This Old House Master Electrician Heath Eastman started in the trades while watching his carpenter father while growing up around the construction industry.
After purchasing their first home 24 years ago, Heath and his wife gut-renovated the entire house and began work on the framing. He knew nothing about electrical and plumbing then, but after working with an electrician on the project, his interest in the field was sparked. Heath later became his electrician’s apprentice and earned his license. The two eventually became business partners and have been working together for more than two decades.
Heath’s collaborative spirit is evident on every job site. While wiring Mark’s barn during a 2023 project, Heath explained how he could reuse existing conduit in the ground from an old shed to feed the new structure — a practical, cost-saving approach. As he told Mark: “The good news is you had a piece of conduit in the ground that we can reuse that was feeding the old shed that was here. So we’re gonna be able to utilize that and feed the new one.”
Heath has a knack for making complex electrical concepts accessible. When demonstrating how a three-way switch works for Kevin O’Connor, Heath walked through the wiring step by step, noting: “Once you figure that out, you can see how it operates. The rest is pretty simple.” Kevin was so impressed with Heath’s demo model that he joked he needed to take it with him in his electrical bag — to which Heath replied, “I’ll make you a video.”
Heath’s projects have taken him from New England barns to historic New Orleans shotgun houses. On a recent trip to the Crescent City, he worked with a homeowner named Roxanne on upgrading light fixtures in a traditional New Orleans double shotgun — a home originally built as a two-family dwelling around the turn of the 20th century that had been converted to a single family. Heath also collaborated with a local lantern maker named Stephen, whose handcrafted work left Heath genuinely impressed: “Love the work you put into these. I can’t thank you enough for making this.”
Heath’s path to This Old House began with deep roots in the trades. As he described it: “I got into carpentry at a young age. My father was a general contractor, still is a general contractor and I enjoyed going to work with him summer vacation.” He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy from 2009 to 2014 as a builder in the Construction Battalion (CB), following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather. “Being in the navy, it really shaped the person I am today,” he said.
Heath first appeared on This Old House after filming a couple of scenes while working on the North Shore project. His first official TOH project was Brookline.
Today, Heath is a regular presence on Ask This Old House, where he tackles a wide range of projects — from installing icicle lights and ceiling fans to full room makeovers for fans who write in. As he told one homeowner after completing a project: “Thank you guys so much for being great fans and writing in for this project. That was wonderful. Happy to come and do it, and I’m glad it worked out so well for everyone.”
Heath’s connection to the show traces back to the Generation Next program. As he recalled: “Back in 2017, TOH started Generation Next. Generation Next was this opportunity for apprentices to come work alongside some of the cast on the show.” That hands-on apprenticeship alongside the veteran crew laid the groundwork for his eventual on-screen role.
Behind the Scenes: Heath’s social media presence took off during the pandemic, when he started posting tape-measure tricks and comedic videos — one of which earned four to five million likes. As Heath recalls: “Kate was down with us, and she came up with this one that we did. It’s called ‘Bored Around the House.’ Just making fun of myself and making fun of the whole thing, but really passing the time.” The response from fans stuck at home was overwhelming, with viewers writing in to say how much the lighthearted content brightened their days.
When he’s not filming or working, Heath enjoys catching a baseball game at Fenway Park. He resides in the North Shore of Boston with his wife and Shepard lab mix, Olivia.
Beyond the show, Heath is passionate about sharing his trade knowledge. He launched Pro Image Paint Academy to help fellow contractors with product application, troubleshooting, and growing their businesses. He also invented a tool called The Brush Wash, born from his own frustration: “Obviously, I’ve been painting forever, and the worst part about painting was cleaning paint brushes. And I was like, ‘There has to be a better way.'”
Follow Heath on Facebook and on Instagram @heatheastmantoh.
