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There are five junction boxes (5A & 30A) under my bathroom floor, installed when the consumer unit was relocated in 1991. The floor is currently up for the first time since then and I wonder if should I change the screwed terminal JBs for maintenance free ones or do nothing on the basis of "if...

I want to install some way to shower dogs outside when they come back from a walk, particularly in winter, and to be able to do so using tepid water. I do not want to go inside to turn the water on. What I would like to do is reuse an old thermostatic mixer valve I have by installing it inside...

I will be installing an electric open/close vent into the roof of a conservatory. The vent motor is rated at 75W / 0.32A. The vent will be connected to an electronic controller which will be wired through a spur fused at 3A. The easiest installation would be to spur off a lighting circuit. Would...

I've replaced a diaphragm type check valve on the inlet side of my water softener with a swing type check valve. I did so because of the continuous buzzing noise made by the old valve. The new check valve is silent except when the kitchen tap is turned off and then it clonks. Arghhh! I've...

I want to stick down a single spare vinyl tile onto a latexed concrete floor. It will be under a worktop so no one will walk on it. I have no vinyl tile adhesive and would rather not shell out on a tub of the stuff just to chuck out 95% afterwards though if I have to, I will. Is there some...

I've installed some bedroom furniture and now I want to add MFC plinths. The run has both internal and external corners, the internal corners being at 90 degrees and at 45 degrees (for a corner unit). How are these joints usually made (butt or mitre)? If mitred should they be glued...

I need to replace a radiator air vent and see that several sizes are available for example 1/8", 1/4" and 1/2". I'm not sure exactly what the measurement refers to which makes it difficult to know what I need. Can anyone help? Thanks.

I'm installing a water softener and have modified the rising main but haven't yet connected the softener. Unfortunately the modified pipes now hum/buzz. The new pipework consists of a double check valve followed by a washing machine tee (softener inlet) followed by a full bore lever...

I'm using chrome plated pipe and compression fittings inside a kitchen cabinet and am finding it very difficult getting rid of leaks. It's 15mm pipework and I'm turning 4-5 flats, which has worked fine for me in the past on ordinary copper. Where there's a leak I will undo it, put plenty of...

My kitchen ceiling consists of a single layer of plasterboard with an Artex random stipple finish (applied in 1991 so is safe). I need to do two distinct types of repair now. 1 I had to access cables from below in two places so I cut out two hatches each about 20cm x 10cm. In both...

I want to install one of these http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/KS104.html but there appears to be no provision for earthing the outer metal case e.g. adding a link from one of the fixing lugs to the earth terminal within the black plastic module. Shouldn't the case be earthed?

I am redoing my kitchen and plan to lay vinyl tiles on the floor. Currently the floor is covered by ceramic tiles but I have been advised to remove them for best results. The present floor is slightly too high anyway so I'm OK with that. The floor screed was originally laid 18 years ago...

I need a compact socket to plug a microwave oven into. The oven will be built-into a 300mm deep microwave wall cupboard with only 45mm space available above it in the oven compartment (unventilated side) and none at the back or sides. Would it be acceptable to use an extension socket like...

Mrs Tuppence wants her new sink installed under the window with one of those taps with a separate sprayer (not the pull-out nozzle type but a separate hose + hand sprayer which can only be operated by aiming it and then depressing a push button on the back of the handle). There are a...

I'm redesigning my kitchen and would like to move the oven housing a few centimetres from where it is now. The supply is 6mm sq. T+E protected by a 32A MCB and runs a few cm to the side of where the present oven housing is. The new oven is rated at 7.2Kw and the supply will be dedicated to it...

I plan to install a water softener by breaking into a horizontal pipe run. The easiest installation will result in the highest point in the new pipework being about 400mm higher than this pipe. I know that airlocks are associated with low pressure systems but surely the height of the local...

I will shortly be refitting the kitchen and want to make provision for a condenser boiler to be installed at some time in the future. The boiler will not be installed in the kitchen but in the neighbouring room, replacing the 18 year old Ideal Elan 2 that is currently there. That room has no...