Plumbing
Understanding Septic Systems
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about septic systems, how they work, and how to maintain them.
All About Water Storage Tanks
Learn the differences between the common kinds of tanks found in home well-water systems, how they work, and what type you’ll need.
The 5 Best Water Heaters (2023 Review)
You can’t shower comfortably without a hot water heater. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best water heaters on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you.
The 6 Best Tankless Water Heaters (2023 Review)
Tankless water heaters save energy, provide hot water on-demand, and take up less space when compared to traditional tank water heaters. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the six best tankless water heaters on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home.
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.
How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly
Don’t let improper use and deferred maintenance prevent your garbage disposal from working optimally. Follow these expert tips to learn how to maintain this pulverizing powerhouse, so it stays clean and performs to its potential.
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 Much Does Plumbing Cost? (2022 Guide)
Your home’s plumbing works hard to keep your home a comfortable and clean place to live. Usually, it’s well worth hiring a professional plumber to fix problems with pipes, drains, and fixtures.
The 5 Best Water Test Kits (2023 Review)
Having safe, clean water is essential for any home. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best water test kits on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various local home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
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 Plunge a Toilet
With so many plungers in the market, which one is right for your toilet? Learn how to pick out the best plunger and use it properly when disaster strikes in the bathroom.
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 Prevent a Septic System from Freezing
Frozen water pipes are bad enough, but a frozen septic system is worse. Here’s how to avoid this wintertime nightmare.
The 5 Best Reverse Osmosis Systems (2023 Review)
A reverse osmosis system gives you clean water without relying on tap or bottled water. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best RO systems on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home.
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.
The 5 Best Water Softeners (2023 Review)
Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium minerals from your well water or city water. These minerals cause hard water, which can clog pipes and decrease water pressure. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best water softeners on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
Celebrating Craftsmanship: Soldering Basics
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains some general soldering techniques and how to connect water piping.
All About Septic Tanks
While many homes in the United States use municipal sewers, due to factors like location, some homeowners must opt for septic tanks. Read on to learn a few fundamentals of this sewage system.
How to Remove a Bathtub Drain
If you’re looking to replace an old bathtub drain, it’s not difficult to do the job yourself. Read these steps to learn more.
How to Prevent Flooding in an Upstairs Laundry Room
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how and why to install an automatic shutoff valve for the washing machine supply hoses.
Installing a Dishwasher in an Old Kitchen
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and carpenter Nathan Gilbert team up to help a homeowner retrofit a new dishwasher into an old kitchen.
Got Water in Your Crawl Space? Here’s How to Fix It
If you have water leaking into your crawl space, it’s important to address the issue quickly, as it could have serious effects on your home and health.
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.
Well Pump Cost and Installation Guide (2022)
The well pump is an integral part of your well system, feeding water into your home for use on a daily basis. In this article, we explain the steps you need to take to repair or replace your broken well pump.
Best Sump Pumps (2023 Guide)
Sump pumps keep your home from flooding by pumping ground water out of your basement or crawl space. In this review, we take a look at the best sump pumps on the market, discuss various features, and answer common sump pump questions.
How to Move Baseboard Heating
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner by moving a hot water baseboard heater from one side of a room to another.