Latest revision as of 07:37, 22 November 2025

Home Improvement

Home inspection

my best

https://my-best.net/, 好物推薦新媒體

Toilet

Niagara 2-Piece 0.8 GPF Ultra-High-Efficiency Single Flush Elongated Toilet Featuring Stealth Technology in White
Kohler Toilet Fill Valves GP1083167 & GP1138930.
- Need an adjustable wrench
- KOHLER Universal Fill Valve Replacement Instructions (GP1138930 and GP1083167) (video)
- Kohler Genuine Part Gp1083167 Silent Fill Valve Kit Amazon.
- Compatible Kohler Flush Valve Seal - 3 Pack Toilet Ring Seal Amazon
- To fix the water running problem, follow this Kohler video. Note before we make a counter-clockwise turn on the red cap (not a direct pull), lift the level first (see what the left hand did at 00:52); otherwise we won't be able to turn. See the first Customer questions & answers "My Fill valve does not turn off completely.Response from Kohler said to take red cap off and purge water through it. Anyone know what this means? All seals new and not leaking".
- Tank Leak - Fill Valve Hose Position
- Replace a Canister Flapper Seal & a video.
- Standard Toilet Tank Troubleshooting
- How to Fix a Running Toilet

How to Adjust a Toilet Fill Valve. If the valve is set too high and the water fails to shut off and continues to spill over into the overflow tube.
- In my case, turning the screw counterclockwise 逆轉 lowers the water level.
- In any case, the water level should be about 1 inch below the top of the overflow tube and the critical level mark on the fill valve.
toilet tank water level too high. If the water level in your toilet tank is too high even after adjusting the float height, it could be due to a few potential issues within the tank’s internal mechanisms. Here are some possible causes and solutions:
- Improperly Adjusted or Malfunctioning Float: The primary contributor is often an improperly adjusted or malfunctioning float. The float, typically a ball or cup on the end of a lever, rises with the water level and signals the fill valve to shut off once the tank is full. If the float is too high or stuck upward, the fill valve won’t close at the intended water level, causing continuous water flow. To address this, you can adjust the float’s position. Many floats have an adjustable arm or clip that can be moved to set the desired water level. Lowering the float or ensuring it moves freely as the tank fills should help regulate the water level more accurately.
- Faulty Fill Valve: If adjusting the float doesn’t resolve the issue, the fill valve could be malfunctioning. A faulty fill valve might not respond appropriately to the float’s signal, leading to overfilling. In this case, replacing the fill valve is recommended.
- Overflow Tube Height: The overflow tube height might be set too high. The ideal water level typically rests about 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) below the rim of the fill valve and the overflow tube. If the water level appears significantly higher, it could indicate an imbalance that might lead to inadequate flushing or leaks. You can adjust the height of the overflow tube to fix this issue.

How to Replace a Fill Valve (video from HD).

A lot of time just this diaphragm valve will solve the problem.
- Tool: Channel locks plier
- How To Fix A RUNNING Toilet GUARANTEED | DIY Fix Fast Cheap & Easy For Beginners. Toilet Fill Valve Seal.

