This Old House Radio Hour

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, s...

If your home feels a little tired after the holidays, we’ve packed this episode with fast, budget-friendly upgrades you can tackle in a single weekend—from smart lighting tricks and warm color temperatures to simple layering that instantly makes rooms feel brighter, calmer, and more put-together. In Contractor Confidential, we break down how to handle unfinished renovation details, manage a punch list, and follow up with a...

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 differen...

A few minutes a week can save your home — and your sanity. This episode shows how a simple, year-round home checklist prevents big repairs, answers listener questions on floors, ovens, mirrors, and stone walls, and explores what “home” really means through Pulitzer Prize–winner Viet Thanh Nguyen and Cheap Old Houses.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
*How to create a simple weekly home checklist that prevents costly...

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, bat...

You don’t need more square footage — just smarter design. Architect Sarah Susanka reveals how simple, non-construction tweaks can make your home feel bigger, while Daryl Hall tours his restored 1787 home, Cesar Millan rethinks the dog run, and our experts answer real homeowner questions live.

In this episode you'll learn:
*How to safely connect a portable generator to your home and whether a transfer switch or in...

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 ...

A professional chimney sweep explains how to safely prep, inspect, and clean your fireplace before lighting the first fire of the season. Award-winning poet and host of The Slowdown, Maggie Smith, shows us inside the 100-year-old house that carried her family through every chapter. Cheap Old Houses creators Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein unpack the reality behind two dreamy listings, including a “reimagined” Southern star...

Are you wasting money this winter because your home isn’t holding in your warm air? Learn how to do your home energy audit, so you can save money and keep comfortable. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jeffrey Eugenides takes us inside the prairie-style Michigan home that shaped his childhood and inspired his novel Middlesex, reflecting on architecture, memory, and the way houses shape the stories we tell. And DIY creator Sh...

TikTok’s cleaning expert Brandon Pleshek shows you how to bounce back from the Thanksgiving mess with simple routines and tools that make any home feel fresh fast. Actor William H. Macy shares the story of his Vermont cabin—and the hard-earned lessons he learned about woodstoves, flies, and finding comfort in the chaos. And food legend Alton Brown breaks down how to build a better backyard grill setup for all your holiday ...

Give your house a holiday makeover with the latest and greatest from the north pole. We tell you the latest decoration trends and technology with Jason Woodward from ChristmasDesigners.com. Actor Steve Schirripa reflects on his journey from a crowded Brooklyn apartment to building his dream home in Las Vegas, and how it shaped his understanding of what “home” really means. Also, what happens if your contractor exceeds a qu...

How to make your home run itself from your phone—simple automations you can set up in minutes, even if you’re not techy. Comedian Tig Notaro opens the door to her family’s Gulf Coast home and the love, loss, and resilience held in its walls. And Cheap Old Houses returns with real listings under $50K—and honest advice on what it really takes to fix them up.

On This Episode You Will Learn
*How to tell if you shoul...

This week on This Old House Radio Hour, we’re breaking down home and renter’s insurance—what you really need, what’s worth skipping, and how to keep premiums affordable without leaving gaps. New York Times Bestselling author and National Book Award nominee Rachel Kushner shares the lessons she learned growing up in a small Oregon bungalow, where creativity mattered more than square footage. And we’ll help you choose the ri...

Best-selling author Gretchen Rubin shares simple, free ways to make your home feel happier and more organized. Henry Rollins reflects on DC row houses, Ian MacKaye’s attic, and how the punk scene shaped his sense of home. Plus, Cheap Old Houses highlights two historic homes under $30,000, and our experts take listener questions on real home repairs.

What you’ll learn:

*The right tools to remove old staples an...

It’s an hour of Halloween Horror This Old House style! What happens when your dream home comes with… ghosts? Realtor Cindy Hagley reveals the chilling truths behind buying a stigmatized or haunted house—and what buyers should ask before the ink dries. Then, filmmaker Ronan Day-Lewis revisits his family’s eerie Connecticut farmhouse, where the basement still gives him nightmares. Plus, our electrician shows you how to keep ...

Before wildfire season hits, learn how to keep your house from burning before the flames arrive — and why your gutters might save your foundation. Then, Adam Carolla heads back to his childhood home and discovers that “turnkey” doesn’t mean what he thought. Plus, our landscape and lawn experts share the best ways to winterize your yard and garden.

In this episode you’ll also learn:

*Why gutters beat drains f...

Is that dark patch on your basement wall harmless—or a hidden health hazard? This week, we’re breaking down what every homeowner should know about mold, moisture, and how to keep your home healthy. Plus, Nick Offerman shares memories from the Minooka, Illinois farmhouse where he grew up.

All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

Hurricane season is here—this episode of This Old House Radio Hour goes beyond the basics with a step-by-step hurricane preparedness checklist to harden your home before the next storm hits. Plus, actor–director Griffin Dunne’s Beverly Hills childhood home, and Ethan & Elizabeth from Cheap Old Houses share two waterfront sleepers.

In this episode you will learn:
*How to identify and tame truss uplift so ceil...

Remediation Expert Ron Pike explains the simple rule for asbestos and lead: don’t touch it until you test it, and call in a pro if needed. Comedian Rhett McLaughlin (Good Mythical Morning) takes us inside his North Carolina log cabin, where family memories and even a few critters remind us why home matters. This Old House’s Kevin O’Connor checks in from Asheville, one year after Hurricane Helene, to show how families are r...