Season 5 - Ask This Old House Episodes

S5 E23: Bathroom Radiator, Hand Planes, Crabgrass

Richard helps a homeowner install a new bathroom radiator and towel warmer. Tom shows Kevin how to use hand planes to shape wood. Roger helps a homeowner remove crabgrass from his lawn and prevent it from returning.

S5 E26: Workbench, Lawnmower, Whistling Heat

Tom Kevin how to build a simple workbench. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger shows Kevin how to tune-up a gas-powered lawn mower. Richard helps quiet a whistling forced-air heating system by installing a "bypass duct."

S5 E25: Edge Mowing, Water Heater, Stair Tread

Roger shows how to mow and edge their front lawn properly. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard shows Kevin how to repair and maintain electric water heaters. Tom helps a homeowner repair a broken stair tread.

S5 E24: Mailbox, Brick Foundation Repointing

Roger helps a homeowner replace a mailbox damaged by a snowplow. Tom Silva heads to St. Louis to help a pair of homeowners repoint the failing mortar on their home’s brick foundation.

S5 E22: Shut Off Valve, Climbing Roses

Richard helps a homeowner replace a corroded shut-off valve with a new one. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger helps a homeowner select the proper rose bushes and plant them so they will "climb" a two-rail fence.

S5 E21: Composite Decking, Noisy Steam Heat

Tom removes the cracked and warped boards on an old deck and installs new composite decking using hidden fasteners. Richard quiets down a noisy steam heating system.

S5 E20: Heat-Tolerant Shrub, Solar Powered Vent

Roger shows a homeowner how the brick stairs in front of his house have created a blistering "micro-climate." They replace an ailing shrub with a heat-tolerant yew. The guys ask, "What is it?" Tom improves the ventilation in an attic by installing a solar-powered roof fan.

S5 E19: Painting Radiators, Standby Generator

Richard helps a homeowner refinish her cast iron radiators. They sandblast the peeling paint and apply a brand new finish. Kevin helps install a standby generator in an area with frequent power outages.

S5 E18: Vinyl Floor, In-Ground Sprinkler

Tom helps a pair of homeowners patch a hole in their vinyl kitchen floor. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger helps a homeowner repair a leaky in-ground sprinkler system.

S5 E17: Carpet, Table Saw Safety

Kevin helps a homeowner select wall-to-wall carpet and install it properly with a professional installer. The guys ask, "What is it?" Tom shows Kevin a few tips for using a tablesaw safely and demonstrates a new type of emergency-brake.

S5 E16: Removing Shrubs, Extension Cords, Drain Pop-Up

Roger helps a pair of homeowners remove an overgrown Juniper bush. Kevin and Tom demonstrate the proper way to coil extension cords. Richard helps a homeowner replace a pop-up drain assembly on the pedestal sink in his bathroom.

S5 E15: Clearing Drains, Installing Cabinets

Richard shows Kevin different methods for clearing clogged drains. The guys ask, "What is it?" Tom helps a homeowner install new kitchen cabinets.

S5 E14: Willow Pruning, Hydronic Heating Zones

Roger and arborist Matt Foti help a homeowner properly prune his overgrown willow tree. Richard fixes a hot water heating system that doesn’t provide enough heat to a newly-built addition.

S5 E13: Mulching, Sash Weights

Roger takes a homeowner shopping for mulch and shows her how to re-mulch and edge her garden beds. Tom shows a homeowner how to replace broken sash balancers in his double-hung windows.

S5 E12: Mixing Valve, Tool Batteries

Richard repairs an old shower mixing valve. The guys ask, "What is it?" Kevin and Tom are joined by battery expert Tim Pugh to discuss battery technology in cordless tools and proper recycling of batteries.

S5 E11: Damaged Clapboards, Felling Trees

Tom shows Kevin how to replace damaged cedar clapboards on the exterior of a house. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger and chainsaw expert Tim Ard show a homeowner how to fell trees safely using a chainsaw.

S5 E10: Tile Backsplash, Lawn Repair

Tile contractor Joe Ferrante helps a homeowner install a brand new glass tile kitchen backsplash. Roger helps a homeowner replace a damaged section of lawn using sod.

S5 E9: Childproofing, Sump Pump

Kevin and child safety expert Jeff Baril visit a homeowner to "childproof" her home. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard helps a homeowner install a back-up sump pump that is powered by municipal water pressure instead of electricity.

S5 E8: Countertops, Chain Link Fence

Jason Keefe shows host Kevin how to maintain stone countertops and prevent stains. The guys ask, "What is it?" Roger and fence contractor Mike McLaughlin help a homeowner install a chain link fence.

S5 E7: Energy Audit, Toilet Seat Bolts

Kevin and energy efficiency expert Bruce Torrey conduct an energy audit of a house. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard demonstrates how to remove an old toilet seat that has corroded bolts.

S5 E6: Building a Small Deck

Tom helps a homeowner rebuild a small exterior deck. They start by removing the existing deck, which has rotted and become unstable. Together, they build a new deck, including stairs and handrails.

S5 E5: Bulbs, Ripping Plywood, Water Hammer

Roger and Kevin plant flower bulbs outside the barn. Tom shows Kevin how to makes straight rip cuts with a circular saw. The guys ask, "What is it?" Richard helps a homeowner eliminate the water hammer noise from his pipes.

S5 E4: Garage Cabinets, Ceiling Fan

Tom installs new cabinets designed especially for garages. In the "What is it?" segment, Kevin and Roger test a new type of vacuum-assisted post hole digger. Electrician John Barros installs a new ceiling fan. John shows Kevin a few other ways of installing fan-rated electrical boxes.