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1500 questions
19
votes
13 answers
How do I prepare my home for a power outage?
With several storms in the Northeast United States and more storms predicted this week, there have been lots of extended power outages. What are things to do to prepare your house for a power outage especially in the winter.
What are things you…
SchwartzE
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19
votes
1 answer
What is this velcro-like product?
Does anyone have an idea what this product might be?
It was found it on some hired equipment, used as a cable tie / cable tidy. It is reversible and each side will stick to itself, unlike velcro.
Maybe cable tie was not its intended use?
It looks…
Josh Barnes
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19
votes
7 answers
What is the optimal configuration of a cross brace on a wooden gate?
I'm building a wooden gate for my deck, and I want to put in a cross brace to reduce sagging. I want to install the brace so that it transfers the load from the top unhinged corner, to the bottom hinged corner.
I'm just not sure what the best way…
Tester101
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19
votes
9 answers
What can I do about my drains constantly getting blocked?
The one thing I have tried to do about this is use those foaming and non-foaming drain unblockers regularly. That has just been money down the drain, pardon the pun.
I suspect that unblockers only work if the blockage is in trap (the first bendy bit…
RomanSt
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19
votes
8 answers
Why little holes/dots when I apply joint compound?
I can't find answer anywhere, can somebody tell me why and how to avoid these little dots/holes when I spackle.
I also including the pic of the compound I'm using.
bell2041
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19
votes
2 answers
When is pipe dope/tape needed?
When is it appropriate to use tape, dope, or nothing at all when connecting pipe fittings? Several advised not to use any product when I posed this question. What is the purpose of each product, and what problems would they solve or could they…
glenviewjeff
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19
votes
4 answers
How many cables are you allowed to run through a single hole in a wooden floor joist?
How many cables are you allowed to run through a single hole in a wooden floor joist? For example, could I run five 12-2 cables through a 1-1/8" hole? I know they physically fit, but is there a code to regulate this? Is there any limit on this or…
Tom L
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19
votes
5 answers
How can I insulate my garage door?
Over the past year I've been converting our integrated garage so that it's a usage space.
I've painted the walls, got lighting, power and water connected (To allow for a washing machine to be installed) plus floor is now carpeted using tiles. Also…
Peter Bridger
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19
votes
7 answers
Why is there a beaded tie on new fire extinguishers?
When I see fire extinguishers these days they seem to have some form of the yellow beaded tie as shown in this photo.
What purpose does this serve? It looks to me like it prevents the pin from pulling out. Hardly something you'd want in a fire.…
duozmo
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19
votes
2 answers
Sketchy looking electrical outlet
I am updating older beige outlets to new white ones around my house. I saw this one has the grounding wire stabbed into the back and white wire not connected.
What the heck is going on here? Any suggestions on what to do and why it’s not properly…
Armstrong
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19
votes
3 answers
What are some tips for finishing wood?
I'm kind of embarrassed to ask, but I'm looking for a good how-to guide for finishing pine furniture. (Could also apply to baseboards and trim, so I'm hoping for an on-topic pass here.) I watched my dad do this dozens of time when I was a kid, but I…
Doresoom
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19
votes
4 answers
Does XPS+OSB subfloor need to be anchored?
Mike Holmes is a big fan of OSB/plywood over 1" XPS for basement floors, though his book leaves something to be desired in terms of details. His book says:
...on top of the foam, you want to have 5/8" tongue-and-groove
plywood, which should be…
Brad Mace
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19
votes
7 answers
What's the cheapest way to wire these lights that are 400' away at the end of the driveway?
We recently built a house and added 3/4 conduit underground from outside the breaker box to the top of the driveway for a future project to add stone pillars with LED lights (example pictures below).
The distance from the box to the top of the…
RetiredATC
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19
votes
1 answer
FirstAlert smoke detector low battery warning continues after opening battery drawer and replacing batteries
Note: I'm creating and immediately answering my own question because I wasn't able to find documentation of this solution online.
My condo is equipped with a FirstAlert 7010BSL smoke detector (technically mine is a 7010BSLA model; it appears…
Reign of Error
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19
votes
8 answers
What is your advice on repairing this PCB trace?
This is a PCB from an induction cooktop. It runs on 400v. This trace blew because the wiring was crossed during installation of the stove. Compared to the exacto knife, the area is quite tiny.
How would you rebuild this trace; with what sort of…
Ryan Imported
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