Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
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3 answers

Is it safe to have a drain in the floor out to the septic tank with no trap?

I had a contractor add an additional bath. When we were planning out the project, he mentioned my lack of a water heater valve drain pan. Instead, he installed a drain directly into the septic line that runs from the new bathroom (toilet/sinks/tub)…
Austin Seward
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Does it cause problems to overtighten connections on receptacles/switches?

One of the things that's always been drilled into me is "loose wires cause fires," and that's something I always remain conscious of when changing out devices. But is there such a thing as "too tight" when it comes to tightening the screws on…
smitelli
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If my 120 volt toaster oven draws 14 amps on high & my oven draws 12 amps on high, which one would use less electricity to bake a pizza?

An article from my AARP magazine suggests using a toaster oven vs a regular full size electric oven to bake a pizza, make a dinner, bake a pie, etc because it would use about half of the electricity so save on the electric bill. Problem is, The…
Michael Jay
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6 answers

Old house, 2 prong outlets - safety question for kids

I just bought a 1955 house with 95% of the outlets 2 prong ungrounded. There seems to be one grounded 3 prong outlet in each room. I reached out to my electrician for a quote to add grounds to all outlets in the house. He said I could do that or it…
richie894
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14
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5 answers

What is the difference between a framing hammer and a claw hammer?

What is the difference between a framing hammer and a claw hammer? Can they be used interchangeably?
Ed.T
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14
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1 answer

How can I install this programmable switch where a neutral is not present?

I'm trying install this programmable switch but the instructions do not match reality. The instructions refer to the existence of a black (load) cable and a white (neutral) cable supposedly coming out of the wall, but instead I have two black cables…
amh
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14
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1 answer

Why would a P-Trap be required before an air gap for a refrigerator drain?

Background: A walk-in refrigerator with a remote refrigeration system includes an evaporator coil that requires a drain. The typical installation is an indirect drain (terminating above a funnel drain or floor sink to provide an air gap). Location:…
AWaddington
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1 answer

What is the device attached to my recessed light junction box?

This is a recessed light I pulled out of my ceiling. There is a black cylindrical thing attached to the junction box and wired in series with the live wire to the bulb base. What is it? The junction box and the black thing are both an integral…
jay613
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14
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9 answers

Can an incoming optical fiber cable be wired internally in a house's walls?

I am building a new home, and want to get fiber internet installed in it. In my current home, the fiber is wired externally on walls, above doors and finally into the living room through a drilled hole. I want this wire to be installed internally…
Johnnytest
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14
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10 answers

Should I let pressure treated lumber dry before building with it?

I bought some treated 2x4s from Lowes, and they were fairly wet and heavy. I went ahead and built a firewood rack, but screwing into it releases a lot of water. It got me thinking, is it better to let the wood dry out a while before building with…
TheSean
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14
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3 answers

Do I need to replace my electric panel to eliminate tandem breakers?

I am looking into installing an electric car charger. I called a few electricians to get a quote. My main panel is full, but there is an existing 50 amp breaker for an electric cooking range which is currently unused since I am using a gas cooking…
sp1984
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14
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1 answer

How can I fix this hole I accidentally made with a screw?

I mistakenly used a longer screw to my chair when I assembled the legs and messed up my chair. I attached some photos and what do you think I should do? I'm considering to buy the cushion but I'm worried this will further break my chair. I guess I…
harumomo503
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14
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4 answers

Is there a need to replace wiring if I tripped the microwave oven when drilling through drywall?

While drilling through drywall in bathroom to install a handicap bar to studs, I later discovered that the microwave oven breaker had tripped. Apparently one of the drill holes had missed a stud and went through PVC pipe in the wall (this was…
Grant
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14
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7 answers

Light switch on concrete wall

My house came with a light switch installed on a concrete wall in the basement using a metal conduit, and a 1-gang metal box. Unfortunately, the light switch plate sticks out and it's easy to get caught on it. The previous owner installed some…
user142271
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14
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3 answers

Chipped material in all electrical boxes a cause for concern?

I live in a condo that was built in 1980. I've replaced a few switches and outlets around the unit. Every single electrical box is filled with chips of this material, and the wires are coated (either a little or completely) with what I assume is…
msanford
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