Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
12
votes
7 answers

Is "don't mix data and power cables" and "don't loop power cables" still valid nowadays?

There are two sayings I keep hearing when talking about wiring e.g. home cinema or computer hardware; Don't wrap data/network cables and power cables up in the same loop because the power cables will mess up the streams of your data cables Don't…
F.P
  • 223
  • 1
  • 2
  • 6
12
votes
2 answers

Should there be insulation inside a light fixture?

I recently moved into a new home, and I was replacing a light bulb when I found this after removing the glass cover. Now, I don't know much about codes and regulations, and I'm new to working on my own home, but this screams "fire hazard" to me, so…
Graham Harper
  • 123
  • 1
  • 1
  • 6
12
votes
8 answers

In a light switch, how can I tell if the black wire is really hot and the white wire is really neutral?

I'm just a programmer who wants to add an outlet below my light switch. I did a bunch of research on this topic and decided I could tackle it. According to my research, the hot/line is the black wire going into the bottom of the switch and the load…
Jason Thompson
  • 401
  • 3
  • 6
  • 10
12
votes
1 answer

How to clean a burnt wall socket?

I had a dishwasher plugged into the wall. The dishwasher plug has always been a little iffy but we have never had a problem with it before. It shorted while the dishwasher was running and I caught it pretty fast but it scorched the wall a little and…
Feltope
  • 231
  • 2
  • 5
12
votes
3 answers

Gas clothes dryer is venting into the crawl space

I have been living in a house in Southern California for 18 months and while crawling around under the far end of the house I found that there is about 2 inch deep lint over a 200 sq ft area where my gas clothes dryer vents into this crawl space. I…
Dave
  • 131
  • 1
  • 4
12
votes
3 answers

Install a new tub that has cracks?

first question here. We're having a bathroom remodeled. The first tub that was delivered had a huge crack in it, so we asked for a replacement. The second one took 2 weeks to arrive. It has two tiny cracks in the corner. One appears to be (shoddily)…
Seenu
  • 223
  • 2
  • 5
12
votes
3 answers

What is this thing next to my sink?

Possible Duplicate: What is this component that connects to the garbage disposal? As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently moved to a new place and I'm still trying to figure out what things do. There are still a few things that are…
amh
  • 631
  • 4
  • 9
  • 13
12
votes
3 answers

Can I safely plug a two prong plug into an extension cord with a ground socket?

I have a plug for a wireless router that ends in two prongs (no ground). Is it safe for me to plug this into an extension cord that has the ground prong, which would be left empty? I believe it is but want to double check.
Craig
  • 844
  • 6
  • 18
  • 29
12
votes
2 answers

What are these fuses?

Just come across a fuse box that I've never seen before. The box looks like this: They are like light-bulb-type things that host a fuse inside of them. The fuse looks like this: They work similarly to light bulbs too, with caps that screw…
Mou某
  • 229
  • 1
  • 5
12
votes
5 answers

What tool should I use to cut metal roofing?

I'm getting ready to install metal roofing on my building project. Wee! But I'm not sure how I should cut it. The roof is a simple gable, 20ft long, with 8ft rafters. The roofing I'm using is 3ft wide, and length is in 1ft increments. I'll need to…
Jay Bazuzi
  • 11,698
  • 34
  • 97
  • 143
12
votes
5 answers

What could be causing AFCI breaker and GFCI receptacle nuisance tripping?

I have a very unusual set of electrical issues that have proven difficult to troubleshoot. I live in a newly constructed house. Each bedroom has AFCI breakers. In the past 3 years living there, the AFCI breaker to my bedroom has tripped about a…
Omar Shahine
  • 251
  • 1
  • 3
  • 5
12
votes
2 answers

How do I caulk where a caulk tube won't fit?

I've got some door moldings that are about 1 inch from the adjacent wall. A caulk gun won't begin to get in there, and pivoting the caulk tube up so it's nearly parallel to both walls still doesn't get the tip close enough to the gap. How should I…
Jeremy W. Sherman
  • 1,855
  • 8
  • 23
  • 31
12
votes
7 answers

Outlet screwed directly into stud

I was replacing old outlet in my house and came across an outlet that is screwed directly into the studs. Also the stud and the junction box were cut to fit the outlet. The new outlet is too big to fit in this space. I am afraid to put a new…
mkuce23
  • 131
  • 1
  • 6
12
votes
7 answers

How to block a window with plywood for big wall to project a movie?

I have a kids' playroom with a big wall and a center window. I want to use this wall as a home theater projector screen. I don't want to block the window permanently with a fixed screen, and my existing rolling screen is a smaller one. So I am…
nathks
  • 123
  • 1
  • 5
12
votes
11 answers

Why is my toilet constantly backing up?

I've been in my new house for a few months now, and I end up plunging one of our two toilets about once a week - they tend to swap turns on which one gets to be finicky each week. Is there a more serious cause behind this, or do I just have 'crappy'…
Doresoom
  • 15,713
  • 31
  • 80
  • 118
1 2 3
…
99 100