Heating & Cooling Videos

These This Old House videos showcase all of our heating & cooling projects, how-tos, and designs.

S22 E18: Ross Trethewey discusses switching to whole-house heat pumps with Kevin O'Connor
Play

Filed under:

What to Know Before Switching to Whole House Heat Pumps

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor about heat pumps and how they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
S22 E12: Richard Trethewey installs a hybrid hot water heater
Play

When To Upsize a Water Heater

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey diagnoses and solves a homeowner’s lack of hot water.
hvac_4003
Play

How to Create a House HVAC Plan

Richard Trethewey demonstrates heat loss and gain to design a balanced HVAC system.
weatherstrip_door
Play

How To Weatherstrip a Wood Door and Lower Energy Bills

Weatherstripping a wood door is a valuable DIY project that can improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort. Learn how to do it in our step-by-step guide.
S21 E19, Ross Trethewey discusses attic insulation with a homeowner
Play

Fixing Ice Dams on a Roof

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey helps a homeowner solve an ice dam issue with smart insulation practices that also improve the home’s efficiency.
S21 E15, Richard Trethewey talks about furnace maintenance
Play

Why is Furnace Maintenance Important?

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor about furnaces and why it’s important to maintain them properly.
A man kneeling down in front of a water heater to work on replacing it.
Play

Everything You Need to Know to Replace a Water Heater

In this DIY Smarts segment, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace their old tank water heater before it fails.
S21 E1, Richard Trethewey shows how water heaters can fail
Play

Reasons for Water Heater Failure and When to Replace a Heater

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey gives host Kevin O’Connor an inside look at why a water heater fails and when to replace one.
ASK_10272021AC_B84EC1C46E12
Play

All About Smart Thermostats

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey explains everything there is to know about modern smart thermostats.
IMG_1030_ASK_2016_2400x1350_SF
Play

How to Save Money on Heating Bills

Watch as This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey teach some cost-effective ways to save money on heating this winter.
heat_pumps_2013_SF
Play

Future House | Understanding Heat Pumps

Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Tretheway explains everything you need to know about heat pumps.
water_heaters_2002_SF
Play

Types of Water Heaters

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey walks us through the pros and cons of different types of water heaters.
ASKMoveRadiator_10282020_0026
Play

How to Move Baseboard Heating

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner by moving a hot water baseboard heater from one side of a room to another.
Richard Trethewey discusses HVAC with John Deforge of SG Harold Plumbing and Heating
Play

Serviceable Plumbing and HVAC Installations

Watch as Richard Trethewey and John Deforge of SG Harold Plumbing and Heating discuss the challenges that service technicians face on the job.
cape_ann_heating_plan_rt
Play

Cape Ann Project Heating Plan

Our plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains the general layout of the heating and cooling system in our Cape Ann project
humid_air_conditioner
Play

How to Diagnose and Repair a Humid Air Conditioner

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Orlando to diagnose and repair an HVAC system that is creating way too much humidity
maximize_comfort_with_thermostat
Play

How to Maximize Comfort with a Thermostat

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey discuss improvements to thermostats and how they contribute to comfort in a home
thermostat
Play

How to Install a GPS-Enabled Smart Thermostat

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey installs a thermostat that can be programmed automatically from a smart phone
water_heater_temp
Play

How to Adjust Water Heater Temperature

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to change the temperature on your water heater for safety and energy savings
web_baseboard_heat_v2
Play

How To Fix a Noisy Baseboard Heater

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner diagnose and solve a baseboard hot water system that makes noise.
garage_heat
Play

How to Heat a Garage Workshop

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey travels to Akron, Ohio to install a garage heater.
heat_pump
Play

How To Install an Electric Heat Pump Water Heater

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner select and install the right electric water heater.
portable_ac
Play

How to Select a Portable Air Conditioner

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey walks host Kevin O’Connor through the choices in air conditioners.
ductless
Play

How to Install a Whole-House Ductless System

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows a style of ductless heat pump that can be used to heat and cool an entire house
ac_0
Play

How to Maintain an Air Conditioner

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shares tips for keeping an air conditioner running efficiently
renewaire_segment
Play

How an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) Works

Richard Trethewey explains how an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) replaces conditioned indoor air with fresh outdoor air without wasting energy
steam_heat
Play

The Pros and Cons of a Steam Heating System

Considering steam heat? We help you weigh the pros and cons so you can decide if it is right for you.
insider_030818_grab
Play

Sizing up a Home Heating System

Richard Trethewey explains how to assess a home’s heating system – and figure out whether you’ll need to replace it
steam_radiator
Play

How to Replace a Steam Radiator

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey replaces a small radiator with one that’s the correct size
wall_mounted_space_heater
Play

How to Install a Wall Mounted Space Heater

Ask This Old House master electrician Scott Caron warms up a chilly bathroom by installing an electric convection heater.
hot_water_heating
Play

How To Diagnose Problems With a Hot Water Heating System

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner figure out why one of her radiators is not working.
hvac
Play

How to Install Room-By-Room Zoning in an HVAC System

Ask This Old House plumbing expert Richard Trethewey learns about an HVAC system that allows each room to be zoned out using smartphone technology.
ask_richard
Play

Ask This Old House: Richard Trethewey’s Greatest Hits

Over the years, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey has helped hundreds of homeowners reduce their energy consumption and slash their monthly utility bills