Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
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2 answers

What should a homeowner look for in a torque driver for DIY electrical work?

If I want to add a torque driver to my toolbox, so I can improve the quality of DIY electrical work in my home, what is a suitable torque range and precision I should look for? It should be suitable for use with breakers, panel buses, outlets, and…
jay613
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Is it safe to screw into a single support beam holding up an entire house?

I have a (roughly 40 year old) house with a crawlspace, and then an upstairs above it - I believe this considered a 1.5 storey house. The upstairs is being held up by a long wooden support beam, and that beam is being held up by a metal pole but…
Smith99
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5 answers

What does "can't mix neutrals" mean, and how would neutrals get mixed?

Electrician told me a problem I was having was caused by a new arc fault breaker they installed. I was told you, "can't mix neutrals" Can you describe what that means? How would these neutrals get mixed?
Marinaio
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8 answers

How to (more) securely attach a latch to a frequently-used wooden gate

Our house's front yard is separated from the street with a low picket fence with a spring-operated gate. The latch of this gate has been consistently problematic because it is exposed to the weather and takes a lot of force and vibration from…
Justin Grant
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What is this set of claw-levers and bolts?

This has been in my garage for a while, but I have no ideas what it is. Anyone out there know?
Eric V
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1 answer

Is abandoned sewage pit hazardous?

I own a family house that used to until about 20 years ago have a sewage collector pit in use. It has been abandoned for about 20 years now. It has concrete walls and roofing and gravel on the bottom. It was never disinfected or treated in any…
Benjamin Márkus
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9 answers

Why is the cut using a jigsaw not a perfect straight line?

I attempted to test-cut a straight line using my new electric jigsaw. Therefore, I clamped a piece of scrap wood and used another piece as guide, marked the cut lines using a pencil and fitted the jigsaw with the blade and cut. But my cut is like…
Dimitrios Desyllas
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6 answers

Is it safe for plumbing to use rainwater to flush toilets?

A couple of articles encourage the use of rainwater to flush toilets. (article 1, article 2) However, would it be safe to do so if the rainwater in your particular area has a pH that is considered as acidic or akaline? (The risks of which are…
plu
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Turn off hot water without hot water valve

I have a leaky pipe on the hot water side that I'd like to fix. Following the pipes back to the water heater, I don't think there's a shutoff valve installed anywhere in the line, not even at the water heater outlet. At least, not one that is…
Sittin Hawk
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How do I drywall when the studs are not flush?

I have a problem with my bathroom. I recently had someone come and switch the door from the kitchen side to the other side while redoing my kitchen. He did a great job and the kitchen looks great. That being said he used new studs to re-frame the…
Ryan Brokaw
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6 answers

What is this kind of security bolt head called, and how can I remove it?

A previous owner fitted the light fitting pictured above, and has not left me a tool to remove the bolt. The bulb has blown so I need to get in to the unit. The head diameter is about 12mm and the gap between the two notches is about 6mm. I would…
Dickon Reed
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1 answer

How can I open or identify this lamp?

There's a lamp attached to the ceiling of the entrance to the garages of me and my neighbours, and its bulb needs to be replaced. The problem is: I have no idea how to open it. There is no way to identify the manufacturer or model; it's simply not…
Glorfindel
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8 answers

Wood glue versus epoxy for doweling stripped screw holes

I've come across two schools of thought for gluing dowels in place. PVA wood glue, such as Titebond. Two-part epoxy, such as Araldite. Bearing in mind long-term stability, which is preferable for interior door hinges?
Brybeck
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9 answers

How can I seal 8 inch round holes in my siding?

There is a nor'Easter coming today. What's a quick fix? My first home and just closed a few days ago! Help please. The hole is 8 inches in diameter or so.
DIYgal
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4 answers

GFI outlets tripped after power outage

I live in a rural area that has frequent power outages (Several per month. Less than a minute in duration). When the power is restored, several GFI outlets always trip. I am trying to track down the cause of these trips, as one of the outlets…
cyclops
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