The WORST episodes of Ask This Old House
Every episode of Ask This Old House ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Ask This Old House!
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 - Outdoor TV, Granite Firepit
Season 24 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/28/2026
Installing a weatherproof outdoor TV enclosure; essential preparation to take before a renovation; replacing a crumbling fire pit with a sleek, modern square design.
#2 - Transplanting a Rose Bush; Replacing Old Outdoor Lighting
Season 11 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/2012
Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner temporarily transplant a mature rose bush while exterior work takes place. 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 shows Kevin some rookie plumbing mistakes. And Tom and Kevin replace old outdoor lighting with new fixtures.
#3 - Planting a Low-Cost Privacy Screen; Sealing Ductwork
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/22/2014
Planting a low-cost privacy screen; and sealing ductwork without removing the walls.
#4 - Celebrating 300 Episodes
Season 12 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/5/2014
Celebrating 300 episodes of "Ask This Old House" with a review of favorite moments.
#5 - Grass Troubleshooting, Rocky Canyon Rustic
Season 22 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/4/2024
Lee Gilliam helps a homeowner figure out why grass doesn't grow in his backyard before installing a shade-tolerant species of sod; Ross Trethewey talks through converting houses' heating and cooling systems to heat pumps; Kevin O'Connor meets maker Sarah Nadarajah, the creator of Rocky Canyon Rustic, to learn about her content before building a replica high-end side table.
#6 - Rain Barrel, Pooling Patio
Season 22 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/18/2024
Jenn Nawada and Nathan Gilbert travel to Tulsa to learn about the city's rain barrel and stormwater management initiatives and help a homeowner install one in her own garden; Mark McCullough helps a homeowner redirect pooling water on her patio with a weep hole drilled into the stone wall; the team goes through a few new additions to their tool bag that they've enjoyed having on hand lately.
#7 - New Shade Pattern, HVAC Showroom
Season 22 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/25/2024
Jenn helps a couple rethink their front yard after two removed trees changed the shade pattern of the space; Richard talks about the mentors who helped him become a passionate teacher on This Old House; Richard gives Kevin a tour of the building he and his son, Evan Trethewey, have renovated to bring a new experience of mechanical equipment to contractors
#8 - Garden Restoration, Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Season 22 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/9/2024
Lee Gilliam helps a homeowner improve the soil conditions of her garden bed before installing new plantings; a New Hampshire painter and business owner shares her journey in the trade; Heath Eastman helps a homeowner mitigate bathroom moisture by installing a remote bath vent and timer switch but runs into some trouble when he finds old wiring in the wall.
#9 - Smart Thermostat Wires, Bluestone Cleaning
Season 22 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/16/2024
Ross Trethewey helps a homeowner install a smart thermostat after discovering he's missing a common wire; Mauro Henrique shares deck staining tips, what stain options are available, and the level of maintenance required for each type of stain; Mark McCullough helps a homeowner revive his bluestone patio by showing how to use the appropriate tools and materials to clean it.
#10 - Firebox Restoration, Tool Storage Organization
Season 22 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/23/2024
Ross Trethewey emphasizes the importance of managing Indoor Air Quality; Mark McCullough restores an 1888 Victorian fireplace by replacing its crumbling firebox; Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam discuss transitioning landscapes from Spring to Summer; Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor recruit general contractor Zack Dettmore to organize tools in the miter saw station they built earlier in the year.
#11 - Florida Trees, Smart Lighting
Season 23 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/2024
Jenn Nawada travels to her home state of Florida to assist a homeowner in choosing tropical trees for his backyard with the help of a fruit tree specialist; Nathan Gilbert demonstrates a tool that makes asphalt roof work easier; Ross Trethewey shares some home smart light products on the market today, demonstrating uses with smart light switches, smart bulbs, and strip lights that react to sound.
#12 - Beehives 101, Step Stool
Season 23 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/30/2025
Jenn Nawada meets with a Detroit beekeeper and learns about bees, how honey is harvested, and tips on how to start your own hive; Ross Trethewey, Heath Eastman, and Lee Gilliam share a few phone apps they've been using in the field lately that has made their work easier; Tom Silva and Kevin O'Connor build a step stool using a mobile CNC router.
#13 - AC Airflow Issue, Shellac Removal
Season 23 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/8/2025
Ross Trethewey troubleshoots a Miami home's hot and cold spots. He conducts a home performance assessment to check airflow and offer solutions; AskTOH highlights metal fabricator, Shelby Barnhart, who worked her way up from a blacksmith apprentice to starting her own successful business; Mauro Henrique demonstrates how to remove a shellac finish that was improperly applied to a wood window trim.
