Add 240V to Garage through New Sub-Panel

I'm wanting to run a 30 amp 240v to my garage. Probably 30 ft to the attic from the breaker in the kitchen (1st floor),. 35 ft across the attic (which is above the second floor) and around 30-35 down to the garage (below the kitchen level). Unfortunately the garage is finished and located at ground level. . My breaker box is full so I either need to get a 100 amp panel with 32 slots (current is 24) or run a 50/60amp sub panel in the upstairs guest bedroom and change the dryer breaker from 30 to 50 or 60amps and run a low gauge (Probably . . . [More]

Add 240V to Garage through New Sub-Panel

I'm wanting to run a 30 amp 240v to my garage. Probably 30 ft to the attic from the breaker in the kitchen (1st floor),. 35 ft across the attic (which is above the second floor) and around 30-35 down to the garage (below the kitchen level). Unfortunately the garage is finished and located at ground level. . My breaker box is full so I either need to get a 100 amp panel with 32 slots (current is 24) or run a 50/60amp sub panel in the upstairs guest bedroom and change the dryer breaker from 30 to 50 or 60amps and run a low gauge (Probably . . . [More]

Subfloor hump over joist tied into cantilever

Just bought a house and I’m swapping out floors. There had previously been carpet in this area, but I’m laying down LVP so I need things reasonably flat. There is one part of this room that has a very pronounced hump, to where I could feel it through the carpet before I tore it up. I have access to a crawl space underneath it, and it looks like the joist that’s crowning up excessively is tied into a portion of the house that’s cantilevered out to a short deck. In a simpler situation, I would just pull the subfloor . . . [More]

Subfloor hump over joist tied into cantilever

Just bought a house and I’m swapping out floors. There had previously been carpet in this area, but I’m laying down LVP so I need things reasonably flat. There is one part of this room that has a very pronounced hump, to where I could feel it through the carpet before I tore it up. I have access to a crawl space underneath it, and it looks like the joist that’s crowning up excessively is tied into a portion of the house that’s cantilevered out to a short deck. In a simpler situation, I would just pull the subfloor . . . [More]

Dual-function (AFCI - GFCI) and 2-POLE breaker

I recently bought my first house and have been investigating the GFCI fix to branch circuits that (due to installation date) do not have equipment grounding conductor installed. My receptacle boxes are teeny tiny and don't fit modern GFCI receptacles. I started looking into GFCI breakers to make my life a lot easier, but when I looked in my panel, I saw something unexpected. It appears that I have (running to several bedrooms) a pair of 15-amp branch circuits that share a neutral, and have the hot conductors on separate phases. They are cur . . . [More]

Dual-function (AFCI - GFCI) and 2-POLE breaker

I recently bought my first house and have been investigating the GFCI fix to branch circuits that (due to installation date) do not have equipment grounding conductor installed. My receptacle boxes are teeny tiny and don't fit modern GFCI receptacles. I started looking into GFCI breakers to make my life a lot easier, but when I looked in my panel, I saw something unexpected. It appears that I have (running to several bedrooms) a pair of 15-amp branch circuits that share a neutral, and have the hot conductors on separate phases. They are cur . . . [More]

LEDs flicker but Halogen works fine

Moved into an apartment that has MR16 bulbs on the ceiling. A total of 7. Replaced them with 5W Leds and it started flickering. If I use one halogen and 6 LEDs, it doesn't flicker and works fine. The lights have a dimmer switch but i don't want to use it or I keep it on full brightness only. The LEDs are non dimmable. Please advise how to correct the problem. Should i search for a daylight halogen and use that in one socket to avoid the flickering. Should I call the electrician and disconnect the dimmer? Any other s . . . [More]

LEDs flicker but Halogen works fine

Moved into an apartment that has MR16 bulbs on the ceiling. A total of 7. Replaced them with 5W Leds and it started flickering. If I use one halogen and 6 LEDs, it doesn't flicker and works fine. The lights have a dimmer switch but i don't want to use it or I keep it on full brightness only. The LEDs are non dimmable. Please advise how to correct the problem. Should i search for a daylight halogen and use that in one socket to avoid the flickering. Should I call the electrician and disconnect the dimmer? Any other s . . . [More]

What do I use to mount a heavy framed mirror to a stud wall?

I recently got my grubby hands on a beautiful, but extremely heavy, 4 foot by 7 foot framed wall mirror; it probably weighs around 100lbs, if not a little more. I know what (exterior) wall to mount it on, exactly where the mount-points are, and have already installed two wood screws (2 inches long) into the studs. The mirror came with a pre-installed wire, and I'm hoping that these two screws would be stable enough to hold the mirror. When we tried actually installing the mirror, we tipped it onto one screw, and tried t . . . [More]

What do I use to mount a heavy framed mirror to a stud wall?

I recently got my grubby hands on a beautiful, but extremely heavy, 4 foot by 7 foot framed wall mirror; it probably weighs around 100lbs, if not a little more. I know what (exterior) wall to mount it on, exactly where the mount-points are, and have already installed two wood screws (2 inches long) into the studs. The mirror came with a pre-installed wire, and I'm hoping that these two screws would be stable enough to hold the mirror. When we tried actually installing the mirror, we tipped it onto one screw, and tried t . . . [More]

How do I fix this Underwriters Laboratories light fixture part that's missing side clips?

