Heating & Cooling How To & DIY
Improve the value of your home by discovering our heating & cooling step-by-step tips & ideas.
How to Seal Leaky Ductwork
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows an innovative new way to seal ducts from the inside
How to Install an Exhaust Fan in a Wall
Scott Caron, master electrician for Ask This Old House, helps a homeowner put in an exhaust fan to rid her kitchen of smelly cooking odors.
How to Install DIY Radiant Floor Heating
Use a specialized foam panel to lock the PEX tubing in place, cover it with a sand-and-cement mix, and tile away.
How to Zone a Forced Air Furnace and Air Conditioner
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to divide a home's heating and air-conditioning system into different zones.
How to Install a Whole House Humidifier
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how a professional would install a whole-house humidifier.
How to Repair a Frozen Air Conditioner
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to prevent ice buildup from shutting down an air-conditioning system.
How to Insulate HVAC Ductwork
Watch as This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner insulate his exposed HVAC ductwork.
How To Install a Ductless Heat Pump
This Old House's Richard Trethewey and Kevin O'Connor install a ductless heat pump to heat and cool a 700-square-foot room.
How to Diagnose Leaks in a Steam Boiler
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps locate the leak on a steam boiler that is losing water
How to Smartify Your Home
Better to buy a hub or stand-alone devices? Sign up with the cable company? Get a Wi-Fi dog camera? Find answers to these and other questions in our connected-home guide of picks and expert advice
How to Install an Electric Whole-House Fan
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner install an energy-efficient whole-house fan
How to Heat a Swimming Pool with an Air Conditioner
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a device that will heat a pool with the heat produced by an air conditioner.
How to Clean a Window Air Conditioner
Stay cool and save money with five simple tasks—most done just once a year—that ensure your unit keeps working efficiently.
How to Install a Combination Boiler and Hot Water Heater
Replace two devices, your water heater and boiler, with a single combi boiler unit that’s more efficient and compact.
How To Install a Wireless Thermostat
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a wireless thermostat to control one zone of heating.
How To Clean a Humidifier
Protect your health and improve humidifier efficiency by learning how to clean and maintain your device properly. Read on to learn more.
Step By Step Guide to Installing a Mini-Split AC Heat Pump
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the process of installing a mini split heat pump in your home to save money and energy.
How to Install a Wood-Burning Fireplace Insert
Richard Trethewey and an expert installer show you how to install a fireplace insert that increases heat output and decreases cost.
How to Replace a Direct-Vent Water Heater
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to install a new water heater when there's no chimney
How To Install a Pellet Stove
In this guide, we show you how to add a pellet stove as a supplementary, efficient heat source to your house step-by-step.
How to Create Zones in a Forced-Air HVAC System
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to control the temperature to every room of the house
How to Install a Fiberglass Entry Door
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to upgrade an entryway with a brand-new, low-maintenance, energy-efficient door
How To Seal Windows and Doors for Winter
Keep your family warm this winter. Tom Silva shows you how to stop cold air from coming through windows and doors.
How to Install Weather-Sensitive Heating Controls
Save energy and stay cozy by linking your system to the outside temperatures
How to Weatherstrip a Front Door
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares his fast fixes for a drafty door
How to Choose a Thermostat or Home Automation System
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey reveals how home automation delivers comfort, convenience and energy savings
How to Fix Knocking Baseboard Heat
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how to silence squeaky, creaky pipes.
How to Weatherstrip an Exterior Door
Drafty doors are no match for new weatherstripping. Learn how to remove and replace old weatherstripping with This Old House's Tom Silva.
How to Quiet a Noisy Baseboard Heater
Silencing a rattling metal heating unit with This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey
How to Install a Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how the pros retrofit a compact cooling unit.
How To Vent a Bath Fan Through the Roof
A good bathroom vent fan can help cut down on moisture and poor air quality. Here's everything you need to know to install one yourself.
How to Repair a Whistling and Leaky Steam Radiator
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey silences a leaky, squeaky steam radiator