Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [kitchens]

Questions related to the construction, modification, maintenance, repair of the many functional systems included in a kitchen. Systems include: plumbing, electrical,lighting, major appliances, surfaces (wall, floor).

1252 questions
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How long should I wait before plugging in a new refrigerator?

Today I received my new refrigerator, and I've been told not to plug it in until a couple of hours have gone by. Some people told me a couple of hours was enough, but others have told me up to 12 hours. I understand the reasons as to why do this…
Fernando Briano
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4 answers

What kind of IKEA screw is this?

This is a screw on the side of an IKEA drawer. On line videos say turn it left or right to level the front of the door. Instructions are to use a Phillips screwdriver. It's not a Phillips head and the local hardware store doesn't recognize it.
Jim Baxter
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8 answers

How many CFM for a range hood do I REALLY need?

I like to cook. I would like to put in a fairly powerful range (nothing huge, though; I don't need six burners and a griddle), and will need a hood that can carry smoke, heat, steam, grease, etc. from cooking out of the house. The trend seems to be…
Adam Jaskiewicz
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Is it damaging to turn off a small fridge for two days every week?

I am a student who studies in a different city than my home so I go home almost every weekend or second weekend. I recently brought a room sized fridge and to save electricity costs, whenever I go home, I turn off the fridge which is usually for…
khawajayy
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22
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4 answers

How do I properly wire GFCI outlets in parallel?

I have two countertop outlets in my kitchen that I am in the process of replacing with new, GFCI-protected outlets. These two outlets are on a circuit together, and they are the only loads on that circuit. After wiring the new outlets up and testing…
Drew Spickes
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20
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Which Kitchen outlets do NOT need GFCI?

I have the 2 circuits in the kitchen with GFCI outlets, but I'm not quite sure which other ones do NOT need GFCI. Other circuits in the kitchen include Microwave, Fridge, and Dishwasher. It makes sense to me to not have the fridge on GFCI though.
rcav8r
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12 answers

Should hardwood floors go all the way to wall under kitchen cabinets?

I’m putting in hardwood floors and I am at the spot where kitchen cabinets would go. The last strip is going to be narrower than whole flooring boards, and usually I would rip the boards going elsewhere in the room. Should I just leave the last few…
David
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17
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9 answers

Should I run the tap while dumping boiling water?

It seems to be common advice to run the cold water while dumping boiling water down the drain (for example, when draining pasta). A variety of reasons are cited for this, one of which is that it is bad for your plumbing. I assume the reasoning is…
browly
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16
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6 answers

Why energy saving bulb flashes when the switch is off?

I have a energy saving spiral light bulb in my kitchen. In exactly every 27 seconds, the first segment of the bulb faintly flashes when the switch is off. And not once, repeatedly every 27 seconds. This weird situation occurs for more than half and…
sevenkul
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14
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5 answers

Is it safe to swap a 30A "Dryer Socket" with a 40A "Range Socket" if the breaker is 40A?

Just bought a house built in 1979 and am working on renovations. Today we had a new range delivered and ran into an issue trying to install it. Essentially, the old range was connected to a 30A "dryer socket" in the kitchen while the new one…
5E4ME
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14
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8 answers

What kind of tool can I use to tighten a faucet bolt in a tight place?

I am trying to tighten a kitchen faucet bolt (7/16 inch) in a very tight spot. Please refer to the picture. Standard size wrenches don't fit well enough for me to turn it. I've used a stubby wrench but I can't get any leverage because of the tight…
DIY Newbie
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12
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2 answers

Stains in grout

For a tiling job, I used this charcoal grout: After a few days, as indicated by the instructions, I applied this sealer: A few minutes after applying the sealant, these white stains appeared randomly in the grout: It's been a few days and the…
Martin Argerami
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12
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5 answers

Downsides of Linoleum (in kitchen specifically)

I am thinking of replacing tiled floor in my kitchen with linoleum (in Canada). I see a few benefits to it, 1) easy to wash 2) fallen glassware doesn't always break. However, there seems to be unexplained negative attitude towards linoleums. (At…
pitr
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12
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2 answers

Vent kitchen hood vent to roof turbine vent?

I had a contractor install a hood vent. He ran a foil pipe up towards the roof and tie it @ 6 in below the turbine vent (whirley birds). Is this adequate for all the fumes to escape out? Is this ok? He told me to run it out through the roof it…
Brian Tran
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3 answers

If polyurethane is not food safe, why is it used on dining tables?

Why do online sites say that polyurethane isn't food safe, and is there some way I can use it on my kitchen worktop and still be safe? I don't prepare or store food directly on it or use it as a cutting board. I have it sealed with shellac now, but…
Keith Walton
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