Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [troubleshooting]

176 questions
12
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3 answers

Wiring IKEA light fixture into old fixture

I am installing a simple IKEA ceiling light fixture. The new light fixture has a neutral wire, a live wire, and a ground wire. My current old light fixture has 4 wires: white, red, dark blue or black, and copper wire. And here is how it is…
user104190
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3 answers

Automatic garage door opener opens when it hits the floor

I have a garage door opener that has been working fine until the past month or so. Now, during a close cycle, once it hits the floor (where normally it would stop) it will switch back into an open cycle. It's created several 'Ack I left my garage…
morganpdx
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11 answers

How can I find an open neutral?

My lights and outlets went out in the half bath of my home and also the two recessed lights in my hall just outside the half bath. I believe there are two feeds, one to the hall lights and one to the half bath light and outlets all on the same…
captainjohn
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7
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3 answers

Garage Wiring: No Voltage With a Load

The power recently went out in my garage. When I went to the garage and flipped on the light, there was a small spark from within the switch box (where the wires enter the garage) and then no power. Note that my garage was built in 1950, and the…
Freddyjones39
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4 answers

Troubleshooting a leaking exterior door

I have an exterior door that leaks water into the house when rain is blown against it. The floor on the inside of the house is unfinished, meaning it is just the raw subfloor. I don't want to put the finish floor down until the leak is addressed.…
Carl B
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6
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3 answers

Troubleshooting bandsaw cutting at an angle (through aluminum)

I occasionally use (or abuse) a small tabletop band saw to rough cut aluminum plate. I generally having a lot of success and have been able to cut half inch thick plate without any problem using 6 to 10 tpi wood cutting blades. This weekend I tried…
Scott Saunders
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6
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5 answers

What could I have done wrong while changing to LED bulbs in my recessed lighting?

I have six recessed lights in the kitchen. I bought six new LED bulbs to replace the old incandescents. I had to lower the socket an inch or two along the track in the recessed fixture in order to get the bulbs to fit. The first two replacements…
Ben Dilts
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6
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1 answer

GFCI receptacle will not reset

My GFCI tripped and would not reset. I jumpered out the outlet and all power returned to normal. I assumed it was a defective GFCI so I replaced it. Same problem. Power is available at the line side, but when the reset button is pushed the GFCI just…
Antony Cat
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6
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5 answers

What is a good tutorial on the use of a multimeter?

I am ashamed to admit, that despite my many electrical (mis?)adventures.. I have no idea how to use a multimeter. I have installed automobile sound systems, central air air-conditioners, and every kind of lighting, computer, telephone, etc. blah…
alex gray
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5
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3 answers

Why is my lighting circuit tripping the breaker?

I have several MR16 2 pin style light bulbs in my kitchen - The other day the trip switch for the light bulbs tripped when turning these bulbs on - I went and flipped the trip switch and tried again to the same result. This happened three times,…
Martyn
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4
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1 answer

AC in the attic affects downstairs but not upstairs

We have one AC unit (roughly 1 year old) connected to two zones: Zone 1 is upstairs and Zone 2 is downstairs. Yesterday, our AC seemed to completely stop working for the upstairs but continue to work well for the downstairs. Not being very familiar…
Sampson
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4
votes
2 answers

GE gas dryer noise - is this from motor?

Hi I'm trying to fix my 13 year old dryer. It's started to have squeaking noise but I was able to fix that by replacing the front and rear bearing. Now it's starting to have this noise and I think this is possibly from the motor based on some search…
Ted Lu
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4
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4 answers

Why is my furnace blowing cold air?

My HEIL 7000 natural gas furnace has stopped working what are the most likely causes, and how to verify faulty parts? Normal operation routine Thermostat sends "need heat" signal. Exhaust blower starts. Electric sparker lights gas. Once operating…
Tester101
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4
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2 answers

Why won't my washer spin even though it still agitates?

I have a Kenmore 80 series washer and it recently stopped spinning and agitating and I found out it was the coupler. So I changed that and it start to work again, normally. After a week or two it stopped spinning during spin cycle, but it still…
chasethesunnn
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Wiring advice - two circuits wired to a single GFCI outlet

I'm scratching my head trying to figure out an odd wiring situation and need some advice on what to do next (if any any). tldr; My kids bathroom GFCI outlet box has two 2-wire romex cables coming in. One was wired to load, other to line, ground…
KZ.
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