Plumbing Videos Archives

How to Replace a Tank-Type Water Heater

In this DIY Smarts segment, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner be proactive about their home maintenance by replacing their existing tank-type water heater before it fails.

Understanding Bottle Traps

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O’Connor how to handle sink drains in tight places.

3 Reasons Water Heaters Fail

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey gives host Kevin O’Connor an inside look at why a water heater fails.

Easy Solutions for a Damp Basement

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches Kevin O’Connor what he needs to know about handling wet basements.

Understanding Air Flow in Your House

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey explain everything you need to know about balancing airflow within a home.

Tips for Controlling Plumbing Emergencies

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains some of the most common plumbing emergencies and how homeowners can handle them.

How Richard Trethewey Became a Plumber

This Old House Plumbing and Heating Expert Richard Trethewey tells all about how his career as a plumber started.

How to Replace a Tub Drain

In this edition of DIY Smarts, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner with an old 1950s bathtub replace the tub drain assembly when the current one stops plugging the tub.

How to Maintain Your Dishwasher

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey breaks down all the connections on a dishwasher, how they work, and how to troubleshoot them when they aren’t draining or drying correctly.

How To Install a Utility Sink in a Barn

Master plumber Richard Trethewey installs a utility sink in Mark McCullough’s chicken barn.

How to Fit Copper Pipes

Plumbing & Heating Expert Richard Tretheway shows host Kevin O’Connor several methods for making solid, watertight connections, both with solder and without.

Celebrating Craftsmanship: Soldering Basics

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains some general soldering techniques and how to connect water piping.

How to Replace a Spigot

Ask This Old House Plumbing and Heating expert Richard Trethewey explains a variety of failure points in a hose spigot and demonstrates how to replace one that is damaged beyond repair.

How to Install a Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are a helpful tool to help prevent pesky kitchen odors, as well as stop food from going down the pipes and causing plumbing issues. Watch as Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to install a garbage disposal in your kitchen.

How Does a Siphon Work?

This Old House Plumbing & Heating Expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how siphons work. Richard shows how siphons are the basic principle that make toilets work, even if the water supply in the house was turned off.

How to Replace a Bathroom Faucet

Need to update your bathroom sink faucet? Watch this DIY Smarts as Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to replace a bathroom faucet.

How to Clean a Clogged Shower Cartridge

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to New York City to teach a homeowner how to clean her shower cartridge when it gets clogged.

Testing Smart Automatic Water Shut Off Valves

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey tests two different styles of smart automatic water shutoff valves.

How to Connect Steel Gas Pipes

Looking to connect gas pipes in your home? This Old House Plumbing & Heating Expert Richard Trethewey explains a new method for connecting gas pipes, known as "press-connect."

How to Fix a Leaky Hose Spigot

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains some of the common failure points in hose spigots and how to repair them.

How to Install a Gas Lantern

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to St. Louis to install a gas lantern on an original 1890s home in a historic neighborhood.

How a Frozen Pipe Bursts

In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how and why frozen pipes burst.

Understanding Improvements to Certified PVC Flue Gas Ventilation

Ask This Old House plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey explains why standard DWV PVC should not be used to vent gas appliances and what should be used instead.

How Flue Gas Venting Is Being Reinvented

Most people can recognize the difference between woods, for example plywood versus cedar. But the same can’t always be said for plastics. Richard takes a deep dive into the plastics being used for gas ventilation, and explains how to find out if the venting in your house is up to code—or past its prime.