Ask This Old House TV

Showing results for "Season 5"
Scan the episodes below and select "more" to get information on products or services you saw on that episode.

Episode #526

Building a Workbench and What Is It?… more

Episode #525

Lawn Mowing and Edging Basics, What is it?, Repairing and maintaining electric water heaters, Repairing a broken stair tread … more

Episode #524

Replacing a damaged mailbox post,Repointing Brickwork … more

Episode #523

Installing a new radiator/towel bar warmer, What is it?, Controlling crabgrass … more

Episode #522

Replacing a corroded shut-off valve with a "compression" fitting, What is it?, Selecting and planting "climbing" roses … more

Episode #521

Installing composite decking with hidden fasteners, Quieting a noisy steam radiator… more

Episode #520

Replacing a Shub, What is it?, Installing a roof-mounted attic fan… more

Episode #519

Refinishing cast-iron radiators, Installing a standby electric generator… more

Episode #518

Patching a damaged vinyl floor, What is it?, Repairing a leaking in-ground sprinkler system… more

Episode #517

Shopping for and installing wall-to-wall carpet, What is it?, Table saw safety… more

Episode #516

Removing an overgrown Juniper bush, Coiling an extension cord, Replacing a pop-up assembly in a pedestal sink … more

Episode #515

Clearing clogged drains, What is it?, Install Kitchen Cabinets… more

Episode #514

Prune a willow tree, fix a hot-water heater… more

Episode #513

Mulching, Sash Balancers … more

Episode #512

Shower Valve, Recycling Batteries … more

Episode #511

Cedar Clapboards, Chainsaw Etiquette … more

Episode #510

Kitchen Backsplash, Installing Sod … more

Episode #509

Original Air Date: Week of Week of December 2, 2006

Host Kevin O'Connor and child safety expert Jeff Baril visit a homeowner to "childproof" her home. Then Kevin, along with general contractor Tom Silva, landscaping contractor Roger Cook, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask, "What is it?" Afterward, Richard helps a homeowner install a back-up sump pump that is powered by municipal water pressure instead of electricity.

Childproofing a home for safety.
Child safety expert Jeff Baril visits a homeowner to help make her home safer for her 9-month-old son. To prevent the child from opening kitchen cabinets, Jeff recommends safety latches for the doors and drawers. For the stove, he installs knob covers that prevent children from turning on the burners. For the electrical outlets, he installs a self-closing outlet cover that installs easily. On the second floor, Jeff installs a window guard that prevents children from falling out while still allowing the window to be open for ventilation. To prevent children from being strangled by window cords, Jeff installs cleats for the cords to be wrapped around. To keep a dresser from accidentally tipping forward, Jeff installs brackets that secure the dresser to the wall. To prevent children from falling down the stairs, Jeff recommends a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs to prevent access. Back in the loft, Jeff shows Kevin a type of strap used for securing larger furniture to the wall. He also shows a doorknob cover that prevents children from opening doors. Finally, Jeff shows Kevin a special latch that prevents a child from lifting a toilet seat lid.

Where to Find It
All of the child safety products Jeff demonstrated are available for purchase from:
Safe Beginnings, Inc.
800-598-8911

Safe Beginnings also provides in-home childproofing consultations.

What is it?
The guys try to guess the intended purpose of an unusual-looking product.

Where to Find It
Roger shows a plastic tray designed to make it easier to pull mail out of a mailbox.
Quick Reach Tray Manufactured by KAPS, Inc.
877-872-9868

Installing a water-powered backup sump pump.
Richard helps a homeowner who is worried about his sump pump not working in the event of a power outage. Richard recommends a "backup" sump pump that is powered by municipal water instead of electricity. When the primary pump fails, the backup pump kicks in. The pump uses 1 gallon of city water for every 2 gallons of water drawn out of the sump pit. Richard mounts the backup pump on a nearby wall, making sure that the float sits slightly above the float for the primary pump. That way, it will only activate when the primary pump fails and water rises in the sump pit. The backup pump requires a ¾" water supply line to power it, to Richard has to run new copper pipe over to the sump pit. Richard decides to tie the PVC discharge pipe for the backup pump into the existing discharge pipe for the primary pump using a "Y" fitting. Richard also installs a "check valve" on the backup pump's discharge pipe to make sure water never runs back down into the sump pit when the pump stops running.

Where to Find It
Tom shows a green plastic tool used for spacing exterior deck boards during installation.
Guardian backup sump pump (model #747H20) manufactured by: A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
800-292-2737

Episode #508

Maintaining stone countertops, what is it?, Installing a chain link fence… more

Episode #507

Home Energy Audit, what is it?, Removing a toilet seat with corroded bolts… more

Episode #506

Rebuilding a small exterior deck and stairs.… more

Episode #505

Planting flower bulbs in fall, making straight rip cuts with a circular saw, what is it?… more

Episode #504

Installing garage storage cabinets, What is it?, Installing a ceiling fan… more

Episode #503

Installing a new shower base, Installing a rain barrel… more

Episode #502

Replacing a clogged faucet aerator, Selecting houseplants, Quieting a squeaky subfloor under carpet… more

Episode #501

Repairing a bathroom door, planting a bamboo privacy screen, what is it?… more