Ask This Old House

Tom replaces sash balancers on an antique window. Roger and Kevin check out the benefits of a robotic lawnmower. And Richard talks about treating water with lead.

Kevin visits Chicago to explore the dangers of home fires and ways to stay safe. Scott shows off a portable generator that doesn’t run on gas. Richard finds a rusted sink strainer in the kitchen. And the guys ask, “What is it?”

Tom and Kevin use store-bought stair treads to create a bookshelf in Build It. And landscape designer Jenn Nawada transforms the look of a home’s foundation by using existing plants.

Roger helps plant a home orchard using apple and pear trees. Tom shows Kevin how to choose and use a circular saw. Richard installs a new tank water heater and discusses new regulations on them.

Tom repairs a broken board on a front porch. Richard analyses a homeowner’s green-stained shower. Scott brings more power to a bedroom and is able to conceal the wiring with crown molding.

Richard learns about a way to heat and cool a house using a new room-by-room ventilation system. Tom explains the best ways to patch a small hole in the wall. And the guys ask, “What is it?”

Ross Trethewey looks at a robotic wall that helps save a lot of space in Future House. And Tom and Kevin use reclaimed heart pine to create a bench in "Build It."

Richard travels to Seattle to help a couple choose and install laundry appliances. Tom shows Kevin new table saw technology. And Scott repairs a three-way switch.

Kevin helps a contractor install a home elevator for a young man with disabilities. Jenn Nawada investigates how to grow microgreens. Tom explains the best way to match historic moldings. And Richard diagnoses a problem with well water.

Tom heads to Chicago to transform a one-car garage into a carpentry workshop. Scott installs a wireless light switch. Richard gives a history lesson on antique bath fixtures.

Roger rips up an old, dangerous walkway to replace it with bluestone. Scott explains the best wire nuts to use for each project. Kevin gets a lesson on making mead.

Richard diagnoses a problem with a hot water heating system. Scott installs thin, LED lighting on a garage. Tom talks hand saws. And the guys ask, “What is it?”

Landscape designer Jenn Nawada learns how to garden on a rooftop. Tom gives tips on removing ceiling stains. And Scott brings power to a homeowner’s shed.

Kevin meets up with Nick Offerman and see the comedian’s woodworking shop. Ross Trethewey looks at a new device to track home energy usage in Future House. And Richard shows what happens when you use the wrong soap in the dishwasher.

Tom is in Cincinnati to create a simulated wainscoting out of base cap molding. NASA astronaut Mike Foreman shows off a few space tools. Richard helps a homeowner struggling to get enough hot water for his children’s bath time.

Tom and Kevin use scrap wood to create an end grain cutting board in Build It. Scott installs surface-mounted downlights in a living room. Roger discusses the best ways to keep mice out of your house. And the guys ask, “What is it?”

Roger is in Kentucky – the Bluegrass State – to bring back a lawn’s luster. Scott gives a homeowner a lift by installing a motorized winch to raise and lower a light. Tom has tips and tricks for using a jigsaw.

Tom gives a homeowner a tutorial on installing a passage set on his closet door. Jenn Nawada uses an historic design as a guide to transform an overgrown backyard. Richard shows off the latest in toilet technology.

Mistakes happen. Richard revisits a homeowner to repair a water heater he thought was fixed four years ago. Tom installs a storm door with a dog in mind. And home technology expert Ross Trethewey looks at voice-activated smart devices.

Tom and Kevin are ready to bring the family together with a home message center in Build It. Scott brightens up a room by adding cable-powered fixtures. And Richard shares an emotional story about the need for carbon monoxide detectors.

See Richard help a homeowner improve her drinking water with a whole house filter. Jenn Nawada creates a backyard sanctuary with a patio and granite fire pit. Watch Tom explain the differences between soft and hard wood.

See Scott head to Alaska to hook up a portable generator capable of powering an entire house. Watch Tom repair a poorly installed piece of wood floor nosing. Richard gives an inside look at dishwasher cycles.

A clogged drain has Richard trying to locate the problem. Scott warms up a chilly bathroom by installing an electric convection heater. Painter Mauro Henrique demonstrates a masking primer that leaves clean lines on a window.

See Tom and Kevin use western red cedar to create a planter box. Watch home technology expert Ross Trethewey feature a tablet attachment that makes 3D scans of home interiors. Scott explains the need for surge protection.

Watch Jenn plant a rain garden to keep runoff and waste out of marshlands. See Scott brighten up a dim bedroom with new overhead lighting. Tom gives tips on installing cabinet hardware accurately and consistently.