Can I use a hose clamp to ground a wire to EMT?

Question:. What are the rules for how to attach a wire to an already grounded EMT conduit? Can I use stainless steel host clamp and tighten down? I was installing a metal box for a light switch in our attic and had to terminate existing old NM cables that had no ground. Since there was no ground in the cable to ground the enclosure, a hot shorted to the box would be dangerous and would not pop the breaker. As a temporary measure I used a metal hose clamp to run a bare #12 copper wire between the box ground screw and a nearby EMT condui . . . [More]

Can I use a hose clamp to ground a wire to EMT?

Question:. What are the rules for how to attach a wire to an already grounded EMT conduit? Can I use stainless steel host clamp and tighten down? I was installing a metal box for a light switch in our attic and had to terminate existing old NM cables that had no ground. Since there was no ground in the cable to ground the enclosure, a hot shorted to the box would be dangerous and would not pop the breaker. As a temporary measure I used a metal hose clamp to run a bare #12 copper wire between the box ground screw and a nearby EMT condui . . . [More]

Hybrid Water Heater with Gas Backup?

I've recently become aware of the existence of 'hybrid water heaters' which use a heat pump to heat the water in the tank. The thing that is appealing to me about this is that the water heater also works as a dehumidifier. That should, at the very least reduce the need to run a dedicated humidifier and are supposedly even cheaper to run than gas heaters (this probably depends on the cost of electricity and gas). The examples I've seen all use an electric resistance heater as a backup which is really expensive to run. Are ther . . . [More]

Hybrid Water Heater with Gas Backup?

I've recently become aware of the existence of 'hybrid water heaters' which use a heat pump to heat the water in the tank. The thing that is appealing to me about this is that the water heater also works as a dehumidifier. That should, at the very least reduce the need to run a dedicated humidifier and are supposedly even cheaper to run than gas heaters (this probably depends on the cost of electricity and gas). The examples I've seen all use an electric resistance heater as a backup which is really expensive to run. Are ther . . . [More]

Electrical panel requirements for in-floor heating?

I have the unenviable task of replacing a floor (or three) in my home in the coming weeks/months. We are considering a mix of tile and solid hardwood. It appears that it is possible to retrofit in-floor heating (electric). And the price isn't so fantastic that it's immediately off the table either. However, I think I will be constrained by just how many open slots for breakers are left in my panel. One option available at Home Depot's web page says that it covers an area of 3' x 10ft'. I would need six of these alone j . . . [More]

Electrical panel requirements for in-floor heating?

I have the unenviable task of replacing a floor (or three) in my home in the coming weeks/months. We are considering a mix of tile and solid hardwood. It appears that it is possible to retrofit in-floor heating (electric). And the price isn't so fantastic that it's immediately off the table either. However, I think I will be constrained by just how many open slots for breakers are left in my panel. One option available at Home Depot's web page says that it covers an area of 3' x 10ft'. I would need six of these alone j . . . [More]

Why wont my heater turn off when it reaches my desired temperature?

My wife and I purchased our first home this past year and we did a bunch of repairs up-front via a rehab loan, and one of the things we replaced was a very old thermostat with a new digital one. I had a licensed HVAC friend walk me through the installation and after install it seemed to be working just fine (ie. fan turns on, furnace fires up, house gets hot) but now that its been colder we've realized that the heater and AC don't automatically turn off when the temperature reaches the what we set it to. I didn't think anythin . . . [More]

Why wont my heater turn off when it reaches my desired temperature?

My wife and I purchased our first home this past year and we did a bunch of repairs up-front via a rehab loan, and one of the things we replaced was a very old thermostat with a new digital one. I had a licensed HVAC friend walk me through the installation and after install it seemed to be working just fine (ie. fan turns on, furnace fires up, house gets hot) but now that its been colder we've realized that the heater and AC don't automatically turn off when the temperature reaches the what we set it to. I didn't think anythin . . . [More]

What professionals can I hire to help me investigate a structural problem?

Long story short, the attached garage on my house has foundation issues and also structural issues with the roof. The main structure does not have these issues. I know I need to do something about it. But I don't know what to do - Can it be repaired? Do I need to tear it down? Something else? Which profession to I hire to. help me find the correct solution to this? A general contractor? structural engineer? architect? something else? I'm in the U.S. Question from user Mathew Alden at stackexchange. Answer: Call a . . . [More]

What professionals can I hire to help me investigate a structural problem?

Long story short, the attached garage on my house has foundation issues and also structural issues with the roof. The main structure does not have these issues. I know I need to do something about it. But I don't know what to do - Can it be repaired? Do I need to tear it down? Something else? Which profession to I hire to. help me find the correct solution to this? A general contractor? structural engineer? architect? something else? I'm in the U.S. Question from user Mathew Alden at stackexchange. Answer: Call a . . . [More]

Can I fix the heat regulator (burner switch) of electric range?

