Collecting rainwater with rain barrels is one of the simplest ways to conserve water, lower your utility bills, and reduce stormwater runoff around your property. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting to explore sustainable home practices, a well-designed rain barrel system captures water that would otherwise flow off your roof and into […]
If you have noticed musty smells on your first floor or spotted puddles underneath your home, you may be dealing with water in your crawl space. This is a surprisingly common problem in houses built with crawl space foundations, and it can lead to mold growth, wood rot, and higher energy bills if left untreated.
Your home’s plumbing system is one of the most essential yet overlooked networks in your house. It delivers clean water for drinking, bathing, and cooking, then safely removes wastewater. When it works properly, you barely notice it. But when something goes wrong – a leak, a clog, or low water pressure – the entire household
Historic homes offer a rare opportunity to own a piece of architectural history, and the 1890s Folk Victorian house in Water Valley, Mississippi, is a prime example. Located on what was once known as Silk Stocking Row, this property blends Victorian-era charm with Craftsman updates added in later years. For preservation-minded buyers, proper roof maintenance
Water flows through every aspect of our daily lives, yet most of us barely think about where it comes from or where it goes after it disappears down the drain. In the debut episode of Clearstory, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor sits down with author Charles Fishman, whose book “The Big Thirst” challenges everything
The holiday season brings family, food, and celebration, but it also creates a collision of domestic chaos and professional crisis. While homeowners scramble to prepare Thanksgiving dinner, plumbers and HVAC technicians field emergency calls from homes where something has gone wrong. The This Old House team asks who is worse off, the turkey or the
Beneath the surface of many rivers across North America lies a hidden treasure: logs that sank during historic logging drives more than a century ago. Known as deadhead logs, this submerged old-growth timber has been preserved by cold, oxygen-poor water for hundreds of years. When recovered, these logs produce some of the most beautiful and
Soldering copper pipes has long been the gold standard in plumbing, but it demands steady hands, a torch, and practice to avoid burned joints or leaky connections. For DIY homeowners and professionals alike, there are reliable alternatives that deliver watertight seals without an open flame. Whether you are working in a tight crawlspace where a
Homeowners are increasingly turning to underground water delivery methods for their lawns. Subsurface drip irrigation places emitter lines beneath the soil, delivering water directly to the root zone. This works especially well for lawns with narrow strips, steep slopes, or unusual shapes. By keeping water below the surface, these systems eliminate losses from evaporation and
A leaking water heater can ruin a quiet evening fast. Whether you spot a puddle under the tank, a steady drip from a valve, or water spraying from a pipe connection, the sight of moisture near a major appliance is never welcome. The good news is that not every leak means the heater is finished.
