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1500 questions
43
votes
4 answers
How do I properly feed coax through an outside wall?
I would like to add a new cable outlet to an outside wall and wanted to find out what kind of drill bit is needed to drill through and feed the coax cable as well as anything else to be mindful of. Comcast wanted $70 for a new outlet installation…
Kermit
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43
votes
9 answers
How can I paint over mold to prevent it from coming back again?
The source of the leak has been fixed, however the old mold keeps showing though the new paint.
Walker
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43
votes
12 answers
Can I heat one room and cool another with an in-wall AC?
I work in a bakery. It gets warm in the summer, but not warm enough for bread to rise without extra heat. We have a 'proofer room' where the bread sits while the dough rises. The room is heated by two baseboard heaters, and another space heater.…
Able Baker Charlie
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43
votes
10 answers
Are gaps above and below framing members a concern?
I recently hired a framing crew to frame a new house. After it was done, I commissioned an independent review. The reviewer described some of the work as "shoddy," and pointed out a lot of gaps, particularly between king and jack studs and the…
Alaska house
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43
votes
10 answers
Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical cables?
I am building a new house and am planning to hardwire network cables into each room.
Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical wires without introducing any general safety issues or losing much in connection quality?
Wiring runs for up to 25…
Martin
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43
votes
2 answers
What is a tandem breaker (aka duplex, cheater, twin, double-stuff, etc.)?
I keep hearing about tandem breakers, and how they won't work with 240V loads and how they should never be used for a multi-wire branch circuit. Aside from those issues...
What is a tandem breaker?
(note: they can be thrown independently).
Harper - Reinstate Monica
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43
votes
1 answer
What are the guidelines for holes in joists?
I've been unable to find a good reference for the size/amount/location of holes I can drill through joists. This is mostly in order to pass cabling or pipes through the joist crosswise. Also, what about notching the bottom, is there a size…
Aaron
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42
votes
7 answers
Are push in connectors up to code?
Just came across a neat product at the local hardware store, but I wonder if they are up to code and safe to use. They are a wire nut that allows you to simply push the wires in, instead of twisting on a traditional wire nut.
They cost slightly…
Tester101
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42
votes
11 answers
Is there a way to unscrew a light bulb that has broken?
The recessed light in my bathroom broke while trying to unscrew it, and only the metal collar remains. What is the best way to get that remaining part out?
Mike Phillison
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42
votes
23 answers
What is the best way to seal caulk tube?
What are some effective ways of sealing an opened tube of caulk so that the contents do not dry out? In the past I've used a large nail and some tape, but that doesn't seem to last for more than a few weeks.
Dave
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42
votes
3 answers
Why do my LED lights stay on, even when the switch is off?
I have two LED lamps in my corridor, and when I switch them off, they keep emitting light (not very strong, but it's annoying at night).
What can it be? How can I fix it?
opalenzuela
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42
votes
1 answer
What is this cable in my yard, why is it exposed, and what can I do about it?
UPDATE 5/25 - The electric company spliced and re-buried the cables. It's a 120V line and should have been buried at least a foot below ground. They'll come by again to locate the rest of the line leading up to our electrical box and trench it…
Bucket
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42
votes
4 answers
Why is my voltage dropping with load and why is current flowing on my ground wire?
I am not an electrician, but I've been researching a lot recently to try and figure out why my system is behaving so strangely.
Main problem: Lights flickering, sometimes quite severely, and appliances sometimes just turning themselves off or not…
Sasha Aickin
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41
votes
9 answers
Should I use steel or wood studs for basement exterior walls?
Related: When should you use metal studs?
I'm planning on finishing my basement. (assuming all water issues are resolved)
I'll be putting up a water barrier (tar paper) on all exterior walls, Framing a stud wall, insulating, installing a vapour…
Chris Cudmore
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41
votes
4 answers
How should I rewire a miswired 3-way switch?
I have a 3 way switch that was wired incorrectly when the switches were replaced with a different color switch. Is there a methodical way for me to identify which wires represent which piece of the system so I can correct the bad wiring?
Currently…
Doug Porter
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