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♪♪

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Kevin:
On "Ask This Old House,"

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our experts travel
across the country

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to answer questions
about your house.

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♪♪

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Today, Richard shares the marvel
that is modern plumbing.

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Then he helps
a homeowner retrofit

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radiant floor heating...
Richard: Go.

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Kevin: ...underneath
his existing bathroom floor.

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Plus, Nathan tells us
everything we need to know

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about maintaining and updating
cable railing systems.

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And Jenn walks us through
the new changes to

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the USDA Hardiness Zone Map.

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Next, on "Ask This Old House."

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Richard: One of the things that
people don't even notice is

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modern plumbing.

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They expect to have
perfectly clean water.

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They expect to flush
or run the water in the sink,

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and it just goes away.

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And it's one of the
great luxuries and necessities

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of the world
that is underappreciated.

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Woman: That's really good.
Richard: Perfecto.

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Life is just...really awful
if you can't trust that

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you're not gonna get
sick from that.

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The simplest little bug
can contaminate the population.

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It's just more important
than people ever think about

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in their day-to-day life.

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It's much more important.

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They just sort of think,
"Oh, yeah,

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let me just have
a glass of water."

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Nowadays, you just -- you can
walk into a commercial bathroom

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and just swipe your hand,
and it gives you clean water.

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Shut it off.
The toilets do the same thing.

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My grandfather --
My great-grandfather

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would flip around
in his grave three times

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to think about
that kind of stuff.

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[ Toilet flushes ]

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The term "loo" is derived from
the French for regardez l'eau.

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Regardez l'eau is 
"watch out for the water."

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And so it would be that
there would be a chamber pot

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that was used on
the second or third floor

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and was thrown out the window,

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and they would yell,
"Regardez l'eau!"

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And regardez l'eau! 
was shortened,

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at least in England, to loo.

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The way they disposed of it
in the castle era was

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they built a moat,

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and the moat was
filled with the unmentionables.

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The real need for
modern plumbing came when

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we went from an
agri-based society to a city.

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And they moved to a city,
and now there's all those people

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and they have to
dispose of their waste.

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Most of the rivers that
the cities were developed around

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were soiled and stuff like that,

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so it became critical to have
a modern sewage-treatment plant

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or some sort of way
to get that stuff to safety

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and then get it treated.

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Man: So, this is the clean water
that we're gonna be

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sending out to the Merrimack.

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Richard: Let's see how
you did, my friend.

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Man: Well...
Richard: I'm not sure I'm

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thirsty,
but that looks pretty good.

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Those fish are gonna be happy.

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Cities could not be developed
at all without proper plumbing.

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Just can't.

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You could define
the "modern era" of plumbing

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is really when they
industrialized and made pipes.

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You know,
so it would have been --

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At least in the United States,
it was 1890, 1900

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is when it really became that
you could mass-produce piping.

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The plumber was
bringing this new thing

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that was never heard --
thought of before.

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They bring [gasps]
water in the building

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and [gasps]
you could make hot water

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and [gasps] oh, you can make
the waste go away.

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When they delivered water,
it was just like, "Wow!

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You know, think about
the magic that would have been

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if you used to
have to go to a well

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and go like this and bring it in
and then heat it up

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on a coal stove in the kitchen.

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Like, this made
this house change.

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And so that's sort of a
fun sort of pride point for me

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is that we make houses livable.

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We make life livable.

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If you don't have clean water,
if you don't have

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temperature to keep
from freezing, it's --

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It adds to the value of life.

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♪♪

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Kevin: Hey, Nathan.
Nathan: Hey, Kevin.

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How's it going?
Kevin: Going alright.

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So, the hottest thing
in railing systems right now.

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Nathan: Cable rails.
Kevin: They're everywhere.

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You must install a lot of these.
Nathan: We do.

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Inside, outside,
presidential, commercial.

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Lots of applications for it.

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You just need to know what kind
of fitting you're gonna use.

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I mean,
there's a lot of options.

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You can see here,
we have clips, we have lags,

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we have ones that go
all the way through the post.

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Kevin: Okay. Well, let's go
through the options.

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You did some shopping for us?
Nathan: So, I did.

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I have a little bit of a low
and then I have a high-high.

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So, starting at the low,
we have this fitting here

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that -- This is
the tensioning end.

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This would be kind of like
your anchoring end.

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You just slide
your cable right in,

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and then you have to
swage it into place.

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Kevin: What is
this swaging thing?

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Did I get that word right?
Nathan: Swaging.

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So, with -- You're gonna
pick up a swaging tool.

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It has different dies.

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Find the one
that fits the fitting.

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And you're gonna hydraulically
compress and crimp

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that fitting
onto that cable rail.

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Kevin: Push the cable
into the fitting,

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and then, is that what
I'm looking at right there?

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Nathan: So, you see I crimped
this one and I crimped that one,

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and it's not going anywhere.

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Kevin: Uh...does that also mean
that if I make a mistake,

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it's not going anywhere?

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Nathan: Not as user-friendly.
Yeah, you know --

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Kevin: So it's a one-and-done.
Nathan: Yeah. Buy plenty.

