Most active questions
318 questions from the last 30 days
6
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5
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How can I hide that tile is missing tile under my bathroom vanity?
I am preparing to sell my house that is about 40 years old. The previous owner replaced the guest bathroom vanity at some point. What's there now is an open-bottom vanity with a cutout at the bottom ...
- 61
7
votes
3
answers
2k
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Is there a maximum slope for an exterior sewage line?
We are currently connecting our small weekend vacation house—which includes a WC, shower, sink, and washbasin—to the main sewage line on the street. The construction company will install the sewage ...
- 71
8
votes
4
answers
2k
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Using standard AC fixtures for DC applications
I am building a small off-grid 12V solar system and looking for ways to connect DC lighting. I found many 12V DC light bulbs with a standard E26 base and wondering about an appropriate receptacle and ...
- 425
12
votes
3
answers
2k
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What is the best way to twist conductors together before applying the wire nut?
What is the best way to twist conductors together before applying the wire nut?
That probably sounds like a silly question. But when I try, most of the time I end up wrapping one conductor around the ...
- 393
8
votes
4
answers
2k
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How can I improve my old, dirty, chipped painted stairs?
Is it possible to refurbish these stairs without replacing any wood? If so, what would the process be like? If not, what would it take to improve them?
Pretend you're talking to a beginner, which you ...
- 157
8
votes
1
answer
4k
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How do *real electricians* fill in unused bolt holes on metal box covers?
I'm new to using metal box covers on 4" and 4-11/16" square boxes. All the boxes I've got only have two bolts/threads to secure a cover, while the covers have four holes. For aesthetics, ...
- 4,752
7
votes
3
answers
2k
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How can I fill a 4 inch gap between carpet and vinyl flooring?
We added a room with carpet adjacent to an area with PVC flooring. We don't have any more pieces of that flooring or the carpet left.
What's the best way to fill the open spot to make it look nice?
- 211
4
votes
7
answers
2k
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How can I waterproof a wood post for my mailbox?
I'm getting ready to replace my mailbox and I need some advice on setting the post in the ground. For context, I just moved into a new house in an area that got a lot of snow this past winter. The ...
- 41
5
votes
3
answers
1k
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Should I use quick or delayed fuses in my panel?
I was playing around a subpanel and I misplaced one of the fuses. It said on it something like "quick acting" fuse. I am not even sure whether I have put the "delay action" fuse ...
- 201
7
votes
1
answer
3k
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What is this orange button on my antique Black & Decker drill?
The orange button on this old Black & Decker drill doesn't push in. Is it a reverse button? (And if so, is it possible to fix it?)
- 79
4
votes
3
answers
1k
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Fully tighten adjustable wrench locking pliers
I have Mastercraft adjustable wrench locking pliers that I use for square head lag bolts. The idea being I can spin the wrench without it falling off of the bolt.
The nice thing about these locking ...
- 1,752
2
votes
4
answers
1k
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Has circuit breaker failed?
A circuit with 1 printer and one laptop plugged in suddenly went dead (the printer turned off). The circuit breaker includes GFI. The breaker did not appear to be tripped. Just in case, I switched it ...
- 81
9
votes
1
answer
1k
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Is it an irrigation system or an ornamental fountain? Or why not both? What are all these nipples for?
I live in a standalone condo. As you can see in the image, one of my hose bibs shares a water feed with the irrigation system. I am, as yet, somewhat unclear as to who is responsible for what here. ...
- 610
6
votes
3
answers
982
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Is it normal for neutral to be connected to live in a junction box?
I recently bought an old flat (500 years old in fact) and I just got around to investigating the loft. There are light fittings up there, but they don't work, so that became my first priority. I ...
- 215
4
votes
2
answers
976
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How to be able to tighten an untighten a nut when I don't have access to the bolt side
I am wanting to replace a bolt on a swamp cooler whose head snapped off. Originally it screwed into some welded on threads on the sheet metal (the empty hole here):
But since the bolt head snapped ...
- 1,064