What is that smell coming from your dryer? Usually, your dryer smells very pleasant after you use it. However, lately, you have been smelling strange odors that make your dryer and your clothing reek after each use. What is this peculiar odor coming from your dryer, and how do you remove a terrible smell from a dryer? Read on to discover the ideal dryer odor eliminator for you. What Causes Bad Odors in a Dryer?...
Kevin Between Clicks Like many a new father, our TOH host greeted the birth of his first child by rushing out to buy a camera: “You have a new baby, and it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I gotta take pictures of this kid!’ ” That was 14 years ago—and only Kevin’s second year on This Old House. Eventually, as he developed a habit of carrying his camera around, he thought to take it to the job site....
When is it Time to Get a New Mattress? It’s more than 10 years old and sports lumps, dips, or trenches. Your hips sink too low, so you wake up with a sore lower back. Sagging means the springs are worn, the batting has flattened, or the mattress or box spring was poorly made. You wake up stiff or with shoulder or neck pain. You’ve changed: You’ve gotten much lighter or heavier, which can affect the body—mattress fit....
Question: The silicone caulking between the cultured-marble pan and the ceramic tile wall in my shower stall has to be replaced. Is there a special tool for this purpose? –Gene Ackert, Ramona, CA Answer: I’m sure there is, although I’ve never had to use one. I’ve had pretty good luck with a utility knife and a glass scraper with a razor blade. First, slice through each side of the bead with the knife, and pull out what you can by hand....
STAMFORD, Conn. and SAN JOSE, Calif., SEPT. 22, 2022 — Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ: Roku) today announced the Emmy® Award-winning series This Old House and Ask This Old House will premiere new seasons of both top-rated shows starting Thursday, September 29th. New episodes will premiere on PBS as well as the This Old House premium subscription channel on The Roku Channel on Thursdays. Viewers will be able to stream new episodes for free on demand on The Roku Channel the following Mondays....
The earliest fences in America were tree trunks split lengthwise and stacked in zigzags to delineate the landscape. These fences made great sense as the land was being cleared of trees for agriculture. It was a great way to turn what was then considered a waste product into a resource. You rarely see such fences today except in historical villages. Today, we have many more fencing options, but some of the same considerations remain....
Long before fiberglass or extruded aluminum, craftsmen working in spar yards used lathes to turn wooden flagpoles—masts with landlubber destinies. Honoring this tradition, flagpole terminology still twists nautical: Flags are raised by sheaves (pulleys) and halyards (ropes) that are secured on cleats. Some poles even have double or step masts, yardarms (crossbars) and gaffs (extra spars perpendicular to the yardarms). Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Although wood is the most historically authentic material for a flagpole, it is also the most expensive....
This lovely porch sign can be decorated on both sides to celebrate more than one holiday or season. I’m also adding a hook for a hoop wreath on each side to make it easy to transform as the seasons change. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Read the step-by-step instructions below and scroll down for a list of tools, materials, and cut list needed for the project. Steps for Making a DIY Reversible Porch Sign 1....
In this video, Ask This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook teaches a homeowner how to fill a pothole in an asphalt driveway to make it safe. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps for Repairing a Pothole: Use a shovel to dig out the excess rock, dirt, and other debris until you reach subsoil. Use paver base to fill in the hole, compacting it with the tamper every 2 to 4 inches until you’re within 2 inches of finished grade....
Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time In general, residential houses start with 1” gas pipes at the gas meter and then branch out to smaller diameter pipes using T fittings as they reach their appliance destinations. To connect gas appliances to the main branch, there are gas pipes that come in a variety of lengths that you can piece together to reach each appliance. They are secured with pipe dope and gas fittings....
Previous episode: S20 E19 | Next episode: S20 E21 In this episode: While he wishes everything in his life was as organized as his truck, This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert takes pride in having a clean truck ready to tackle any project at any job site. Nathan takes viewers on a personal tour of his work truck and shows exactly how he stores and organizes his tools and supplies to help make the workday more efficient and convenient....
Previous episode: S42 E27 | Next episode: S42 E29 In this episode: The number of people entering the building trades has declined dramatically over the past few decades. Our Generation Next initiative was launched to highlight the problem and encourage young people to consider the building trades as a viable profession. Mike Rowe helped us launch Generation Next and joined us on the roof of our Newton project. Over the seasons we have met many young people who see the value in this work....
Top 5 Chair Mats Best For Hard Floors: MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat Pros and Cons ✔ Made of a non-toxic, odorless material✔ Can also be used on carpets✔ Sold in multipacks, making ordering easy for larger offices Compare Top Chair Mats MuArts Crystal Clear Heavy-Duty Chair Mat $70 Prices taken at time of publishing. This office chair mat has a transparent design that’s 0.2 inches thick to protect your hard or carpeted surfaces from chair scuffs....
Top 5 Fire Extinguishers Best Aerosol Spray: First Alert EZ Fire Spray Fire-Extinguishing Aerosol Spray Best Pack: First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher Best 10-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B402 Fire Extinguisher Best Five-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher Most Lightweight Standard Extinguisher: Kidde FA110 Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguisher Best Aerosol Spray: First Alert EZ Fire Spray Fire-Extinguishing Aerosol Spray This fire extinguisher from First Alert comes in a lightweight aerosol can, which makes it the perfect size for small spaces, such as dorm rooms and vehicles....
If you missed out on this deal, here are our top three alternatives: Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Digital Air Fryer $88 $175 50% off Prices taken at time of publishing. This digital air fryer has a large window to let users see what’s cooking in real time. Great for those who want to cook food to a precise temperature, the included temperature probe eliminates second-guessing. It has a large capacity of 1 cubic foot....
Aged terracotta pots can give your garden a romantic weathered look. You can cut to the chase and make your new terracotta pots look like they’ve been there for decades with chalky lime, which turns any pristine pot into a relic. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Steps on How to Age a Terracotta Pot 1. Stir the Mixture In a bowl, mix garden lime and water together in a 50–50 ratio, and stir until you get a paste....
With Arizona’s hot climate, it’s important to maintain your air conditioning, refrigerator, and other systems and appliances. Luckily, a home warranty can help cover repair and replacement costs when covered systems or appliances break down from normal wear and tear. To help you find the best home warranty for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team researched a variety of home warranty companies in Arizona and compared them on coverage, plans, and pricing....
If your porch isn’t well maintained, the whole house looks shabby. Here you’ll learn how to handle one of the most common of all porch repairs: building a new lattice skirt. This enclosure conceals the framing while it also allows air to circulate under the porch floor, which keeps the framing dry and free of rot. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time A skirt typically consists of a lattice panel set into a wood frame....
Previous episode: S18 E3 | Next episode: S18 E5 In this episode: Tom explains the uses and purposes of different types of screws; Richard travels to Park City, Utah to install a whole house ductless humidifier; Ross and Richard discuss changes to electric bill payment structures; Jenn installs a front entry planter for a homeowner that will last through the winter. How to Install a Whole-House Ductless Humidifier Richard travels to Park City, Utah to install a whole house ductless humidifier....
It’s easy to take electricity for granted. We expect it to be available 24/7, and we depend on this amazing, invisible movement of electrons for innumerable everyday activities. Electricity’s importance is immediately evident whenever there’s a power outage, or when a malfunction causes a shock or a fire. Old houses are particularly prone to electrical problems. For starters, they are almost always underpowered, relying on 60amp or 100amp service rather than the 200amp service that many newer houses use today....
