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 to choose the right one, wire it correctly, and use its features to save energy and protect your home. And general contractor Zach Dettmore shares his favorite under $20 bit extension and how it can rescue you in tight drilling spots.

In this episode you will learn:
* How to deal with mold on an unfinished basement foundation wall in an older home (7:31)
* How to track down what a “mystery” three way light switch actually controls (14:22)
* How to handle a failed solid stain on an older pressure treated deck and decide what to refinish versus leave gray (19:34)
* How to address efflorescence and bubbling on a block wall in a below grade bonus room (26:18)

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

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 starter in Macon, Georgia, and a wildly charming but work-heavy 1850s gingerbread house in upstate New York. And our expert shares why a cordless miter saw has become his go to tool for clean, efficient work on job sites.

In this episode you’ll learn:
* How to decide what to tackle first when your old house has sloping floors, drafty windows, and aging siding. (7:52)
* How to get ceiling-fan level comfort in a low, sloped-ceiling addition that doesn’t really have room for a standard fan. (15:12)
* How to repair loose, plank tiles and cracked grout lines without replacing your whole tile floor. (20:41)
* How to deal with a peeling refinish on an old cast-iron tub (26:50)

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 Shelby Turner joins us to break down peel-and-stick flooring — how to prep, install, and choose the right materials, plus the tricks that make it renter-friendly and long-lasting.

In this episode you’ll learn:

How to deal with layers of vinyl and asbestos siding when you want to restore the original wood exterior on an old house. (7:59)
How to repair a crumbling exterior concrete window sill (14:38)
How to fix creaky, carpeted stairs without fully rebuilding or replacing the staircase. (20:37)
How to power your home during a blackout using an electric vehicle or backup battery system tied into a dedicated circuit (26:46).

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