Home Repair Questions

Question:

Bought a 220 kolbalt compressor. It was the last one so it did not come with a manual. I went to home depot and bought the three-prong connector and I noticed the three wires are all same color. I think the middle is ground and the right and left are neutral, something like that. I have the 220 outlet already in the wall. I just have to wire the compressor. I need some help. Thanks.

Answer

Kolbalt is sold by Lowes. The correct power cord will have two horizontal flat prongs and one round prong. The round one is the ground. The two flat ones will go to a 220 volt 20 amp branch circuit. There should be a square box on the compressor with the on and off switch on it. Look for an electrical knockout. This is for the clamp for the power cable. Take the cover off. This is the pressure switch that turns the compressor on and off. Put some crimp-on connectors on the power cord and connect to the terminal switch on top of the pressure switch. Typically, this will be two black wires. Connect the green one to the chassis. Put the cover back on.

The second of our home repair questions.

Question:

How do you get condensation out of a window? I have a double paned bathroom window and it has never been condensation free. I am still waiting for the image of the virgin mary to appear.

Answer

If the window is a double-hung vinyl window with 2 panes of glass and is less than 10 years old, it should have a warranty on it to replace it if you are the original owner. Check with your builder/installer/supplier. That’s the easy way.

If the problem is still moisture and has not turned into white powder or calcified, you can use the following method. Call a window repair company. They will drill a small hole, usually in the top, apply a vacuum to extract the moisture and then seal with RTV.

The third of our home repair questions.

Question:

What type of screw should I use? I need to screw through MDF into a 2x4. The head of the screw needs to be flush with the MDF. What type of screw (and drill) do I need to use to get the screw head flush with the MDF?

Answer:

In order to make sure the MDF pulls tightly to the 2 x 4, drill a pilot hole and counter-sink the top of the hole. The size of the screw will depend on how much weight you are trying to put on the MDF. For instance, if you are using 5/8s MDF, I would make the screw an inch and one-half to 2 inches long. Size the pilot hole to clear the threads. Use a wood screw.

The fourth and fifth of our home repair questions.

Question:

How can I sand a wooden floor manually? I want to do it on my own and I don't want to use an electric sander. It takes too long with sand paper, so I was thinking if there is a manual scraper to make the job faster.

Answer:

If you think it takes a long time with sandpaper, wait until you find how long it takes to scrape hardwood. Hire a floor refinishing company. They can be in and out in a day.

Question:

How do you clean pen or marker ink off of wood? I have a wooden bed that I want to sell on craigslist. The problem is, I vandalized it a few years ago and wrote random stuff on it using my pens, pencils, and markers...it’s mostly markers. I heard that you can take it off by rubbing sandpaper on it...but what are some other methods?

Answer:

Try nail polish remover and a very soft cloth to sponge it off. Then sand and re-stain. Good luck.

The sixth of our home repair questions.

Question:

What kind of door should go between garage and house? Are there specific requirements for the door that is the garage access door?

Answer:

I like metal doors as they are more fire resistant than wood doors and more secure.

The seventh of our home repair questions

Question:

How do I fix a vibrating lawnmower? When I start the motor the whole thing vibrates uncontrollably. Is it the blade or something internal because the blade seems tight? Thanks

Answer:

Take the blade off. Start the lawnmower. If it runs smooth, the problem is the blade. If it is still rough, there is something broken in the mower. If the motor runs smooth, have the blade sharpened and balanced. That should cure the problem.

The eighth of our home repair questions.

Question:

Does anyone know how to find out the age of my house in Nova Scotia, Canada?

Answer:

Try looking inside the toilet tank, under the lid of the toilet tank or under the sink for a mfg stamp with the manufacturing date. If the fixtures have not been replaced, this could be a good starting point. The same goes for the inside of the electrical panel. As a last resort go to your tax accessor’s office and see what they think the build date was.

The ninth and tenth of our home repair questions.

Question:

Get this yucky black stain off my wooden desk? I decided to put my Yamaha electronic piano on my wooden desk and this yucky black glue sticks onto my desk (I believe it came from the screws) yea and it is really sticky and I cannot get rid of it...what should I do?

Answer:

Scrape off as much as you can depending on the wood type and finish. Do not gouge the finish. Then start with mineral spirits and get more aggressive if needed. Goof-Off will remove everything including the finish if you are not careful. Test the cleaner on an area that is not easily visible before using ANY chemical on the surface.

Question:

Should I hire someone to remove an old mobile trailer? I live in Barnstead, NH. I have an old mobile trailer out back. It is junk. I can’t put wheels on it and it is too old to even try. I want it removed and need to have it torn down and gotten rid of. I need a company that might do this. Local if possible.

Answer:

Look in the phonebook for metal junk dealers. Call them and ask if they buy scrap metal. Whoever does, give it to them if they will remove it.

The eleventh of our home repair questions.

Question:

What’s the best anti-rust spray out there? I want to spray some on my stainless steel coated shower caddy to prevent rusting. Even though it’s “stainless steel”, it’s only the coating and I want to make sure it doesn’t every rust.

Answer:

Take a magnet and stick it on the metal. If it sticks, the nickel content is low and the metal will rust. Take the magnet to the store and find a shower caddy that the magnet will not stick to and buy that one. Anything you paint will wear off in time.

I have a gun safe that weighs 532 pounds on the top floor of my home. Will it hurt my downstairs ceiling? This is with, of course, added weight inside. It isn’t sitting on a wall downstairs. Is this safe and will it sag my ceiling? My home was built in 1978.