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But if you get it right,
you know, over time,

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if they're slack,
you have your tensioning end,

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so you can make it tighter.

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Kevin: Right. And let's just
get that tensioning idea.

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You've left a little room
right there.

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Nathan: Very important
to leave those threads exposed.

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Each manufacturer
is a little bit different,

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but about 3/4 of an inch
of threads to be able to

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tension and tighten that cable
not just once, but over time.

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Kevin: So, as we turn
and those threads go away,

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we're actually moving the whole
device, making it taut.

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Nathan: Move it over,
and once you like where it is,

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you're gonna lock it out

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with this nut right here.
Kevin: Got it.

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Nathan: This is probably
the most common.

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Really easy to install.
Lag-bolt style.

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So, this one here, you're just
drilling one hole into the post.

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Kevin: So the coarse thread
is gonna lag it into your post?

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Nathan: Exactly.
Bury those threads,

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leaving those
fine threads exposed.

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Kevin: So, the cable
is going in on this end?

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So if I push the cable in,
it will grab itself.

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Nathan: Mm-hmm.
Kevin: I don't have to --

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Nathan: Very easy to install.
Just push it right in.

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This company sells a tool
that you can buy

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that you can slide
right into here.

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You can see,
it's actually gonna release --

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Kevin: And if I made a mistake,

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I can use this
to take it back out.

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Nathan: Yep.
Kevin: Ooh!

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Oops-friendly.
Nathan: I like it.

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Kevin: So, maybe
we can install one,

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and you can show us
some of the techniques.

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Nathan: I built
a little mock-up here.

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We're ready to just
put those lags right in.

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Kevin: So, these are just
pilot holes, right?

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Because the lag is actually
gonna do most of the work?

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Nathan: Yep. Just a pilot hole.

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So, this company
sells a tool here

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that I can chuck
right into my drill.

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It has some fine threads.

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[ Whirring ]

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Now I can take
my lag with the fine threads.

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Kevin: Which is
for the fastener side,

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so we're not doing anything
with the coarse threads there.

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Nathan: So,
I'll put that in there.

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Kevin:
Coarse threads are buried.

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Look at that.

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Nathan: Alright.

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Can't forget to put the nut on,

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'cause that's when it's gonna
lock out the tensioner.

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Kevin: Yep.

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Nathan: Then we can
thread on our end.

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Kevin: So, now we're
leaving just enough there

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so that we can actually
take the slack out.

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Nathan: Correct.
The longer the run,

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the more threads you're
gonna want to leave exposed.

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And it's really important to
take all that slack out

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of your cable
before you tension it.

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Kevin: Alright.

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Nathan: So, we can install
the other side.

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Kevin: Same process.
Nathan: Same process.

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Alright,
now that we have that on,

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we can cut ourself a
short, little piece of cable.

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And this one's
really, really easy to install.

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So, I'm gonna roll
these together,

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make sure that
they're all nice and tight.

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I push it in.

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Bottom it.
Kevin: bottom.

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Nathan: And pull back.
Kevin: Come on!

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Nathan: Give a pull on that.
Kevin: Yeah, look at that.

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That's not going anywhere, huh?
Nathan: Nice and tight.

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We can insert it.

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Alright. So we're
nice and tight there.

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We're nice and tight there.

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Kevin: But you've got
a little bit of slack.

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Nathan: A lot of slack,
so we're ready to tension.

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So, what I'm gonna do is,
I'm gonna lock out this end.

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Alright, good.

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So, now we're gonna tension
on this end.

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So, what you do is,
you just, first, hand-tight.

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Get it hand-tight.

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And then I'm going to...

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So, we're gonna add tension.

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Lock it out.

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Kevin: That's terrific.

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So, looks great.
Made out of stainless steel.

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Maintenance, upkeep?
What do you think?

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Nathan: Absolutely.
There's maintenance with

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everything in life, so...

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Kevin: [ Laughs ] True.

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Nathan: Just a little bit.
Not too bad.

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First thing is just
keeping them clean.

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I brought a few things with me.
So, nylon brush.

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If you have any dirt, debris,

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heavy salt build-up
if you're near the water,

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go down,
we'll clean those cables off.

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We'll look at our fittings,
clean those off, if needed.

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Kevin: Okay.

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Nathan: Just a little bit
of cleaner.

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You know, you can use
a wet, soapy rag.

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You can use some rust cleaner,

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if there's any
rust build-up on it.

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Spray it on, wipe it off.

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Lubricant -- very important.

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These are swiveling ends,
so we want to hit that point.

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We might even pull this
little rubber seal back,

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put a little bit in there,
'cause some salt and some debris

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can sneak in behind this.

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So we'll just keep that clean.

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Kevin: And how frequently
would you be doing

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something like that,
in terms of either

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the cleaning, the protection,
or the lubricant?

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Nathan: Minimum once a year.
Kevin: Yeah.

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Nathan: Once a year, I would
definitely go out and clean it.

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If you live near the water or
in kind of a harsh environment,

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you might want to do it
twice a year.

240
00:09:26,066 --> 00:09:27,100
Kevin: Okay.

