The BEST Episodes of Ask This Old House
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2020
Network: PBS
The crew at This Old House take on some pretty big projects, which means they can only work on one or two houses a year. But homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions on smaller projects, and the TOH crew is ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by viewers - and the crew even makes house calls!
#1 - Garden Pruners; Shutters; What Is It? A Tankless Job
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired Dec 19, 2002
In the Ask This Old House loft, Roger and garden tool expert Paul Schneider discuss different types of hand pruners. Tom helps two homeowners repair and reinstall their broken shutters. Back in the loft, Steve, Tom, Roger and Richard examine two unfamiliar objects and try to guess how they're used. Richard shows Steve several models of instantaneous water heaters, then visit a local homeowner to examine his tankless hot water system.
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#2 - Garden with Native Species; Replacing a Door with a Window
Season 10 - Episode 21 - Aired Feb 23, 2012
Roger shows a homeowner how to plant a garden using native species, and Tom replaces a door with a window.
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#3 - Bathroom Floor Tiling; Weatherstripping a Front Door
Season 10 - Episode 22 - Aired Mar 1, 2012
A contractor shares tips for tiling a bathroom floor while Tom helps a homeowner weatherstrip her front door.
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#4 - Financing Solar Panels; Framing Walls for Basement-Remodeling
Season 10 - Episode 23 - Aired Mar 8, 2012
Instalilng solar photovoltaic panels; framing walls for a basement-remodeling project.
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#5 - Old Window Restoration; Installing a Kitchen Sink Water Filter
Season 10 - Episode 24 - Aired Mar 15, 2012
Tom shows how to restore old windows while Rich helps a homeowner install a kitchen sink water filter.
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#6 - Manual Transfer Switch; Fixing a Clogged Sewer Line
Season 10 - Episode 25 - Aired Mar 22, 2012
The This Old House crew brings in an electrician to install a manual transfer switch, and Rich helps a homeowner fix a clogged sewer line.
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#7 - Transforming Stock Shelving; New Washing Machine Valve
Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired Oct 4, 2012
General contractor Tom Silva kicks off the eleventh season of Ask This Old House by helping a couple transform stock shelving into a custom built-in. Then, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a new washing machine valve that will prevent flooding.
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#8 - Custom Fireplace Mantle; Repairing a Leaking Kitchen Faucet
Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired Oct 18, 2012
General contractor Tom Silva builds a custom fireplace mantel for a homeowner. Then, Roger shares some tips about garden edging. Afterward, Richard helps a homeowner repair a leaking kitchen faucet.
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#9 - Laying Sod in the Backyard; Installing a Wireless Thermostat
Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired Oct 25, 2012
Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner lay sod in his backyard. Then, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom shares a tip about finding measurements without doing math. Plus, Richard installs a wireless thermostat to control a heating system.
10.00 #10 - New Kitchen Sink and Faucet; Insulated Sidelights on a Front Door
Season 11 - Episode 7 - Aired Nov 15, 2012
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey heads to Colorado Spings to install a brand new kitchen sink and faucet. General contractor Tom Silva installs insulated sidelights on a front door.
10.00 #11 - Privacy Fence; Replacing a Clogged Shower Valve
Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired Nov 22, 2012
Landscape contractor Roger Cook works with a fencing contractor to install a vinyl privacy fence. Then, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Richard replaces a clogged shower valve.
10.00 #12 - Interior Window Trim; Heating a Swimming Pool
Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired Nov 29, 2012
General contractor Tom Silva installs interior window trim. Richard heats a swimming pool using an air conditioner.
10.00 #13 - Properly Mulching Garden Beds; Installing a Natural Gas Line
Season 11 - Episode 10 - Aired Dec 6, 2012
Landscape contractor Roger Cook shows a homeowner how to properly mulch his garden beds. Then Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Richard installs a natural gas line for a barbeque grill.
10.00 #14 - Using Hand Planes; Repairing a Cracked Stone Walkway
Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired Dec 13, 2012
In the workshop, general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates the proper way to use hand planes. Then, Tom, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Roger helps a homeowner repair a cracked stone walkway.
