Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Old House Journal’s compendium of articles about plumbing and electrical repair projects for old houses, including bathroom remodeling, electrical maintenance, light fixtures and more.

Product of the Week

Products of the Week

Osborne Wood Products

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Bathroom Retrofits & Other Plumbing Fixes

Think it’s time to change out old plumbing fixtures for new ones? Not so fast. Restoration may be the smarter, better route.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Mini-Split Technology

Mini-split technology is changing the way we heat and cool our homes.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

A Fix for an Unusual Basement Hazard

What to do when your mother-in-law hangs old clothes on Romex in the ceiling.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Heating Solutions for a Colonial Revival Addition

When adding on to their 1912 house, Don and Lana LeVine chose a mix of heating systems for ease and efficiency.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Incredible Energy Savings

Innovations in home energy technologies make it easier to find better comfort while saving money on fuel costs.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

An Experience with Mini Duct Installation

Converting a 1910 Shingle Style house with no air conditioning to one with a whole-house system was not something I took lightly. I have spent my life restoring old houses. If HVAC was in my future it had better be efficient and virtually invisible.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

How to Take Care of Your Radiators

Got a burning question about your radiators? We’ll take you through the basics and give some sound advice for repairing radiators in old houses.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Restoring Antique Lighting

Regardless of the condition, restoring antique lighting fixtures is one of the best ways to maintain your old house’s original character. Here we give you an enlightening tutorial about saving vintage fixtures: safety, cleaning, replacing missing parts, and special finishes.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Efficient Heating in Your Historic Home

Heating a historic home while staying on budget is no easy feat. Making these fixes can save you money and keep you toasty-warm.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

How to Update a Steam-Heating System

How to successfully add a hot-water zone to a steam-heating system.

Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC

Quick Energy Fixes

Thick walls, deep eaves, and high ceilings are all reasons why old houses feel cooler in hot weather and warmer in winter than more recent buildings do. Even so, many old houses lack insulation and central HVAC systems, making it hard to retrofit them with the latest in technological advances.