| People are truly creative when it comes to home | | | | that most plumbing parts which need to be replaced |
| repairs. We will find ways to fix a leaky faucet or | | | | for a leak are not really that expensive, but here is the |
| some duct work in innovative ways with household | | | | catch, you need to buy the correct part. If you know |
| items, or we develop creative wiring methods to | | | | the manufacturer of your fixture, finding a replacement |
| provide electricity where we need it. Truly concerning | | | | part is much easier, but I have found that going to a |
| is our ability to repair items in such a way that can | | | | good hardware store you will find some one to help |
| cause serious harm. For this reason, I would like to | | | | you with finding the right part. Gaskets, seals, and |
| mention some things that I see all to frequently, so you | | | | o-rings eventually fail with age. However, sometimes |
| can avoid these mistakes. | | | | pipes or tubes are knocked about causing damage to |
| Note: There is not enough room here to go into the | | | | their threads or to their walls. In this case you will want |
| details of how to accomplish these tasks. Besides | | | | to buy a new one. Some mysterious leaks in the |
| there are several good books, which have easy to | | | | bathroom are from the wax seal under the toilet. |
| follow steps and diagrams. I have found repair manuals | | | | Trying to make some part that looks similar fit and do |
| like these in used book stores, but they are not too | | | | the job will cause more issues. |
| bad at other places. These volumes are great for | | | | About silicone, one type of silicone is not always |
| homeowners who want to tackle projects themselves. | | | | acceptable for every use. Look at the labeling to |
| Extension cord outlets seem to be a favorite means | | | | ensure you are getting the product that will work. The |
| of delivering power to equipment outside. I have seen | | | | best product might not be a silicone. There are latex |
| small extension cords cut in half and passed through | | | | and polyurethane caulks which are far superior to |
| the wall where there is a small opening. The cords are | | | | silicone for an application. Latex caulks are great for |
| then spliced back together with tape, so water can get | | | | paint jobs, and polyurethane caulks are great for |
| in and short out the circuit. Most cords of this size are | | | | outdoor situations. |
| not rated to handle the type of usage you would be | | | | Duct tape is not for ducts. If you need to repair a duct |
| planning to handle, so they start to overheat, and the | | | | in the attic, use the shiny tape which is meant for this |
| casing will melt away. If you need an outlet for | | | | job. Also a duct is not a duct, meaning that there are |
| Christmas lights, I recommend installing an outlet in your | | | | actually several different types of duct, so you need to |
| soffit. The soffit is the board under the overhang of | | | | make sure that you are installing the right one for the |
| the roof. Find a junction box in the attic from which you | | | | application. Ducts for different uses are not designed |
| can run a wire. Look for where a rafter comes down | | | | to attach each other. |
| to attach the outlet box to it. The outlet does not need | | | | The last common mistake involves fasteners. Screws, |
| to be GFCI in this location, but it would be a good idea | | | | nails, and bolts come in different sizes and types. |
| to go ahead with a GFCI outlet here. Attach wires to | | | | There are special nails for attaching roof shingles, and |
| rafters and joists with wire clips. If you need an outlet | | | | there are specific screws for drywall. We like to use |
| for tools outside, the easiest method would be running | | | | what we have on hand (or what we can easily find in |
| the wire through a conduit tube to the outlet box. Here | | | | the garage or shed), than what is the best fastener for |
| you would definitely need a GFCI outlet with a cover. | | | | the job. I have seen people nail hinges into the cabinet. |
| Make sure that the conduit and the box are securely | | | | What made it worse was the fact that the nails were |
| attached to the wall. Any wiring running outside the | | | | too long, so you could jab yourself with them inside the |
| building needs to be secured with clips every few feet. | | | | cabinet. Some hardware stores sell boxes with a |
| The other major wiring problem I see is using the | | | | variety of fasteners. This is a great deal if you do not |
| wrong junction box, particularly with no cover. | | | | want to buy many different packages. The proper |
| Putting globs of silicone seems to be the common | | | | fastener will make the job easier to do (and undo). |
| solution to a plumbing leak. The really amazing thing is | | | | |