Most current electrical panels can be retrofitted with this new arc fault circuit breaker. Check your local yellow pages under Electric Supplies. See if they have the arc fault circuit interrupter that will fit in your circuit breaker panel.
The initial cost to switch all your breakers over might seem like a lot of money, but a house fire could cost you thousands of dollars. Or even save a life.
After buying or building bookshelves and loading all the books onto it, it becomes very top heavy. This could cause it to fall over, damaging other objects or injuring someone. By attaching the book shelf to the wall can prevent this.
A screw or nail can be driven through the book case into the wall, but that looks tacky. Use an L bracket that hides behind the bookcase. To install this bracket, draw a line on the wall even with the top of the shelving unit. Move the book case out of the way. Position the L bracket so that the bottom of the top leg is flush with the reference line you drew. Slide the book case back into position and the L bracket will just touch the top of the case. Use a small nail to center punch or mark the location for the screw. Drive the screws into the top of the unit and it will be securely attached to the wall.
One last tip, be sure the screw you use in the top is short or it will break through the top. Follows these steps to ensure you have a safe bookcase in your home.
Before installing flooring on your concrete floor, you have to make sure it is smooth and crack free. You will need a floor leveling or crack filling compound. There are several that are just mixed with water and cement based so they are very sticky. Read the instructions on the package for preparation. Most will require that the floor be clean and free of loose concrete. Take a scraper and remove any high spots. Clean the area with a sponge and water. Let the floor slightly wet, this will help the floor crack compound stick.
Mix a small amount of filler. They have a fast setting time, often 3 - 4 minutes. If you mix too much, it will set up before you can use it. Apply the material with a large broad knife. Try to get it as smooth as possible. A second coat might be required.
Get up any excess so when it dries, it will not stick up through the floor covering. Also, clean your tools as soon as possible. If the crack filler dries on the tools, you might have to throw them away.
What do a camcorder, laptop, cell phone and cordless drill have in common? A rechargeable Ni-Cd battery. There are thousands of these batteries out there that go bad. Don't throw them in the garbage. They contain toxic materials that can harm the environment. Many of these rechargeable batteries can be recycled.
Most recycling programs are free. If you battery has nickel cadmium on it, stores like Sears, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Radio Shack or Target could be an authorized recycling center. When that battery dies, do the right thing, help the environment and recycle that battery.
Aluminum gutters rarely leak along the length of the gutter. The leaks occur at corners and the downspout. The solve the leak you need the right sealer or glue. Many of the gutter manufacturers have a sealer that is compatible with their gutters. Check the end caps for the manufacturer's name. If their name is there, get the gutter seal for that type of gutter.
Clean the inside of the gutter around the leak. Remove any standing water and using a small scrub brush and some soap, clean the inside of the gutter. Rinse it and dry it. Then following the directions on the gutter sealer, apply it to the leaky joint. Apply a liberal amount because it will shrink as it dries.
The gutter seal material is easy to work with. It can be spread with a twig or stick and it sticks tight to the gutter. Your leak at that joint will be solved.
Ever wanted to get behind the wheel of a 600 horsepower racing car? Tim got the chance to do eight laps at Kentucky Speedway. To drive the car yourself, you have to take a short class. Then you ride around the track as a professional driver tells you where the groove is for that track. If every thing goes right, Tim should do about 160 mph on his final lap.
These NASCAR stock cars are designed to stick to the track in the corners. The post-race printout indicated that Tim only achieved 139 mph. Next time, he vows to go faster!
Basement remodeling is a great project to add space to your home. When first starting, be sure to check for cracks in the floor or foundation. Some areas have problems with Radon gas. Patch these cracks before processing.
Second, allow about an inch between the basement walls and your wall studs. This will allow for the uneven foundation walls and any concrete lumps at the corner of the wall and floor. This will allow you to make nice square walls.
Finally, try to align your vertical studs with the overhead studs or floor joists. This will make it easier on the HVAC installation people, plumbers and the electricians. They can run their ducts, pipes and wiring easier.
These are just a few tips to get you started on your basement remodeling project. Remember safety first and keep it plumb, level and square.
To check a wall for example, make sure that the top plate and the bottom plate of any of the walls are the same length. In addition, check that all the wall studs are the same length. If so, you will have a rectangular with you assembly the components.
Now, using a tape measure, measure the length from one corner to the opposite diagonal corner. Then measure the opposite set of corners. Adjust your wall or deck frame until these measurements are the same distance. Then you will have a nice square wall or frame.
Why is this important? When you go to install plywood or drywall or deck flooring, it will be so much easier if things are square.
When painting around electrical fixtures, it is always best to remove them first. But, is it safe to put that old light fixture back up? Here are some things to look for. First, check the wiring. Feel it, twist it. Check for cracks in the insulation. If the wire looks good, that is fine.
Next, look inside the fixture at the actual bulb socket. Inspect it for corrosion. If there is signs of corrosion, that is a bad sign.
There is a little tab at the bottom of the light socket. Pry that tab up a little using either needle nose pliers or your hand. That will ensure a good contact between the light bulb and the socket.
If the fixture is good, reconnect the wires to the correct electrical wires. Be sure to connect the ground wire to the bare metal in the electrical box.
Some light fixtures have a label indicating the maximum wattage for the light bulb. Be sure to follow this warning. These steps will ensure that the light fixture is safe and reconnected properly.
On some projects, you may have to stain a piece of wood to match an existing board. It can be a challenge to match the colors. If you take the existing piece to the paint store, they should be able to give you a close match to the paint or stain color. Back at the jobsite, read the directions on the paint can to get it ready for use. Apply the stain, let it sit for a few minutes. Then, wipe it off. You can get into trouble if you wipe too much off. Apply more stain then you think is necessary. This may help in getting that prefect match.
If you get the right color stain and apply it properly, your new piece of wood will match color-wise and allow the grain of the wood to show through.
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