A house fire can start in seconds. This week, a firefighter breaks down the simple two-minute plan that could save your life and the most common mistakes people make in an emergency. Then, comedian Rob Corddry returns to his childhood home in Massachusetts, reflecting on the place that shaped him and the moment everything changed. Plus, how to handle renovation sticker shock, what contractors wish homeowners knew, and your home improvement questions answered.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* How to fix a countertop gap caused by an out-of-square wall.
* Whether a standard water heater can replace a boiler in a radiant heating system.
* How to think about moisture and vapor barriers when re-siding a home in a humid climate.
* Why caulk keeps cracking and how to fix it so it actually lasts.

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

Your smart home might be making your life easier, but it could also be making you an easy target. A cybersecurity expert explains the most common mistakes people make with connected devices and the simple fixes that can protect your home. Then, comedian Alonzo Bodden takes us inside the Los Angeles hill house he dreamed about for decades after years on the road. Plus, if your hydrangeas aren’t blooming, it might come down to when and how you’re pruning. We break down how to identify your plants and get them thriving again.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* How to safely install a corner shelf in a tiled shower without damaging the tile
* What to do when a ceiling fan loses power after an electrical mishap involving a backup generator
* How to fix squeaky, uneven second-floor floors without removing newly installed carpet
* How to diagnose water seeping into a garage foundation and whether a neighbor’s construction could be the cause
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All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at 877-This Old House Radio Hour! — That’s (877) 864-7460.

If your houseplants keep dying, it might not be your fault, it might be your approach. The duo behind Tanner the Planter share simple, practical ways to actually keep your plants alive, from choosing the right plant for your space to knowing when (and when not) to water. Then, Bravo’s Carl Radke takes us back to the small Pittsburgh home that shaped his childhood—filled with both warmth and hardship—and reflects on how that space still defines his idea of home today. Plus, A flooring expert breaks down the real differences between hardwood, laminate, and LVP, and how to decide whether to repair or replace when damage starts to show.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* Whether to use spray foam insulation in a cold, old farmhouse basement (and concerns about future renovations, safety, and off-gassing).
* How to handle stone steps and a walkway that have become embedded in a growing tree without damaging it.
* The correct step-by-step order for renovating a basement bathroom from scratch.
* Diagnosing a mysterious intermittent scratching noise coming from a cold air return vent.

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

Spring cleaning gets a smarter, faster makeover with tips from a viral cleaning expert who shares the tricks that actually make a difference, from ceiling fan hacks to the right way to clean your walls. Then, MS Now anchor Chris Hayes takes us inside his off-the-grid woodland retreat, and his all-in obsession with clean energy. Plus, in House Therapy, a vintage toilet sparks a full-blown standoff, and we help settle whether to restore or replace.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* How to fix stripped cabinet hinge holes so they actually hold.
* What to do after uncovering an old (and possibly unusable) fireplace.
* How to stop squeaky floors without tearing up your whole house.
* Why wood trim can change color over time, and what you can (and can’t) do about it

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

Garage doors are the hardest-working system in your home, so what happens when they start to fail? We break down how to maintain, repair, and replace them before small issues become costly problems. Then, Senior Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy reflects on the Sacramento home that shaped his lifelong belief in justice, tolerance, and moral responsibility. And finally, a practical guide to cleaning and preserving your upholstery, so your couch can survive everything from spills to everyday wear.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* How to temporarily fix a misaligned window that won’t close (8:52)
* Whether and how to rebalance an uneven HVAC system (14:50)
* What causes a retaining wall to bulge and how to prevent further damage (20:20)
* How to manage humidity and radon in a multi-level home (26:30)

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

Got bees? Before you call an exterminator, a professional beekeeper explains why relocation is often the smarter move, and how to keep colonies from moving into your home in the first place. Seinfeld writer Spike Feresten tours his 1939 Paul Williams–designed home in the Hollywood Hills, from a hidden speakeasy to a basement with a surprising past. And we break down why contractors are wary of stepping into partially DIY projects, and what homeowners can do to make those collaborations actually work.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* How to reduce dampness and musty smells in a dirt-floor basement with a fieldstone foundation. (7:30)
* How to properly level and maintain a bocce ball court on a slope. (14:16)
* Whether it’s worth removing asbestos siding to replace windows and add insulation—and how to do it safely; (20:23)
* Why removing paint from brick is so difficult (and when it’s better to leave it alone). (26:14)

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

Is luxury paint actually worth the splurge, or are you just paying for branding? This week, we dig into what really separates high-end paint from the rest, from durability and scrub-ability to the chemistry inside the can. Then, CNN anchor Jake Tapper takes us to his quiet A-frame lake house in rural Virginia, a family refuge far from the chaos of Washington. And This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada explains how to create a biodiverse yard with native plants, layered landscaping, and habitat that supports birds, bees, and other wildlife.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:
* How to hang photos and curtain rods on old plaster walls in a renter-friendly way. (7:57)
* What might be causing a hump in the floor of a 1909 Craftsman home. (14:19)
* Ways to disguise a large crack in a wall-sized mirror. (20:31)
* How to make a smart thermostat work in an older home with outdated wiring. (25:28)

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

Show notes:
Find MPI’s Approved Products List or Decision Tree to help find the perfect match at MPI.net. (https://mpi.net/thisoldhouse/)

We take a look at what comes after the McMansion, as architecture critic Kate Wagner explains how these oversized suburban status symbols came to define an era and why today’s replacement may be even blander. Then, Bullseye host Jesse Thorn takes us inside his lovingly preserved 1888 Queen Anne in Los Angeles, where original craftsmanship, city noise, and a lived-in sense of history make the house feel truly alive. And Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz shares simple ways to make your living room feel more like a real movie theater, from better sound to fewer distractions.

In this episode you’ll learn:
* Whether acoustic insulation above a bathroom ceiling can cause moisture problems, and why proper ventilation is the real key. (8:02)
* How to deal with a sink cutout that’s too large for a replacement sink without replacing the whole countertop. (14:16)
* The best way to remove raised plaster stencil designs from a wall before repainting. (20:59)
* What it could mean when an older home’s floors suddenly develop a hump or slope, and when structural movement may be a concern. (26:09)

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