Plumbing Planning

Your home’s plumbing works hard to keep your home a comfortable and clean place to live. Usually, it’s well worth hiring a professional plumber to fix problems with pipes, drains, and fixtures.

While many homes in the United States use municipal sewers, due to factors like location, some homeowners must opt for septic tanks. Read on to learn a few fundamentals of this sewage system.

Sump pumps keep your home from flooding by pumping ground water out of your basement or crawl space. In this review, we take a look at the best sump pumps on the market, discuss various features, and answer common sump pump questions.

A washing machine pan helps protect your home against flood damage resulting from a leaky washer. Read this article to learn more about washing machine pans and how you can install one in your home.

In this article, we describe the most common types of plumbing pipes and how they’re used within your home’s plumbing system.

If you live in a rural area or are planning on building a new home in the countryside, you may need a septic system. Read this article to learn more about the process and cost of septic system installation.

A well-maintained septic system is trouble-free and something a homeowner doesn’t have to think about much. Here’s how to keep it that way.

When it comes to bad things like a sewer backup, it’s always smarter to be prepared. Read on for a few tips for handling a sewer backup.

Tired of running out of hot water? That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater.

Save big bucks while taking advantage of the existing heat in your home. Here’s what you need to know about heat pump water heaters.

A pro's advice on how to help your tradesperson help you

Richard diagnoses a puddle of water near a boiler

For a quick and easy upgrade in a house's most popular room, nothing makes a bigger impact with less sweat and expense than replacing an outdated faucet

Everything breaks, eventually. TOH helps you decide if it's worth your time—and money—to bust out the tool kit for a quick fix or start shopping for something new

Impress your guests this holiday season with one of these stylish bar sinks, perfect for chilling cocktails, prepping hors d'oeuvres, and cleaning up.

A primer on your pipes and fixtures from This Old House plumbing expert Richard Trethewey

How to weld plastic in seconds

Water heaters are easy to ignore—until they stop working. From size, types, cost, and maintenance read this step-by-step guide to buying a water heater if you're looking to replace yours.

Even small leaks can lead to big repairs. Here’s what you should know before hiring a plumber.