Homeowner Forum / Repair / December 2007

I want to hang the outlets from the bottom of the cabinets facing
down.  Appliances would plug in pointing up.  I am trying to keep the
backsplash wall from being cluttered, or cutting holes into a
stainless steel backsplash.

I have two 3-way diimmer switches, one at the top of stairs and one at
the bottom that control lights at both the top and bottom of the
stairs.  If the switch at the bottom of the stairs is in the "on"
position (up) the switch at the top of the stairs will turn the lights

TIA:
My circa 1949 rental house an 18 year old furnace with a flue chimney which
appears to be asbestos.
It's gray and hard and flat about 3" x 15" and fits inside a wall. At some

What's the going rate for someone to set tile in your area?  Flat concrete
living area, 16" tile, everything paid for.  Labor only.
Steve

Exploding Children Alert
Someone dressed to look like Santa Claus has been dropping objects
that resemble red-hots candy on children throughout the United States.
Once the child eats this object, it takes exactly eight seconds and

Can I make something that will do what this product claims it will do
with materials found around the house or easily obtainable?
http://www.instawares.com/sokoff-carbon-cleaner-pint.143-1092.0.7.htm
I need to clean the black burner trays on my gas stove as well as a

Friend of mine lives in a two story house. Built long enough ago, that the
kitchen has a hole in the chimney for a wood stove. Probably turn of the
last century. Aluminum  siding exterior, lath and plaster for the inside
walls. No signs of any insulation. Natural gas 70% ...

and a happy new year.
Sam

I'm ready to install 4x4 tile for my backsplash in the kitchen. It is
approx 11 feet wall to wall, 18" high, and has a stove on the same
wall. My question is where would be the best place to start? I'm
thinking find the midpoint of the wall, then test out the tile to see

Got down to 38F last night in Houston.
Had to put on all the clothes I owned. Even had to get another blanket.
From the attic.
At least we didn't have to evacuate to a shelter like so many. Fortunately,

Hi All, I was reading here a couple of days ago, and saw an answer
from someone about water running back into dishwasher from disposer or
sink. I think it was Edwin who said that the hose needs to be under
the countertop. OK, I visualize that in my mind, but I'm not really

I recently attempted to reduce the noise and vibration from a bathroom
vent fan by putting small pieces of a rubber sheet between the fan's C
clamp and the mounting box.  Not long afterwards, when I turned off
the fan a nearby GFCI outlet tripped.  But the fan is not downstream

For a homeowner who has the potential to develop some decent skills, what
online subscription would you recommend: JLC or Fine Homebuilding?   (TOH
mag is a waste of money, and Family Handyman is too lightweight.)  Thanks.

I'm installing a double sink.  The basins are 20 gallons each and the
drains are about 8" apart.  I will be installing a 1.5" PVC vent
around the room near the top of the studs to serve all the fixtures.
There are two ways to connect the sink drain--a single trap or

I'm planning to insulate my copper hot water piping under the house as
the first step to resolving some household hot water issues. My hot
water piping is all copper 3/4" and 1/2" soldered piping hung in a
crawlspace (house built in 1996 in South Carolina). It is all hung