Master electrician Heath Eastman takes us along as he visits The Big Easy to help a homeowner solve her lighting issues. After visiting a lantern factory, Heath helps a local electrician install a set of custom-made copper light fixtures that perfectly fit the home’s style.
Next, we met host Kevin O’Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey back at the shop for a lesson in toilet clogs. Richard shows Kevin why, sometimes, flushing a clogged toilet does work, but most of the time will only cause a bigger mess. Then, Richard demonstrates the best way to free a solid clog with a plunger, and it’s not what most people think.
Finally, we jump in the truck and head out on the road with paint expert Mauro Henrique as he helps a homeowner restore her metal patio furniture. After explaining the importance of prep work and showing the homeowner all of the necessary steps, the two work together to remove the existing corrosion issues before priming and painting for a perfect finish.
How to Install an Electric Lantern
New Orleans is popular for a lot of reasons, but some of master electrician Heath Eastman’s favorites are the architecture and lighting fixtures. After visiting a local shop to see how local lanterns are made, Heath grabs a pair of lanterns to solve a homeowner’s lighting issues. With the help of a local electrician, the three install the perfect lights for the home.
Where to find it?
Electrical components:
- NM connector, used for connecting electrical wires
- Wire caps
Installation accessories:
- Silicone caulk
- 8-32 machine screws (standard for light fixtures): Used to secure light fixtures.
- Grommet
- GRK multi-purpose screws
Drilling tools:
Why Toilets Overflow
Overflowing toilets are a nightmare. They’re typically gross, make a massive mess, and can leave a homeowner or DIYer feeling hopeless. But, when we meet host Kevin O’Connor and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey back at the shop to talk about this sloppy problem, Richard shows Kevin just what to do.
Where to find it?
Richard uses a plunger to pull the clogged items from the toilet.
How to Restore Rusty Furniture
Finding the right set of table and chairs for your patio is no small task. When a homeowner realized her perfect set was starting to rust and show its age, standing out from the rest of her beautiful backyard, she knew a fresh coat of paint was in order. With the help of paint expert Mauro Henrique, the two restore the patio furniture with a bit of prep work and the right paint.
Where to find it?
To Prep:
To Sand Off Rust:
- Heavy duty scouring pads
- Extreme scrub scour pads
- Hand sanding pad – very fine, 220-grit
- N95 masks
To Clean Debris:
- Shop vac
- Denatured alcohol
- Nitrile gloves – denatured alcohol can irritate skin
- Microfiber cloths or lint-free cloths
To Prime:
- Rusty metal primer spray – spot prime rusted areas only
- Interior/exterior primer spray – optional to spot prime the non-rusted areas. Gray was used for this project since it’s better suited for dark color topcoat paints
- Shims – to prop furniture up
- Safety glasses
- N95 masks
To Paint:
- Direct-to-metal (DTM) acrylic paint in low lustre – black
- Paint tray
- Paint sticks
- 3/8” nap rollers
- 2” to 2 ½” synthetic brushes
Original Air Date: Sep 25, 2025, Season 24; Ep. 1 24:48
Products and services for this episode
Most tools and materials from this episode can be found at Home Depot.
The DTM paint can be found at Benjamin Moore.
