23 Reader Tips That Save Time and Money

Before pouring a new concrete floor in my den, the nice mason ran PVC conduit for wiring a pellet stove. Not so nice were the five 90-degree elbows in the 12 feet of conduit, which made running the electrical cable a bear. I tied fishing line to a cotton ball, trimmed the ball to fit the conduit, and stuck it in the opening. Then I taped the hose of a wet/dry vac to the other end of the pipe and sucked the cotton ball through, right along with its line. Fishing the cables was a cinch after that.

—Cliff Wolf
Media, Pennsylvania