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Heating & Cooling

Navigation
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Choosing the Best Firewood to Heat Your Home

Discover the best firewood for your home, along with essential safety and storage tips to keep your home safe and warm during the chilly months.
An image of Tom Silva standing in front of a red home.

Should Crawl-Space Vents be Open or Closed?

Should your crawl-space vents open or closed? This Old House’s Tom Silva discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
Photo of two people looking at an air conditioning system that uses Freon, which is now a banned chemical.

What You Need to Know About the Freon Ban

Freon has been banned in the U.S. since 2020, but some homes still use Freon-based AC units. Here's what the ban means for these homeowners.
An expert performing annual Fall furnace maintenance

How to Do Fall Furnace Maintenance, and Why You Need To

Here are the steps to service your heating system in the fall. Whether it's you or a professional, we talk through all the important tasks.
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How To Install Central Air Conditioning

Want to install central AC in your home? Read this guide to learn more about central air, from installation costs to selecting the best unit.
S22 E24: Ross Trethewey installs a smart thermostat
Play

How To Install A Smart Thermostat

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey helps a homeowner upgrade his existing thermostat to a smart model by finding the power source the new device needs.
Richards helps a homeowner install radiant floor heating.
Play

How to Retrofit Radiant Heating in a Bathroom

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner install a radiant floor system in their bathroom.
S22 E18: Ross Trethewey discusses switching to whole-house heat pumps with Kevin O'Connor
Play

What to Know Before Switching to Whole House Heat Pumps

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor about heat pumps and how they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
LifeSmart LifePro Indoor Space Heater, Dr Infrared Carbon Infrared Outdoor Heater, and Heat Storm Electric Space Heater isolated on a grid paper background

7 Best Infrared Heaters (2024 Guide)

Our guide reviews the best infrared heaters with high ratings in different styles and sizes for your indoor or outdoor living space.
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Propane vs. Oil Heat: Which Is Best For Home Heating?

If you're trying to choose between propane and oil to heat your house, check out this comprehensive guide to the pros and cons of each.
S22 E12: Richard Trethewey installs a hybrid hot water heater
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When To Upsize a Water Heater

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey diagnoses and solves a homeowner’s lack of hot water.
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How to Upgrade to a Heat Pump System

Energy-saving, climate-friendly, and relatively easy to retrofit, air-source heat pumps are now a viable option for heating and cooling, even in cold climates. Here’s how to put them to work in your home
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How to Create a House HVAC Plan

Richard Trethewey demonstrates heat loss and gain to design a balanced HVAC system.
lead image - Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner

Our 6 Best Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner Picks (2024)

Looking for the best ductless mini-split air conditioner? Our guide covers today’s top models and what to look for when shopping.
Hands Changing Furnace Air Filter

Why is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

Most people will agree that central heat is one of the more essential modern conveniences—so when it stops working, your home can get uncomfortable fast. If you have a forced hot air system that has suddenly started blowing cold air, there are a few things that you can try to get the heat going before you call the furnace repair person.
S21 E25, Richard Trethewey installs a wood-burning fireplace insert
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How to Install a Fireplace Insert

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner supplement their living room heat by installing a wood-burning insert in their existing fireplace.
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Play

How to Weatherstrip a Wood Door

Enhancing the energy efficiency of an old, drafty door with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva
S21 E19, Ross Trethewey discusses attic insulation with a homeowner
Play

Fixing Ice Dams on a Roof

Home technology expert Ross Trethewey helps a homeowner solve an ice dam issue with smart insulation practices that also improve the home’s efficiency.
S21 E15, Richard Trethewey talks about furnace maintenance
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Filed under:

  • Heating & Cooling

Why is Furnace Maintenance Important?

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor about furnaces and why it’s important to maintain them properly.
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HVAC Air Balancing: What You Should Know

If you’re struggling with maintaining—or even attaining—a consistent temperature throughout your house, your HVAC system may be out of balance. This guide will explain the basics of air balancing, including how DIYers can tackle the job and when they should call a professional to sort out their home’s heating and air conditioning system.
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5 Best Ozone Generators (2024 Guide)

Ozone generators create a more breathable environment for you and your family. They also have the ability to kill harmful bacteria and viruses. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best ozone generators on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you.
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Filed under:

  • Heating & Cooling

Winter Home Maintenance Tasks

Keep your home in tip top shape by tackling these maintenance tasks this season.
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All About Radiant Floor Heating

Whether it’s warming a large addition or a cozy bathroom, radiant heat underfoot invisibly ups the comfort level. Here’s the lowdown on some of today’s most popular systems.
A man kneeling down in front of a water heater to work on replacing it.
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Everything You Need to Know to Replace a Water Heater

In this DIY Smarts segment, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace their old tank water heater before it fails.
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How to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

Your furnace may need some TLC before starting it up this winter. Here are some tips on what to do to get your furnace prepped before the cold months arrive.
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The 5 Best Humidifiers (2024 Review)

Humidifiers add moisture to dry air. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best humidifiers on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
S21 E1, Richard Trethewey shows how water heaters can fail
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3 Reasons Water Heaters Fail

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey gives host Kevin O’Connor an inside look at why a water heater fails.
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How to Cool a Garage

While avoiding the garage during the heat of the day is obviously an option, some folks find their happiness or make their money in their garages or workshops. But is suffering through oppressive heat the only way to stay productive all summer? Is there no hope for summertime garage projects? These smart, practical, and effective tips for how to cool a garage will help.
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Understanding Air Flow in Your House

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey explain everything you need to know about balancing airflow within a home.
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What Does Propane Tank Installation Cost?

To heat your home or power your appliances with propane, you’ll need to install a large storage tank on your property. Here’s how much that will cost to set up.
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Best Space Heaters (2024 Guide)

Space heaters come in many sizes and can help lower your electricity bill. In this review, we look at some of today's best space heaters.
Best hygrometer lead image

Best Hygrometers (2024 Guide)

Hygrometers help you stay aware of humidity and other environmental conditions within your home. Learn about the best hygrometers with our comprehensive guide.
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