241
00:09:27,166 --> 00:09:28,366
Nathan: And the
most important thing

242
00:09:28,433 --> 00:09:31,100
is giving ourselves to
tension this over time.

243
00:09:31,166 --> 00:09:33,466
So, after a year, go back --
or even six months --

244
00:09:33,533 --> 00:09:35,700
go back, look at it,
check your cables,

245
00:09:35,766 --> 00:09:38,000
see how much flex you have
in it, tension it up,

246
00:09:38,066 --> 00:09:39,700
lock it out, and then you're
good to go for another year.

247
00:09:39,766 --> 00:09:41,100
Kevin: So just tune it up.
Nathan: Yep.

248
00:09:41,166 --> 00:09:42,366
Kevin: Beautiful. Alright.
Nathan: Keep it tight.

249
00:09:42,433 --> 00:09:43,533
Kevin: Well, I understand why
they're popular.

250
00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:44,733
They look terrific.

251
00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,000
So I think people
are gonna really benefit from

252
00:09:46,066 --> 00:09:47,233
having the options like that.

253
00:09:47,300 --> 00:09:48,366
Nathan: Absolutely.
Kevin: Thank you, Nathan.

254
00:09:48,433 --> 00:09:49,366
Nathan: You're welcome.

255
00:09:49,433 --> 00:09:53,600
♪♪

256
00:09:53,666 --> 00:09:56,100
James: Alright, Richard,
thank you so much for coming by.

257
00:09:56,166 --> 00:09:58,200
Richard: Glad to be here.
It's a great house you got.

258
00:09:58,266 --> 00:09:59,600
James: Thank you.

259
00:09:59,666 --> 00:10:02,166
Yeah, I've actually been in
this house nearly my whole life.

260
00:10:02,233 --> 00:10:04,866
I bought it from my parents.
Richard: You get a good deal?

261
00:10:04,933 --> 00:10:06,600
James: Yeah, they gave me
a pretty good deal.

262
00:10:06,666 --> 00:10:08,033
Richard: Good. Alright.

263
00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:11,166
James: And, so, this actually
used to be the boiler room.

264
00:10:11,233 --> 00:10:14,466
And so, growing up,
it was a really loud boiler.

265
00:10:14,533 --> 00:10:16,366
It smelled. You could hear it
when it was running.

266
00:10:16,433 --> 00:10:18,700
Richard: [ Imitates rumbling ]
James: Yeah, exactly.

267
00:10:18,766 --> 00:10:20,700
And, so, there used to be
an oil tank over there.

268
00:10:20,766 --> 00:10:21,866
Richard: Got it.

269
00:10:21,933 --> 00:10:24,066
James: A big boiler here
that was doing all of the

270
00:10:24,133 --> 00:10:25,900
heating hot water, as well as
the domestic hot water.

271
00:10:25,966 --> 00:10:27,166
Richard: So a tankless
old boiler. Okay.

272
00:10:27,233 --> 00:10:28,300
James: Exactly.
Richard: So, where did that go?

273
00:10:28,366 --> 00:10:29,600
Is that long gone?

274
00:10:29,666 --> 00:10:32,233
James: The boiler,
at some point, started to leak,

275
00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:34,433
and so I had to make
a decision to replace it.

276
00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:36,800
I have solar on my house,
and I thought,

277
00:10:36,866 --> 00:10:38,333
"Hey, maybe I could
put in heat pumps

278
00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:39,666
for most of the heating
in the house,

279
00:10:39,733 --> 00:10:41,733
and then, for my domestic
hot-water supply,

280
00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,800
I can use this
hybrid hot-water heater."

281
00:10:44,866 --> 00:10:46,566
Richard: And do you do
this yourself?

282
00:10:46,633 --> 00:10:48,033
James: Yeah, yeah, exactly.

283
00:10:48,100 --> 00:10:49,266
Richard: So you've got heat
pumps, you've got heat pumps.

284
00:10:49,333 --> 00:10:50,400
Why am I here?

285
00:10:50,466 --> 00:10:51,533
James: That's actually
a great question.

286
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,633
So, there is not heating
in the bathroom now.

287
00:10:54,700 --> 00:10:56,266
So, there used to be
heating through

288
00:10:56,333 --> 00:10:57,566
the baseboard hot water, but --

289
00:10:57,633 --> 00:10:59,400
Richard: You abandoned that.
James: Exactly.

290
00:10:59,466 --> 00:11:01,233
The bathroom's been freezing.
Richard: Alright.

291
00:11:01,300 --> 00:11:02,566
So, this is not uncommon.

292
00:11:02,633 --> 00:11:04,666
You put heat pumps in,
but it doesn't hit every room,

293
00:11:04,733 --> 00:11:06,600
so now we've got to think about
how to provide heat

294
00:11:06,666 --> 00:11:08,000
for that local space.

295
00:11:08,066 --> 00:11:09,200
James: Right.

296
00:11:09,266 --> 00:11:10,666
Richard: So, you've got
a hot-water source here.

297
00:11:10,733 --> 00:11:12,300
I see that you left
a couple of T's here.

298
00:11:12,366 --> 00:11:13,433
What are you thinking?

