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1500 questions
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5 answers

What is the official name for wiring hole stops/plugs and where can I buy them?

We have several holes in our house (floor and external wall) that are used for cables (coax and cat5e). The holes are bigger than the cable that goes through them so we'd like to minimize the excess space (to help prevent bugs from getting…
Mike B
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How do you mount conduit to a wall so that it stands off a standard box distance?

I'm running 1/2" EMT conduit between single-gang surface-mount boxes. The holes for the boxes are slightly set away from the wall so that the conduit does not mount flush against the wall. I have found various types of single screw and double screw…
KJ7LNW
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Why is the main breaker sparking in off position?

The power in several rooms has randomly gone out then comes back on seconds later. We consulted with an electrician that told us to replace the whole panel but we can’t afford $5000 to do that right now so instead we decided to replace the problem…
Stacie
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3 answers

How do I know who planted "no dig" flags and when I can remove them?

Some underground utility flags ("call before you dig") appeared in my front yard. A couple of days later there was some work done in the road in front of my house. A few days after that I removed the flags. The very next day they were back…
jay613
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I installed a new outlet and tripped the whole power panel... Does a 30 amp circuit need special outlets?

So... I tried swapping two outlets in my kitchen, and tripped the entire power panel! The old outlets were wired with FOUR wires: red, black, white, bare. I wired the new outlets using the same scheme: Red to one of the HOT terminals Black to the…
steeveedee
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Why do builders say that wet concrete/mortar is not as strong?

I have been watching a few videos demonstrating the mixing of mortar and cement and a constant theme is that you must not have the mix too runny. I cannot fathom the reason... Does anyone care to elaborate? My only guess is that a watery mix will…
Hightower
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How do I tighten this bathroom faucet?

My bathroom faucet is loose on the countertop. It wobbles and rotates when lifting and turning on the water. Underneath it looks like the following pictures. (It's above and behind some drywall, so most of the pictures are using an endoscope; sorry…
Phrogz
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How to reduce noise from my refrigerator?

I live in a studio appartment and there is a fridge in my room which makes sleeping difficult. Is there a way to reduce the noise it makes? Is it maybe possible to cover it with noise insulant without keeping the waste heat inside? Update: Thanks…
Lenar Hoyt
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5 answers

How to patch underwater power line

We're rural and the house plumbing is from a lake-draw system with a submersible pump. We just noticed that the power wire out to the pump had its sheath damaged in the spring time by either the ice going out, or driftwood in a storm, or something.…
Mike Ounsworth
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Should I put a dimmer switch on a ceiling fan?

I have a ceiling fan on our bedroom's vaulted ceiling. Since we don't want 7' pull-cords, the speed is stuck at full-tilt, which is no good. The fan has separate switches on the wall for lights and fan on/off, though, so I tried putting a dimmer…
Dov
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7 answers

How can I fix a towel bar pulled from the wall?

My father-in-law leaned on the towel bar to rise from the toilet, which ripped both sides out of the wall. The holes are pretty large, almost an inch on one side, and this is the second time it's been repaired (originally with mesh tape on the right…
Elizabeth Tull
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6 answers

Should I rewire my house?

I am a new homeowner and have started doing some electrical upgrades. The problem I've run into is that the house was built in 1960 and the electrical system as a whole is grounded via the conduit with no ground wire present. Most components I've…
JackTrade
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Old house, 2 prong outlets - safety question for kids

I just bought a 1955 house with 95% of the outlets 2 prong ungrounded. There seems to be one grounded 3 prong outlet in each room. I reached out to my electrician for a quote to add grounds to all outlets in the house. He said I could do that or it…
richie894
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What hand tool has a long spiral shank with cutting teeth?

I came across the tool pictured in my collection and cannot imagine its purpose. It's a long metal pick, with sharp studs running down it in a spiral. It ends in a tip that seems to be meant to make holes. It's very sturdy.
Jeremy
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Should I let pressure treated lumber dry before building with it?

I bought some treated 2x4s from Lowes, and they were fairly wet and heavy. I went ahead and built a firewood rack, but screwing into it releases a lot of water. It got me thinking, is it better to let the wood dry out a while before building with…
TheSean
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