakers and then running around…
auujay
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25
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4 answers

Does a bathroom exhaust fan have to vent to the outside?

Is it normal and/or code compliant to have a bathroom exhaust fan venting to the attic? I've seen this a couple times now, and the first time I saw this I thought it was very odd. But I mentioned this to a couple people around here and they thought…
dark fader
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5 answers

How do you find helpers for larger DIY projects?

Question: In cases where you have the time and skills to do a project yourself, but physically cannot without a second skilled person to help, how do you go about finding and hiring someone that is willing to work with you? Example: I'm planning to…
Nick
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