299
00:11:13,500 --> 00:11:14,700
James: I was sort of thinking
that maybe

300
00:11:14,766 --> 00:11:15,700
we could do radiant heating.

301
00:11:15,766 --> 00:11:17,300
Richard: Okay.
Well, for radiant,

302
00:11:17,366 --> 00:11:18,433
you need a hot-water source.

303
00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:19,466
You've got it right here.

304
00:11:19,533 --> 00:11:21,533
You've got the
two tappings right here.

305
00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,333
You've got a board right here.

306
00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,000
Where's the existing bathroom?

307
00:11:25,066 --> 00:11:26,200
Where are we trying to
put the heat in?

308
00:11:26,266 --> 00:11:27,300
James: So, the bathroom
is actually

309
00:11:27,366 --> 00:11:28,566
right in the other room.

310
00:11:28,633 --> 00:11:31,533
I'll take you and show you that.
Richard: Okay. Okay.

311
00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:33,200
James: So, this
the laundry room here.

312
00:11:33,266 --> 00:11:35,000
Richard: Finished it all up
beautifully.

313
00:11:35,066 --> 00:11:36,733
James: Thank you. Yeah, it's --

314
00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,400
Richard: You stay long enough,
you get the projects done.

315
00:11:38,466 --> 00:11:40,633
James: It's been a long time,
a lot of work, but...

316
00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:42,333
Richard: And a man cave here?

317
00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,733
James: Yeah. So, well, it used
to be the man cave, but --

318
00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,300
Richard: Kids' playroom?
James: Kids have taken over.

319
00:11:47,366 --> 00:11:48,433
Richard: It's the
changes in life.

320
00:11:48,500 --> 00:11:49,733
James: Yeah.

321
00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,533
Richard: Alright, so,
bathroom is right above us here?

322
00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,033
James: Yeah, exactly.
Richard: Okay.

323
00:11:53,100 --> 00:11:55,333
So, when you think about adding
radiant in a retrofit,

324
00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,600
you've got to think about having
open access to the joist base,

325
00:11:58,666 --> 00:12:00,400
'cause we'll need to put
plates and tubing

326
00:12:00,466 --> 00:12:01,800
up under the underside.

327
00:12:01,866 --> 00:12:03,700
And this really looks like
a perfect candidate.

328
00:12:03,766 --> 00:12:04,900
But it is a lot of work.

329
00:12:04,966 --> 00:12:06,233
And I know you're not
afraid of work, right?

330
00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:07,366
James: No.

331
00:12:07,433 --> 00:12:08,700
Richard: Let me run to
the supply house

332
00:12:08,766 --> 00:12:10,266
and then come back with what
we need to get rollin'.

333
00:12:10,333 --> 00:12:11,466
James: Perfect.

334
00:12:11,533 --> 00:12:14,633
♪♪

335
00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:16,133
Richard: Alright, so,
these are the transfer plates

336
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:17,566
that we're gonna use.

337
00:12:17,633 --> 00:12:21,166
They're designed 4 inch wide,
aluminum, about 4 feet long.

338
00:12:21,233 --> 00:12:23,000
And you can see there's
two different size tubing

339
00:12:23,066 --> 00:12:24,400
can be accepted.

340
00:12:24,466 --> 00:12:26,833
So, we're gonna use the
smaller-size tubing, like this.

341
00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:29,200
And those will attach to
the underside of that subfloor.

342
00:12:29,266 --> 00:12:30,233
James: Okay.
Richard: Okay?

343
00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:31,633
Now, the tubing will work
its way back

344
00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:33,300
to our manifold right here.

345
00:12:33,366 --> 00:12:36,133
We've got a supply and a return.
You can set the flow.

346
00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:37,500
You can see the flow.

347
00:12:37,566 --> 00:12:39,500
And there's temperature gauges
right here.

348
00:12:39,566 --> 00:12:42,233
The question is
now how do we supply it?

349
00:12:42,300 --> 00:12:44,800
This water heater
is filled with the hot water

350
00:12:44,866 --> 00:12:46,700
that you're gonna use, you and
your family are gonna use,

351
00:12:46,766 --> 00:12:49,366
to shower and everything else,
but what we don't want to do is,

352
00:12:49,433 --> 00:12:51,066
we don't want to
contaminate that water.

353
00:12:51,133 --> 00:12:53,600
So in a potable-water system,
if you have

354
00:12:53,666 --> 00:12:58,200
uncirculated sections of
potable water,

355
00:12:58,266 --> 00:13:00,900
it can be a breeding ground for
legionella bacteria,

356
00:13:00,966 --> 00:13:02,100
'cause that water in the radiant

357
00:13:02,166 --> 00:13:04,200
will sit all summer long
uncirculated.

358
00:13:04,266 --> 00:13:07,000
So, what I want to think about
is to introduce

359
00:13:07,066 --> 00:13:09,366
a heat exchanger
between the water heater

360
00:13:09,433 --> 00:13:10,900
and the radiant system.

361
00:13:10,966 --> 00:13:14,666
Now, inside this block is
this heat exchanger right here.

362
00:13:14,733 --> 00:13:16,900
If you look down here,
there's a series of

363
00:13:16,966 --> 00:13:18,500
stainless-steel plates.

