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1500 questions
22
votes
8 answers

Are standard light bulb bases being phased out?

Recently we've been shopping for light fixtures, and have noticed a dramatic increase in non-standard bulbs. CFLs in particular seem to be drifting away from the common threaded base, in favor of 2-post snap in bulbs. I know there are efforts…
Scivitri
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22
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7 answers

What can I do to keep my shed (or house) free of spiders?

I've got an old shed at the end of my garden, this summer I gave it a complete cleanout, but within a few weeks it was back to its cobweb infested state. Being quite an arachnaphobe, it makes getting stuff in/out quite an uncomfortable…
user155695
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22
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4 answers

Rafters separating from ceiling

I recently bought a house and discovered that the rafters in the attic are separating from the ceiling. The roof does not seem to be sagging, and only the rafters on one side of the attic are separating. The rafters on the other side are fine. Does…
Ace Ender
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22
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5 answers

What is this sharpened steel rod with rubber coating?

Got this at a yard sale in a bin with mostly random fasteners. Its about 3" long. It is very similar to a standard framing nail in diameter, if not slightly less. It has a tip like a nail but a dipped-looking rubberized coating. Any ideas what this…
StayOnTarget
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22
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5 answers

Are there LED lamps available for ovens?

The only place I now use an incandescent bulb is in my oven. It went out the other day and I was looking for a replacement. I am using LED all over these days but realized it may not be possible to use LEDs in a heated environment like an oven. Is…
Christian
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22
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14 answers

Best way to stick a very long Ethernet cable semi-permanently to walls?

TL;DR: I am looking for good ways to stick flat Ethernet cable semi-permanently to ceilings/walls ideally suited to someone with no DIY expertise whatsoever After successfully untwisting the very twisted Ethernet cable (thanks @Ecnerwal) I ran the…
Lieu Zheng Hong
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22
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6 answers

Contractor is installing a vinyl fence and posts but is not using any water with concrete. Is he doing it right?

I hired a reputable local company to install 6 foot vinyl fence around my yard. Salesman was telling me how they would be using cement to hold the post in place. To my surprise I see the workers use dry cement mix with no water or sand or anything…
Agoor
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22
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7 answers

Why is my house wired with two coax in every room and an RJ11 splitter?

My house was built around 2005, though I've only owned it a year. Setting aside from the insane cluster of coax wiring we found in the attic, I'm trying to understand why every room in the house has at least one, and usually two outlets that look…
Warren
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22
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6 answers

Car in driveway is source of garage door opener interference

It has been determined that the car parked in my shared driveway is interfering with 2 other condos. The garage door company is sure it is coming from my car which has been parked there for years. When I remove my car from the area everyone is able…
Ilene bd
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22
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1 answer

What do I need to install LED strip lighting?

I've been looking to install LED strips, either RGB or white for lighting and ambiance. It wouldn't be the main lighting of the room, so no necessity for high power LEDs. The perimeter of the room is a little less than 25 meters. Looking around in…
sazpaz
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22
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3 answers

What is the name of this part of drawers?

I was trying to describe a specific part of a set of drawers in another question, and cannot find the right name for it. A photo showing the same part. Notice not all drawers have these, or they may be spaced out in a reduced number - I have one…
Criggie
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22
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6 answers

Weird Power Outage in Certain Rooms- Condominium

Half of the Condo I rent is losing power sporadically, sometimes for minutes other times for hours. We have power loss to our kitchen lights, microwave, outlet above dishwasher, the dishwasher, entire bedroom, both bathrooms, and the AC unit. Living…
Ashley
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22
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6 answers

How long should I wait to plug in my refrigerator after unplugging it?

I just had a strange recommendation when I wanted to move the fridge inside my house to a new position. It's just about 2 feet away. I was told that I should wait 30-40 minutes after I unplug the fridge before plugging it in again. How is it so and…
deathemperor
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22
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6 answers

Does unblocking power bar outlets through short extension cords increase fire risk?

Power supply units are often large relative to the outlet and block access to adjacent outlets in a power bar. A simple solution is to use 1/2 ft or 1 ft (15cm, 30cm) power extension cords to keep all outlets in a power bar available. Yet my hunch…
Calaf
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22
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4 answers

Getting UPS Power from One Room to Another

I’d like to run power from a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in ROOM A to where a work computer is used in ROOM B. I was thinking of installing an outlet box in ROOM A near where the UPS is plugged in, then run wire under the house to another…
staticGenerator
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