Bath

Tips
- 要買 silicone. Either white or clear.
- Better not to cut the hole too large. The caulking gun has a hole to cut the tube.
- Poke the caulking. It's deep to pole a hole in the caulking. The seal is at the bottom of nozzle. Stick the metal piece into the end of the caulk’s nozzle until you feel it poke through the tube. The caulking gun has a needle to be used. It should be rather easy to squeeze the caulk. Why does caulk sometimes escape the back end of the tube instead of the nozzle?
- Use a painter's tape to make the work more professional and easy to scrape next time.
- Wear a glove when we work.
- How to ● remove old shower silicone caulk and apply new ● and look pro (video)
5 Most Common Caulking Mistakes
DAP Kwik Seal Plus like this one 5.5oz from HD. Not sure if it sat too long but it cracked after it dried.
- DAP Kwik Seal Plus (also available on Amazon) combines both types of products to create a siliconized latex caulk for a strong seal and easy workability. Conclusion: don't buy Microban.
GE Sealants & Adhesives GE284 Advanced Silicone 2 Kitchen & Bath Sealant 2.8 Oz. clear & white
How to remove old shower silicone caulk and apply new
Razor Scraper
How to Puncture the Seal on Caulk
Why Caulk Won't Come Out of the Caulking Gun
Broken caulking tube
For bath/shower/tub, use silicone instead acrylic like this (not suitable for wet surface) or siliconed acrylic.
- You also have an option to select the color (white, clear, brown, black, ...)
- Red packaging is for bath and tub. Blue packaging is for windows/doors/siding.
- Advanced Silicone 2 10.1 oz. Clear Kitchen and Bath Silicone Sealant Caulk in aisle 35 or 2.8 oz in aisle 4.
Bathtub Caulking Tips
- If you’re caulking woodwork to prepare it for paint, start with the opening very small, just over 1/16 in. diameter.
- For tub caulking, a 1/8-in. diameter hole is usually about right.
How to Smooth Silicone Caulk Like a Professional
- Avoid using dry hands and instead wet them with some rubbing alcohol. Get rid of any caulk buildup on your finger using the damp rag. Remember to wet your finger again.
- You should start smoothing the caulk bead as soon as you apply it.
Spring Cleaning Day 12: Let’s Tackle the Tub & Shower

Faucet

Unclog a drain

Tools

Basin wrench
Rivet gun (鉚釘). Heading East: Slim's Cross-Canada Travels Part 1

Find a contractor

HomeAdvisor
Angi
CitySearch
Maryland Home Improvement Commission including license search. Montgomery County Warns Residents of Rising Driveway Paving Scams by Unlicensed Contractors

How to find local plumbers online

http://www.lifehack.org/538359/how-find-local-plumbers-online

Sewer Gas

Gutter and downspout

Wrap up extension cords

Duck seal compound

What to use to Seal gap between Pipe and Exterior wall, HomeDepot

Popcorn ceiling

How to remove a popcorn ceiling in 7 simple steps

Google Nest Thermostat

AC and furnace

Symptom: the outdoor fan does not turn though the indoor fan still works. The indoor temperature does not go down.
Turn off the device (the switch is on furnace)
Replace Motor Capacitor. The capacitance XX/X MFD or μF must be the same, volt can be higher. For example, this one from HD costs around $10. Wearing Safety Electrical Protective Insulated Gloves. It should have 3 terminals (C, FAN, HERM).
For example, AC Luxaire Central Air Conditioner model No HBBC-F042SB uses Run Capacitor, Dual 40/5 mfd 440 volt.
Freon. How to Add Freon to Your Central Air Conditioner. The blue (left) gauge should show at least 75 psi. How to Put Freon in an AC Unit. New style has red label and old style has green label.
Coil cleaner for outside air conditioner every 2 years ($200).
AC lifespan is 15 years. Furnace is 13-14 years.
10 Common Air Conditioning Problems & How to Fix Them
Thermometer should show 55 degrees from testing on air vent in summer (the close to the AC source the more possible the temperature can go). AC is only needed in summer.
Ideally the outdoor fan will blow hot air.
The thin hose will bring air into the house. The thick one will suck the air from the house.
Four years since my last replace of the capacity.
AC Fan/Compressor Not Working - How To Test /Repair Broken HVAC Run Start Capacitor Air Condition (Youtube)
Heat pump: Heat pumps can heat and cool your home. The fan on outside is running on both summer and winter.
- What’s the Difference? Heat Pump vs. Furnace,
- Heat Pumps vs Air Conditioners + furnace

Water heater

Water heater expansion tank
You Can Fix These Common Hot Water Heater Problems Yourself
Heat Pump Water Heater. Why You Should Get a Heat Pump Water Heater.

