All Questions
0
votes
0answers
11 views
Room without output air channel? How can I ensure high-quality of air?
I live in a student apartment on the campus of Aalto University where the output air channel is stucked -- actually it is not just stuck but it brings hot air from the output-air-channel into my room. ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
How can I replace an air conditioning thermostat?
I have ducted air conditioner with a control panel in both bedrooms and the living area that only has a thermostat. Is it possible to replace each of these easily (and inexpensively) with a timer to ...
1
vote
1answer
30 views
What is the difference between double glazing and triple glazing?
Noise reduction is touted as the best attribute but isn't this down to glass pane thickness and spacing? So, is a triple glazed install better than double glazing?
3
votes
1answer
31 views
How to deal with inadequate drainage of my walk-up basement?
(Please correct me if any of my terminology is inaccurate!)
I have a "den" which is a finished walk-up basement (half-above ground, half below ground). The den floor has vents, and when I look under ...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
How do I troubleshoot a ceiling fan that suddenly stopped working?
I've got a ceiling fan in my kitchen that all of a sudden stopped working one day. No lights, no fan. Power is still up in the rest of the kitchen, and no breakers tripped.
Is it common for a ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Why do I have low water pressure with more than one fixture turned on?
What would cause low water pressure or flow when more than one fixture is turned on. It does not matter if it's hot or cold water.
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Why is water coming out of two faucets by turning on one?
When I turn on my bathroom faucet, water comes out of both the bathroom faucet and the stationary tub faucet.
What is going on and how do I fix it?
2
votes
2answers
31 views
How can I improve ventilation in my room with a window fan while filtering pollen from a nearby tree?
This is a campus building in Aalto University where you have a tree about 10 cm away from the window. The Espoo city does not allow the student organisation AYY to cut down the tree. There is a poor ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
How do I extend outlets after installing a backsplash?
I have installed a back splash in my kitchen, if I use the plastic spacers how many should I use or is there a limit? I understand that this can cause to much air space around the receptacle or light ...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
Is there a globally recommended “hardness” setting for a water softener?
On a Morton System Saver, there's a setting labelled hardness, but no clear indication as to what setting is "recommended" -- or even whether this setting is the desired "output" or "input" hardness ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Can I kill this mold?
An old house is in the process of being signed over to me. The house has been neglected for several years and I have begun trying to fix the place up. The front of the house has been victim of a ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
How should I avoid corrosion at this water heater connection?
I installed a new water heater 2-3 years ago. I put 3/4 pipe to PEX adapters on it and then used pex to connect to my house. On the hot water outlet, corrosion and rust is forming. I bought some ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
What is the cheapest way to make well water with 800ppm TDS suitable for bathing and washing dishes?
I have a 200 foot bore for water in my home. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) value of that water is around 790-800ppm. I want to make this water safe for bathing, dish-washing and clothes washing. I ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Can I install lights on a 20 amp circuit that has receptacles already wired?
I have never been able to ask the following question and get a simple straight answer and would like to know why there is a controversy, and what the answer really is.
The question: Can a 20 amp 12 ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Why do I have house flies in my carport?
I bought my home in early September 2012. I noticed that flies were flocking around a light in my open air carport whether it was on or off. I tried a few products like fly tape, spray and a fly trap. ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Should I use an epoxy finish on a high traffic hardwood floor?
We tried refinishing our very old hardwood floors last year but they haven't held up that well. The floor receives very heavy walking traffic. Perhaps two coats was not enough? We are thinking ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Should I cancel our appointment with the repair tech for our washing machine?
I have a 6 1/2 months old washing machine. Last week, we started having issues it. It would drain some of the water out, but not all of it. It also made a horrible racket all the way through the ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
How often should “self clean” and “allergen clean” functions be used in an air conditioner?
Some air conditioners, for example Mitsubishi heavy industries SRK20ZJ-S have "self clean" and "allergen clean" functions. First takes 2 hours to complete, latter 1.5 hours.