10.00 #15 - Ceiling Fan; Installing a Water Softener
Season 11 - Episode 12 - Aired Dec 20, 2012
Host Kevin O'Connor and electrician Scott Caron head to Denver to install a ceiling fan on a cathedral ceiling. Then, Kevin, along with general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Richard visits New Jersey to install a water softener.
10.00 #16 - Restoring Terrazzo Floors; Repairing a Cracked Floor Joist
Season 11 - Episode 14 - Aired Jan 3, 2013
Host Kevin O'Connor heads to Del Ray Beach, Florida to restore Terrazzo floors. Then, Kevin, along with landscape contractor Roger Cook, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner repair a cracked floor joist.
10.00 #17 - Hanging a Flat Panel TV; Controlling Insects Without Pesticides
Season 11 - Episode 16 - Aired Jan 17, 2013
Master electrician Scott Caron helps a homeowner hang a flat-panel television on the wall and conceal all the wiring. Back in the workshop, Scott shows Kevin examples of many different types of electrical outlets. Roger heads to Miami to help a homeowner control the insect pests in her yard without the use of pesticides.
10.00 #18 - Maintaining Kitchen Appliances; Installing a Rain Gutter
Season 11 - Episode 17 - Aired Jan 24, 2013
Host Kevin O'Connor meets appliance repairman Richie Isaacson to learn how to maintain kitchen appliances. Then, Kevin, along with landscape contractor Roger Cook, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner install a rain gutter, downspout, and rain barrel.
10.00 #19 - Storage Bench; Soldering Pipes; Overgrown Perennial Garden
Season 11 - Episode 18 - Aired Jan 31, 2013
In the workshop, general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor build a storage bench for an entryway. Then, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how to solder copper pipes properly. Afterward, landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner maintain an overgrown perennial garden.
10.00 #20 - Orchids as Houseplants; Purchasing a Kitchen Wall Cabinet
Season 11 - Episode 19 - Aired Feb 7, 2013
Landscape contractor Roger Cook visits a tropical botanic garden to learn how to care for orchids as houseplants. Then, Roger, along with host Kevin O'Connor, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Tom helps a homeowner purchase and install a kitchen wall cabinet.
10.00 #21 - Insulating Ductwork; Maintaining Clothes Washers and Dryers
Season 11 - Episode 20 - Aired Feb 14, 2013
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey visits Cortland, Illinois, to learn how corn is harvested and then to help a homeowner insulate ductwork. Landscape contractor Roger Cook demonstrates proper pruning technique. Roger, Richard, host Kevin O'Connor, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Kevin learns how to maintain washers and dryers.
10.00 #22 - Ductless Heat Pump; LED Lighting
Season 11 - Episode 21 - Aired Feb 21, 2013
Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O'Connor install a ductless heat pump to heat and cool a room. Richard, Kevin, landscape contractor Roger Cook, and general contractor Tom Silva ask "What Is It?" Master electrician Scott Caron demonstrates new technologies and applications for LED lighting. Roger learns how to select houseplants for different situations.
10.00 #23 - Solving a Melted Mystery; Whole-House Energy Audit
Season 11 - Episode 22 - Aired Feb 28, 2013
General contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner solve the mystery of her melted vinyl siding. Then, Tom, along with host Kevin O'Connor, landscape contractor Roger Cook, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Kevin and a specialist perform a whole-house energy audit
10.00 #24 - Using Ladders Safely; Replacing a Shower Valve
Season 11 - Episode 23 - Aired Mar 7, 2013
General contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor demonstrate how to use all types of ladders safely. Then plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces a three-handle shower valve with a single-handle antiscald valve.
10.00 #25 - Surge Protectors; Cutting Stone
Season 11 - Episode 24 - Aired Mar 14, 2013
Master electrician Scott Caron installs several types of surge protection. Then, general contractor Tom Silva, host Kevin O'Connor, landscape contractor Roger Cook, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey ask "What Is It?" Afterward, Roger demonstrates how to cut and shape stones for hardscaping projects.
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