364
00:13:18,566 --> 00:13:21,833
What happens inside
is that in one layer,

365
00:13:21,900 --> 00:13:23,200
the pump will be from
the water heater,

366
00:13:23,266 --> 00:13:25,833
and the liquid will go this way
from the water heater.

367
00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:29,566
On the next layer up...

368
00:13:29,633 --> 00:13:33,000
the water will go the opposing
way with a different pump.

369
00:13:33,066 --> 00:13:34,900
So now what happens --
on each layer,

370
00:13:34,966 --> 00:13:36,800
it's going in
different directions,

371
00:13:36,866 --> 00:13:39,533
and you are now transferring
energy from the water heater

372
00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,833
into the water for the radiant,
but they don't mix, alright?

373
00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:46,766
So you completely protect the
potable-water supply over here

374
00:13:46,833 --> 00:13:48,533
while having a
protected system over here.

375
00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:49,933
Okay.
James: Yep.

376
00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,800
Richard: So, what's also in here
are these two pumps, right?

377
00:13:52,866 --> 00:13:55,533
One pump is gonna send water
through the radiant

378
00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,133
all the time, you know,
when you have a demand,

379
00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,466
but this one will come on
as needed to just put

380
00:14:02,533 --> 00:14:04,666
the right amount of energy
into the radiant.

381
00:14:04,733 --> 00:14:07,033
So now, with this control,
you can send just

382
00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:10,333
the right water temperature
out to the heating system.

383
00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,933
So if it's 68 degrees
outside or colder,

384
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,766
the water temperature floor
goes out there.

385
00:14:14,833 --> 00:14:17,133
As it gets colder,
the floors get warmer,

386
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,833
and you stay 68
all the time, okay?

387
00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:20,333
James: That's amazing.
Richard: Alright?

388
00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,233
It's just like having a boiler,
except there's no flame in it.

389
00:14:22,300 --> 00:14:24,400
We're using the energy
from the water heater here.

390
00:14:24,466 --> 00:14:26,833
That means that we now have
a closed system.

391
00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:28,133
And when you have
a closed system,

392
00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:29,900
just like your old boiler,

393
00:14:29,966 --> 00:14:31,333
we have to
think about expansion.

394
00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,266
Anytime you heat water,
it needs to expand.

395
00:14:33,333 --> 00:14:34,800
So we'll need to
make sure we add

396
00:14:34,866 --> 00:14:37,066
an expansion tank right here.

397
00:14:37,133 --> 00:14:39,200
We also have to have
a fill valve

398
00:14:39,266 --> 00:14:40,766
that will put
the right water pressure

399
00:14:40,833 --> 00:14:42,466
to go into the heating system.

400
00:14:42,533 --> 00:14:43,933
And, finally and probably
most importantly is,

401
00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,066
there's a relief valve
right here,

402
00:14:46,133 --> 00:14:48,800
so if any of these didn't work,
it would relieve to safety.

403
00:14:48,866 --> 00:14:50,000
James: Okay.

404
00:14:50,066 --> 00:14:51,433
Richard: That is
your parts and pieces, alright?

405
00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:52,700
You ready to get started?
James: Yeah. Let's do it.

406
00:14:52,766 --> 00:14:54,833
Richard: Okay.

407
00:14:54,900 --> 00:14:57,733
To get started, we'll mount
the manifold and the pumps

408
00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,333
to the wall so we'll know how
long to cut the tubing

409
00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:01,866
for the rest of the floor.

410
00:15:01,933 --> 00:15:04,033
James: Alright,
that should be good.

411
00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:05,700
Richard: While we're here,
we can also connect

412
00:15:05,766 --> 00:15:08,533
the pipes between
the manifold and the pump block

413
00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,366
using a solder-less
press connection.

414
00:15:11,433 --> 00:15:15,366
So, with this tool, completely
close it onto an O-ring.

415
00:15:15,433 --> 00:15:17,600
That's a fabulous connection.

416
00:15:19,700 --> 00:15:21,700
[ Whirring ]

417
00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,533
Alright, while I get
the piping ready,

418
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,200
I need you to notch the blocking
in between the joists

419
00:15:29,266 --> 00:15:31,733
underneath the bathroom
just enough so we can

420
00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,800
slide the plates
all the way across the room.

421
00:15:34,866 --> 00:15:40,900
♪♪

422
00:15:40,966 --> 00:15:43,133
The metal plates increase
the surface area being heated

423
00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:44,433
from the piping,

424
00:15:44,500 --> 00:15:47,466
which will increase the output
to the floor above.

425
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,900
We'll add two rows of plates
per joist bay,

426
00:15:52,966 --> 00:15:55,666
which will loop up and back.

427
00:15:55,733 --> 00:16:04,800
♪♪

428
00:16:04,866 --> 00:16:07,500
I'm drilling these holes
close enough to the subfloor

429
00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:10,100
so we don't have to bend
the packs too much,

430
00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:12,333
but low enough that
they won't risk being hit by

431
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:16,300
nails or screws from above
if you ever change the floor.

