Plumbing
How to Deal with Common Kitchen Plumbing Problems
Here’s how to fix leaks and clear clogs in your kitchen sink.
How to Replace Polybutylene Piping with PEX
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Richmond, Virginia to help a homeowner replace her polybutylene piping with conventional PEX.
How to Prep Framing Studs for Hinges, Valves and Fixtures | Generation NEXT
Jeff Sweenor shows apprentice Kevin Barker the extra steps he takes to clearly label locations of hinges, valves, fixtures, and studs for his subcontractors
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.
Cape Ann Project Heating Plan
Our plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the general layout of the heating and cooling system in our Cape Ann project
Richard Trethewey’s Cutaways
For decades now, Richard Trethewey has been cleaving plumbing parts in two in order to reveal their inner workings
Time to Upgrade Your Toilet?
If you’re still double-flushing or dealing with frequent clogs, your low-flow fixture might be due for replacement. Here’s why
Future House | Smart Water Valve
Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey travels to Los Angeles to learn about innovations being made to automatic water shutoff valves
A Safe Septic System for Nearby Waterways
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey walks us through a system that was designed for a home built near a pond and the ocean
How to Diagnose and Repair a Humid Air Conditioner
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Orlando to diagnose and repair an HVAC system that is creating way too much humidity
How to Maximize Comfort with a Thermostat
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey discuss improvements to thermostats and how they contribute to comfort in a home
How to Shorten a Gas Pipe to Fit an Oven
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shortens a gas pipe for a homeowner whose new stove does not fit against the wall because it is getting stuck on the pipe
How to Install a Water Filter Under the Sink
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Los Angeles to update a water filter to preserve the look of a retro faucet
New Solutions to Unclog Sinks
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey discusses some innovations that can make clearing a clogged sink easier
How Plumbing Technology is Advancing
During a visit to IBS 2019, Richard Trethewey gave our Pro2Pro editor a lesson in connecting pex tubing, then explored a new water-monitoring device and high-tech training tool
Prevent Frozen Pipes While You're Away
Leaving town? Turn down the heat…but only a little
How to Install a GPS-Enabled Smart Thermostat
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey installs a thermostat that can be programmed automatically from a smart phone
Replacing a Kitchen Sink
Give your kitchen a quick update by replacing an old kitchen sink with a new one. Watch as Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner update a kitchen sink.
Sneak Peek: Brookline storm water problem-solving
When it rains at our Mid-century Modern House, it pours
How to Adjust Water Heater Temperature
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to change the temperature on your water heater for safety and energy savings
Testing the Newest Low-consumption Toilets
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to a plumbing facility in New Jersey to learn about advances in toilet engineering that help save water
Staying Safe with Natural Gas
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O’Connor discuss how gas regulators work and how their malfunction caused gas explosions in Lawrence, MA
Home Inspection Nightmares | Dangerous Deck
Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, general contractor Tom Silva and mason Mark McCullough share some wild code violations submitted to them by home inspectors
How to Work with Gas Pipes
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how gas piping is installed in a home
Common Water Heater Myths Answered
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shares some tips on maintaining water heaters.
Baseboard Heater Making Noise? Here’s How to Fix It
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner diagnose and solve a baseboard hot water system that makes noise.
How to Replace a Main Shutoff Valve
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to replace a main shutoff valve that is not closing properly
How to Repair a Rocking Toilet
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O’Connor several ways to troubleshoot a toilet that wobbles
How to Install a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey removes the impurities, VOCs, and excess minerals from water with a simple reverse osmosis water filter system.
Technologies Transforming the Plumbing Business
Contractors share how today's innovations are saving their businesses time and money, keeping their techs safer, and catering to a younger generation that demands uninterrupted connectivity
How to Replace a Shower Cartridge
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Seattle to help a homeowner whose shower runs cold whenever there’s a demand for hot water elsewhere in the house.
Hot Water On Demand at the TOH 2018 Idea House
When This Old House selects products to showcase at our annual Idea Houses, we start from the ground up. We look for better building materials that make installation easier or last longer, fresh design trends with staying power, mechanicals and smart home products that save energy and money and enhance our readers’ lives. Here’s why Rinnai was our clear choice for hot water.