Most Popular
1500 questions
22
votes
6 answers
Can I safely use a 9w LED bulb in place of a 40w incandescent?
I bought a reading lamp that on the box says: Max 1x40W
The shop also sold me an LED light bulb that says: 9W=75W
So my question is, can I use light bulb or not? I am confused between the 75W and the max of 40W mentioned for the lamp
Jim
- 481
- 3
- 8
- 14
22
votes
7 answers
What's the best way to account for saw blade width (kerf) when cutting boards?
In theory, to cut a 350mm piece out of a longer board, I would have to mark the line at 350mm + half of blade width. So if I have a 2mm hand saw, the line would be drawn at 351mm. How does that work in practice? Should blade wiggle be taken into…
Moshanator
- 323
- 1
- 2
- 5
22
votes
16 answers
What do you do/ask when hiring a contractor?
In a world where every guy with a truck full of tools is a "contractor", how do you weed out the good from the bad?
Tester101
- 133,087
- 80
- 327
- 617
22
votes
3 answers
What is the safe/correct way to work on gutters? From a ladder or from the roof?
I am very comfortable working on the gutters (usually just cleaning them) from one story up by just sitting on the roof. I do this on my own home over the garage and at my parents one-story home.
I noticed some debris in the gutters on my 'big roof'…
Freiheit
- 4,262
- 13
- 51
- 68
22
votes
8 answers
Can I backfeed a portable generator into my house's electrical system?
Is there a safe way to power my house using a portable generator? The power rating for the generator is 6kW, and I want to run my electric water heater (4.5kW) and my refrigerator (0.5kW) and possibly a few lights.
The water heater is the main…
Doresoom
- 15,873
- 32
- 83
- 122
22
votes
7 answers
How do I safely replace a worn out electrical outlet?
I have a number of outlets that are old and worn out (plugs fall out of them mainly.)
Obviously I need to turn off the breaker to replace them safely.
Any guidance on how to rewire them, how to properly ground the new one, and how to safely test…
JoshReedSchramm
- 435
- 1
- 5
- 8
22
votes
3 answers
How do I fix a squeaky floor below my carpet?
I have a squealy floor below my carpet on the 2nd floor of my house. It sounds like the subfloor under the carpet is moving up and down a little and makes this awful load squeak when I step down on this specific location. It can be reproduced at…
mohlsen
- 6,359
- 14
- 39
- 47
22
votes
4 answers
Must I remove all mortar between tiles before grouting?
I'm just getting ready to lay down the grout after successfully tiling our master bathroom. I've been told in no uncertain terms that I must remove the spacers between tiles (or else grouting over them can result in cracking of the grout). That…
Andrew Flanagan
- 395
- 2
- 3
- 9
22
votes
3 answers
How do I refill a fire extinguisher or should I just buy a new one?
My fire extinguisher is out of charge and I want to either refill it or buy a new one. Is it better/cheaper to refill it or just buy a new one? (Can I even refill this fire extinguisher?)
EDIT:
Jeff Widmer
- 8,252
- 12
- 49
- 65
22
votes
1 answer
Are cracks in a newly poured concrete basement floor a problem?
I'm having a new home built and found a large crack in the newly poured concrete basement floor and wanted to see if it's something I should be concerned about. The floor was poured sometime in the past two weeks; I need to check with the builder…
viatheether
- 223
- 1
- 2
- 6
22
votes
1 answer
Star-shaped screw holes - what is the purpose of this shape?
I bought this spring loaded hinge and I was surprised at those star-shaped screw holes. The sales assistant at the hardware shop was clueless. I was not able to find any explanation on the web, including ChatGPT. Any suggestions?
drabsv
- 386
- 3
- 8
22
votes
4 answers
How do I safely remove a mystery cast iron pipe in my basement?
I have a mystery 1¾" cast iron pipe (outside diameter) in my basement. It's ugly and rusting, and I want to remove it. I want to know what's in there before I start opening it up, but I'm out of ideas as to what it could be.
It has a black, rubbery…
Seth
- 357
- 2
- 9
22
votes
3 answers
Why are all the neutral wires in a sub panel burnt or melted?
My barn had a small (6-space) main lug sub panel with four 20A 120V breakers and one 20A 240V breaker. The panel itself was protected by a 50A 240V breaker in the main service panel. It was wired up presumably before 2001 since all of the NM wire…
Kurt Granroth
- 880
- 2
- 9
- 16
22
votes
2 answers
Is my fast-draining, gurgling sink the cause of sewer smells?
My laundry has a washing machine, a large sink, a toilet and a small hand basin. The washing machine drains into the large sink.
We sometimes notice a sewer-like smell in the laundry. I'm trying to figure out what might be causing it.
I read this…
OutstandingBill
- 329
- 2
- 8
22
votes
4 answers
Do PC boards in AC units wear out?
I live in an area whose local climate encourages corrosion. It is warm, humid, and near the ocean, though not near enough to get any salt-water spray.
Five years after building the house, the AC units are starting to quit, one by one. The outdoor…
bubba
- 441
- 3
- 10