#14 - Thank You, Roger Cook
Season 23 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/22/2025
In this heartfelt tribute episode of AskTOH, we honor the incredible legacy of Roger Cook: a landscape contractor, dedicated teacher, and beloved member of the TOH family. For decades, Roger inspired homeowners and professionals alike with his expertise and passion. Fellow colleagues recall their favorite memories and reflect on the impact he made, both on and off camera. Thank you, Roger.
#15 - NOLA Lantern, Rusty Patio Set
Season 24 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2025
Heath Eastman visits New Orleans to see how a lighting manufacturer handcrafts copper gas and electric lanterns, he then helps install one of their electric fixtures at a traditional NOLA shotgun house; Richard Trethewey breaks down why toilets overflow when they clog; Mauro Henrique helps a homeowner restore her rusted metal patio furniture set with a little sanding, primer, and paint.
#16 - Seashell Driveway, Radon System
Season 24 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2025
Lee Gilliam upgrades a coastal house's gravel driveway to a seashell driveway. The gang plays "What Is It?" with a broom-shaped tool with spinning spiral wires. After losing his dog to lung cancer, a homeowner finds high radon levels in his home, raising health concerns. Ross Trethewey teams up with a radon technician to install a mitigation system to reduce the levels.
#17 - NOLA Shutters, Hardwired Alarms
Season 24 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/2/2026
Nathan Gilbert upgrades shutters in a historic New Orleans neighborhood, matching the original style and material. Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam explain how to read fertilizer labels and choose between organic and synthetic options. Heath Eastman upgrades battery-operated smoke detectors to a hardwired combo alarm system. Heath asks a local fire chief for safety tips on installation beforehand.
#18 - Arch Accent, Pea Stone Patio
Season 24 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/9/2026
Mauro Henrique helps a mom-to-be refresh a nursery, repainting pink walls a soft green and creating a playful accent wall with hand-drawn arches using simple tools. Jenn Nawada explains the truth behind common plant misconceptions. Then, Mark McCullough helps a couple install a pea gravel patio using a binding agent to keep stones in place.
#19 - Hang Shades, Steep Landscaping
Season 24 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/16/2026
Nathan Gilbert installs top-down, bottom-up shades to block the outside view for a tiny guard dog while still allowing sunlight into the house. Richard Trethewey explains toilet tank anatomy, common failures, and how to fix a running toilet. Jenn Nawada tackles a steep front yard, reshaping the slope and adding erosion-control plants to create a safer, more attractive landscape.
#20 - Tile Soap Holders, Swirl Ceiling
Season 24 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/14/2026
Nathan Gilbert upgrades a bathroom by removing vintage wall-mounted ceramic toothbrush and soap holders and replacing them with a more functional, modern wood shelf. The team plays "What Is It?" as they guess the purpose of a small metal bar. Then, Mauro Henrique repairs a water-damaged ceiling crack, demonstrating how to match the original swirl texture for a seamless finish.
#21 - Kids Show; Soccer Goal; Stilts; Sandbox
Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/14/2008
In this special episode devoted to projects for kids, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows two kids how to build a soccer goal using PVC plumbing pipes. Next, up in the loft, general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates how to build a pair of stilts. Then, landscape contractor Roger Cook shows a family how to build a sandbox and make replicas of fossils.
#22 - Working from Home
Season 19 - Episode 26 - Aired 6/3/2021
Nathan builds a display case to store his grandfather's U.S. flag; Heath replaces a circuit breaker; the team shares the ways their trades were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
#23 - Slate Walkway; What Is It? Shower Stall Leak
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/23/2003
Landscape contractor Roger Cook helps homeowner Molly Simmons turn her neglected slate walkway into an attractive and safe footpath. Back in the loft, Roger, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, general contractor Tom Silva, and host Kevin O'Connor try to guess "What is it?" Then Richard helps homeowner Mark Harney diagnose and repair a frustrating leak in a fiberglass shower stall.
#24 - Dimmer Switch Troubleshooting, Clothes Rack
Season 21 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/9/2023
Jenn shares why she loves bringing her dog to work; Heath helps a homeowner troubleshoot a strobing dimmer switch; Ross explains the benefits of smart bath ventilation; Tom builds a DIY clothes rack.
#25 - Moss, Algae and Lichen; Leaky Water Valve; Planting Shade
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2005
General contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner how to remove moss and lichen from his shade-covered roof and keep them from coming back. Then Tom, along with plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscaping contractor Roger Cook, and host Kevin O'Connor ask, "What is it?" Up in the loft, Richard shows Kevin how to repair a leaky valve by replacing the washer and valve seat. Then, Roger helps a homeowner plant shade-loving groundcover under a 100-year-old beech tree.