Ask This Old House TV

Showing results for "Season 6"
Scan the episodes below and select "more" to get information on products or services you saw on that episode.

Episode #626

Rebuilding a toilet tank, Lawn Watering, Building a simple bookcase… more

Episode #625

Installing a water pressure reducing valve, Choosing the best types of grass seed, What is it?, Installing crown molding on kitchen cabinets… more

Episode #624

Replacing broken tile, Cutting ceramic and stone tile, Installing glass tile on a kitchen backsplash… more

Episode #623

Overseeding a lawn using a slice seeder, Viewer tip, Preparing a home for sale, Finding and fixing a mysterious plumbing leak … more

Episode #622

Installing granite steps, Choosing "Keyless" Deadbolts, Replacing polybutylene water piping… more

Episode #621

Installing an old full-mortise lockset into a new door, Installing a pellet stove, Non-Gasoline Lawn Mowers… more

Episode #620

Building a soccer goal with PVC pipe, Building stilts, Building a sandbox… more

Episode #619

Increasing attic insulation, Installing landscape lighting, Replacing an old kitchen faucet… more

Episode #618

Installing a Water Softener, Installing fiber-cement siding … more

Episode #617

Improving a lawn, What is it?, Water Supply Piping… more

Episode #616

Replacing a leaky skylight, What is it?, Repairing a 3-way light switch… more

Episode #615

The ATOH crew repairs a smelly dishwasher, transplants a rosebush, changes a circular saw blade, and plays another exciting round of What Is It?… more

Episode #614

Installing thermostatic radiator valves on hydronic radiators, What is it?, Making a refrigerator fit into an opening that is too small, Viewer tip… more

Episode #613

Installing a vinyl fence, Installing an epoxy coating on a garage floor… more

Episode #612

Determining landscape grades, What is it?, Seeing inside walls, Repairing a bathtub drain that won't hold water… more

Episode #611

Improving front steps with bluestone, What is it?, Installing a propane kitchen stove… more

Episode #610

Diverting storm runoff to a "rain garden," What is it?, Refinishing a wood floor … more

Episode #609

Picking a Christmas tree, What is it?, Safety equipment, Caulking a leaky window… more

Episode #608

Improving a muddy backyard, Choosing space heaters, Preventing condensation in a bathroom fan… more

Episode #607

Installing replacement windows, Heating water more efficiency, Home energy audit… more

Episode #606

Removing a dangerous tree, What is it?, Installing interior door trim… more

Episode #605

Original Air Date: Week of November 1, 2007

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a pair of homeowners with a jammed kitchen garbage disposer. Then Richard, along with host Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva and landscaping contractor Roger Cook ask, "What is it?" Then, Kevin learns from a painting expert how to remove exterior paint from cedar siding. Back in the loft, Tom and Richard show Kevin the do's and don'ts of cutting holes and notches in joists.

Repairing a jammed garbage disposer

Richard helped a pair of homeowners with a garbage disposer that had been jammed for more than a year. He began by showing several methods for un-jamming a disposer, including using a factory-supplied allen wrench to turn the motor manually from the bottom of the disposer. He also showed how to use two wooden sticks to force the motor to turn from above. Finally, Richard used a professional wrench made specifically for un-jamming garbage disposers and, with a little muscle, managed to work it loose.

Where to find it?

Allen wrenches are available at all hardware stores and home centers. The special garbage disposer de-jamming wrench is available at most plumbing supply stores. A similar wrench is manufactured by:

General Tools
www.generaltools.com/Products/Garbage-Disposal-Wrench__192.aspx

Technical assistance for this project was provided by:
Insinkerator
4700 21st Street
Racine, WI 53406
800-558-5700
www.insinkerator.com

What is it?

The guys try to guess the intended purpose of an unusual-looking product.

Where to find it?

Tom showed a device that uses 2x10 and 2x6 lumber to create a stable platform used for temporary staging while working on a house.

Manufacturer: T Brace, LLC
1350 Manufacturing Street #109
Dallas, TX 75207
(866) 454-4983
www.t-brace.com

Stripping exterior paint

Painting contractor Rich O'Neil shows Kevin a few ways to remove old exterior paint from a house with cedar clapboard siding. Rich starts by showing how to remove paint using “pull scrapers.” He prefers a carbide-tipped scraper to a steel one because the carbide stays sharper longer. After scraping, Rich uses an electric “random orbit” sander connected to a vacuum to remove additional paint and “feather” the edges of any remaining paint. For removing old paint from trim, Rich showed a “molding scraper.” To make scraping trim easier, Rich showed two devices that generate heat, including a “heat gun” that softens paint and an “infrared” heater that breaks the bond between the paint and the wood.

Where to find it?

Paint scrapers are available at any hardware store, home center or paint supply store.

Infrared heaters are available at some specialty suppliers, including:
Eco-strip
(703) 476-6222
www.eco-strip.com

The electric "random orbit" sander and vacuum that Rich used are manufactured by:
Festool USA
Tooltechnic Systems, LLC
400 N. Enterprise Blvd
Lebanon, IN 46052
(888) 337-8600
www.festoolusa.com

Drilling and notching in joists

Tom and Richard show Kevin some dos and don'ts of notching and drilling holes into joists for running plumbing pipes and electrical wires.

Where to find it?

If you're unsure of whether you can safely notch or drill into a joist, contact your local building department.

Infrared heaters are available at some specialty suppliers, including:

Episode #604

Preventing floods, Removing and replacing foundation plants, What is it?, Fixing rotted wood with epoxy… more

Episode #603

Replacing a toilet flange, What is it?, Repairing cracked plaster, Viewer Tip… more

Episode #602

Carpentry squares, What is it?, Installing a patio using concrete bricks… more

Episode #601

Replacing a bathtub drain trap, What is it?, Repairing a cracked drywall ceiling… more