So the burners stay on no matter what setting - low or high. I opened and found the switches (heat regulator) were the problem. The metal contact of the green board is broken because it's too thin. . Thus, no connection between #1 and #2. The electric range could not turn off the burner when it reached the desired temperature. A. The metal contact at #1 is sharp. I wonder if I can bend the tip to make better contact. B. At #2, I'm thinking about putting some solder there. Will these fixes cause potential problems? I do . . . [More]

Can I fix the heat regulator (burner switch) of electric range?

So the burners stay on no matter what setting - low or high. I opened and found the switches (heat regulator) were the problem. The metal contact of the green board is broken because it's too thin. . Thus, no connection between #1 and #2. The electric range could not turn off the burner when it reached the desired temperature. A. The metal contact at #1 is sharp. I wonder if I can bend the tip to make better contact. B. At #2, I'm thinking about putting some solder there. Will these fixes cause potential problems? I do . . . [More]

Should I consider washer rows in my 1-1 - 2” x 3 - 4” T&G red oak hardwood flooring layout?

I’ve just finished laying out roughly 120 sf of 1-1/2” x 3/4” T&G red oak strip flooring and before I begin nailing it down, I wanted to pause to determine whether I should consider washer rows based on the following knowns:. House location: Austin, TX. Relative humidity in house (has central a/c): 60%, which I understand to be a bit high but I think is close to average for this 1940s (w/1980s addition) house based on past measurements. Flooring package: pier and beam with beam spans of 4’, 2x6 joists 24 o.c . . . [More]

Should I consider washer rows in my 1-1 - 2” x 3 - 4” T&G red oak hardwood flooring layout?

I’ve just finished laying out roughly 120 sf of 1-1/2” x 3/4” T&G red oak strip flooring and before I begin nailing it down, I wanted to pause to determine whether I should consider washer rows based on the following knowns:. House location: Austin, TX. Relative humidity in house (has central a/c): 60%, which I understand to be a bit high but I think is close to average for this 1940s (w/1980s addition) house based on past measurements. Flooring package: pier and beam with beam spans of 4’, 2x6 joists 24 o.c . . . [More]

How often should clients look at the job site and talk to the contractor?

During a major kitchen remodel that includes removing structural walls and pouring new foundation piers and extending the house, along with the typical re-plumbing and electrical work, how often should the client (me) be walking through the job site and talking to the general contractor? Should I ever be talking to the subcontractors, apart from being nice, or does everything go through the general contractor? What do contractors, and subcontractors, want from the client? Question from user StrongBad at stackexchange. Answer: I'd b . . . [More]

How often should clients look at the job site and talk to the contractor?

During a major kitchen remodel that includes removing structural walls and pouring new foundation piers and extending the house, along with the typical re-plumbing and electrical work, how often should the client (me) be walking through the job site and talking to the general contractor? Should I ever be talking to the subcontractors, apart from being nice, or does everything go through the general contractor? What do contractors, and subcontractors, want from the client? Question from user StrongBad at stackexchange. Answer: I'd b . . . [More]

Wireless home security camera that doesn't require a service signup?

I am looking for a wireless "home security" type camera that has an onboard web interface I can access, instead of one that forces me to sign up for an external service - even a "free" service. I started out years ago with the D-Link DCS-930 and DCS-932L wireless cameras, which allow direct wifi access, and wrote my own (very simple) website to access them remotely from my phone. Unfortunately, those cameras gradually stopped working over time, and their direct replacement, the D-Link DCS-936L, has also been discontinued. . . . [More]

Wireless home security camera that doesn't require a service signup?

I am looking for a wireless "home security" type camera that has an onboard web interface I can access, instead of one that forces me to sign up for an external service - even a "free" service. I started out years ago with the D-Link DCS-930 and DCS-932L wireless cameras, which allow direct wifi access, and wrote my own (very simple) website to access them remotely from my phone. Unfortunately, those cameras gradually stopped working over time, and their direct replacement, the D-Link DCS-936L, has also been discontinued. . . . [More]

How and when must I satisfy NEC 2020 requirements for outdoor disconnect?

I'll start with some context. As a single-family homeowner intending to replace an interior main panel with a 200A panel under permit, I am interpreting the National Electric Code (NEC) 2020 as adopted by my jurisdiction and attempting to satisfy section 230.85 "Emergency Disconnects.". Although I do not have a full copy of the 2020 NEC at this time, this snippet is available from online sources claiming it is from the 2020 NEC:. For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting . . . [More]

How and when must I satisfy NEC 2020 requirements for outdoor disconnect?

I'll start with some context. As a single-family homeowner intending to replace an interior main panel with a 200A panel under permit, I am interpreting the National Electric Code (NEC) 2020 as adopted by my jurisdiction and attempting to satisfy section 230.85 "Emergency Disconnects.". Although I do not have a full copy of the 2020 NEC at this time, this snippet is available from online sources claiming it is from the 2020 NEC:. For one- and two-family dwelling units, all service conductors shall terminate in disconnecting . . . [More]