Homeowner Forum / Repair / September 2008

After extensive plaster ceiling repairs, where my ceiling meets the
walls, there is a transition between plaster (ceilings) and drywall
(walls) about one foot down on the walls.  After painting with flat
latex paint, the painted plaster on the upper walls appears lighter

O.K.  Heres my problem.  Previously, I had a 240 volt hot tub with a
50 amp Double pole GFCI.  Recently replaced hottub with a 240v sauna.
Now, according to the wiring schematic.  I need one 240v line hooked
up to power the three heating elements.

I am trying to select a good wood deck finish.  I have found many info
about the various types of deck finish that are currently available in
the market.  One thing that I cannot find info on is the type of
annual maintenance that I need to do for the deck if I choose that

The tenants at my daughter's rental property let the bathtub faucet
drip for a couple of years, building up a
rusty area about 12 inches in diameter beneath the faucet, except
directly under the drip where the build-up was washed away.  I tried a

Are there wirenuts that can handle 3 #8 wires?  If not, how do you splice
them.  Split bolt connectors?  Can you put 3 wires in a split bolt
connector?  Is there another way?  
Please allow your reply to go to from my "From" address in addition to the

Our house has a buried cable that was laid by the previous owner for a
potential lamp in the yard.  It is hooked to a switch in the house,
but there is nothing on the other end.  Is there a way for an
electrician to find it without digging?  

I have a detached garage that the former owner built and wired.  He
ran 12 gauge (it might  be 10) romex 2 conductor + ground through a
pvp pipe underground (about 60 feet) to the garage. At the source it's
double lugged to a 220 60 amp breaker (servicing the dryer) with the

I am updating my bathroom and I would like to put a hi-hat can in my
shower.
The problem is that there is a 2X4 joist running in the middle of
where I want to put the hi-hat in the center. Here are some pics:

This follows up a previous thread, "Recipe to restore VOCs?", in which
I asked about improving the performance (water repellency, longevity)
of the new low-VOC oil-based deck stains. I didn't get much back that
was useful.

In no particular order:
o Asbestos (insulation, siding, gaskets, etc.)
o Lead:
  o Gasoline additive (tetraethyl lead)

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Apologies for the off-topic. I have a full tank in my Lumina and need
fuel for the generator but gas is hard to get after Ike.
Does anybody know an easy way to get that gas out of the car?  Nothing
too complicated please I am not much of a mechanic.

Under same condition, only comparing tank life, which one would last
longer, natural gas one or electric one?