Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
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4 answers

Strange suction in toilet and sink, like a vacuum in the sewer pulling the water out

This is hard to explain.. But I was sitting in my bedroom when all of a sudden my toilet started draining, then the sinks in the bathroom started pulling air in, then when the water from the toilet drained, it started suctioning air down the toilet…
Matt
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Can I use old bowling alley lanes as counter tops?

There's a guy in Brooklyn who has a huge stash of old maple bowling alley lanes that he says a person can make counter tops out of. The wood is actually pretty beautiful and some of it has inlaid pin markings. I'm seriously considering doing it.…
Amanda
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6 answers

Is an extra 1 W that significant with LED bulbs?

I recently replaced a ceiling light fixture with a ceiling fan with two light sockets that have a maximum rating of 9 W for LED bulbs. The bulbs in the original fixture are 10 W LED and dimmable. The bulbs that came with the fan are non-dimmable. …
linux2647
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9 answers

How can I mount a TV tight to the wall with steel studs?

I have a 55" TV that weighs about 37 lbs and I want to hang it on the wall. But I discovered that instead of wood studs, I have metal studs and can't drill into them. Is it safe to mount the TV to the drywall alone, using 1/4" toggle bolts…
KingsInnerSoul
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5 answers

Is it safe to swap a 30A "Dryer Socket" with a 40A "Range Socket" if the breaker is 40A?

Just bought a house built in 1979 and am working on renovations. Today we had a new range delivered and ran into an issue trying to install it. Essentially, the old range was connected to a 30A "dryer socket" in the kitchen while the new one…
5E4ME
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14
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6 answers

To rake or not to rake snow off of roof

First time owning a house with a roof that can be raked, It is a shingled roof. The question is - Should I be doing it? We live in Northeast (it's snowing as we speak) and icicles do form on the roof in several places. I assumed I need to rake the…
user129995
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8 answers

Fix puncture in Ikea Linmon table

I'm using an IKEA Linmon plywood table 150x75 as a desk and the monitor stand I've been using did this at some point over the weekend. Looking for a cheap fix to help keep the structure of the table. As it is just my desk doesn't need to be pretty,…
Michaelh
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3 answers

Is a ground required when replacing an old light switch?

I need to replace a switch that controls a single light source in a bathroom. The switch has two wires connected to it. I bought a replacement switch that has two screws (one for each wire), and a green ground screw. Is it OK to connect just the…
jglouie
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14
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5 answers

Who is the right professional to call for drainage issues?

I've got some concerns about the drainage on our property and want to consult with a professional about. The problems, I'm not sure what kind of professional to call. To provide some context, here's the issues I'm concerned about: During heavy…
SredniV
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1 answer

Electrical wire nut melted

I recently completed replacing all outlets and switches in my house. In just about each room in the house one outlet had 3 black and 3 white wires going into it. The receptacles I purchased had room for max 2. You could side wire or backstab. I side…
Jordan Alhadeff
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14
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3 answers

What is "knob and tube wiring"?

I assume this is some USA wiring system, am I right?
Walker
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14
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5 answers

What is the purpose of this joint in my wall stud?

I am getting ready to install a new bathtub and shower. After ripping everything out I noticed all the studs behind the original bathtub wall have cuts. See photo. If anyone can explain why the studs are pieced together this way I would appreciate…
homegrown
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14
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7 answers

A type of compartment that rises out of a desk

I'm building a computer desk and I had the idea to hide some speakers in a compartment towards the back. I'd like the speakers to pop up out of the desk on some kind of mechanism that rises up, kind of like an old top loading VCR, maybe something…
Bamboo
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14
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9 answers

What is a proper way to support/suspend cat6 cable in a drop ceiling?

I am trying to run some cat6 cable in the drop ceiling of my basement. I want to run 3x CAT6-CMP cables that from what i understand should not rest on ceiling tiles. From what i have read, the support needs to be attached to something other than…
skimon
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1 answer

Are these drywall screws driven too deep into the sheet?

I hired a company to hang drywall on my ceiling and then finish all surfaces so I could paint. Included are pics I took of a few of their more excessively-sunken screws. I said to one of the guys, "Not to criticize your work, but aren't you…
oscilatingcretin
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