Garage Door 101 + Supreme Court Justice Kennedy’s Home + Smarter Sofa Care

Garage Door 101 + Supreme Court Justice Kennedy’s Home + Smarter Sofa Care

From This Old House Radio Hour by American Public Media

April 7, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

The episode covers garage door maintenance, reflections from Justice Anthony Kennedy, and upholstery care tips.

Garage doors are the hardest-working system in your home, so what happens when they start to fail? We break down how to maintain, repair, and replace them before small issues become costly problems. Then, Senior Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy reflects on the Sacramento home that shaped his lifelong belief in justice, tolerance, and moral responsibility. And finally, a practical guide to cleaning and preserving your upholstery, so your couch can survive everything from spills to everyday wear. In This Episode You’ll Learn: * How to temporarily fix a misaligned window that won’t close (8:52) * Whether and how to rebalance an uneven HVAC system (14:50) * What causes a retaining wall to bulge and how to prevent further damage (20:20) * How to manage humidity and radon in a multi-level home (26:30) All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

People in this episode

Guest: Anthony Kennedy

Topics covered

  • garage door maintenance
  • Supreme Court Justice
  • upholstery care
  • home improvement
  • HVAC systems
  • retaining wall issues

Keywords

  • garage doors
  • home maintenance
  • cleaning upholstery
  • HVAC
  • retaining wall
  • humidity management
  • radon

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: This Old House Radio Hour

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