432
00:16:16,366 --> 00:16:19,933
♪♪

433
00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:21,933
We got all the plates up.
We got our holes drilled.

434
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,166
Now it's time to feed this.

435
00:16:23,233 --> 00:16:24,766
You're gonna be in charge of
the coil, alright?

436
00:16:24,833 --> 00:16:26,133
James: Okay.
Richard: You have one job --

437
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:27,733
just to feed enough to me,

438
00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,300
and I'm gonna weave it
in between the joists.

439
00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,133
Now we start weaving the packs
into the joist base.

440
00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,866
We'll start with the section
farthest away from the manifold

441
00:16:37,933 --> 00:16:39,700
and work our way back.

442
00:16:39,766 --> 00:16:41,733
I've pulled these loops
between each joist

443
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,866
to try and keep
the piping organized

444
00:16:43,933 --> 00:16:45,133
as we weave through each bay.

445
00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,366
Like Tom Sawyer,
having you do all the work.

446
00:16:47,433 --> 00:16:49,433
James: [ Chuckles ]

447
00:16:50,466 --> 00:16:52,366
Richard: Alright, now you
can put your insulation back

448
00:16:52,433 --> 00:16:53,633
in the drop ceiling.

449
00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:54,900
If you didn't
already have insulation,

450
00:16:54,966 --> 00:16:57,000
I would highly recommend
adding some.

451
00:16:57,066 --> 00:16:59,000
If you're gonna work this hard
to make heat underneath

452
00:16:59,066 --> 00:17:00,766
the bathroom floor,
we want to make sure

453
00:17:00,833 --> 00:17:02,833
it's going in
the right direction.

454
00:17:02,900 --> 00:17:06,533
Now we can make the connections
back at the manifold.

455
00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,000
Finally, we can connect
the whole system back

456
00:17:09,066 --> 00:17:11,566
to your hot-water heater.

457
00:17:11,633 --> 00:17:13,633
[ Whirring ]

458
00:17:16,266 --> 00:17:18,400
Alright, James, we refilled it,
and there was no leaks.

459
00:17:18,466 --> 00:17:19,533
even on your stuff.

460
00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,433
James: Not too bad.
Richard: [ Laughs ]

461
00:17:21,500 --> 00:17:22,866
Let me plug this in.

462
00:17:22,933 --> 00:17:25,500
Okay. So, that should come on
in a second.

463
00:17:25,566 --> 00:17:26,900
So, just to review
what we've done,

464
00:17:26,966 --> 00:17:31,366
we've got heated water from the
water heater coming here

465
00:17:31,433 --> 00:17:33,500
and coming into this side of
that heat exchanger.

466
00:17:33,566 --> 00:17:35,633
We've added one important
quiet thing here,

467
00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:37,200
which is a check valve.

468
00:17:37,266 --> 00:17:39,966
We want to make sure the liquid
only goes this direction,

469
00:17:40,033 --> 00:17:43,066
doesn't go the wrong way
through the water heater, okay?

470
00:17:43,133 --> 00:17:45,800
It comes through that
heat exchanger with a pump

471
00:17:45,866 --> 00:17:48,633
and then comes back
a little cooler

472
00:17:48,700 --> 00:17:51,633
back to the bottom of the water
heater to be re-heated, okay?

473
00:17:51,700 --> 00:17:53,500
That's the primary side.
James: Okay.

474
00:17:53,566 --> 00:17:54,566
Richard: On the secondary side,

475
00:17:54,633 --> 00:17:55,700
it's the stuff
we've talked about.

476
00:17:55,766 --> 00:17:59,166
A relief valve,
an air eliminator,

477
00:17:59,233 --> 00:18:02,233
a fill valve,
and an expansion tank.

478
00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:04,600
And those are the important
safety devices in there.

479
00:18:04,666 --> 00:18:05,800
James: Okay.

480
00:18:05,866 --> 00:18:07,900
Richard: And we've got
a manifold here with

481
00:18:07,966 --> 00:18:10,666
shut-off valves,
temperature gauges,

482
00:18:10,733 --> 00:18:13,066
and with two loops --
We were only using one,

483
00:18:13,133 --> 00:18:16,633
so I put a little jumper piece
of tubing just to be safe.

484
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:20,400
The nice thing is, you only have
one loop that you're using.

485
00:18:20,466 --> 00:18:22,166
Your kitchen could be
a little cold.

486
00:18:22,233 --> 00:18:24,900
You could actually --
Now that you're a pro at this,

487
00:18:24,966 --> 00:18:27,300
you could actually use
a little extra tubing,

488
00:18:27,366 --> 00:18:29,566
'cause you got some left over,
and run it in there, too.

489
00:18:29,633 --> 00:18:30,833
James: That's not a bad idea.
Richard: Alright?

490
00:18:30,900 --> 00:18:32,166
So, I think that's it.

491
00:18:32,233 --> 00:18:34,900
I wish you a very warm winter,
this one and forever.

492
00:18:34,966 --> 00:18:36,500
James: I appreciate it, Richard.
It was great working with you.

493
00:18:36,566 --> 00:18:37,933
Richard: Great. This is
a lot better mechanical room

494
00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,133
than it used to be.
James: It is. That's for sure.

