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What types of carpets are best for home use?

Berber cut-pile carpet is great for children's rooms and high-traffic areas. The flecks of color help to camouflage dirt, and the thick pile adds softness.\nMulti-level loop works well in high-traffic rooms also and fits with many types of casual decor. The rugged surface hides footprints and vacuum marks.\nThe multicolor feature of cut-loop carpets hides dirt well. This carpet makes a good accent in formal and contemporary rooms.\nSaxony carpets feature a smooth, soft surface and an elegant appeal. In addition to traditional dining and living room settings, the carpet holds up for childr..

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How do you refinish old kitchen cabinets?

Cleaning the cabinet facilitates adherence of the new paint onto the cabinet. To clean the cabinet, first unscrew and remove the doors, drawers, knobs and handles. Empty the inside of the cabinet by removing the shelves, wet a piece of cloth with mineral spirits, and wipe off all dirt, grease and debris from the cabinet surface. Once the cabinet is clean, repair the surface by filling in any holes and cracks with wood filler, and roughen the cabinet surface by sanding it with a 200-grit fine sandpaper to further enhance paint adherence. Clear the surface of the dust generated from sanding by w..

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Why do transformers hum?

The alternating voltage and current working inside a transformer create a cycle of magnetization that expands and contracts the transformer twice. The precise point of magnetization on the sheet is not always the same, which means that the expansion and contraction do not take place regularly. The sheet starts to show erratic behavior when compared to nearby sheets, and so the movement continues to spread during the expansion part of the cycle.\nThe expansion that takes place throughout the sheets does not produce movement that is visible without a microscope, but it is sufficient to cause vib..

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How do you prune avocado trees?

Trim suckersSuckers are thin, small stems that appear near the base of the tree. Cut these spindly stems off at their base.Prune shootsShoots appear on the branches, and they grow directly upward. Trim the shoots at their base to encourage the tree to grow wider rather than taller.Trim branchesPrune away any dead branches and those that cross other branches. Make symmetrical cuts to avoid excess fruit production on one side of the tree. Trim the top branches so they are easy to reach, and thin out enough top and interior branches to allow sunlight to reach the tree's lower section.Protect..

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Where can you buy a cover plate for a floor outlet?

Home Depot carries floor outlet covers in brass, nickel plated and stainless steel. Covers are available in circular, square and rectangular designs. This retailer also offers box floor outlet kits, which include the cover, threaded plug, steel box and duplex device.\nAmazon.com carries a variety of nonmetallic floor outlet covers. Flip plates, carpet plates, grounded adapters and replacement parts for various outlet types are also available. Some products can be purchased used from this retailer.

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How do you fix a leaky water heater?

Leaks around the inlet or outlet are usually due to a loose connection. Most require tightening the connection. Soldered connections that are leaking require soldering again using a plumbing torch.\nA faulty pressure relief valve allows water to drip from the opening, even when the valve is closed. If the valve is loose, water sometimes leaks around the connecting threads. Replacing the faulty valve or tightening the loose one usually repairs the problem.\nThe drain valve, located at the bottom of the tank is another potential leak. If the owner has recently drained the tank, it sometimes leak..

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What is iron used for?

In its pure form, iron is a shiny, gray metal. Most uses for iron use iron alloys, which is a combination of iron and one or more other metals. These alloys are extremely strong and durable, which means they can be used for high-stress applications such as bridge cables and gun barrels. Iron is used extensively in civil engineering, manufacturing and construction.

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How do you choose the size of a dehumidifier?

While a 10-pint unit is sufficient for a moderately damp 500 square foot room, a 2,500 square foot room where the owner hangs laundry to dry requires a 44-pint unit. In most cases, the goal is to reduce the humidity level to between 30 and 50 percent. With a relative humidity in this range, mold and mildew are less likely to grow.\nMany dehumidifiers have a receptacle to collect water. On units without a drain connection, the owner must remove the container several times daily to empty it. Dehumidifiers usually have a switch that turns off the unit before the container overflows. Units with th..

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How do you repair gouged wood?

Wash the woodWash the wood with a rag dipped in a mixture of water and grease-cutting soap. Dry it with another rag.Mix the putty and hardenerPut small amounts of wood putty and hardener on a paper plate, and mix them with a putty knife.Fill the gougesLoad the putty knife, and push its contents into the gouges. Overfill them, so that the putty protrudes above the surface. Blend the putty into the surrounding wood, and let it dry according to the manufacturer's recommendations.Trim and sand the puttyScrape the knife along the edges of the putty until the surface and edges are smooth. Then,..

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What are some patio umbrella base parts?

Umbrella stands can be reused and generally do not need to be replaced with a new umbrella. Larger stands can be used for oversized or offset patio umbrellas. Having the correct size and weight stand is imperative, as the base stabilizes the umbrella.

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