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 right bathroom exhaust fan so your walls stay dry, your air stays fresh, and your mornings stay quiet.

On This Episode You Will Learn:

* How to keep pigeons off your roof safely and effectively. (9:41)
* How to know when it’s time to call in a pro versus trying it yourself. (11:09)
* How to make cold floors feel warmer without major renovations. (14:56)
* How to seal up drafty old windows and save on energy bills. (21:05)
* How to repaint peeling trim the right way without stripping lead paint. (26:52)

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

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 and nails from hardwood floors. (7:34)
*How to track your home’s energy use and spot problems early. (14:16)
*How to protect your belongings and hire a contractor for basement repairs. (20:24)
*The best way to clean white residue off brick and masonry. (27:24)
*What to check before buying a fixer-upper on a tight budget. (40:14)

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

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 your Halloween decorations from turning your front yard into a real horror show—and our experts tackle your spookiest home repair questions.

What You’ll Learn:

*How to silence a door that creaks like something out of a haunted mansion. (8:18)
*How to strip and refinish a porch ceiling so it doesn’t peel like old wallpaper in a ghost story. (14:15)
*How to safely raise a vaulted ceiling without bringing the house down. (20:34)
*How to re-mortar crumbling fireplace bricks before they crumble completely to dust. (26:13)
*How to power up Halloween lights and inflatables without any shocking surprises. (40:04)

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

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 for stopping basement leaks (11:58)
*How to paint and seal concrete countertops the right way (14:21)
*The weird but genius baby powder trick for squeaky floors (22:55)
*The safest way to hard-wire your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (26:14)
*How to grow moss on brick with nothing but yogurt and milk (50:12)

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

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.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

*How to tell if a small patch of floor damage can be spot-fixed or if your whole floor needs sanding to look right. (8:43)
*How to find out why your outdoor lights keep tripping and how to safely test whether it’s the outlet, the transformer, or the wiring. (14:38)
*How to stop cold air from sneaking in under your kitchen appliances by sealing gaps and adding insulation. (18:50)
*How to pick the right kind of insulation and understand what “R-value” really means for keeping your home comfortable year-round. (22:14)
*How to keep paint from peeling off your home’s trim in strong sun and what materials hold up best in hot climates. (25:57)

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 ceiling tape stops cracking. (7:22)
*The safe way to deal with mixed-era wiring. (15:04)
*Beating a below-grade humidity bunker. (21:00)
*Retrofitting insulation in a 100-year-old duplex. (26:21)

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

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 rebuilding smarter and stronger.

In This Episode You Will Learn:
*Asbestos & lead: If you find a scary-looking old material, don’t panic—stop, test it, and let a professional handle the rest. (1:49)
*Floors: If your new floor makes clicking noises, a contractor can inject glue under the boards so you don’t need to start over. (8:56)
*Painting: Primer alone won’t last outside—paint over it quickly, or it will peel no matter how careful you were. (15:10)
*Siding: Only replace shingles that are cracked or curling; the rest can be left alone to naturally age to gray. (20:10)
*Musty rooms: **Fresh air is the cure—**sometimes adding a small fan or vent is all it takes to clear the smell. (26:58)


This Old House Radio Hour has been nominated for a Signal Award in the advice and how to category. Help us win by voting today!
https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2025/shows/genre/advice-how-to

This week we break down how to build a net-zero home with YouTuber Matt Ferrell—from electrification and heat pumps to solar, batteries, and smart load-shifting. Then On Point’s Meghna Chakrabarti takes us back to her Corvallis, Oregon childhood home where her parents grew their version of the American dream. And Cheap Old Houses spotlights a 1930s stucco in San Antonio and a Mississippi farmstead with room to grow.

In This Episode You Will Learn:
*Plaster ceilings: How to assess hairline vs. structural cracks and repair them with mesh tape, skim coat, and repainting—without a costly tear-out. (9:04)
*Duct cleaning cadence: How to decide if your ducts actually need cleaning (filter MERV ratings, photo/snake-cam check) and set a realistic 3–5 year schedule. (14:32)
*Hot upstairs/half-story: How to cool and heat a tricky finished attic with a mini-split now, and plan insulation/air-sealing or an over-roof upgrade later. (21:33)
*Leaky gable vents: How to permanently seal/flash problem vents using liquid flashing, a drip edge, and PVC trim for a watertight closure. (25:29)
*Smelly washer: How to de-funk a front-loader with a vinegar/water scrub of the drum and gasket—and keep odors away by drying with the door ajar. (49:50)

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

Inspector Fletch walks us through the essentials of a professional home inspection—from spotting foundation cracks and moisture intrusion to attic ventilation and hidden safety risks—so homeowners can protect their biggest investment with confidence. Plus, New Yorker editor David Remnick recalls life in a Moscow flat as a young correspondent during the collapse of the Soviet Union, showing how home and history intertwine in unexpected ways. Finally, our experts break down the red flags, green lights, and smart questions to ask before hiring a contractor so you don’t get burned.

In this episode, you will learn:
Spot foundation cracks and moisture problems before they turn into costly repairs. (3:32)
Phase and prioritize projects as a new homeowner so you save money and stress. (8:56)
Handle wiring issues safely and know when it’s time to call a licensed electrician. (14:49)
Fix a rotted bathroom floor caused by leaks with a clear, step-by-step repair. (20:21)
Hire the right contractor by recognizing red flags and asking the smart questions. (49:14)

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

Keywords
#homeInspection #foundationcrack #moistureproblems #electricalwiring #whentocallanelectrician #bathroomfloorrot #toiletleak #howtohireacontractor #contractorredflags
#David Remnick #TheNewYorker #Russia #ThisOldHouse #DIY #HomeImprovement

Learn how the right paint colors can boost your mood, why muted patterns calm anxiety, how to test pipes for lead with a magnet, the fix for mysterious cracking tile noises, and whether solar panels work on moonlight. Plus: Mike and Molly’s Billy Gardell shares the story of buying his first home, experts tackle driveway erosion, and you’ll get pro tips like removing marble stains with baking soda and protecting tools with charcoal.