Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [recycling]

20 questions
28
votes
9 answers

What to do with wood shavings and sawdust?

Been doing a lot of woodworking recently and have many bags of sawdust and wood shavings. I haven't the facility to compress them into the pellets I get from my local woodyard which are useful for my woodburner, but am reluctant to take it all to…
Tim
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4 answers

Is there any way to replace drill batteries?

We have a great (Porter and Cable) cordless drill but the batteries are no longer commercially available. Amazon has a listing but it's been sold out for the last five years. Do we have any other recourse? I'm kind of loathe to throw out a perfectly…
Amanda
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4
votes
7 answers

What should I do with old furnace filters?

I seem to be stock piling used furnace filters, are there any uses for these things once the furnace is done with them? It seems a shame to throw them out; given that I change them once a month, there must be some way to prevent all this…
Tester101
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4
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3 answers

Can I install used carpet that's been removed from another home?

My carpet is about 25 years old now and it's time to go. I know some people rip carpet out of new homes because they're laying down hardwood. Any issues I should be aware of? (I like the idea of recycling instead of buying new) Thanks!
Kim
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4
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3 answers

Does code prohibit using salvaged materials in new electrical work?

Does code prohibit using salvaged materials in new electrical work? Can wire, receptacles, switches, wirenuts, boxes, connectors, etc... be reused?
April
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4
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2 answers

How do I remove mortar from bricks so I can re-use them?

I have about 500 bricks to cleanup so I can reuse them, the mortar is old and the bricks are soft clay. What is the best way to remove the mortar and how much time should I allow?
Walker
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3 answers

Should I attempt to save 4" cast iron DWV fittings and pipe?

I'm in the process of ripping out an old cast iron drainage stack that runs clear from the roof to the basement with a few elbows and wyes in the mix. I'm in Portland, Oregon (west coast USA), and my question is basically "is this cast iron worth…
William S.
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3 answers

Can an electric dryer be vented into a garage?

So, I have an unheated garage, but it is insulated. It maintains above freezing due to the contact with the house, but it still gets intolerably cold. I've considered routing my electric dryer out there to help keep it a bit warmer. It's not…
Sidney
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2 answers

How do I clean reclaimed wood from construction?

I'm building a house (brick, cement and concrete) and I have a big pile of wood used for beam and pillar molds. How can I properly clean cement off wood? I think it should be very damaging to blades in general (planer, table saw, etc), and sanding…
Luiz Borges
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1 answer

What is best way to compact styrofoam and discard it?

Every time I install appliances or get something which is breakable, it's covered in styrofoam. Now what is the best/cleanest way to compact and get rid of styrofoam? I've known people who just put it in a container with acetone where it just…
Lucas Kauffman
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2 answers

Is is safe to have rainwater recycling tank near the bedroom windows?

Is it safe to sleep near a rainwater recycling tank? Is bacteria can developed and flow into the bedroom when sleeping with the window open?
ucsky
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1 answer

well water tank - psi pressure comes on at 50psi and takes 10 mins to cut off?

Our (well water)tank - psi pressure comes on at 50psi. It takes 10 mins (more or less) to cut off It does this every approx 10 mins? Been doing this for about 10 days,as soon as it reaches 28-30 psi,it starts the cycle all over again..dread to…
Bill S
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Is there any easy and cost effective way to build inhouse water treatment facility

My apartment produces approx 1800 litre of grey water per day. So I'm thinking may be I could build my own ( DIY ) water treatment facility which will remove the dirt and remove the smell so that I can use this water for toilet flushing atleast. Any…
CuriousMan
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1 answer

What Condition Can Concrete Be In And Be Recycled?

I have a basement slab that I'm going to be breaking up and sending to a recycler. Here's what I would like to avoid: The concrete being rejected at the site of recycling The concrete causing some problems with the recycler's facilities Both are…
rajan
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How to make table legs from wooden planks?

I'm making a coffee table out of old pallets. The top part is finished, all it needs now is legs. I want to use only parts from old pallets and I don't want it to become very heavy, so I was thinking of using 2 planks in a 90° angle on each corner…
jan
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