Homeowner Forum / Repair / November 2003

My renters absconded with one of my smoke detectors but left the mounting
plate on the wall.
It is battery and AC wired.
Nameplate says GBK Electronics.

The tub faucet in our master bath is dripping.  It's actually more of
a running stream - the faucet has hot, cold, and shower as separate
handles.  It's the cold water that can't be shut off all the way - and
it's driving me crazy.

Are these things useful?

Our home has a broken 70's Nutone (tube type) AM/FM intercom system.
We did initially try to have this unit repaired and the tech said it
was cheaper to replace. The cabling to each room is 3 wires.  We are
looking for a basic intercom to replace this; the primary purpose to

How many people screw in a light bulb by turning off the light, screwing in
the bulb in tight and turning on the light?
This, according to my electrician, is the wrong way.
Apparently, the correct way to screw in a light bulb is to keep power to the

Our renters have their bedroom in the basement, right underneath the first
floor kitchen (bungalow house).     The noise from the kitchen is fairly
loud in the mornings.    Just wondering what material can I use to reduce
the noise from the ceiling.    I want a solution that would ...

The neighbor next to me has trees and I get his leaves in the fall, none of
the shade.
When the situation was reversed in the last house I owned I would rake up
my leaves or a good portion of them in my neighbors yard.

I bought for $5 an almost new looking 1 hp motor from a garage sale.
From the Specs plate it looks like a 120Vac 3 phase motor.  Is there
such an animal? How do I wire one up wth the regular household plug?

Need advice on exterior trim.  Want to install a 1x4 exterior casing
around new vinyl windows in an existing aluminum sided house.  Would
like to know what to do with the siding which will die at the new 1x4.
I will be cutting the aluminum back to accomodate the 1x4 and

I am stuck with a  model ESU-20 Autoflo brand (residential) steam type
humidifer, with a burned out heater. Called the number listed in the manual,
and they told that my unit is obsolete and no parts are available. The thing
is barely 5 years old!

Anyone know of a website with design info, such as the minimum turn radius.
For example, if I am standing well away from a house and facing the garage
door,
how much space is needed to the left of  the garage door, if I want to

I am looking to replace my old Honeywell dial-type thermostat with a
modern, digital one. I currently have two separate thermostats; one
that controls A/C, and one that controls heating. Will I encounter any
problems combining the functions of the two old thermostats into one

I am having mold removed in my cellar. My repairman suggest I then put
up paneling over the area.
I wonder if this is a good idea . Is it possible that the mold problem
would reoccur under the paneling?

My mom (77 years old) has a 50 year old frigidaire  electric stove that she
loves. I replaced the element about 10 years ago, but the bottom of the oven
now has some rusted through spots  on it. The largest spot is about the size
of a pencil and the other 2 or 3 are about the size ...

The cable guy pointed out that I had about 5.5 amps of current going through
the grounding rod outside my home.
Wondering if this was connected to the flickering light problem I had I
called the electric company (who I must say got right on it in 3 hours).