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1500 questions
26
votes
6 answers
How can I find the source of a mysterious bad smell?
We have recently moved home, and all is fine appart from a mystery smell which I'm unable to track down. It's driving me crazy (actually, my wife thinks I am crazy as she can't smell it). I'm hoping someone on here could offer some tips on how to…
UpTheCreek
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26
votes
28 answers
How do I remove polyurethane spray foam from my hands?
I should have worn gloves but sadly I didn't. Now I have yellow stuff all over my hands. I got most of the stickiness to go away by using WD-40. Is there anything that will get this off without giving me chemical burns?
Engineer2021
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26
votes
4 answers
How can it be dangerous to feed a water heater from two separate panels?
In a recent question, a user asked "Can a water heater be installed between two apartments and wired to both apartments' breaker boxes, effectively splitting the bill between the two?". One of the answers suggested that it was okay, and the poster…
Tester101
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26
votes
6 answers
Safe/professional way to transport lumber with just a roof rack
I'm doing some home improvement, and have the necessary skills, tools, etc, for the job. There is one thing I'm lacking: a large pickup truck for transporting lumber. A buddy of mine used to have one, but he had to trade it in for an SUV to get the…
Cloud
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26
votes
1 answer
Humidity Levels
What is a healthy and safe humidity level that I should try to keep my house at?
Sam Erde
- 435
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26
votes
13 answers
What grit sandpaper should I use between coats of polyurethane?
I'm planning on applying polyurethane to a pine bench I've finished staining. I decided on foam brushes for application, but I wasn't sure what grit sandpaper I should use between coats. Is 400 good enough? Or should I use 600? Or both?
Also, if…
Doresoom
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26
votes
14 answers
Does Pex tubing have any advantages over copper?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Pex tubing? How does it compare to copper?
Tester101
- 131,561
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26
votes
3 answers
Is it possible for a gas fired boiler to consume more energy when heating intermitently versus having heating at all times?
I have an argument with my dad regarding energy consumption of a gas-fired wall radiator home central heating system. Their current setup involves no thermostat and the boiler deciding when to fire based on some kind of curve calibrated to use an…
KubaFYI
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26
votes
4 answers
Replacing hardwood floor in 100 year old house with no subfloor
This is a 100-year-old, single family house in Washington, D.C. The floors are aged and worst of all terribly squeaky. The main issue we are trying to solve is to not have the floors squeak.
Unless we hear better advice here, I assume this means…
ssm
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26
votes
5 answers
How can I protect a frozen heat pump in cold weather while waiting for service?
Yesterday I noticed that my Carrier heat pump was struggling to keep up with my thermostat settings inside the house. It was around 35°F (2°C) outside, I had the thermostat set at 72°F (22°C), but the internal temperature wasn't rising above 70°F.
I…
user3103523
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26
votes
3 answers
Do I really need to include a wall switched lighting outlet in every room?
According to the Black & Decker Wiring book, the NEC indicates that each room should include at least one "switch-operated lighting outlet". Is that true even in rooms that have overhead lighting, or does that count as the "outlet"?
Trevor
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26
votes
12 answers
How do I hand saw in a straight line?
Whenever I use a hand saw, I find I keep subconsciously curving the cut, no matter how much I consciously try to compensate.
In this example in photos, to get this cut straight I kept rotating the pole, but from the messy spiral shape, you can see…
Stewart
- 383
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26
votes
10 answers
Is it harmful to remove gas stove knobs on a regular basis?
I have a propane stove whose knobs are at the exact height of my elderly mother's wheelchair handles. I kept finding the knobs in a semi-on position and have figured out the source is definitely the chair.
If I remove the knobs and push them back…
Bookaholic
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26
votes
2 answers
What do the numbers in screw sizes M3, M4 etc. mean?
I noticed that in some (many?) countries, screw sizes are listed as "M+number", e.g. M3, M4, M5 and so on.
What does this size designation mean?
einpoklum
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26
votes
9 answers
How do I fix a sticking toilet refill float?
After flushing, my toilet doesn't sense that it needs to refill. See the below image. If I so much as gently touch the gray piece, the toilet starts to refill. Any easy fixes?
maxedison
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