This Old House Radio Hour

Hard water is quietly damaging your pipes, appliances, hair, and skin. Plumbing expert Tucker Yarbrough explains what causes it, how to spot it, and the best solutions for every budget. Then, bestselling author Ann Patchett takes us back to the wild Tennessee farm of her childhood. Plus, building engineer Ross Trethewey explains why understanding your home as a system can save you thousands, and where homeowners should start before investing in solar panels or a new heating system.In This Episode You'll Learn:* Whether waterproofing an entire bathroom floor is worth it when installing a freestanding tub * How difficult it is to restore painted mid-century wood ceilings and fireplaces * How to protect an upstairs laundry room from leaks and washing machine failures * What might be causing a lingering odor after mold remediation and flooring replacementAll of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

A five-foot snake inside the ductwork?! This week on Radio Hour, we uncover the strange, dusty, and sometimes creepy world hiding inside your vents — and what actually happens during a duct cleaning. Comedian Sheng Wang takes us back to his packed suburban Houston childhood home, where 12 relatives shared one house and the neighborhood bayou became an endless adventure. Plus, House Therapy tackles a family battle over baseboard heat versus forced hot air, and we answer your questions about damaged cork floors, mysteriously heated tiles, rocky hillsides, and cracking plaster ceilings. In This Episode You’ll Learn:* How to repair shiny tape damage on cork flooring without refinishing the entire floor * Whether warm floor tiles could mean leaking HVAC ducts beneath a slab foundation * What plants can actually survive on a steep shale hillside with almost no soil * What causes “alligator” cracking on old plaster ceilings and how to fix itAll of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Tomatoes are the holy grail of the home garden, but getting them right isn’t always easy. This week, Farmer Dean shares a simple, surprisingly effective way to grow thriving plants almost anywhere, no backyard required. Then, comedian Tom Papa takes us back to his childhood beach house on the Jersey Shore, where 17 people, one bathroom, and endless pasta dinners somehow added up to pure magic. Plus, House Therapy returns with a couple at a crossroads: rebuild a rotting pool shed piece by piece, or start fresh with something new. And as always, we’re taking your calls and tackling real home dilemmas.In This Episode You’ll Learn: * How to remove deep, dark water stains from wood flooring. (7:38)* What to look for when comparing contractor bids for foundation repair. (14:02)* Whether ice dams are still a threat after installing a new roof. (19:07)* How to diagnose and fix high indoor humidity in an older home. (24:52)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Building Tomorrow is a special collaboration between Marketplace and This Old House Radio Hour that asks a simple but urgent question: how do we build homes that can last the next hundred years? From wildfire rebuilds to factory-built housing, this hour explores how new materials, new methods, and new ideas about community are reshaping the future of housing in America. Hosted by Jenn Largesse and Marketplace’s David Brancaccio, the episode blends reporting, lived experience, and hard science to show what’s possible right now.In this episode you’ll learn about: * A massive prefab factory where homes are built like cars on an assembly line.* A disaster research campus where engineers crash-test houses against hurricanes, hail, and wildfire.* A cutting-edge microfactory using software and small factories to build homes faster, locally, and at scale.* Touring a pioneering cross-laminated timber home built as a living case study in low-carbon construction.* How a 100-year-old house is transformed into a net-zero, future-ready home.* A tiny-house community redefining retirement, aging, and what “home” really means.Note: In the segment featuring Aloe Blacc's pre fabricated home, the exterior is made of cement fiber but the interior is not. The home's fire resilience comes from a combination of steel framing, fiber cement siding, and triple paned windows.

With even colder days ahead, Jody Gardner from Climate Control Kansas City shares how you can protect your pipes from bursting, and the technology you can use to make sure a burst pipe does not flood your home. Chef Roy Choi walks us through the first house his immigrant family owned in Orange County and how a bustling, fermentation-heavy kitchen shaped his senses, his privacy, and ultimately his path as a chef. Finally, sleep expert Dr. Michael Bruce shares simple bedroom upgrades that improve rest by working with your body’s five senses.In this episode you’ll learn:*Whether running your central HVAC fan can really replace a bathroom exhaust fan, and why moisture control still matters for mold prevention. (8:31)*Why a poorly sloped shower floor can’t be fixed from the surface, plus smarter options for dealing with staining and discolored grout. (14:13)*What it means when an outlet still shows power after the breaker is off, and how to safely verify electrical work with the right testing tools. (20:28)*How to insulate a drafty sunroom to make it more comfortable year-round. (26:20)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

A professional mover shares the biggest mistakes people make, the packing supplies that actually matter, and the small planning choices that can save your stuff (and your sanity) on move day. We visit a 1946 Rudolph Schindler home in Los Angeles with author Susan Orlean, who brought the home back to its original vision. Plus, a mother-daughter wallpaper team explains why wallpaper is back, what types to choose for different rooms and lifestyles, and why today’s materials and techniques make hanging (and removing) it far less intimidating than its reputation.In this episode you will learn:* Condensation and dripping on exposed beams in a vaulted ceiling after a roof rebuild, especially on sunny days in humid weather (9:01)* Why water-based paint peels off oil-based paint, and how to fix it using stripping and the right bonding primer (14:40)* Whether lifting a 120-year-old house is a realistic flood-mitigation strategy and how to weigh cost, disruption, and insurance impacts (20:32)* Adding a neutral wire to a 14-50 receptacle used for an EV charger so it can also power an RV, and whether hardwiring is the better setup (28:02)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.NOTE: This episode has been updated to reflect the correct employer for our guest.

Don’t wait for a fall to force change — aging in place is about smart decisions made early. This episode covers the home upgrades that protect your independence, a soulful tour of Roseanne Cash’s Chelsea brownstone, how to choose the right generator before a blackout, and real homeowner calls with practical fixes.In this episode you'll learn:*How to make simple aging-in-place upgrades, like safer entryways, bathrooms, and clear paths through your home, to prevent falls before they happen. (1:00)*How to repair hairline cracks in original plaster ceilings and know when simple patching is enough instead of replacing the ceiling. (9:00)*How to remove moss and lichen from your roof without damage, using soft washing instead of high-pressure spraying. (14:02)*How to handle an old dryer vent after switching to a ventless dryer, and why it’s smart to keep future options open. (19:25)*How to install a smart, lighted mirror on a tiled wall, including wiring it correctly and drilling tile without cracking it. (26:20)

Cold weather doesn’t just freeze pipes, it sends mice and rats searching for a warm place to nest. Pest control expert Noel Buckingham explains how to find openings and seal them up so rodents never make it inside. Filmmaker Ken Burns opens the door to the New Hampshire home that has defined his life, his work, and his sense of belonging. This Old House engineer Ross Trethewey demystifies smart thermostats, explaining how to choose the right one, wire it correctly, and use its features to save energy and protect your home. And general contractor Zach Dettmore shares his favorite under $20 bit extension and how it can rescue you in tight drilling spots. In this episode you will learn:* How to deal with mold on an unfinished basement foundation wall in an older home (7:31)* How to track down what a “mystery” three way light switch actually controls (14:22)* How to handle a failed solid stain on an older pressure treated deck and decide what to refinish versus leave gray (19:34)* How to address efflorescence and bubbling on a block wall in a below grade bonus room (26:18)All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.