Season 24 - Ask This Old House

Nathan Gilbert upgrades shutters in a historic New Orleans neighborhood, matching the original style and material. Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam explain how to read fertilizer labels and choose between organic and synthetic options. Heath Eastman upgrades battery-operated smoke detectors to a hardwired combo alarm system. Heath asks a local fire chief for safety tips on installation beforehand.

Richard Trethewey breaks down why sink clogs happen, how to prevent them, and why chemical drain cleaners can do more harm than good. Richard offers safer maintenance alternatives. Mauro Henrique demonstrates how to test for lead-based paint, comparing rapid tests to a professional analyzer. Then, Mark McCullough installs granite hillside steps, creating safer access to a backyard fire pit.

Lee Gilliam heads to Washington state to uncover why the Pacific Northwest is the heart of Kentucky bluegrass seed production; industry experts give him a tour of a seed-cleaning facility. Then, Mark McCullough breaks down popular paver types and walkway patterns. After Nathan Gilbert teams up with a homeowner and a helpful young sidekick, they install a porch swing.

Tom Silva discusses common types of caulks and sealants he uses and explains their applications. Richard Trethewey breaks down the anatomy of a garbage disposal, then shows how to install the unit with an air switch controller. Kevin O'Connor is joined by Wendy and Kaden, the young hosts of the popular online channel "Toys and Colors," to build a children's dress-up closet.

Mauro Henrique shares how he cleans up paint when some spills on the floor. Heath Eastman breaks down how 3-way switches work and common wiring mistakes with a clear demonstration. Nathan Gilbert and Lee Gilliam install a classic wooden split rail fence to prevent cars from parking on a homeowner's front lawn.

Ross Trethewey upgrades a home to a solar-assisted split heat pump water heater, ideal for cold climates. Kevin O'Connor and Jenn Nawada discuss 3 common houseplant pests- mealy bugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats. Jenn shares some simple tricks to banish them. Nathan Gilbert solves a tough attic access issue by installing a new hatch and pull-down ladder.

Mauro Henrique shows how to repaint a damaged ceiling and avoid tape mishaps. Heath Eastman, Ross Trethewey, and Kevin O'Connor discuss utility energy meters, comparing the old analog to the new digital and smart meters. Nathan Gilbert and Kevin compare vinyl, wood, and fiber-cement siding. Tom Silva demonstrates how to stop hardwood floor squeaks with a clever DIY fix.

Richard Trethewey shows a clever toilet flange repair kit that eliminates the need for a wax ring and has a rubber seal that adjusts to any flange height, making bathroom floor updates easier. Then, Lee Gilliam and Kevin O'Connor share essential upkeep to keep a gas mower running like new. Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner turn a bar closet into a mini speakeasy with a hidden bookcase door kit.

Jenn Nawada travels to Idaho to revamp a backyard of a homeowner who hosts weekly potluck dinner parties. His Monday Night Dinners now draw up to 100-200 guests, overwhelming a space not built for crowds. Jenn and the community redesign the yard for smoother flow and function. Then, Mark McCullough replaces two rusted window wells, demonstrating proper removal and installation.

Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner organize her garage by installing an overhead storage rack for easier living; Heath Eastman demonstrates how to upgrade to a 3-way smart switch; Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to extend the life of a tank-style water heater by replacing the anode rod.

Lee Gilliam helps a couple regrade their backyard to prevent water pooling and demonstrates ways to improve their lawn's health. Jenn Nawada showcases houseplants that thrive in direct sun, partial sun, or low light—proving there's a perfect plant for any space. Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner replace his hollow core doors to solid core for improved durability, aesthetics, and soundproofing.

Even when he was just a child, master carpenter Nathan Gilbert knew what he wanted to do with his life. After graduating high school, he joined the Navy and became a member of the Seabeas—the Navy’s construction force. Today, he takes us back to the base he called home throughout his career.

Nathan Gilbert travels to a Mississippi Navy Seabees base, where he learned carpentry as part of his naval training, to see how they are continuing to train the next generation of tradespeople; Tom Silva walks Kevin O'Connor through different types of trailer hitches, their uses, and what to consider for safe towing; Mauro Henrique helps a homeowner repaint her peeling galvanized stair railing.

Jenn Nawada visits a Rhode Island sod farm to see what sustainable grass alternatives they've been experimenting with; Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor discuss the most common types of nail head and shank designs; Heath Eastman brightens up a dark driveway by adding house mounted landscape lights, upgrading the existing outdoor fixtures, and connecting all the lights to a smart system.

Lee Gilliam helps a homeowner plant a row of arborvitae trees for a privacy border; Mark McCullough breaks down the various tools that can be found in the average fireplace set; Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor demonstrate how to build a simple, cost-effective storage rack for container totes using 2x4's.

Kevin O'Connor meets with an audiologist to discuss the importance of hearing protection, especially when it comes to power tools and impact noises; Richard Trethewey, Nathan Gilbert, and Heath Eastman team up to help a couple age in place by relocating their washer and dryer to the main floor. Together they modify a linen closet to install a stacked washer dryer unit.

Tom Silva shares a few methods to remove ring stains from a wood table using vinegar, baking soda, and a clothing iron; Jenn Nawada breaks down the types of soil and fertilizer needed for common indoor plants; Mark McCullough repairs a brick floor's crumbling mortar using spot pointing rather than a full repoint job. Demonstrating how a homeowner can save time and money with the technique.

Lee Gilliam upgrades a coastal house's gravel driveway to a seashell driveway. The gang plays "What Is It?" with a broom-shaped tool with spinning spiral wires. After losing his dog to lung cancer, a homeowner finds high radon levels in his home, raising health concerns. Ross Trethewey teams up with a radon technician to install a mitigation system to reduce the levels.

Heath Eastman visits New Orleans to see how a lighting manufacturer handcrafts copper gas and electric lanterns, he then helps install one of their electric fixtures at a traditional NOLA shotgun house; Richard Trethewey breaks down why toilets overflow when they clog; Mauro Henrique helps a homeowner restore her rusted metal patio furniture set with a little sanding, primer, and paint.