One of my light fixtures (recessed ceiling) fell in the kitchen. It's a UL thing that stays in place with these metal clips that go in the holes. What happened to the clips, who can say. Must have broken apart or something. As you can imagine I would rather fix this one lamp than replace all the 10 lamps. But I can't seem to find anything about it online. I considered "borrowing" some clips from other lights but some of them are already missing and it doesn't feel like a practical solution. Thanks in advance for a . . . [More]

How do I fix this Underwriters Laboratories light fixture part that's missing side clips?

One of my light fixtures (recessed ceiling) fell in the kitchen. It's a UL thing that stays in place with these metal clips that go in the holes. What happened to the clips, who can say. Must have broken apart or something. As you can imagine I would rather fix this one lamp than replace all the 10 lamps. But I can't seem to find anything about it online. I considered "borrowing" some clips from other lights but some of them are already missing and it doesn't feel like a practical solution. Thanks in advance for a . . . [More]

Rebar inside steel tubing for additional security against cutting

I am replacing my existing home window and door security grills with thicker gauge RHS (rectangular hollow section - steel tubing) and I was wondering if rebar inside of RHS would add any meaningful reinforcement from cutting with a hacksaw? My thinking is that, while rebar is pretty easy to cut with a hacksaw, hanging loosely inside RHS, it would just spin around and not be easy to cut. Home invasions are a common issue where I live, with 3-4 armed burglars forcing their way into homes without occupants being aware. They predominantly us . . . [More]

Rebar inside steel tubing for additional security against cutting

I am replacing my existing home window and door security grills with thicker gauge RHS (rectangular hollow section - steel tubing) and I was wondering if rebar inside of RHS would add any meaningful reinforcement from cutting with a hacksaw? My thinking is that, while rebar is pretty easy to cut with a hacksaw, hanging loosely inside RHS, it would just spin around and not be easy to cut. Home invasions are a common issue where I live, with 3-4 armed burglars forcing their way into homes without occupants being aware. They predominantly us . . . [More]

Is it ok to replace corner railings posts with pergola posts?

Planning to add a pergola to my deck for shade and growing grapes and need help deciding if I should extend the posts of the pergola to the ground on a concrete base or if I can just attach it to the deck by replacing the existing corner posts used by the deck railing and just beefing it up with additional blocking. Some project specs:. Deck is 12x10’; attached to the house and supported by two 6x6 posts set on 16” concrete pillars; the posts at the base of the stairs are set in the ground which presumably provides a smal . . . [More]

Is it ok to replace corner railings posts with pergola posts?

Planning to add a pergola to my deck for shade and growing grapes and need help deciding if I should extend the posts of the pergola to the ground on a concrete base or if I can just attach it to the deck by replacing the existing corner posts used by the deck railing and just beefing it up with additional blocking. Some project specs:. Deck is 12x10’; attached to the house and supported by two 6x6 posts set on 16” concrete pillars; the posts at the base of the stairs are set in the ground which presumably provides a smal . . . [More]

How to ensure code compliance for this kitchen sink drain?

I remodeled my kitchen installing larger/deeper sink and a new disposal. I am wondering if the installation meets the code in terms of the height difference between the disposal and the drain outlet at the wall. Shown is a picture of the new drain- just a dry fit for now. Is it ok to go ahead and complete the installation? Question from user hrs at stackexchange. Answer: You really have just two key dimensions to worry about, assuming appropriate pipe size and slope (which you seem to have). They are maximum tailpiece (disposal output . . . [More]

How to ensure code compliance for this kitchen sink drain?

I remodeled my kitchen installing larger/deeper sink and a new disposal. I am wondering if the installation meets the code in terms of the height difference between the disposal and the drain outlet at the wall. Shown is a picture of the new drain- just a dry fit for now. Is it ok to go ahead and complete the installation? Question from user hrs at stackexchange. Answer: You really have just two key dimensions to worry about, assuming appropriate pipe size and slope (which you seem to have). They are maximum tailpiece (disposal output . . . [More]

How high can baseboard heaters be installed?

I'm trying to do a basement loop to heat up my basement. Can I install a hot water baseboard at approx. 12" from the floor? Question from user Omar at stackexchange. Answer: Sure you can. Expect to have cold feet, since there's no reason for the cold air sitting on the floor to move if the baseboards are set a foot above it. Circulation will pretty much stop at the intake height of the baseboards, unless you run a ceiling fan or something for mixing. Answer from user Ecnerwal at stackexchange. . . . [More]

How high can baseboard heaters be installed?

I'm trying to do a basement loop to heat up my basement. Can I install a hot water baseboard at approx. 12" from the floor? Question from user Omar at stackexchange. Answer: Sure you can. Expect to have cold feet, since there's no reason for the cold air sitting on the floor to move if the baseboards are set a foot above it. Circulation will pretty much stop at the intake height of the baseboards, unless you run a ceiling fan or something for mixing. Answer from user Ecnerwal at stackexchange. . . . [More]