The Home Improvement Thread

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

My living room wall has 4 switches, 3 in a row below and a single switch above. The top switch turns the fireplace on and off, and the right-most of the 3 switches handles the lights. I'm assuming one of the other 2 switches is for a furnace fan that isn't installed, but I have no idea what the last switch is supposed to control. Is there anyway I could figure that out without hiring an electrician?

Maybe for a nearby outlet? You could remove the cover plate and see if it’s even wired up. Plug in some lamps into various outlets and try the switch?

Seems weird for a furnace fan, I thought the fireplaces would turn the fan on/off automatically.

The circuit breaker labels might give some insight. Like, “living room lights+ …”

[Wormius]

It’s not by a china cabinet is it? Ours has some lighting up on top. If a bulb burned out, you might not notice.

[sa226]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Nope, with it off all the outlets in the living room are still active

Not to be annoying, but did you test both plugs on each outlet?

Most of the switched outlets I've seen are split. As in, the top is a live plug, the bottom is switched.

[psyang]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Seems weird for a furnace fan, I thought the fireplaces would turn the fan on/off automatically.

Our fireplace has a dedicated fan switch. If it is on, then the fan will turn on once the fireplace has warmed up, and will automatically shut off once the fireplace has cooled down. If it is off, the fan never turns on.

[Hanni]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

My living room wall has 4 switches, 3 in a row below and a single switch above. The top switch turns the fireplace on and off, and the right-most of the 3 switches handles the lights. I'm assuming one of the other 2 switches is for a furnace fan that isn't installed, but I have no idea what the last switch is supposed to control. Is there anyway I could figure that out without hiring an electrician?

In my house the builder installed blocking, wiring and a switch for a future ceiling fan, so that is our switch that doesn't do anything. Might be that?

[jwslam]

Is there anything I need to be aware of when replacing 1970's plumbing fixture?


Or is there a way I can make these shut off easier without twisting so hard it feels like my hand will come off every time?

[81MC]

Shut water off - remove centre cap, remove philips screw securing handle to cartridge, remove cartridge, replace cartridge.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by sa226

Not to be annoying, but did you test both plugs on each outlet?

Most of the switched outlets I've seen are split. As in, the top is a live plug, the bottom is switched.

This was one of the switches, top plug of an outlet behind the couch I forgot was even there. Other switch still doesn't do anything, so I'm guessing that's still a furnace fan switch

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

I have to get a modified bathroom shower installed on the main floor (walkout bungalow), but it has to be a curbless, doorless shower (basically wheelchair ready, wth a half-glass wall). I've had three contractors come over, two said "nope cant do it" but one proposed little ramps which would be ugly; the other just gave me a quote for one with a curb anyway; and the third said it's doable but quoted $35k for the bathroom. Incidentally, the other two hovered around $10k (just the shower/faucet/glass/rest of the bathroom tiled to match - for all three)

We're pretty certain it's possible, because my neighbour has the exact same house and put one in the same bathroom. The existing 5x7 tub is sunk into the floor ~4-5 inches

Does anybody have a namefor someone who specializes in curbless showers? I need three quotes but essentially still only have one

Who did your neighbor use? Unless I’m missing something, why not just go with that person?

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Shut water off - remove centre cap, remove philips screw securing handle to cartridge, remove cartridge, replace cartridge.

thanks

I'm kinda handy but plumbing is definitely not my thing..
is this what I'm looking for? are things universal in the plumbing world?

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/moe...dge/1000515111

[timun]

No, they're not universal. The cartridges vary from brand to brand, valve to valve. Easiest thing is to just take the old one with you to a store. And even then, something like a Home Depot or Lowes may not have the right one; you may need to go to a plumbing store who specializes in replacement parts. I've used https://plumbateria.com/ in the past.

[Fuzz]

Benner's plumbing is a good one, too. On Edmonton Trail and near the Rona on 40th.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by HockeyIlliterate

Who did your neighbor use? Unless I’m missing something, why not just go with that person?

Tried to get that name. Was the previous owners who moved a few years ago

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Tried to get that name. Was the previous owners who moved a few years ago

Ah. Then I have no idea.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

So I picked up new thermostats for the basement.

They're 2-wire Honeywell units as I only need something basic.

In the first room,I took the old thermostat off the wall. It didn't have anything on it to label the inputs. I mirrored the wiring with the same Honeywell thermostat in another room. It worked. Huzzah!

I went to replace another older than the sandals of Jesus thermostat in the basement. But that one has 4 wires. My unit has 2 wires. Wha... what... what the flipity flying farnickle do I do?

[opendoor]

I'm not an electrician; but normally you can connect 2 of the 4 wires together (one from the line and one from the load) with a wire nut and that will work. So if you had 4 wires (say 2 white + 2 black) you would connect the two whites together with a wire nut and connect one black to each side of the thermostat. Just make sure you know which wire is which and you'll be OK. Or you can buy a 4-wire thermostat.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

My living room wall has 4 switches, 3 in a row below and a single switch above. The top switch turns the fireplace on and off, and the right-most of the 3 switches handles the lights. I'm assuming one of the other 2 switches is for a furnace fan that isn't installed, but I have no idea what the last switch is supposed to control. Is there anyway I could figure that out without hiring an electrician?

Fireplace fan? Our main floor fireplace is wired with the fan switch in the row of switches below the fireplace switch itself. When I installed our fireplace in the basement I didn’t include a fan but did run a line and switch so one could be installed in the future.

[calgarygeologist]

I'm hoping this is an easy repair but it seems like the gas igniter in my oven went out today. It will fire up the oven in broiler mode but not in regular bake, roast or convection settings. I found a universal replacement on Amazon for $40 that will arrive tomorrow.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I'm hoping this is an easy repair but it seems like the gas igniter in my oven went out today. It will fire up the oven in broiler mode but not in regular bake, roast or convection settings. I found a universal replacement on Amazon for $40 that will arrive tomorrow.

Mine went about 10 years ago. Easy fix with the igniter.

[Nyah]

Has anyone had experience getting a bathroom fan installed? I was just quoted $575 + GST install for a fan that's $170 retail. I realize electricians aren't cheap, but that seems pretty outrageous. Or maybe it's in line with what the cost is, I dunno. Any recommendations for electricians/installers for this kind of thing?