Answer:

Building codes usually specify a residential loading weight of 50 pounds per square foot. Your safe is most likely around 24 x 30 inches or about 720 square inches or about 5 square feet. The floor is designed to support about 250 pounds. Your safe weighs 2.12 times that weight. Add some hardware and several boxes of .50 cal and you could easily crack the ceiling below. If the safe is not sitting above a supporting wall, move it.

I am burying a 6/3 line from the house to the shop...and code is 18 inches...can anyone tell me why so deep? Is there another reason besides it just being deep enough so it would be harder to hit?

Answer:

Actually 18 inches is kind of shallow. Most code requirements are 40 inches. Safety is the primary issue. Are you putting in direct buried wire or putting it in conduit? Conduit is much safer all the way around. I also like to fill the trench back in up to 6 to 12 inches below the surface and put some barrier tape (bright orange) in the trench and then put the dirt the rest of the way in. Just a little added safety.

Number fourteen of our home repair questions.

Question:

Which is better, duct booster or more blower horsepower to get cooler air to the upper level of house?

Answer:

Number fifteen of our home repair questions.

Question:

How do you install a harbor breeze triton 52" ceiling fan’s remote control?

Answer:

Harbor breeze triton fans were sold by Lowes. This fan appears to be discontinued. The remote control was designed to fit into the mounting assembly on the ceiling. It’s a tight fit. Any remote control will fit it.

Number sixteen of our home repair questions.

Question:

Is it possible to weld a galvanized steel pool that has several leaks, and if so, how much money would I be looking at if I had a welder come weld it?

Answer:

The cost will depend on: 1. Is the pool full of water; 2. Is the plastic liner still in it; and 3. How thick is the metal?

Welding on galvanized steel requires the user to be careful as the smoke that comes off the weld can be toxic.

Number seventeen of our home repair questions.

Question:

I have a 1-1/2 HP self-priming centrifugal water pump for lawn sprinkling. A timer mounted in my garage can be set to operate it automatically or manually. When I manually switch the timer on, the front yard can be watered. After 1/2 hour I switch it off for a few seconds then back on again to water the back yard.

My question is: What kind of "zone valve" do I have that switches zones (front yard to back) simply by shutting off the pump momentarily and back on again? There are no wires attached to the valve housing which is located on the discharge pipe from the pump. I need to replace it, but I do not know what this type of valve is called to search for a replacement online.

Remember, there is a single valve. No switches or electrical connections to the valve. Changes in water pressure cause the valve to direct the water from one zone to the other. This is not a solenoid type valve.

End switches do not start the pump. An electrical switch starts and turns off the pump. The pump operates independently from the valve that directs the flow of water from the front to the back yard.

Answer:

You have a mechanical zone switch. Look for a round plastic device near the output of your pump with a pipe from your pump going in and two pipes coming out. What happens is when pressure from the pump is applied, the plastic plunger goes up and delivers water to zone one. When the pump turns off, the plastic plunger falls down and rotates 180 degrees. The next time the pump comes on, it delivers water to zone two. It is possible to have multiple zones with a key that is only activated for two zones. If you find empty pipes this is why.

Number eighteen of our home repair questions.

This home repair question is from Mandy in Houston, TX, USA

Question:

Removing sticky glue. How do you take off a sticky substance (like the glue on those mouse traps) from an electrical cord plug (like an iron)?

Answer:

Wipe off excess by using a towel. Try to keep it off of your hands. It is not good for you. Rub with vegetable oil or baby oil first. If that doesn’t work, rub with paint thinner.

Number nineteen of our home repair questions.

This is a question from Patrick in Canada

Question:

When installing a dryer vent hose, I am aware that only metal hoses should be used. However, I have also run into a lot of dryers installed with metal hoses but plastic clamps securing the hose to the dryer and the house - Is a plastic clamp appropriate?

Answer:

The best option is to use metal claimps. The best one's are the worm drive stainless steel model. Just remember you are not crushing the hoses. Use just enough tension to keep them from pulling apart. Plastic clamps will not catch on fire or melt, but they have a tendency to stretch in time and allow the joints to separate.

Number twenty of our home repair questions.

This is a question from Tammy Johnson

Question:

Can I refinish a bathtub? I am renting a 1930s house and do not want to buy a new bathtub but the original finish (I believe porcelain) is now very rough and stained.

Answer:

Bath tub refinishing is not a chore for amateurs. We have attempted several with mixed results. The local big boxes all sell kits that promise to give you a new finish. The problems are many. Prep work is mandatory as all the surfaces MUST be smooth, free of any chemicals (soap & oil), have no large scratches or gouges and no chips missing in the porcelain. Also, working with the required chemicals in the confined space of the bathroom is not good for your health.

If you decide to continue on, do not use a brush to put on the new finish. Brush marks always show up. Instead use a paint sprayer to put on the new finish. Then allow several days for the finish to dry. The longer the drying time, the smoother the final finish. The problem is, however, with the long drying time this allows for any airborne particles to collect in the finish.

Here are several other options for you to consider. Several companies will "wrap" the tub with a vinyl cover unless your tub is a claw foot or some exotic form of tub. If it is a claw foot tub, it can be easily removed and you can then take it to a shop that can do this work in a clean environment. They can bake the finish and have it back to you in several days looking brand new. The other option is the replace the tub. New tubs can range from $65.00 up. The real cost is not the tub, but the walls surrounding the tub. Bring in a tub contractor and get some opinions. Maybe the landlord will pay for it if he/she thinks you will stay longer.


That is it for now for our home repair questions and answers.

Home Repair Questions and/or Comments