Top new questions this week:

Would providing shade for my air conditioner's condensor improve its efficiency?

Our house has two A/C systems; one for the bedroom level, one for the remainder of the house. The compressor/consdensor units are outside the south side of the house, and in direct sun all day, now …

hvac energy-efficiency saving-money green

asked by TomG 11 votes answered by DMoore 11 votes

Why did an HVAC installer add this PVC pipe?

We recently had a VERY old central heating furnace replaced and I noticed that the HVAC installer added the following PVC pipe shortly before the inspector arrived: The metal vents were already …

hvac vent central-heating ventilation

asked by Mike B 7 votes answered by wallyk 10 votes

What should I do about my concrete shower curb that I did not remove all the air bubbles from?

I'm building a concrete shower curb and pan. I built the curb and when I removed the 2x8 forms I notice that I didn't pack the cement all the way to the bottom in some parts: A bit crumbled and …

concrete shower mortar

asked by cbrulak 6 votes answered by wallyk 4 votes

How can I subtly mark a height difference to prevent tripping?

Between two of my rooms I have a height difference of about 4cm. What is an obvious but subtle way to mark the marble floor so the step is obvious, and help to prevent tripping? I'm thinking of …

safety steps

asked by rabbid 5 votes answered by DMoore 2 votes

Why do my appliances show two sets of power consumption ratings and which one applies to my house?

Aptos, CA, USA I'm trying to determine how much power my electric oven is using (as part of a larger project to possibly upgrade our electrical service (with help from a licensed electrician of …

electrical kitchens oven

asked by Mike B 4 votes answered by Niall C. 7 votes

Oak doors stripped of paint - need to fill holes underneath before revarnishing/oiling

We've recently sent our doors for stripping of many years of gloss paint and lead based varnish. The oak doors came back looking largely fantastic. As the doors are very old, understandably they have …

repair doors hole wood-finishing

asked by Adrian Charlton 4 votes answered by woodchips 4 votes

How should I label and organize my home electrical circuits?

I am looking to make the wiring updates in my home extremely simple to understand while doing so in a code-approved manner. I cannot find anything against wrapping a thin band of colored electrical …

electrical wire

asked by statueuphemism 4 votes answered by Tester101 2 votes

Greatest hits from previous weeks:

How do I connect a dryer with a four prong plug to a three prong socket?

I've just moved house and my clothes dryer has a four prong plug but on the wall there's a three prong socket. Do adapters exist for this? Or do I need to get a new cord for my dryer? Or is there …

electrical dryer

asked by Guy 4 votes answered by Tester101 2 votes

Does bare drywall need to be primed before painting?

Is it necessary to prime bare drywall before painting? And do we need to prime existing textured, painted walls before we mud over them?

drywall

asked by RET 9 votes answered by Conor Boyd 13 votes

Can you answer these?

What is the most effective exterior insecticide?

I am planning on doing a perimeter spray around my house. There are a lot of different options for insecticide but I have not been able to find any comparison or description of the different …

exterior pest-control

asked by oillio 4 votes

h-brace corner posts in rocky ground

We live in Austin and are putting in a livestock fence with stretched woven wire and barb wire top and bottom with t-posts between corner braces, plus 300' of sold privacy fence in the front needing …

fence post

asked by Emma Giles Powell 1 vote

How should I waterproof a replacement shower floor?

I have to replace the tile floor in my shower because of mold. What should I use to waterproof the floor and turn up the wall?

repair bathroom shower floor

asked by Ray 1 vote