How often should they be ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Should I replace a sump pump that's not keeping up?
My 1/2 hp sump pump has to pump up about 4' and then downhill about another 50'-60' to a creek and can't keep up during steady rainfall.
Would a stronger pump fix this problem or would just adding a ...
1
vote
2answers
48 views
How deep should I drill a pilot hole in concrete for a 2 inch screw?
For fixing a 2 inch screw on concrete wall, how should I drill for good strength and no damage to the wall. I tried a 2 inch screw and drilled for 1 1/2 inch and later tried to screw it into the hole. ...
4
votes
2answers
56 views
Should I convert a single light switch to a receptacle/switch combo?
First I want to say I've done a little research on my question. I'm familiar (I think) with the wiring, but I'm uncertain if my solution is a good one because of what I plan on using the outlets for ...
2
votes
1answer
34 views
How can I repair this garage door trim and weather stripping?
The weather stripping on the outside of my garage door is wavy, as is the metal trim its anchored through, which leads to a lot of air leakage. I could just caulk this as is, but I'm guessing the ...
3
votes
6answers
186 views
Can I warm up a swimming pool by submerging black-painted milk jugs in it?
I know they make solar covers for pools, but I that is a bit of a pain to put on and take off all the time and my cover (from a well known manufacturer) from last year was easy to rip and became ...
2
votes
1answer
38 views
How can I build a screen door?
I have a guesthouse with an unusual door, 32" x 76", and it needs a screen door.
Home Depot has tons of cheap-o screen doors that could be cut down to maybe 32" x 78" safely, but an additional two ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
How do I connect the common wire in a Carrier air handler?
I am trying to install a new wifi thermostat in my home and need to locate the common terminal for my air handler. I have a Carrier model FB4CNF030. It's a new construction home and I have the blue ...
4
votes
1answer
39 views
How do you level 1/2“ x 6” flooring planks?
We have a 1920's house with some 1/2" X 6" planks. Unfortunately the floor is in quite rough shape with finger wide gaps in some spots, I started to attempt to sand and flatten it but I think it will ...
3
votes
1answer
44 views
At what temperatures do pipe sleeves protect pipes from freezing?
Pipes start icing at 20ºF and below. Down to how many ºF do the foam sleeves protect the pipe? The foams I placed in my outdoor pipes had a 0.35" thick polyurethane foam surrounding them.
This is a ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
Why am I getting water scaling even with a softener installed?
I have a problem with higher levels of scaling around sinks and toilets and I'm wondering if someone can help.
We recently purchased an older home (35 years old), which did not have a water softener ...
3
votes
2answers
33 views
How to install coat hooks securely when holes don't line up with studs (batten depth?, length of screws?)
I have a single piece set of coat hooks to install on the wall.
By single piece I mean that they are 6 double hooks all attached to a single piece of metal as backing.
There are 3 holes in the ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
How do we remove tile spacers that are stuck in the mortar between the tiles?
When tiling the shower, we inadvertently left several tile spacers in too long and we subsequently could not remove the spacers entirely and some fragments remain stuck in the mortar and are visible. ...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
How do I repair a field stone foundation on 99 year old house? [duplicate]
The foundation on our 99 year old house is made up of field stone and cement. Some patch jobs were done with cementing over the field stone. However that is breaking away and some other places have ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Are there any reasons not to upgrade to 200A service?
A sub-panel is already installed on a second floor. It draws power from a 100 amp main panel downstairs. The sub-panel is feed by a 60 amp double pole breaker. The panel was installed for or by AC ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
Can I hang a key hanger without attaching it to a stud?
I am trying to mount a key hanger on a wall, I drilled two holes in the dry wall, they went right through with little or no resistance, I'm guessing because there was no stud behind the wall. I stuck ...
2
votes
2answers
31 views
How can I install an exterior electrical box flush in stucco?
I want to install an exterior light. I have stucco. I read the article How to Install an Exterior Outlet Box in Stucco, but I am concerned with water getting inside ... Is caulking enough?
