Q: This valve will look like a wheel or a lever. It should be attached to the pipe running out of the device. The wheels are called gate valves while the levers are called ball valves. Some older houses may not have supply shut-off valves for appliances and sinks. In this case, you will need to turn on the water at the main valve. If it is a gate valve, you may need to do 2 to 4 full turns before it turns on. If it is a ball valve, turn it so that it is parallel with the pipe. You should be able to turn the valve with your hands, but if that is difficult, you can use a wrench to help you. If the valve won't turn, call a plumber. Forcing the valve can cause the pipe to crack, burst, or leak. A plumber will be able to fix or replace the valve for you.
A: Locate the supply shut-off valve near the appliance or fixture. Turn the valve counterclockwise. Avoid forcing the valve.

Q: Cracked sockets are often caused by other objects bumping into the fixture, or too much stress while removing a bulb. First, turn off the power to the light, and remove the bulbs. Keep the wiring order straight as you take out the old socket. It is important to cut only one wire lose at a time. Strip each wire back by 1/2 in., and put the stripped wire end into the terminal slots of the new socket. Do this for each wire. The ballast controls the amount of incoming voltage that start the light tubes. It also regulates the electricity to give constant light. If you believe that the ballast needs replacement, you may want to consider purchasing a whole new fixture. Ballast replacement may cost the same amount as a new fixture. A humming sound produced by your fluorescent light fixture usually indicates that the ballast, rather than the bulbs, needs to be replaced. The bulb may not be getting enough power. Try resetting the fuse box by flipping the power switch off and on. If the bulb is still flickering, try replacing the bulb.
A: Change out cracked sockets. Inspect the ballast. Check the fuse box for flickering lights.

Q: You might also use a mixing container, like a bowl or plastic container. Keep in mind that acrylics dry in 10 - 30 minutes, with professional grade acrylics often taking longer to dry than student grade. As this is a quick-drying kind of paint, using too much from the tube can result in expensive waste. To avoid this, always start with a small amount, adding more on an as-needed basis. When only thinning your paint slightly, take your brush and wet it in clean water. Too much moisture can leave your acrylic paint looking thin; too little may not have much of an effect at all. To significantly thin your paint, pour water into a container with your paint and use your brush to mix the water and paint together. Be sure you thoroughly distribute the water throughout your acrylic. Failing to do so can result in clumping or an uneven color. Have paper towel on hand for blotting brushes once you are ready to begin painting. Too much moisture on your brush, or too much remaining moisture after you've cleansed your brush of a previous color, can severely thin your paint, which can lead to drips forming in your painting. You can use one of these substances in place of water for a more controlled thinning of your paint. You can buy ready-to-use thinning/anti-congealing agents at your local art store. These will keep your paint from drying out too fast and thin it in the process. Always add your thinning agent according to its directions, but generally, you should apply your agent in small amounts using your brush. The composition of each of these thinning agents will likely react differently depending on the kind of acrylic paint you are using. It's best if you add your agent little by little, until it has the desired effect. You should have a section of spare canvas or a surface on which you can check the consistency of your paint. As you thin your acrylics, you'll find tint and thickness also change. Take your palette knife and spread paint after adding your thinner to check if the consistency is as desirable as its hue. Gesso is a primer for the painting surface. It makes acrylic and oil paints adhere better to canvases and other surfaces. But you can also use gesso to thin and extend the paint, tinting your paint slightly with the color of the gesso. You can add gesso by stirring it in with your paint using a clean paintbrush. Using gesso with water or another thinning agent may cause your paint to become too thin.
A:
Apply a small amount of paint to your palette. Add water to your paint. Mix in a thinning or anti-congealing agent. Check the consistency with your palette knife. Add gesso to the paint and water mixture.