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1500 questions
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3 answers

What is this thing next to my sink?

Possible Duplicate: What is this component that connects to the garbage disposal? As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently moved to a new place and I'm still trying to figure out what things do. There are still a few things that are…
amh
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Can I safely plug a two prong plug into an extension cord with a ground socket?

I have a plug for a wireless router that ends in two prongs (no ground). Is it safe for me to plug this into an extension cord that has the ground prong, which would be left empty? I believe it is but want to double check.
Craig
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What are these fuses?

Just come across a fuse box that I've never seen before. The box looks like this: They are like light-bulb-type things that host a fuse inside of them. The fuse looks like this: They work similarly to light bulbs too, with caps that screw…
Mou某
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What tool should I use to cut metal roofing?

I'm getting ready to install metal roofing on my building project. Wee! But I'm not sure how I should cut it. The roof is a simple gable, 20ft long, with 8ft rafters. The roofing I'm using is 3ft wide, and length is in 1ft increments. I'll need to…
Jay Bazuzi
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Re-do paint over plaster in bathroom: How to feather/match?

I want to understand what went wrong, and how to repair it: This bathroom in a loft was done in 2012. The plasterwork is really good --- smooth and shiny; but the last year or so the paint (Dulux Trade, 2-3coats) has been peeling off. It has all…
user3445853
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5 answers

What could be causing AFCI breaker and GFCI receptacle nuisance tripping?

I have a very unusual set of electrical issues that have proven difficult to troubleshoot. I live in a newly constructed house. Each bedroom has AFCI breakers. In the past 3 years living there, the AFCI breaker to my bedroom has tripped about a…
Omar Shahine
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How do I caulk where a caulk tube won't fit?

I've got some door moldings that are about 1 inch from the adjacent wall. A caulk gun won't begin to get in there, and pivoting the caulk tube up so it's nearly parallel to both walls still doesn't get the tip close enough to the gap. How should I…
Jeremy W. Sherman
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7 answers

Outlet screwed directly into stud

I was replacing old outlet in my house and came across an outlet that is screwed directly into the studs. Also the stud and the junction box were cut to fit the outlet. The new outlet is too big to fit in this space. I am afraid to put a new…
mkuce23
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How to block a window with plywood for big wall to project a movie?

I have a kids' playroom with a big wall and a center window. I want to use this wall as a home theater projector screen. I don't want to block the window permanently with a fixed screen, and my existing rolling screen is a smaller one. So I am…
nathks
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Why is my toilet constantly backing up?

I've been in my new house for a few months now, and I end up plunging one of our two toilets about once a week - they tend to swap turns on which one gets to be finicky each week. Is there a more serious cause behind this, or do I just have 'crappy'…
Doresoom
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8 answers

Should plywood be missing on my roof?

I live in Canada and I just had my roof done on my house. I recently went in my attic and found out that some part of the roof is missing plywood :( In the following picture, there is no nails visible. Which means the shingles behind are not…
Joseph Passineau
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8 answers

Is there any legitimate reason you would NOT connect the ground wire on a circuit?

I've been doing some remodeling on my house and had the need to move some electrical outlets. While doing so, I noticed that the ground wire wasn't hooked up on any of the outlets in the circuit (through a bathroom, no less). It was three wire…
JohnFx
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Easy way of generating a 50-150W load @12V

I need to test a battery for its remaining capacity and to do that, I need to generate a constant load to be able to measure how long it can sustain that load. I tried using a 330W load (290W shoe heater + 85%-ish efficient inverter), but I found…
oligofren
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7 answers

Garage door sticks on a bolt

My garage door sticks on the way down, apparently when the bottom roller meets a bolt in the track (see photo). A shot of garage door lube on the bolt head helps it close for the first couple of times. After that I need to give it a little tug. I…
Gordon Rothman
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How can this older-style irrigation tee be replaced?

This reducer tee had a right-angle piece break off inside of it for a feeder line. I tried cutting the black broken piece inside of the reducer section without success. I'm used to schedule-40 PVC, not the black line shown in the picture. Is it…
user3.1415927
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