Home Improvement Stack Exchange
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1500 questions
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votes
5 answers

Why is my Nest thermostat not working with A/C?

I installed Nest thermostat a few weeks ago, replacing an old Lux programmable thermostat (there was nothing wrong with it). I connected 4 wires (R,W,Y and G) to the Nest. But as soon as I'd connect the Y wire, the Nest would give me an E4 error…
mcaddu
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Is there an NEC-compliant way to cross this 40 inch gap between a PV array and my house without digging?

I'm working to finish up my DIY ground-mount solar project, and I need some advice for one of the final connections. For reference, the project is all done with micro-inverters at the panel so we're only talking about an AC connection, and I live…
David Hay
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How to make a house that tolerates condensation

Where I live, it's humid outside all fall, winter, and spring, and hovers around 45 deg F. Combined with indoor cooking, showering, etc., we always get a lot condensation on our windows. Rot & mildew love it here. What can we do in the design &…
Jay Bazuzi
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Is a high electric bill for a pump house caused by a well pump running constantly?

I recently had to turn on the electric for a shared well in my name. I got a bill and it's as high as what my house bill is. The well is the only thing connected to the electric in the well house. We rewired it and replaced the pressure switch…
Beth Peden
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4 answers

How can you spot MWBC's (multi-wire branch circuits) in an electrical panel

Is there a definitive way to know whether MWBCs are present (or not) in an electrical panel? That is, are there multi-wire branch circuits? Can one look at the connections at the panel to see a clear answer, and/or measure voltages? If you can…
user2330237
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11 answers

Can I accelerate caulk drying by using a fan or heater on it?

From what I've found online, caulking takes 24-48 hours to dry. For my purposes, I need to apply caulking to my kitchen sink. However, I am in a time crunch, so I would like to know how caulking dries. Specifically, can the dry time be sped up to…
MarkE
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8 answers

What type of bit do I use to drill holes in stainless steel? Nothing seems to work

I recently bought some Damascus 1 inch ring stock (304 and 316 stainless). I sliced off about 8 mm of it using a bandsaw. I then stuck it in a vice and attempted to drill through it. I have tried silver/cobalt drill bits, masonry bits (didn't even…
Rilcon42
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2 answers

How should this underground down-spout-in-yard-drain be appropriately installed?

I noticed a few weeks ago during the rainy season that underground drainage from my downspout was flooded and not draining right. I purchased a pressure washer attachment that promised to unclog things like this and went to town. I could hear it…
Sidney
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New Home Construction Electrical Schematic

I'm closing a new construction residential build. The builder did not include any documentation on how the wiring was done. My question to the community is two-fold. First, should I ask for some documentation on how the electrical wiring is…
rStrunk
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How can I mount an 12V transformer for LED lighting inside a wall?

The stairs to my basement has one light fixture at the bottom, and that casts a shadow on the rest of the stairs. I want to run a strip of LED lights up the crown molding or on top of the upstairs door to illuminate the whole area better. The plan…
kavisiegel
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What can I do to cool down the room?

The room is at south-west on the second floor, so a lot of sun exposure. The temperature got unbearable up to 36.5°C (97.7°F) yesterday. The outside was 37.5°C (99.5°F). I live in a hot and humid country. There are 3 windows in the room. I've…
user165673
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2 answers

How can I tighten a bolt in a circular hole?

I've assembled a set of swings, and am trying to tighten the nuts at the top. The trouble is that they are embedded deep inside a circular hole and I can't get to them with a regular spanner. What kind of tool should I be using? I had a good look in…
Urbycoz
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5 answers

What kind of screw has a wide flange with a smaller head above?

What is the exact name of this screw type?
cern
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7 answers

Tools/techniques to remove a long section from a wooden board

I am building interior wooden cills and from a 3m x 250mm board/plank (25mm thick) I need to remove a rectangular section about 50mm thick along most of its length, giving something like: I have a circular saw and jigsaw but no plunge saw or table…
Mr. Boy
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Should a device with a non-polarized plug touching hot and ground trip a breaker?

I have the following: a NEMA 5-20 receptable (typical 20amp grounded receptacle) mounted in an exposed work cover on a metal box fed with 12ga conductors through EMF. a typical string of holiday lights with a non-polarized plug. I accidentally…
Joshua Taylor
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