Water meter

7 digits. The last digit is fixed at '0'.
The water bill always shows 0 for the last 3 digits.
My 3 months usage is around 15,000 gallons in total

DIY heater

10 Creative Homemade DIY Heaters That Really Work

Foam tape, seal around the door

Premium EPDM Rubber Foam Tape
- Slim potato
Weather stripping
- 15 Types of Weatherstripping to Help Cut Energy Costs
- I Made a Tool Shed from Junk!

Weatherstripping

How to Lower Your Energy Bill by Weatherstripping Your Home

Average Life Span of the Appliances in Your Home

Safety

Carbon monoxide. Are butane (丁烷) stoves safe to use indoors?
First Alert Carbon Monoxide alarm
They usually have 5 to 7 years of life expectancy. 7 Things to Know About Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Floor

Shoe molding All You Need to Know About Shoe Molding

Chair

How to Fix Loose Chair Legs? – A Very Useful Guide

Plane (鉋) a door

Garage door

How Much It Costs to Replace or Repair Your Garage Door
Garage door bottom seal
- Mine needs T-end width 1/4 inch (exactly). 8-feet long is enough. Ideally the width is much wider than 3 inches (such as 7-8 inches). Remove the first screw before removing and installing the seal.
- Garage Door Bottom Seal for Uneven Floor

Bifold Door

How to Repair Bifold and Sliding Doors
How Do You Remove Pivots From a Bi-Fold Door?
How to Replace a Closet Bifold Pivot Bracket
How to Replace the Top Roller on a Bifold Door

Closet Door

12 Closet Door Ideas for Every Type of Space

Storm door closer

Standard Duty (V1020) Pneumatic Screen and Storm Door Closer, White, Amazon
Heavy duty (V150), Amazon
Steel Screen and Storm Door Chain Stop - Absorbs Shock from Wind
Turn screw clockwise to close door slower (avoid slam). Do this a quarter turn at a time, and check the speed after each turn, until it closes to your liking. See this video.

Doorbell

How to Install a Doorbell, How to Wire a Doorbell

Door lock

The Best Smart Locks of 2024

Saws

5 Saws You Should Have in Your Workshop
Jab saw for dry walls

Drill

Drill chuck. A chuck is a specialized type of clamp or mechanism used to securely hold a rotating tool or workpiece. It grips the shank (the non-cutting end) of a drill bit, screwdriver bit, hole saw, or other rotary cutting tool.
- What Does Chuck Size Mean On A Drill?
- (Video) How a drill chuck works
- 10mm or 3/8 inches. Drills that have a 3/8” chuck (the end that you put the drill bit into) will only accept bits up to 3/8” in diameter.
- 13mm or 1/2 inches. Drills that have a ½” chuck will accept larger bits up to ½” in diameter.
Types of Drill Chucks:
- Keyed Chuck
- Keyless Chuck: Tightened and loosened by hand by gripping and rotating the outer collar or sleeve.
- Quick-Change Adapter/Connector

Drill bits shank (the end you would put into the drill)
- Straight/Round Shank (Varies (e.g., 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" and up)): Drilling (all-purpose drill bits, spade bits, hole saws)
- 1/4-inch hex shank: Driving Screws and small diameter drilling
- SDS Plus Shank: Hammer Drilling into concrete and masonry
Ryobi D42 3/8 inch drill
- Maximum Shank Size: The three jaws inside the chuck can open wide enough to securely grip any straight or hex shank that is 3/8-inch (0.375 inches) or smaller in diameter.
- Drill Bit Size: This means the largest standard drill bit (twist drill) you can use will also have a 3/8-inch diameter shank. For drill bits with a diameter larger than 3/8-inch, their shank is often reduced (machined thinner) to 3/8-inch so they can fit into the chuck.
- Tool Fitment: Any accessory you use—whether it's a standard straight-shank drill bit, a 1/4-inch hex shank adapter (like the Craftsman Speed-Lok), or a nut driver—must have a shank that fits within that 3/8-inch limit.

