Most Popular
1500 questions
28
votes
5 answers
Do I really have to fasten interior-wall electrical wire to a stud to keep it from moving?
I am fresh out of cable staples and would rather not go all the way to Lowe's just to get a box. What are the implications of not fastening loose electrical wires to a stud? It's not like there's going to be that much vibration in my house.
Edit:…
oscilatingcretin
- 5,862
- 48
- 97
- 114
27
votes
4 answers
How do I remove and reinstall baseboards (Skirting Board) without damaging them?
I need to temporarily remove the baseboards in a couple rooms. I am interested in some suggestions for removing the baseboards without damaging them so they can later be reinstalled. Suggestions may include
Helpful tools
Pitfalls
Removal…
Mario
- 535
- 3
- 7
- 8
27
votes
5 answers
Do you really need a p-trap on bathroom sinks?
If I do away with the trap what is it going to hurt? Will something bad happen?
A friend had a problem with clogs. He took his out and has had no more problems. Can you tell me why that is?
Michael Hodnett
- 371
- 1
- 3
- 3
27
votes
8 answers
Is twisted and taped splice on cable, objectively any less stable than wire-nuts or terminal blocks?
In Brazil, electrical connections are almost always done splicing electrical cables by twisting the strands together and insulating them with electrical tape. Here is a video showing some of the connections the way they are done in Brazil. Terminal…
Luiz Borges
- 2,325
- 15
- 68
- 81
27
votes
3 answers
Can anyone tell me what this little white box on my outlet is?
Recently bought a house that's about 40 years old. The previous owner was clearly very fond of doing the wiring himself and has left me some idiosyncrasies to work out. One is this box in one of my bedrooms. No idea what it is, or is supposed to…
Misanthrope Meanguy
- 271
- 1
- 3
- 4
27
votes
8 answers
How do I compensate for the sun confusing my garage door opener's sensors?
Only during summer and only when the sun is close to the horizon the light from the sun confuses my garage door opener and in order to close the door I have to hold down the wired button which is a real pain if I'm leaving.
A friend suggested I use…
tooshel
- 1,488
- 3
- 15
- 20
27
votes
6 answers
Are "1/4 turn" water supply valves more reliable than "multi-turn" valves? Or vice-versa?
Aside from personal preference, is there any reason why I would want to buy a "1/4 turn" water supply valve instead of "multi-turn valves"? Is one technology/design clearly superior than the other in terms of reliability? Or is this purely just a…
Mike B
- 8,083
- 54
- 112
- 149
27
votes
9 answers
How do you determine if a door is Right Handed (RH) or Left Handed (LH)?
I am replacing a few interior doors and I need to know if the existing door is Right Handed or Left Handed so I have them drilled correctly. Sounds like the acronyms for this are RH and LH. This also would apply for new pre-hung doors as well I…
mohlsen
- 6,271
- 14
- 38
- 44
27
votes
6 answers
How to prevent batteries leaking out in devices?
Is there a common method of preventing batteries from leaking out and destroying the device? Why does this happen in the first place? I have laid another head lamp to waste because it was sitting in my truck unused for several months. Could it be…
amphibient
- 7,489
- 48
- 128
- 209
27
votes
3 answers
Does this downspout design make sense?
I've recently started smelling a musty smell in my upstairs bedroom. The bedroom closet just happens to be where the downspout from the main roof drains onto the roof for my garage and creates a kind of corner in the roof. As I have been looking…
philmonroe
- 273
- 3
- 6
27
votes
2 answers
Why am I getting shocked touching an outdoor faucet?
In a farm setting, my brother asked me what could cause him to get a shock from an outdoor hose bib at the pump house? He was prepping for freezing weather and disconnecting hoses from hose bibs. There was a ground wire attached (poorly) to the…
George Anderson
- 23,214
- 3
- 40
- 81
27
votes
2 answers
The main ground on my house sparks when an appliance is turned on
When turning on high amp appliances like an air compressor or dust fan, the attachment of the ground from the meter box to the water main (pic) sparks occasionally for a second or so. A separate ground from the meter box was also installed a few…
Laramie
- 435
- 5
- 7
27
votes
9 answers
Should my neighbor run their AC refrigerant lines through my garage?
I live in a 2-unit town home. I have installed an AC on the side of my unit. My neighbor would like to install an AC for their unit. However the city codes will not allow them to install it on the side of their house since it is too close to the…
V Maharajh
- 585
- 2
- 7
- 15
27
votes
1 answer
What was a receptacle installed near my breaker box?
We had an old fusebox replaced with circuit breakers in our (U.S.) house today. Its a 100-amp panel, everything very simple and standard. The electrician installed a regular receptacle just outside the breaker box (about six inches away), a GFCI…
nuggethead
- 1,367
- 12
- 24
27
votes
3 answers
I ran a nail through a wire at home, should I worry?
I was trying to fix a nail on my wall and it seems that I may have ran the nail into a wire. Pulling the nail back causes the lights in my room to go dark. I pushed it back in and my room seems fine, and, I plan on getting it fixed soon.
However,…
user135685