Dishwasher
One seemingly easy option is to fabricate an extension cord from 12-2G cable or 12 gauge flexible cord. Installing a male plug on one end is simple... but there's a drawback to that approach. A plug in the wall does not make as secure a ... [... more]
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Disposal
Mildew Smell: In that same apartment, the disposer had a nasty mildew smell. I tried the usual remedy... baking soda... but that did nothing. I filled the unit with ice cubes and ground them up, but still no improvement. I looked inside with a ... [... more]
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Range Hood
So what is the use of blowing the air back into the kitchen? The recirculating range hood has a metal screen filter that collects tiny droplets of air-borne grease and oil, preventing an oily buildup from forming on the cabinets, walls and ... [... more]
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Toilet
The last step I did was to apply a bead of silicone caulk around the base of the toilet. This helps to hold the toilet in place, and a secure toilet is less likely to experience a leaking the wax bowl ring. However, I always omit caulk at the ... [... more]
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Toilet Wax Bowl Ring
When working alone it can be quite a trick to get the Johnny-bolts into the holes in the toilet. It often takes me a few tries before the bolts come through their holes, and all the while I'm holding onto this 60 pound chunk of ceramic sculpture. ... [... more]
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Tub Drain
The long rod is the connecting link for the drain stopper. That whole assembly gets inserted into the overflow tube. Adjustment of the length of the linkage is important, if it's too short, the stopper won't hold water. If it's too long, the ... [... more]
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Circuit Breaker
The house in this article also has a disconnect box outdoors, just under the electric meter. This small panel has one circuit breaker (100 amp), although there is room for 4. A couple of years ago the we noticed that all the lights were ... [... more]
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Ceiling Fan
Unlike ordinary light fixtures, a ceiling fan is heavy and makes vibrations, however small. If an ordinary ceiling junction box is used with a ceiling fan, these vibrations can cause the mounting screws to loosen and fall out, which could be ... [... more]
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Chandelier With Ceiling Medallion
Getting the correct length of the threaded tube is critical here. I measured the total thickness of the medallion plus the canopy, plus a small length (perhaps ¼") of that the rod goes inside the collar loop. If the rod extends too far, the .. ... [... more]
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Repairing A Big Wire
How on Earth does a person manage to cut through a cable? All too easily. I believe that the most common cause is drilling holes and making cuts through studs and floor joists. And sometimes the wrong wire gets cut during remodeling work. I'd ... [... more]
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Faucet Washer
Now folks, when a handle like this gets a little loose, you need to spend a minute and tighten it up. I once rented a house where the previous occupant had neglected to spend that little minute, and the tub faucet handle got really loose and ... [... more]
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Kitchen Sink
In the past few years I have done numerous plumbing repairs that were made possible by the old stand-by, Plumber's Putty. It is a vegetable-oil-based soft material that can be easily rolled into long rope-like strands. (do you remember using ... [... more]
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