Shank vs. Cutting Diameter
- Shank Diameter: This is the size of the non-cutting end that goes into the chuck. This is what the 3/8-inch rating limits.
- Cutting Diameter (or Head Size): This is the width of the part that does the work (the drill bit flutes, the spade bit wings, the countersink head, etc.).

How to Drill Into Brick: Preparation, Tools, and Best Methods

Screws

Light bulbs

Home Lighting 101: A Guide to Understanding Light Bulb Shapes, Sizes, and Codes
Multifaceted reflector/MR
- MR16 5W 6000k Boxlood. Small, hallway.
Parabolic aluminized reflector/PAR
- PAR20
3.8W 2700K Candelabra Base Chandelier LED Bulb (E12 base?)

Deice on driveway

Cooktop

Amazon

Christmas

一坪多大

1 坪 equals 35.58 sq ft
1坪≈3.3平（方公尺）See 一坪是多少平方米 sqrt(3.3) = 1.8.

Smell good

Mosquito

蚊子喜歡人體，比起捕蚊燈更具吸引力，所以要避免「人燈一室」才可提高捕蚊效果，建議在睡前2到3小時開啟捕蚊燈，並將所有光源關閉，環境越黑暗，捕蚊燈的燈光越能吸引蚊子，且人一定要離開，先把蚊子殺光，睡覺時就能一夜好眠。
捕蚊燈分為電擊式、吸入式和粘補式三種，電擊式捕蚊燈是利用高壓電網捕殺蚊子，聲音大聲可放在陽台；吸入式捕蚊燈是誘捕光源搭配電風扇，將蚊子吸入並困住、風乾，適合放臥室、書房，但使用完不要立刻打開集蚊盒清理，要等一段時間讓蚊子脫水風乾；粘補式捕蚊器最安靜，但要定期更換。
蚊子擾清夢，一開燈就不見！讓蚊子現蹤自投羅網6招驅蚊滅蚊學起來
This DIY Mosquito Repellant Actually Smells Amazing
I Live in the Caribbean and These Are 5 Mosquito Solutions That Locals Swear By
Deet
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites While Sleeping at Home
Cliganic 10 Pack Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, DEET-Free Waterproof Bands
Bug Zapper,2 in 1 Bug Zapper
Zevo Flying Insect Trap
This Ingenious $30 Device Will Stop You from Being a Mosquito Magnet
Simple $3 Mosquito Repellent. rosemary and a Sterno can.

Organize

How to Organize a Small House

https://www.wikihow.com/Organize-a-Small-House

天然無毒清潔劑 Detergent

馬上入手！最好用的天然無毒清潔劑

茶垢, 咖啡垢 Stain

活氧粉加熱後分解成過氧化氫跟碳酸鈉 (過氧碳酸鈉),
茶垢清洁剂原理
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
6 Tips for Cleaning Those Stains in Your Teacups and Coffee Mugs, According to Baristas

Clean blinds

Lifehacker

Clean oven

How to Clean Your Oven Like a Pro

Clean a Glass Stove Top

4 Ways to Clean a Glass Stove Top & How to Prevent Scratches.

Spray a 1:1 vinegar and water solution over the surface of the glass stove top. Use a damp sponge or microfiber cloth to gently scrub the stove top.
Sprinkle baking soda over a stove top, then lay a microfiber cloth soaked in warm water or a 1:1 vinegar and water cleaning solution over it. Leave it for 15-30 minutes

Clean Glass Baking Dish

The Surprising (and Effective!) Way to Clean Stains off a Glass Baking Dish

Things You Should Never Do When You’re Cleaning with a Pumice Stone

5 Things You Should Never Do When You’re Cleaning with a Pumice Stone

How to Clean Bathroom Grout

Difference Between a Living Room and a Family Room

The Difference Between a Living Room and a Family Room

Mold control

MR-86 Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover Spray
Clean Mold From Window Blinds

Dryer lint

Bugs

11 Smart Devices to Ward Off Bugs

Wasp

If You See a Dryer Sheet in Your Mailbox, This Is What It Means

Bees

Peppermint plants or oil

How to Keep Bees Away from Your House
How to Keep Bees Away From Your House
IMPROVED Soapy Water Insecticide Spray: Dawn Dish Soap. Two teaspoons of Dawn hand dish soap (NOT anti-bacterial) + One quart of water. Optional: Cinnamon, Clove and Peppermint Essential oil.

