Why Is My New Outlet Showing Power at the Terminals but Not Testing as Live?
I installed a new outlet, and while a Klein voltmeter indicates that there's power at the terminals, my GFCI outlet tester shows no power at the outlet itself.…
home repair
What to do when both bathtub and toilet are clogged?
Hey folks! I messed up a bit while cleaning yesterday. I flushed some disposable wipes down the toilet, and now it's partially clogged—the water drains away, but much…
How Can I Convince My Dad to Replace Rotting Subfloor Next to Our Sliding Door?
I'm currently replacing the floor in my dining room of my house built in 1968, but I've hit a snag. My dad, who's 78 and has a very…
Why Is My Dishwasher Still Not Draining After a Vacuum Cleanup?
I have a dishwasher that stopped draining, so I vacuumed out the drain line, and it worked fine for a week or two. Now it's failing to drain…
How to Repair a Degrading Waterproofing Barrier on My Home?
I'm about to put my house on the market in a few weeks, and I've noticed that the waterproofing barrier around the exterior is degrading, with cracks appearing…
Should I Fix Rusty Porch Columns Myself or Hire a Pro?
I recently discovered some rust spots on the two wooden pillars by my pool. I didn't check them until now, and when I poked at one, it opened…
Why Can't I Use My Outlet After Renovations?
Hey everyone! I recently had some work done around an outlet in my closet, and now I can't plug anything into it. It looks like something plastic is…
Help! My New Front Door is Leaning Inward – How Can I Fix It?
Hey everyone! I had a contractor install a pre-hung door today, but I've run into a problem. The door is functional but has a lot of friction when…
How to fix a door that won't shut after carpet installation?
I recently had new carpeting installed in my living room, but now I'm having trouble with the door leading to my deck. The door isn't shutting properly and…
Can a Dehumidifier Fix Water Damage Under My Flooring?
I recently discovered a small leak from my dishwasher that lasted about three minutes before I managed to stop it. My flooring was just redone with vinyl, but…
Is Home Repair Glue Safe Around Kids?
I'm concerned about the safety of using home repair glue for wood and plastic at home. Is there a risk to health due to toxic fumes, especially since…
What’s the best way to keep a stubborn old nail from popping up in my wooden floor?
I live in a house built in the 1870s with beautiful wood floors that have those old square nails with rounded heads. There's a particular nail in my…
Why Are My Basement Support Columns Rusting at the Bottom?
I've noticed that the bottom 30cm of my basement support columns is rusting, and I'm wondering what might be causing this issue. I suspect it could be moisture…
Is Using Mesh Tape for Drywall Seams a Bad Idea?
I recently got a drywall job done, but it didn't turn out well, and I'm now hiring someone to fix it. One of the contractors I reached out…
How Do I Replace a Frost-Free Hose Bibb?
I'm dealing with a leaky outdoor spigot and I want to replace my frost-free hose bibb. I'm not super experienced in plumbing, but I can handle cutting pipes…
Help! Water Appearing in My Basement—What Should I Check?
I'm dealing with a sudden water issue in my basement and could really use some insights on how to find the source. Our home is around 30 years…
Need help locating my dryer vent exit!
Hey everyone! I could really use some help here. I recently tried to replace the aluminum dryer vent hose since it got crushed when we moved the dryer…
How Do I Remove a Broken Screw Head Stuck in My Shower Tile?
I was trying to remove a handbar in my shower when one of the screws stripped, and now the head has broken off. There's just a post sticking…
Should I be worried about seeing an arc when resetting my AC's circuit breaker?
I noticed that the AC in my downstairs area was blowing air but not cooling. When I checked the circuit panel, I saw that the AC breaker had…
Advice Needed for Fixing Large Wall Cracks
Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on how to tackle some big wall cracks I've noticed. Ideally, I would consult a structural engineer, but given my location…