Plumbing
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
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.
Home Inspection Nightmares | Untamed Roof
The Ask This Old House crew share more Home Inspection Nightmares with Kevin O’Connor including some wild growth on a roof and chimney and an over-caulked plumbing fix.
Tackling Toilet Tank Replacements
The toilet is one of the major water-consumers in the house. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how an all-in-one repair kit from Fluidmaster can fix any toilet problem—whether it occurs when flushing, filling, or not in use.
How To Pump Water Out Of Your Basement
Whether it’s caused by a hundred-year flood or a plumbing malfunction, no one wants a swimming pool in their basement. Here are some ways to get rid of that standing water in your basement.
How to Snake a Toilet
It’s always disheartening to realize you’ve got a clogged toilet that can’t be fixed with a plunger, but the good news is that another simple tool can help you address the problem—a snake or drain auger.
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.
Preventing Leaks and Losses in the Utility Room
Utility rooms are loaded with pipes and fittings and tanks—and plenty of opportunities for water leaks. TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey meets up with a Travelers forensic engineer to show homeowners what to look for to help prevent leak-induced corrosion that can lead to costly damage down the road.
Preventing Leaks and Losses in the Bathroom
TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey joins a Travelers forensic engineer to point out the likeliest sources of water damage in bathrooms and proactively help prevent leaks that can turn into big losses for homeowners.
Preventing Leaks and Losses in the Laundry Room
TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey speaks with a Travelers forensic engineer about the importance of inspecting your washing machine’s valves and supply lines regularly to help prevent costly leaks and losses in the laundry room.
Preventing Leaks and Losses in the Kitchen
Dishwashers, sinks, disposals, and more—there are plenty of places where leaks can occur in the kitchen. TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey checks in with a Travelers forensic engineer to help homeowners spot trouble before it starts.
What Is a Washing Machine Drain Pan?
A washing machine pan helps protect your home against flood damage resulting from a leaky washer. Read this article to learn more about washing machine pans and how you can install one in your home.
Mr. Rooter Reviews and Services
Read our Mr. Rooter review to learn about the company’s cost, services, availability, and more.
Roto-Rooter Reviews and Services
In this Roto-Rooter review, we take an in-depth look at the company’s plumbing services.
How to Clean a Toilet Tank
Read this step-by-step guide on how to clean buildup and rust from the inside of a toilet tank.
How to Bleed a Radiator
If you have hot-water heat, have you ever found that one or more of your radiators isn’t warming up? Or that only the bottom of a radiator gets hot? Before you spend the money on a plumber, try an easy fix.
5 Ways to Repair PVC Pipes
A busted PVC pipe can cause water leaks or a malfunctioning sink. To help get your sink back up and running, we’ve put together five ways to help you repair PVC pipes.
How to Remove Air in Water Pipes
If air is coming out of your water pipes, don’t worry, you may be able to easily fix it yourself. Read on to learn how to tell if air is in your water pipes, and how to get rid of it.
How to Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger
Got a toilet clog, with no plunger in sight? Read this guide to learn how to unclog a toilet using only simple household items you probably have at hand.
How to Fix Washing Machine Drain Overflows
Water that pools around your washing machine can be caused by several issues that lead to structural damage within your home. In this guide, we detail steps that you can take to identify and fix this problem.
How to Clean a Dryer Vent
Excessive dryer lint buildup can pose a fire hazard, so it’s important to clean it at least once a year. Read this guide to learn how to clean your dryer vent in five easy steps.
5 Types of Plumbing Pipes
In this article, we describe the most common types of plumbing pipes and how they’re used within your home’s plumbing system.