Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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3 answers

Is it normal for GFCI receptacles to explode and burn?

I noticed my tooth brush wasn't charging one morning and none of the plugs in my bathroom were getting power, I went down to the circuit box and saw a flipped breaker so I flipped it back and it immediately tripped again. I tried it once more with…
almarshall
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How to drill a hole in a space too small to fit a standard manual or electric drill?

I have a very narrow kitchen cupboard I'd like to make some changes to (add shelves maybe). Almost any change will require drilling holes though, and there's not enough room for a standard electric or manual drill, so the first problem to solve is…
Highly Irregular
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CO detector starts beeping every morning at 6am

My 2-years old CO detector (small, wall-mounted device with battery, no other power source) started beeping every morning for at least few minutes, sending sharp chirps once every 10 sec. It starts around 6am. I don't see any visible fire or cooking…
aaaaa says reinstate Monica
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How do you reduce floor sound transmission?

How do you reduce the sound transmission through a floor? Using "green glue" between a couple layers of plywood subfloor seems to work well. Are there any other tricks or suggestions?
jlpp
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Is it possible to convert a truss attic into living space?

What are some options for converting a trussed roof into living space? My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that the following needs to be taken into consideration: proper floor joists need to be installed/sistered. Knee wall…
DA01
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Is white paint the same color regardless of the company?

I'm painting and have run out of the particular white paint I was using. I have some leftover white from a different room. Is there a way to tell if the white will be the same and match? Here are the two versions Ace Premium Royal Interior Wall +…
Jason
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How to remove a shelf fastener with a round head and no slot

I have some shelving in my closet and it's screwed into the wall with fasteners that look like this (see image). It's a smooth circle and doesn't have any type of hole of slot on top. Is this a screw? If so, what kind of screw is this and how do i…
Kizzie
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How much water do water softeners waste?

I'm considering buying a water softener, but I heard that they waste a lot of water, and I don't really want my water bill to skyrocket. I haven't been able to find any clear indication of how much water water softeners waste. They generally have…
Eric
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Is there an NEC-compliant method of repairing minor damage to electrical wire insulation without a junction box?

While trying to pry loose a stubborn cable staple that fastens a 14-gauge electrical cable to a stud, I accidentally tore a very small hole through both the outer jacket and the insulation around the neutral wire, exposing the bare conductor inside.…
oscilatingcretin
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Why energy saving bulb flashes when the switch is off?

I have a energy saving spiral light bulb in my kitchen. In exactly every 27 seconds, the first segment of the bulb faintly flashes when the switch is off. And not once, repeatedly every 27 seconds. This weird situation occurs for more than half and…
sevenkul
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What's the minimum depth that an electrical box can recess into a finished wall? Does it have to be flush?

Do electrical boxes have to be flush to the finished surface? Can they recess any depth into the wall by as much as 1/8" or 1/4"? Edit: I appreciate everyone offering alternative solutions to making a non-flush, already-installed box flush to the…
oscilatingcretin
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What are these tools used for?

I have recently found in a box these two tools: I do not have any knowledge on whether these tools are for wood or metal. The second tool can be winded and unwinded in order to form some kind of tooth bite like shape to a material. Many thanks…
Konstantinos Chertouras
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What is this metal rail in the basement ceiling

What is this metal rail in my basement and can I hang my 80 lbs punching bag on it? Thank you.
mishap
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What is the difference between R20 and PAR20 light bulbs?

Are R20 and PAR20 light bulbs interchangeable? In general, what do the R and PAR prefixes represent?
Meringros
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How do I use an extension ladder to get onto my roof?

I have a two storey house and need to get onto the roof to apply some heat paint on my furnace exhaust pipe before winter. It looks about 20-22' from the ground to the edge my eaves, so to be safe I figure I need a 28' extension ladder. The ground…
shufler
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