Boxelder bug

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxelder_bug. This is especially a problem in the fall when they are seeking a warm place to overwinter 越冬.
how to get box elder bugs off your house

Get rid of ants

Get rid of mice/mouse

Termite droppings

Silverfish

How to Get Rid of Silverfish

Cockroach

A Bug Expert Weighs in on 5 Popular Ways to Get Rid of Roaches — Here Are the 2 She Recommends

How to Remove a Bird Stuck In House

http://www.wildlife-removal.com/birdinhouse.html. Turn off any lights so that the interior of the home is as dark as possible. With some time, the bird will fly toward the open window and back out into the wild.

How To Get Rid Of Flies In Your Trash Can

6 Simple Tips To Keep Flies Away From Your Garbage
Water and vinegar How to Eliminate Flies at the Trash Bin

Garbage disposal

Sink storage

My Under-Sink Storage Was a Mess — Until I Discovered This Tension Rod Trick (It’s Brilliant!)

How To Keep Birds Away From Window Screens

How to Stop Birds from Attacking Windows.
- Place a decoy owl on the window sill to scare birds away
- Put plants on your window sill to remove the landing platform.
- Layer aluminum foil around the window to confuse birds.
How To Stop Birds From Pecking Window Screens
How can I get the birds to stop eating my window screens? Install some metal screens. use bronze or aluminium wire screen instead of fibreglass/plastic. What I'd do is tape over the torn part, and any other loose wires, with packing tape. Benefits: Adhesive -- they can't get to the screen. Clear -- won't block light, and won't be all that visible.
5 DIY Ways to Keep Birds Away. Modify Their Habitats. Aluminum Foil, Fishing Wire, Baking Soda, Predator Decoys.
Ugold Solar Powered Owl

Yard

How to Prepare Your Yard for Summer

Lawn, weed

Why You Might Need to Purposely Kill Your Grass
How to Pull Weeds Fast
Effective Ways to Prevent Grass from Growing
Landscape Fabric, weed barrier

Chapin spray

Coffee grounds

How to Use Coffee Grounds to Make Your Plants Thrive

Skunk

Tree root

What to Do (and What Not to Do) With Visible Tree Roots in Your Lawn

Kill a tree

Mushrooms

Why Are Mushrooms Growing In My Wood Chips?

Grill

The Best, Most Effective Way to Clean Disgusting Grill Grates

Tiny house

Smoke alarm

What You Need to Know About Smoke Alarms

Vinegar

95 Household Vinegar Uses You Never Knew About

塑膠毒性

秒懂塑膠編號！７大類塑膠無毒安心使用

Donation/get rid of

Use These Organizations to Pick Up Furniture You Want to Get Rid Of

Poison ivy

How to Identify Poison Ivy (in All Seasons)
Leaf Structure: three leaflets
Color: The leaves are usually green in the spring and summer, turning red or orange in the fall.
Growth Habit: Poison ivy can grow as a vine, shrub, or ground cover. It often climbs trees or structures using aerial rootlets.
Flowers and Berries: In late spring to early summer, poison ivy produces small, greenish-white flowers, 9followed by clusters of white or gray berries.

Vines with thorns/needles

How to Kill Vines That Have Thorns

Grow plants

Leave vacuum

WORX 12 Amp TRIVAC 3-in-1 Electric Leaf Blower/Mulcher/Yard Vacuum

Pets

Why Do Dogs Drag Their Butts? Experts Explain This Impolite Canine Behavior

USPS

Informed Delivery by USPS free service.

Zippers

Tailors Don't Want You To Know This Secret! Fix Any Zipper in 2 Minutes (video)

Buy a house

These Are the Hidden Costs of Buying a House