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1500 questions
19
votes
6 answers
How to remove screws from old decking
I have some decking in my back garden and some of the planks need replacing. However, the screws are difficult to remove.
Some have rusted/weakened sufficiently so that I've managed to remove the screw head entirely when trying to unscrew them while…
Matt Hogan-Jones
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18
votes
8 answers
When bolting down a porcelain toilet, how tight is "too tight"?
Tightening bolts on the base of a toilet is the one thing about toilet installation that has me the most nervous. They say not to over-tighten, but how tight is too tight before the porcelain is subject to cracking? Do I tighten until I can't…
oscilatingcretin
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18
votes
4 answers
When to use holes instead of side terminals to wire an outlet
This question comes from Shirlock's comment on this GFCI wiring question.
When and why should you use the holes on the back of an outlet rather than the side terminals? I always assumed the holes on the back were only for lazy electricians and…
BMitch
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18
votes
5 answers
Why are all towel bars 24 inch? With studs being 16 inches apart - how do people mount them?
I want to install a towel bar in my bathrooms - and I went to Home Depot to get one - but all of their towel bars were 24 inch...
This to me is weird.
Do all people just mount their towel bars to a drywall using drywall anchors? That just seems so…
Dannyboy
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18
votes
9 answers
Which home improvement projects produce the highest return on investment when selling?
I am looking to put my home on the market in the next few months (in Ohio). Which home improvement projects produce the highest return on investment when selling?
Should I invest in exotic landscaping? A modernized bathroom? Granite counter-tops?
My…
YeahStu
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18
votes
13 answers
How can I get a bolt with no head out of my wall?
I tried to screw this bolt into a stud to secure a 2x4. The hex head snapped off, and now the bolt is stuck. I managed to slide off the 2x4, but I have no idea how to extract the bolt. IIRC it's a 6" long, 1/4" wide bolt with about 5 inches in the…
Elliot G
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18
votes
6 answers
How to convince plumber that there is a gas leak?
I had some gas lines replaced in the crawl space and the next day after the plumber left I noticed a minor gas smell. I got into crawl space with a HomeFlex leak detector and it is clearly going off full blast around one connection. However, I…
Uncle Meat
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18
votes
3 answers
240 V dryer outlet is reading 245 V
My 30 A dryer outlet reads 122 and 123 V on my multimeter (a total of 245 V). Will this be a problem for a new modern dryer if it is higher than 240 V?
It is a three prong outlet.
user129694
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18
votes
5 answers
Can I run a 15A table saw on a 15A circuit if there are also shop lights on the same circuit?
I apologize if this is a tired question, but none of the other similar questions I found are close enough to what I really need to know.
I am hoping to buy a DeWalt table saw for use in my garage. The only documentation I can find shows that the saw…
Pierce
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18
votes
5 answers
Can Teflon thread tape be reused?
I need to take off my shower head for cleaning and possible replacement.
I can see there is Teflon tape on the fitting where the head connects to the arm. When I reconnect the head, can I reuse the existing tape? Do I wrap an extra layer around the…
Phillip
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17
votes
4 answers
Do all wires on basement walls have to be in conduit?
I need to know if, when a basement is unfinished and an outlet is on the wall, is it required to put all wires in conduit?
Luigi Bautista
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17
votes
10 answers
What is better for a roof, plywood or OSB?
While watching the builders next door do their thing, I became curious with their technique to install plywood on edges neighboring the next townhouse, and OSB for the rest (which for these narrow interior units is a single panel in the middle, but…
BMitch
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17
votes
1 answer
Can cable splice devices be concealed?
Devices exist that claim to be able to splice nonmetallic sheathed cables together outside of a box, and in concealed locations. Are these types of devices allowed by National Electrical Code?
Here's one example device.
Tyco Electronics Romex®…
Tester101
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17
votes
5 answers
How can I fix the issues I'm having with large double gates?
I have a privacy fence in my backyard that includes a large double gate. It was built maybe a year and half ago. The whole span is about a 11' 4" opening. The gates to meet in the middle with double hinges on each gate and a rod at the bottom of…
AMBER
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17
votes
9 answers
Should I run the tap while dumping boiling water?
It seems to be common advice to run the cold water while dumping boiling water down the drain (for example, when draining pasta). A variety of reasons are cited for this, one of which is that it is bad for your plumbing. I assume the reasoning is…
browly
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