Rex Cauldwell

Rex Cauldwell is a third-generation tradesman and a certified master electrician and master plumber. When his busy work schedule allows time off, Rex can be found toting his camera through the jungle of El Yunque in Puerto Rico or diving in the waters of Bonaire, just north of Venezuela. He is the author of five books published by The Taunton Press.

Voltage drop in electrical lines
Q: I read Rex Cauldwell’s article Ten Common Wiring Problems, hoping that he would address voltage drop in electrical lines. In today’s larger houses, it’s not uncommon to have wiring runs…
Inspecting a House: Foundations, Structural Supports, and Decks
Learn to distinguish problems that are cosmetic from problems that are structural.
10 Common Wiring Problems
These frequently found mistakes could cost you your house or your life.
Undersize plumbing-supply lines
Q: My 1920s house has poor water pressure. Turn one tap on and you can forget about using the others. The supply lines in the house are 1/2-in. copper. But the…
Installing a Portable Standby Generator
When the power goes out, a generator can handle your electrical essentials, but it must be wired correctly.
Wiring Stoves and Dryers
Code now requires a four-slot receptacle to provide both 120 volts and 240 volts.
Blowing halogen bulbs
Q: I recently put in seven 50w recessed-lighting fixtures on a dimmer switch in a finished-basement room. I’m using halogen bulbs for their whiter light at low voltage. I’ve been going…
Grounding a metal chimney
Q: When I remodeled my house seven years ago, I added a woodstove with an exterior metal chimney, which is now the highest part of the house. Should I ground the…
Metal roofs and lightning
Q: We are building a log home with a metal (Galvalume) roof in a hilly area, but not at the top of the hill. With the metal roof, should we be…
GFI outlets on wooden decks
Q: I’ve been told that GFI outlets are not a shock deterrent on wooden decks. I work at a home center in San Diego where customers routinely purchase GFIs to replace…

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Rex Cauldwell

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