Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [us]

13 questions
9
votes
3 answers

Why do I hear water flowing in a floor drain near commercial bathroom fixtures?

I work in a government agency building, less than 10 years old, built to some kind of 'green' standards. When I am in a men's bathroom, either at a urinal or a commode, when someone flushes a toilet, either in the men's, or even in the women's next…
CGCampbell
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7
votes
5 answers

Possible to use trim with routed out channel to hide 12/2 or 12/3 wire instead of using Wiremold?

I plan to add some lighting in positions on the ceiling that doesn't have nearby wire available. The there is no free space between the ceiling/roof in which to run a wire (there's the wood, then solid foam block insulation, then weather barrier,…
Matthew
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6
votes
2 answers

Safe to use 220V electric clothes dryer when building has been bridged down to 110V?

We live in a building with 220V service with primarily 110V outlets but a few specialty ones at 220V. Earlier this week electrical service in half the building across all three apartments went out. The utility company came out on an emergency basis…
AllInOne
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5
votes
3 answers

Grounds twisted without wire nuts

In my 1984 house, inside switch boxes, there are many instances where bare ground wires are twisted together without wire nuts. They are twisted really tightly about 4-5 turns. It has almost certainly always been like this. The house was built by a…
Mattman944
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5
votes
1 answer

Can I paint a load center cover?

I would like to paint the cover and door of my flush mount load center to match the wall color more closely. The manufacturer does offer a white in addition to the standard grey cover, but it is hard to find and ridiculously overprice. Only the…
PhilippNagel
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3
votes
2 answers

Transformer won't work for US plug

I live in the UK but have a few US appliances in my possession which I would like to use here in the UK. To avoid having to rewire all the plugs, I bought a transformer to step down the voltage from 230V to 110V. The outlet is set to receive a…
r7i7an
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2
votes
2 answers

In Australia is it not possible to install a US Water heater?

Tech support from Eco-smart say you need two inputs (two hot wires) 120 volts each but no neutral making 240 volt. Here in Australia we have 240 volts which is Active (Red) Neutral (Black) and Earth (green/yellow). So will I need a transformer? Even…
Paul Nugent
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1
vote
1 answer

Can anyone identify this valve

I have several old sinks in a house I'm working on and I think I probably need to replace or at least rebuild a few of these valves. But I'm not sure of the make much less the model. Can anyone ID these? Edit: this is the US. Probably installed in…
user101289
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1
vote
2 answers

Is it a bad idea to put in replacement windows in the winter?

The house I moved into recently urgently needs some replacement windows. For example, in the kitchen, the original windows aren't there any more. It's just some sort of quasi-storm window. It's very cold and drafty. We didn't have time to work on…
aparente001
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0
votes
1 answer

Pull power from hard-wired smoke detector?

I'd like to put a power outlet in a closet to power some tech. I have access to the attic above the closet so I'm looking for possible sources to tap into. I first thought about ceiling-mounted lights, but they're switched so I don't imagine I can…
Paul Price
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0
votes
1 answer

May I block off all windows in a mostly below-ground basement?

I have read Is it necessary to put a special egress window in a basement bedroom if there's already a window above ground. My situation is similar but different. My basement has a furnace, a work bench, a ping pong table, a washer, and a dryer. …
aparente001
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0
votes
1 answer

Who manufactured this shower diverter valve?

I am replacing the diverter valve in a 1963 residential shower and wondering if anyone knows the make and model from the maker's marks on this hardware? I see imprinted: P-P, C.W., and 18. The hardware appears to be cast iron and brass, with one…
bishop
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0
votes
1 answer

Why American homes are wired TNC-S and not TNC

I wonder why American buildings are mostly grounded TNCS and not just TNC. They have virtually no RCD protection, and also an RCD could work fin on TNC system as long as PE on outlet is connected on PEN before the RCD (or just left not connected).…
DDS
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