2
votes
1answer
42 views
How do I fix a sprinkler valve that leaks instead of popping up the sprinkler heads?
When this particular valve (Champion Classic 3/4" As Max PSI 150 466 Max Temp 110o) turns on, a lot of water starts coming out of the the bottom part of the valve which I've highlighted in the image. ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
Why doesn't my A/C get power when using the alternate C-wire thermostat hook-up method?
I changed my old Honeywell thermostat for a new Honeywell WiFi thermostat. I installed it just as the directions stated. I used the alternate C-wire method as the old unit did not have one. ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Can I install junction boxes in a closet, and if so, what kind of box?
We are designing circuit runs for a ground floor of a house flooded by a hurricane and it is best to use a few junction boxes to run the circuit branches. One reason for the junction boxes is to keep ...
4
votes
1answer
38 views
Is venting a vertical waste line required?
I am putting a bathroom in a section of the house that has a crawlspace under it. The main drain is in the basement area of the house. The soil pipes will run horizontally in the crawlspace, then a ...
3
votes
4answers
45 views
How do I secure the shower valve without removing tile?
The plumber didn't secure the new valve to the frame, so the shower valve and head were left loose and it is wiggling. The new tile is completed and we do not want to redo it.
What is the best way to ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
How do I seal around a door to make the opening more sound-proof?
I live in an apartment condo. The noise from the very loud neighbour comes through the door spaces. I wish to seal off all of her noise. My walls are brick and are good. But the door going out to ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Can my garden furniture be saved?
I have some hand me down wooden furniture. Unfortunately, with multiple moves and births in the last few years, it has gone a unloved.
The wood seems very weak, and is brittle when dry. One beam ...
-1
votes
0answers
28 views
Detergent powder exclusively for top load and front load washing machines [closed]
So in India, Surf is supposed to be one of the leaders in detergent powder. A few years back they came up with this two products with the selling point that the powder is exclusively for top loading ...
2
votes
2answers
44 views
What methods exist for filtering air to alleviate allergies?
I've found out that I have an allergy, especially for the mold. I live in a very wet climate, so it's a problem.
I was given advice to buy this AIRFREE E60 air purifier. But now I'm interested to ...
2
votes
1answer
20 views
How do I remove stuck-on stains from laminate flooring?
I recently bought a fixer-upper house that has light-colored laminate plank flooring. It would be really nice, if I could get it clean. It has stuck-on stains, like someone left melted ice cream on ...
2
votes
2answers
53 views
How do I repair a floor joist which has a hole drilled less than 2 inches from the bottom?
I have three floor joists that have approximately 1/2 inch hole in them less than 2 inches from the bottom. Is there a recommended fix or approved method to correct this to meet code? These joists ...
2
votes
3answers
35 views
Can I use a vent that was over an electric oven for a dryer instead?
I just bought an apartment built in 1980 and it does not have a washer and dryer. There is a vent above an electric oven. I am remodeling the kitchen and moving the oven to the other side of the ...
1
vote
2answers
32 views
How do I clean bleach marks off bluestone pavers?
I have bluestone tiles in an under cover outside area. I sprayed a household cleaner on sections of the pavers and used a high pressure washer to clean them. However upon drying they now have white ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Should I insulate the exterior foundation wall above grade or insulate the interior basement wall?
An existing basement wall is not insulated on either side. Humidity inside is causing significant sweating on the cold wall in the winter months. Outside, the top 4 feet of wall are exposed above the ...
1
vote
2answers
43 views
How can I stop a barbed coupler from leaking?
This seems to be a common issue (drip line barbed couplers leaking) and I can't find any answers about this online. I'm wondering how others have fixed leaks in the fittings that are supposed to just ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
What can I do about joist framing in brick pockets that is uneven and loose?
A 100 year old house with solid cement then brick structure has old floor joists in brick pockets. The joists are 2 by 8 and 2 by 10 inches and spaced about 19 inches apart and not consistently so. ...
