How Handy Are You Around The House?

A mounting bracket

A ceiling fan needs to be attached to a mounting bracket; the wires alone will not hold it in place.

Recycle it at an approved drop-off location

Liquid paint contains solvents that can contaminate groundwater, so take it to an approved collector for proper disposal. You can also add kitty litter and allow it to dry out completely if you prefer to throw it in the trash.

It's the emergency release

The red cord and handle form the manual release that disconnects the garage door from the chain drive so you can open it during a power outage.

They could burst and cause flooding

Ice expands, which can force pipes to burst. Keep your thermostat above 55 degrees in winter and add pipe insulation to prevent this.

Cut the tip at a 45-degree angle

Before using caulk to seal gaps between materials, cut the tip at a 45-degree angle to create a small opening. Cut near the top for a small bead and farther down for a wide bead. Silicone caulk may also require you to poke into the cap with a piece of wire to break the seal.

Tightening nuts

Socket wrenches fit around a hexagonal nut to tighten them. They come in different sizes for an exact fit.

Making angled cuts

A miter saw can be adjusted to make angled cuts. It allows you set the angle exactly for complex joints; for example, cutting crown molding to fit corners.

Pour a five-gallon bucket of water into the sump pit

A large bucket of water poured into your sump pit should be sufficient to make your pump turn on. If not, it may be broken.

Gallons per minute

GPM stands for gallons per minute, and it's the measurement that tells you how fast water flows through your faucet or shower head. The lower the flow, the more water you save.

Flexible plastic piping

PEX is a flexible plastic piping that can be connected with a special tool instead of by sweating pipes together. It's cheaper and easier to install than copper piping. PEX stands for crosslinked polyethylene.

The diameter of the wire

Wire gauge is a measure of the cross-sectional area of the wire; how much copper or aluminum is in the wire. The higher the number, the thinner the diameter of the wire.

They prevent wood from cracking under the pressure of a screw

Pre-drilling helps reduce cracking when you add a screw. Though wood might not crack without them, pilot holes are a good insurance policy for strong joints. (Photo: manmadewood.com) 

When wood will be exposed to water

Though pressure-treated wood can be painted, its primary purpose is to resist rot. It's for outdoor situations where wood is exposed to water.

To fit copper pipes together with solder

Sweating pipes means to join them together by heating the metal and applying solder, which will melt and seal the joint.

Metal

A hacksaw is traditionally used for cutting metal thanks to its many small teeth.

A claw hammer

A claw hammer is the most versatile due to its balanced weight and curved claw, which makes it possible to remove nails from wood.

Stabilizing wood when using a table saw

A feather board holds wood against the fence or table of a saw to prevent dangerous kickback.

No!

Portable generators should be set up at least 15 feet from your home, preferably in a sheltered area. Using one indoors can lead to potentially fatal carbon monoxide build-up. Some exist that are specifically built for indoor usage, but make sure yours is before setting it up this way.

When baseboard doesn't fit snugly against floorboards

Though shoe molding can be placed in any right angle, it's traditionally used to fill gaps between flooring and the baseboard or wall. (Photo: doityourself.com)

Silicone or marine

Silicone and marine sealants provide good waterproofing and are recommended for use around toilets, tubs and sinks. Silicone is excellent for putting a watertight seal between two materials that are held together permanently or semi-permanently. For sealing various surfaces at a 90 degree angle, such as the corner between the tub and the wall, you may want to consider using poly-sulfide sealant or many other marine sealants that are often far superior to silicone in their adhesive properties. Latex is also a good option for mismatched surfaces.

An angled sash brush

An angled sash brush allows you to apply paint to window sashes, wood trim and any place you need to cut in with a straight, controlled line.

To the right

Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey is the mnemonic device to live by. Technically, they turn clockwise, but that doesn't fit the nice rhyme.

A jigsaw

A jigsaw can be powered around curves to cut out interesting designs in wood, like with jigsaw puzzles!

Soak it in vinegar

Clogged shower heads are caused by lime and mineral buildup from hard water. The acid in vinegar breaks down these deposits.

Dovetail joints

Dovetail joints are the gold standard when in comes to attaching drawer fronts, thanks to their superior tensile strength.

A plumb bob

A plumb bob is used to mark a point from a height to make sure the line between those is perfectly plumb (vertical).

To remove sediment

Draining your hot water tank flushes out sediment and minerals that can cause corrosion over time. Leaving this to build up can end with a clogged drain valve.

Tapping a chisel for leverage

Wooden mallets aren't strong enough to hammer nails for long, but they're ideal for tapping chisels to gain leverage, especially in a chop cut.

An anchoring ring for a toilet

The closet flange anchors the toilet over the drain pipe in the floor. It should rise about 1/4-inch above the finished floor to help keep the toilet in place.

The left

While you're free to set up your hot water line wherever you like, tradition dictates that it should be on the left side of the faucet.

Make a mixture of wood glue and sawdust from the same species

Make your own wood filler with sawdust and glue for a quick, inexpensive wood putty. (doityourself.com)

Push it away from you

Chisels are most often used by pressing them away from you to shave off a bit off wood at a time. They can also be used vertically for a chop cut.

Twice

The old saying in woodworking is "Measure twice, cut once" to avoid costly mistakes.

Allen Keys

These are used to drive bolts and screws with hexagonal sockets in their heads. Their name comes from the Allen Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut.

600 grit

The higher the number, the finer the sandpaper.

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms where water is near the outlet.

A "+" sign

A Phillips head screwdriver looks like an X and is designed to be self-centering, so it doesn't slip out of the screw when pressure is applied. It is named after its inventor, Henry F. Phillips.

Sinking a nail below the surface of the wood

A nail set is used with a hammer to push a finish nail below the surface of the wood. Typically wood putty is added to the divot to hide the nail for a smooth surface.

Making large, clean holes in wood.

Forstner bits have a wide outer edge designed to drill large holes with clean, smooth edges.

To keep sewer gases from backing up into your home

All drains need a trap, or a curved bit of pipe, to keep sewer gases from entering the home. It works because a bit of water stays in the bend and serves as a plug.

All of the above

When lint builds up in the dryer vent, it can cause the dryer to overheat. It's not just inefficient, it's also a fire risk.

When it's green

Whether standard or pressure treated, green lumber has a high moisture content and needs to air dry to shrink to its final size and properly take paint or stain. To avoid this process, seek out kiln-dried lumber instead.

All of these are plumbing fixtures

In plumbing terms, a fixture either supplies water in the house or helps dispose of it. Others include sinks, bathtubs, and outdoor hose lines.

It's a grounded current-carrying conductor

The neutral wire completes the circuit and carries electricity from the fixture back to the electrical panel. Electricity must flow in a circle for it to work.

A dishwasher drain requirement

A "high loop" is how dishwashers are drained to create an additional air gap between the dishwasher and sink drain lines. They prevent dirty water from flowing back into the dishwasher.

Dish soap, baby oil, and a soft cloth

Harsh cleaners and abrasive implements will scratch stainless steel. The best cleaner is a mild dish soap or vinegar applied with a soft cloth. You can also shine your stainless with a bit of olive oil.

A measure of electric power

Watts are a measure of power consumed by a bulb or appliance. They are equal to one joule of work performed per second of 1/746 horsepower.

Light Emitting Diode

A Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulb uses less electricity and stays cooler than incandescent bulbs for big energy savings.

Mortise and tenon

A mortise and tenon joint consists of a rectilinear tongue that fits securely into a slot of the same size.

Pocket-hole joinery

A Kreg jig makes an angled hole, or pocket, to guide a screw between two pieces of wood at right angles.