As Building Engineer on Ask This Old House, Ross Trethewey is responsible for seeking out some of the coolest stories in building technology and bringing them to a national audience.
The Trethewey family plumbing legacy extends back over a century. Ross’s father Richard explains: “My dad was the third generation to own a plumbing company called Rethy Brothers, started in a Boston suburb called Roslindale and it was started in 1902 by my great grandfather and his brother.”
You could say that Ross has This Old House in his blood. His grandfather Ron served as the plumber on the first season in 1979, before Ross was even born. His father, Richard, has been known as the face of all things plumbing and HVAC to This Old House fans for four decades. Growing up, Ross remembers accompanying his dad to job sites. He especially remembers the excitement of filming days when show creator Russ Morash and the camera crews were on-site.
Ross recalls his early connection to the show: “So this house is definitely in my blood. No question. My grandfather started on the show in 1979.” He fondly remembers those childhood experiences: “Growing up, we would hop on a plane or get in the car. My mother, my brother and I, and we drive to wherever the project was. You know, my brother and I would be swinging hammers and banging wood.”
Ross gained hands-on experience before joining the cast, completing what he calls “boot camp” with each expert: “Richard, you know, made me dig ditches for sewer lines and Tommy and I, you know, had to cut lumber,” he recalls. “And that’s all I wanted. Like I just, that’s fine. Like put me to work.”
Ross has lent his expertise to This Old House and Ask This Old House since 2011, contributing to stories about renewable energy that looked at solar power, wind power, geothermal, and off-grid storage. He became a regular presence on Ask This Old House in 2016 when he and a producer developed Future House, a segment that looks at technology’s impact on how we build and live in our houses.
Beyond his on-camera work, Ross finds satisfaction in hands-on projects. “There’s a lot of satisfaction that I take in working with my hands tackling a task and getting it done,” he explains. “And when I can shift from the person who has to stand back and talk about it and get to be a small part of the people who do it. That’s what I enjoy the most.”
In addition to his TV duties, Ross founded an engineering design and consulting firm in 2010 and serves as its lead engineer. TE2 Engineering provides building energy analysis, mechanical, electrical and plumbing design, and renewable energy design for clients in residential and commercial spaces. The company’s focus is high-performance HVAC design creating healthy and comfortable buildings.
Personal Philosophy: Ross shared his approach to passing on knowledge to the next generation: “I wanna make sure that I can instill the same traits and skills that were instilled in me from my father and my grandfather.” He describes his father as someone who “can’t turn it off. He’s always teaching,” a trait Ross clearly inherited.
Ross’s engineering expertise extends beyond earthbound projects. During a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, he toured mission control with astronaut Scott Tingle, exploring how space technology influences everyday home innovations. “What an engineer’s dream,” Ross remarked about the facility where NASA develops technology that eventually makes its way into residential applications.
Ross earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from Tufts University in Massachusetts. He is also a professional engineer in various states. Before forming his own consulting company, he lived and worked in Germany for a manufacturer specializing in high-efficiency and renewable energy equipment.
Ross lives in a suburb of Boston with his wife and two young sons. When he is not coaching his children in youth sports, he likes to get on the water as much as possible.
Follow Ross on Facebook, Twitter @RossTret, and Instagram at @rosstrethewey.
