HandymanHowto.com » Basement

How to Install a Hardwired Smoke Alarm – Part 3

Bob Jackson — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:20:48 +0000

This project is continued from Part 2. A second Kidde/Firex® Dual Sensor (Ionization and Photoelectric) AC powered hardwired smoke alarm will now be installed in the living area of the finished basement. The smoke alarm, NM-B 14/3 cable roll and old work electrical box are shown here: Smoke Alarm Wiring Diagram The NM 14/3 branch [...]

How to Install a Hardwired Smoke Alarm – Part 2

Bob Jackson — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:19:08 +0000

This project is continued from Part 1. The smoke alarms in my house are 10 years old and will be replaced with new Kidde/Firex® Dual Sensor (Ionization and Photoelectric) 120VAC powered hardwired alarms with battery backup. I chose the Consumer Reports #1 rated Kidde PI2010 alarm, which is widely available at home improvement stores for [...]

How to Install a Hardwired Smoke Alarm – Part 1

Bob Jackson — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:18:48 +0000

This project explains how to install Kidde/Firex® hardwired (AC powered) smoke alarms in the finished- and unfinished sides of the basement. A new 120 volt AC branch circuit is wired to power the alarms and an alarm is installed in the suspended drywall ceiling. Smoke Alarm Building Code Violation The prior owners of my house [...]

How to Replace a Broken Air Conditioner Condensate Pump

Bob Jackson — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:29:06 +0000

The house was a bit warm so I set the temperature a couple of degrees lower on the thermostat. A short while later, I noticed that no air was coming from the registers and the outside compressor unit wasn’t running. I performed a couple of quick diagnostic checks: The thermostat relay was making an audible [...]

How to Finish a Basement Bathroom – The Complete Series

Bob Jackson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:25:45 +0000

This is the final update of the “How to finish a Basement Bathroom” project series for the Do-It-Yourself handyman or homeowner. Links to each construction phase of the project are summarized below, starting from the bare walls to the finished bathroom. Total Cost of the Basement Bathroom I did all of the labor working mostly [...]

Finishing a Basement Bathroom – Part 18

Bob Jackson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:39:00 +0000

This installment discusses closing the sewage basin, testing the plumbing and a review of the various plumbing connections. You can read about the sewage pump installation in Part 9 of this project. The prior installment – Part 17 – is here. The sewage basin consists of a two-part metal lid that is attached by six [...]

Finishing a Basement Bathroom – Part 17

Bob Jackson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:27:34 +0000

This update describes the heat, cooling and ventilation system for the basement bathroom. Click here if you missed Part 16. The basement bathroom is connected to the central HVAC system by a ceiling vent that was installed by the builder. The HVAC vent takes care of heating and cooling, the bathroom did not have a [...]

Finishing a Basement Bathroom – Part 16

Bob Jackson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:16:41 +0000

This is a continuation of the wiring for the vanity light and switch began in Part 15 of this project. In this installment, I wire the junction box and mount the vanity light. I bought this 4-light vanity from Lowes for about $100.00 because it matched the towel racks. The vanity mounts to the wall [...]

Finishing a Basement Bathroom – Part 15

Bob Jackson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:12:04 +0000

This is a continuation of the wiring for the vanity light began in Part 14. The job starts with new wire for the light switch is hanging out of the wall. A single NM 14/2 cable is used to wire the single pole switch. The neutral (white) wire is relabeled as hot (black) per the [...]

Finishing a Basement Bathroom – Part 14

Bob Jackson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:45:14 +0000

Today I’m installing the vanity light and switch. The main effort is pulling the new wire through the walls, wiring in the new junction boxes and wall switch. The photo below points out the new vanity light bar and wall switch. You can also read Part 13 of this project which covers the vanity installation [...]