495
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,200
♪♪

496
00:18:43,266 --> 00:18:44,333
Kevin: Hi, Jenn.
Jenn: Hey, Kevin.

497
00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:45,933
Kevin: What are you
looking at here?

498
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,866
Jenn: Well, just the USDA's
Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

499
00:18:48,933 --> 00:18:50,600
Kevin: Ah! You're such a dork.

500
00:18:50,666 --> 00:18:54,066
Jenn: Well, you know, it shows
you what plants to put where,

501
00:18:54,133 --> 00:18:55,833
what survives in what region.

502
00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:57,533
Kevin: Right. So, specifically,

503
00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:58,566
what are we
measuring right here?

504
00:18:58,633 --> 00:18:59,966
I've seen it before.

505
00:19:00,033 --> 00:19:01,600
Cold, sort of the warm,
top to bottom.

506
00:19:01,666 --> 00:19:03,033
But what are you
actually measuring?

507
00:19:03,100 --> 00:19:04,766
Jenn: What this map does --
right? --

508
00:19:04,833 --> 00:19:07,233
it measures the
coldest temperature

509
00:19:07,300 --> 00:19:10,333
calculated on an average
over 30 years.

510
00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,900
So the last map
was from 1991 to 2021.

511
00:19:14,966 --> 00:19:18,266
They record the coldest
temperature over those 30 years

512
00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:20,033
and then they
put it all together

513
00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:21,333
and they make an average

514
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,933
and they assign you a zone
on the map.

515
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,166
Kevin: And the reasons we care
just about the coldest?

516
00:19:26,233 --> 00:19:27,700
Jenn: Just about the cold.
Kevin: Why?

517
00:19:27,766 --> 00:19:30,600
Jenn: So, this plant right --
Say, for instance, this boxwood.

518
00:19:30,666 --> 00:19:32,500
Like, this hardiness zone
is negative-30.

519
00:19:32,566 --> 00:19:33,600
What did you see on the map?

520
00:19:33,666 --> 00:19:35,833
What's negative-30 degrees
Fahrenheit?

521
00:19:35,900 --> 00:19:38,533
Kevin: Negative-30 degrees.
Says that's Zone 4a.

522
00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:39,566
Jenn: Mm-hmm.

523
00:19:39,633 --> 00:19:41,133
Kevin: Negative-30 to
negative-25.

524
00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:42,533
Well, that's a hardy plant.
Jenn: Yeah.

525
00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,433
So, you know, this will survive
in those temperatures,

526
00:19:45,500 --> 00:19:47,533
especially with snow cover,
and you have, you know,

527
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,100
extra moisture
and stuff in there.

528
00:19:49,166 --> 00:19:50,666
Kevin: So this about
survivability.

529
00:19:50,733 --> 00:19:52,866
This is the tool
that you will use to, say,

530
00:19:52,933 --> 00:19:54,233
put the right plant
in the right place,

531
00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:55,700
and it will hopefully
come back next year.

532
00:19:55,766 --> 00:19:57,766
Jenn: Exactly. When I'm looking
at my nursery catalog

533
00:19:57,833 --> 00:19:59,700
and I'm doing a design,
I pick --

534
00:19:59,766 --> 00:20:02,133
It used to be just
Zone 5 plants, right?

535
00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:04,400
Because Boston
was Zone 5a and b,

536
00:20:04,466 --> 00:20:06,966
and then it's kind of changed
over time to 6a and b.

537
00:20:07,033 --> 00:20:08,433
And now it's 7 on the coast.

538
00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:10,266
Kevin: Whoa!
So is that the headline here?

539
00:20:10,333 --> 00:20:12,500
We have changed and it's warmer.
Jenn: Yes.

540
00:20:12,566 --> 00:20:13,533
Kevin: So, what are
those zones again?

541
00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:14,766
We went from what to what?

542
00:20:14,833 --> 00:20:16,700
Jenn: 20 years ago,
it was Zone 5a and b.

543
00:20:16,766 --> 00:20:18,033
Kevin: And now...

544
00:20:18,100 --> 00:20:21,700
Jenn: And then it went to
6a and b, and now coast is 7,

545
00:20:21,766 --> 00:20:25,166
and in Boston, where I live,
is 6b.

546
00:20:25,233 --> 00:20:26,400
Kevin: So that's
what happened here.

547
00:20:26,466 --> 00:20:28,133
Did that happen across
all of the zones

548
00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,466
in the entire country or --

549
00:20:29,533 --> 00:20:30,833
Jenn: Not everywhere changed.

550
00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:33,500
Over time,
as technology has improved,

551
00:20:33,566 --> 00:20:34,833
there is newer weather stations.

552
00:20:34,900 --> 00:20:38,300
So this last map was based off
of 8,000 weather stations

553
00:20:38,366 --> 00:20:41,400
across the country,
and over the past 10 years,

554
00:20:41,466 --> 00:20:42,933
it's increased to 13,400.

555
00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,433
Kevin: Ah! More data points.

556
00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:46,833
Jenn: More data points,
which means more accuracy.

557
00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:49,766
What they came up with --
only certain areas changed.

