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1500 questions
24
votes
8 answers
Drilled into studs, light flickered momentarily but everything else seems fine now - should I be worried?
I was installing shelving in my closets, when drilled a hole into studs, the lights flickered momentarily for 2 seconds.
I stopped drilling, and everything else seems fine now. The circuit didn't break and the lights are no longer flickering.
There…
Vernon
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24
votes
8 answers
What happens if I use vegetable oil instead of machine oil or grease?
It's kind of tempting to use vegetable oil for lubricating door hinges and other similar basic mechanisms around the house - vegetable oil is readily available in almost any household. However I always hear it's a bad idea, but could never find any…
sharptooth
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24
votes
11 answers
What should we look for when buying a fixer-upper house?
My fiance and I are considering buying a fixer-upper house rather than an apartment when we get married.
Obviously things like location, neighbors etc. are important, but; what should we be looking for in terms of fixing it up ourselves? Neither of…
BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
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24
votes
17 answers
When installing hardwood floors, should I use rosin paper, roofing felt, or nothing underneath? Why?
I've installed hardwood floors, over top of OSB subfloor with a layer of roofing felt in between. I copied this from the hardwood floor contractor who did a kitchen in my home once. He'd been in business for 20 years so I trusted him. I think he…
Cheeso
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24
votes
6 answers
How do I stop the dripping noise from my gutters?
It has just recently started raining where I live, and I am new to this house. When the rain ceases and the water is dripping from the gutters through the drain, I can hear the dripping from inside the house. It is REALLY loud and is driving me…
Jeremy White
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24
votes
3 answers
Sudden Sulfur Smell from well water
We recently (about 8 months ago) had a 475 foot well dug drilled on our property. We are building a home slowly and are only just putting in a hot water heater this week, so we know it’s not an issue with a water heater. The water has always tasted…
RTown
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24
votes
2 answers
What is an air bleeder valve, and how does it winterize pipes?
I found this message attached to a pipe in the first house I bought
Caution
Winter Drain Instructions:
Close valve in October before winter freeze
Open air bleeder valve on side of main valve
Open exterior hose bib
Pull down pin in centre of…
asmgx
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24
votes
4 answers
Do Americans in dense city centers vent their dryers directly outdoors?
I live in California in a normal single family home.
My normal US dryer vents out the back into a duct that eventually goes out the side of my house - it vents moisture, air and lint directly to the outdoors.
I have never considered any other method…
user227963
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24
votes
4 answers
Why would a particular heat pump model be illegal in my state?
I am trying to replace an electricity-hungry whole-house electric furnace with something that will be more cost-effective. I live in a high-altitude part of New Mexico, where I don't need to use much A/C, but need a more efficient heater for the…
Village
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24
votes
5 answers
Why did my extension cord melt and arc?
I got this extension cord with a used electric oil radiator. I assume the extension cord had been used with the radiator in the past. It looks like a 14g or 16g extension cord.
The extension cord has the factory end pieces on it. I went to use…
Fresh Codemonger
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24
votes
4 answers
Can I pour concrete over a PVC sewer pipe without damaging it?
I'm currently in the process of digging a hole in my front yard to install a flag pole. The dimensions of the hole are 16" deep and 24" in diameter. Once I reached my 16" depth, I discovered my PVC sewer pipe that runs from my house to the street.…
Randy
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24
votes
6 answers
What is the right tool for old, rusty, flat cross head bolts?
I'm trying to restore an old park bench, and I am struggling to unscrew the bolts. The heads have this wide (~12-14 mm) "flat cross" pattern that I have never seen before (see photo), and I don't have any screwdriver that nearly wide enough to get…
Nicolas Payette
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24
votes
10 answers
How can I fill a screw hole so it can be used again?
My dishwasher attaches to the cabinets on the side via a screw. This hole has become a little stripped, is there a way to fill it in and then screw in to it again? I can't change the location of where the dishwasher attaches.
Michael
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24
votes
8 answers
Why are there ovens with control panel toward the back?
I often see ovens with their control panel behind the elements, mostly in US American settings, like in the picture below.
Where I live, the controls are always in front of the appliance. It seems unnecessarily dangerous to me that one has to reach…
user117279
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24
votes
10 answers
My inflatable hot tub says "don't use with an extension cord"... but can I?
Sadly they don't explain WHY not to use it with an extension cord. I wonder if it's to do with the risk of having such connections outside in the elements?
The cord it comes with is 7m long, and where we want to site it is 6m from our outhouse. I've…
Codemonkey
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