Plumbing How To & DIY
Improve the value of your home by discovering our plumbing step-by-step tips & ideas.
How to Repair a Shower Valve Stem
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey fixes a faulty shower valve with new valve stems and seats
How to Repair a Squealing Shower
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner silence a shrieking shower
How to Identify PVC Pipes and Fittings
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey gives a tutorial on the types of PVC pipes and fittings
How to Install a House Hydrant
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a house hydrant to replace a leaky outdoor spigot.
3 Quick Plumbing Fixes Under Pressure
What to do before the plumber rescues the day
How to Unclog a Bathroom Sink
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey reveals the best ways to unclog a slow draining bathroom sink.
How to Choose a Water Filter
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the many filter options and home water systems available for filtering drinking water
How to Add a Heat Pump to a Water Heater
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey makes heating water more efficient by installing a heat pump
How to Repair a Leaking Toilet
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains what may be causing a leaky toilet and possible solutions
How and Why to Maintain a Temperature-and-Pressure Valve
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the extreme importance of maintaining your water heater's temperature-and-pressure relief valve
How to Install a Touchless Kitchen Faucet
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a new, no-touch kitchen faucet
How to Get Hot Water with a Recirculating Pump
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how a recirculation line can save energy, money, and time
How to Repair a Noisy Toilet
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a new flush valve
How to Install a Hybrid Gas Water Heater
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows a quiet, efficient way to produce domestic hot water
How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey offers a few tips to keep water from freezing up in your pipes during the winter months.
How to Maintain a Furnace
Ask This Old House heating and plumbing expert Richard Trethewey explains the best practices for keeping your furnace up and running during the winter
Ask Richard: How to Connect Pipe Without Soldering
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows two no-solder ways to make watertight pipe connections
Reattach an Undermount Kitchen Sink
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey uses undermount sink adhesive to reattach a stainless steel kitchen sink to a granite countertop.
How to Install an Anti-Scald Shower Valve
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces a three-handle shower valve with a single-handle anti-scald valve
How to Install a New Toilet
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to help a homeowner install a new toilet
What Can and Can't Go Down a Garbage Disposer
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains what foods should and should not go into garbage disposers.
How to Install a Whole-House Water Softener
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey visits New Jersey to install a water softener
How to Avoid Rookie Plumbing Mistakes
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates some common plumbing mistakes and how to avoid them
How to Replace a Vessel Sink with a Self-Rimming Sink
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Atlanta to help a homeowner switch out one sink for another
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 Prevent Plumbing Sulfur Smells
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey offers remedies to prevent smelly water
Understanding New Water-Heater Regulations
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how new energy-saving regulations affect today's water heaters
How to Replace a Clogged Shower Valve
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces a clogged shower valve that would not allow hot water into the shower
How to Replace a Kitchen Sink and Faucet
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Colorado to help a homeowner install a new kitchen sink and faucet.
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 Timed Washing-Machine Valve
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a new washing-machine valve that will prevent flooding
How to Repair a Leaky Kitchen Faucet
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner repair her leaky kitchen faucet