558
00:20:49,833 --> 00:20:52,200
So, you really have to
punch in your zip code,

559
00:20:52,266 --> 00:20:54,200
go to their website on the USDA,

560
00:20:54,266 --> 00:20:56,633
and then it will bring you
right to your neighborhood.

561
00:20:56,700 --> 00:21:00,900
Kevin: So, it says
Boston is now Zone 7a.

562
00:21:00,966 --> 00:21:02,000
Jenn: Yep.

563
00:21:02,066 --> 00:21:03,466
Kevin: Which means that
it can tol--

564
00:21:03,533 --> 00:21:05,500
The coldest day
is gonna be somewhere between

565
00:21:05,566 --> 00:21:07,633
zero and 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

566
00:21:07,700 --> 00:21:08,833
Jenn: Mm-hmm.

567
00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:11,266
Kevin: And if we were to
actually take the map

568
00:21:11,333 --> 00:21:12,766
and click on Boston...
Jenn: Yep, try it.

569
00:21:12,833 --> 00:21:15,700
Kevin: ...it's going to -- Oh,
there, it brings us to Boston.

570
00:21:15,766 --> 00:21:19,033
Jenn: So, you go to the picture.
Here's the 7a.

571
00:21:19,100 --> 00:21:20,933
That is this
along the coast, right?

572
00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,033
Kevin: So, light green
is warmer.

573
00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:24,333
Jenn: Mm-hmm.

574
00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,000
Kevin: Which makes sense,
'cause it's near the water.

575
00:21:26,066 --> 00:21:27,933
Jenn: Right. And then
you can see the contrast

576
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,266
when it switches to 6b.

577
00:21:30,333 --> 00:21:32,533
Kevin: Right. So, when you see
this and you think about

578
00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,800
our backyard that you work in,
like, how do you think about it?

579
00:21:35,866 --> 00:21:37,200
Jenn: Well, it's interesting.

580
00:21:37,266 --> 00:21:40,300
We might have the opportunity to
work with warmer-weather plants.

581
00:21:40,366 --> 00:21:42,533
So I might sneak something
in here and there,

582
00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:44,500
you know, especially if there's
a little microclimate

583
00:21:44,566 --> 00:21:46,966
in someone's yard,
you have a south-facing house,

584
00:21:47,033 --> 00:21:48,733
and you know the wind's
not gonna rip through.

585
00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,933
It's gonna be more protected.
So I might try.

586
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,233
I'm not gonna do a whole hedge
of something that could die.

587
00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:55,966
Kevin: And should this
new data and the new map

588
00:21:56,033 --> 00:21:58,033
affect the way
I think about the summertime?

589
00:21:58,100 --> 00:21:59,433
Like, does it change
what I think about with

590
00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:01,933
my vegetable garden
or is my lawn okay?

591
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,266
Jenn: Your lawn's okay.

592
00:22:03,333 --> 00:22:05,233
Your established plants
are okay.

593
00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:08,800
All the trees, shrubs, and
perennials are the ones that,

594
00:22:08,866 --> 00:22:10,400
during the wintertime,
will be affected.

595
00:22:10,466 --> 00:22:11,666
Kevin: Gotcha.

596
00:22:11,733 --> 00:22:13,666
Jenn: So keep on growing
all your veggies and stuff.

597
00:22:13,733 --> 00:22:16,533
Kevin: Alright. Well, I love
more data and an updated map.

598
00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:17,900
So that's good information.
Thank you.

599
00:22:17,966 --> 00:22:19,833
And, of course,
it begs the big question.

600
00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:21,100
Jenn: What's that?

601
00:22:21,166 --> 00:22:22,866
Kevin: Why does anybody
live in Northern Maine?

602
00:22:22,933 --> 00:22:26,033
Jenn: That has the blueberries!
Kevin: Minus-60.

603
00:22:26,100 --> 00:22:27,200
Jenn: It's pretty brutal, yeah.

604
00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:29,200
Kevin: Alright, well,
that's it for us,

605
00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:30,566
but plenty more
coming up next time,

606
00:22:30,633 --> 00:22:32,466
so until then,
I'm Kevin O'Connor.

607
00:22:32,533 --> 00:22:35,433
Jenn: I'm Jenn Nawada.
Kevin: For "Ask This Old House."

608
00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:37,533
[ Shudders ]

609
00:22:41,766 --> 00:22:44,333
Kevin: Next time on
"Ask This Old House,"

610
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,100
Jenn and Nathan are
heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma,

611
00:22:47,166 --> 00:22:49,300
to install a rain barrel.

612
00:22:49,366 --> 00:22:52,833
Next, Mark identifies
and repairs the cause

613
00:22:52,900 --> 00:22:55,266
of pooling water
on a small section

614
00:22:55,333 --> 00:22:57,866
of a homeowner's brick patio.

615
00:22:57,933 --> 00:23:01,533
And the team discusses
a few recent additions

616
00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,233
to the tool bags
that are coming in handy.

617
00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:06,366
Tom: 17?!
Mauro: I'm not kidding.

618
00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:10,333
Kevin: All that on
"Ask This Old House."