Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
24
votes
2 answers

Is there any way for a consumer to confirm that a device is actually UL listed?

In the current day and age it's possible to buy any number of interesting and hard to find electrical devices on Amazon and Alibaba from resellers of unknown reputation. Anyone can stamp a UL label on their device, and the consumer is none the…
dr-igor
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What is an air bleeder valve, and how does it winterize pipes?

I found this message attached to a pipe in the first house I bought Caution Winter Drain Instructions: Close valve in October before winter freeze Open air bleeder valve on side of main valve Open exterior hose bib Pull down pin in centre of…
asmgx
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4 answers

Do Americans in dense city centers vent their dryers directly outdoors?

I live in California in a normal single family home. My normal US dryer vents out the back into a duct that eventually goes out the side of my house - it vents moisture, air and lint directly to the outdoors. I have never considered any other method…
user227963
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4 answers

Why would a particular heat pump model be illegal in my state?

I am trying to replace an electricity-hungry whole-house electric furnace with something that will be more cost-effective. I live in a high-altitude part of New Mexico, where I don't need to use much A/C, but need a more efficient heater for the…
Village
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5 answers

Why did my extension cord melt and arc?

I got this extension cord with a used electric oil radiator. I assume the extension cord had been used with the radiator in the past. It looks like a 14g or 16g extension cord. The extension cord has the factory end pieces on it. I went to use…
Fresh Codemonger
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24
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4 answers

Can I pour concrete over a PVC sewer pipe without damaging it?

I'm currently in the process of digging a hole in my front yard to install a flag pole. The dimensions of the hole are 16" deep and 24" in diameter. Once I reached my 16" depth, I discovered my PVC sewer pipe that runs from my house to the street.…
Randy
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24
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6 answers

What is the right tool for old, rusty, flat cross head bolts?

I'm trying to restore an old park bench, and I am struggling to unscrew the bolts. The heads have this wide (~12-14 mm) "flat cross" pattern that I have never seen before (see photo), and I don't have any screwdriver that nearly wide enough to get…
Nicolas Payette
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24
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8 answers

What is the proper procedure to apply multiple coats of Polyurethane?

Polyurethane is confusing me. ;) I'm finishing a table top with polyurethane. I've sanded down the original finish to bare wood down to 220 grit paper. I vacuumed and wiped it all down, then did a final wipe with a rag and some mineral spirits.…
DA01
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24
votes
8 answers

Why are there ovens with control panel toward the back?

I often see ovens with their control panel behind the elements, mostly in US American settings, like in the picture below. Where I live, the controls are always in front of the appliance. It seems unnecessarily dangerous to me that one has to reach…
user117279
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24
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7 answers

Paint-stripping purgatory - stuck in the middle - what should we do?

My wife was prepping our kitchen to be painted this weekend in our 1920's era condominium. Presumably lead paint is present but we do wear masks when working. There's an old door and door frame, and an old wooden window frame in one corner of the…
OldCondo
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24
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10 answers

My inflatable hot tub says "don't use with an extension cord"... but can I?

Sadly they don't explain WHY not to use it with an extension cord. I wonder if it's to do with the risk of having such connections outside in the elements? The cord it comes with is 7m long, and where we want to site it is 6m from our outhouse. I've…
Codemonkey
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24
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7 answers

How to disconnect air conditioner lines from outdoor unit?

I need to temporarily move the outdoor unit to one side to access the wall behind it. Is it possible to do this with basic tools? I just need to disconnect the copper pipes as there's enough slack in the power supply so I can keep the wires…
user82609
24
votes
5 answers

Make a hole deeper than the drill bit is long

The longest drill bit I have is 23.62 inches and apparently the thickness of the concrete I need to penetrate is 27.5 inches. I don't wish to buy another drill bit, is there a smart solution? The hole is for a gas pipe to go through, so the diameter…
Blerg
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24
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8 answers

Why aren’t there water shutoff valves for each room?

Had an issue today with a nail going through a water supply line in a bathroom. It got me wondering if there is a practical or technical reason there aren’t typically room-specific shut offs between the master shut off and the shut offs at the…
Mike Whitis
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24
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8 answers

What's the standard height for an outlet?

I am installing outlets in my patio room. What is the standard height recommended above the ground for these to be installed?
KingKongFrog
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