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1500 questions
19
votes
6 answers
Wind from kitchen sink drainage pipe
We live on a windy coast of North Sea. High wind is a norm here. One of the problems I face with the wind: it comes out from kitchen sink drainage pipe. If it is blowy outside, you can feel a draft coming from the drainage pipe.
I think the problem…
trailmax
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19
votes
7 answers
How to cut a rectangle out of a STEEL ruler?
Does anyone know how to cut a hollow rectangle out of a steel ruler? By that I mean cutting a small part out of the standard steel ruler while having the outside part still in tact. So a band saw is out the ballpark. Its for a home project and any…
Joe
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19
votes
2 answers
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the outside or the inside?
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the outside or the inside? I've heard different things about this. We have a home built in the 40's on a cinder-block foundation. One side of the house is inaccessible without removing our driveway.
Kyle
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19
votes
4 answers
When drywalling, do the pros cover electrical boxes, or work around them?
This may be a bit of a subjective question, but I was just thinking about it. I've seen many electrical boxes that are full of drywall compound, often to the point of having to dig the wires out of it so you can use it.
To prevent this, should the…
gregmac
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19
votes
3 answers
What are the differences between these two receptacles?
Residential duplex outlets come in a variety of styles.
The two most common seem to be:
and
Does it matter? Is the difference purely aesthetics, or is there any technical difference?
abelenky
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19
votes
13 answers
How do I prepare my home for a power outage?
With several storms in the Northeast United States and more storms predicted this week, there have been lots of extended power outages. What are things to do to prepare your house for a power outage especially in the winter.
What are things you…
SchwartzE
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19
votes
1 answer
What is this velcro-like product?
Does anyone have an idea what this product might be?
It was found it on some hired equipment, used as a cable tie / cable tidy. It is reversible and each side will stick to itself, unlike velcro.
Maybe cable tie was not its intended use?
It looks…
Josh Barnes
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19
votes
9 answers
What can I do about my drains constantly getting blocked?
The one thing I have tried to do about this is use those foaming and non-foaming drain unblockers regularly. That has just been money down the drain, pardon the pun.
I suspect that unblockers only work if the blockage is in trap (the first bendy bit…
RomanSt
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19
votes
2 answers
When is pipe dope/tape needed?
When is it appropriate to use tape, dope, or nothing at all when connecting pipe fittings? Several advised not to use any product when I posed this question. What is the purpose of each product, and what problems would they solve or could they…
glenviewjeff
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19
votes
5 answers
How can I insulate my garage door?
Over the past year I've been converting our integrated garage so that it's a usage space.
I've painted the walls, got lighting, power and water connected (To allow for a washing machine to be installed) plus floor is now carpeted using tiles. Also…
Peter Bridger
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19
votes
1 answer
What type of screw head type looks like four recessed overlapping squares?
Anyone familiar with what type of screw bit driver I need for this?
Seth
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19
votes
5 answers
Should I let my doors be drafty if my house is “too tight”?
I had an energy auditor come by and do the door blower test on my house. According to them, my house is considered pretty tight (unfortunately I do not have the number). They were at first going to replace my door seals which are clearly drafty as…
Cody
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19
votes
7 answers
Why is there a beaded tie on new fire extinguishers?
When I see fire extinguishers these days they seem to have some form of the yellow beaded tie as shown in this photo.
What purpose does this serve? It looks to me like it prevents the pin from pulling out. Hardly something you'd want in a fire.…
duozmo
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19
votes
2 answers
Sketchy looking electrical outlet
I am updating older beige outlets to new white ones around my house. I saw this one has the grounding wire stabbed into the back and white wire not connected.
What the heck is going on here? Any suggestions on what to do and why it’s not properly…
Armstrong
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19
votes
3 answers
What are some tips for finishing wood?
I'm kind of embarrassed to ask, but I'm looking for a good how-to guide for finishing pine furniture. (Could also apply to baseboards and trim, so I'm hoping for an on-topic pass here.) I watched my dad do this dozens of time when I was a kid, but I…
Doresoom
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