1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,100 ♪♪ 2 00:00:05,166 --> 00:00:06,966 Kevin: On "Ask This Old House," 3 00:00:07,033 --> 00:00:09,333 our experts travel across the country 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,933 to answer questions about your house. 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:19,133 ♪♪ 6 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,266 Today, on "Ask This Old House"... 7 00:00:21,333 --> 00:00:24,633 Jenn helps a couple update the landscaping in their front yard 8 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:27,433 and ended up with a whole new shade pattern. 9 00:00:27,500 --> 00:00:30,733 Plus, Richard shares his love of teaching plumbing, 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,433 heating, and cooling and where his inspiration comes from. 11 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:36,200 Then he shows me the new facility 12 00:00:36,266 --> 00:00:40,533 that he built to test and teach modern HVAC equipment. 13 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,366 All that on "Ask This Old House." 14 00:00:46,866 --> 00:00:49,400 ♪♪ 15 00:00:49,466 --> 00:00:51,933 Stephen: Hi, Jenn, I'm Stephen. Jenn: Nice to meet you. 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:52,966 Angel: Angel. Jenn: Angel, nice to meet you. 17 00:00:53,033 --> 00:00:54,566 Angel: Thank you. 18 00:00:54,633 --> 00:00:56,166 Jenn: So why don't you tell me a little bit about your property? 19 00:00:56,233 --> 00:00:59,266 I mean, I saw the pictures, but it's completely different 20 00:00:59,333 --> 00:01:01,666 to be seeing it in person. So... Stephen: Yeah, absolutely. 21 00:01:01,733 --> 00:01:03,200 We had two humongous oak trees right in the front. 22 00:01:03,266 --> 00:01:04,466 Jenn: Okay. 23 00:01:04,533 --> 00:01:05,700 Stephen: But they were rotting from the inside, 24 00:01:05,766 --> 00:01:07,433 so we had to take them down. Jenn: Okay. 25 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:09,100 Stephen: Now it looks totally different. 26 00:01:09,166 --> 00:01:11,133 Jenn: I could tell that there's hostas and plants, 27 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:12,800 like shade-loving plants, that were here 28 00:01:12,866 --> 00:01:14,333 because that was the light condition. 29 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,333 But now everything's changed, right? 30 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:17,933 Stephen: Yes. Jenn: So, full blazing sun. 31 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,566 Stephen: Yes. Full sun, southern-facing, yeah. 32 00:01:20,633 --> 00:01:21,566 Jenn: Okay. Stephen: Totally. 33 00:01:21,633 --> 00:01:22,900 Angel: I'm a florist. 34 00:01:22,966 --> 00:01:25,033 And I'm looking for something that stands out, 35 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:28,833 color, texture, heights, different mix of it. 36 00:01:28,900 --> 00:01:30,266 Jenn: So now you'll have the opportunity 37 00:01:30,333 --> 00:01:32,000 to do full sun plantings. Angel: That's right. 38 00:01:32,066 --> 00:01:33,433 Jenn: So, why don't we go take a look 39 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:34,666 at the whole scope of the yard. 40 00:01:34,733 --> 00:01:36,233 Stephen: All right. Yeah. Absolutely. 41 00:01:36,300 --> 00:01:37,700 Jenn: Okay, so, right off the bat I could just see the hosta 42 00:01:37,766 --> 00:01:39,466 have been burned. You know, there's definitely 43 00:01:39,533 --> 00:01:41,766 a lot of shade plantings over here. 44 00:01:41,833 --> 00:01:43,933 And they need to be relocated. Angel: Yes. 45 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,033 Jenn: Coming over to the walkway, 46 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:48,966 which is a beautiful, curved walkway, by the way, 47 00:01:49,033 --> 00:01:51,933 I just noticed the mums next to the boxwoods, 48 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,466 and they're completely just fighting for space. 49 00:01:54,533 --> 00:01:55,766 And I'm sure once upon a time 50 00:01:55,833 --> 00:01:57,133 they started really cute and small? 51 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:58,500 Angel: That's right. 52 00:01:58,566 --> 00:02:00,733 Jenn: So, now they've outgrown their space. 53 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:02,433 We could reuse them somewhere else. 54 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:05,433 So, along this whole walkway we could reorganize. 55 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:08,266 Coming over here, this hydrangea is fine, 56 00:02:08,333 --> 00:02:10,633 and it's going to do well in the sunlight. 57 00:02:10,700 --> 00:02:15,300 But when I go over here, I see about five, five hollies. 58 00:02:15,366 --> 00:02:17,700 And so, this is a common mistake 59 00:02:17,766 --> 00:02:19,200 people make from the garden center. 60 00:02:19,266 --> 00:02:22,200 They buy a 2-gallon pot, maybe 18 inches high, 61 00:02:22,266 --> 00:02:25,533 and they don't know it's going to get 8 to 12 feet high 62 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:26,900 in time. 63 00:02:26,966 --> 00:02:29,166 So, you can have them as a foundation planting, 64 00:02:29,233 --> 00:02:32,233 but you have to keep them pruned and keep them in check. 65 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:33,666 Prune them once a year. 66 00:02:33,733 --> 00:02:36,233 But what I'd like to do is probably -- looking at them, 67 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:38,266 they're about a foot off the foundation. 68 00:02:38,333 --> 00:02:41,566 I'd dig them all up, only put two back in here, 69 00:02:41,633 --> 00:02:44,400 and then pull them out and then give them enough space, 70 00:02:44,466 --> 00:02:46,366 and then I'll teach you how to prune them throughout the year. 71 00:02:46,433 --> 00:02:47,900 Stephen: Great. Jenn: Okay? 72 00:02:47,966 --> 00:02:49,733 Hydrangea is fine. 73 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,966 All these little plants, like the little pine, 74 00:02:53,033 --> 00:02:54,700 we could relocate them. 75 00:02:54,766 --> 00:02:57,333 Definitely burned, too much sun. Stephen: Mm-hmm. 76 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,066 Jenn: But I'm sure there's some shady spots 77 00:02:59,133 --> 00:03:00,366 you could use it out back. 78 00:03:00,433 --> 00:03:01,700 Definitely won't throw them away 79 00:03:01,766 --> 00:03:02,866 but repurpose them somewhere. 80 00:03:02,933 --> 00:03:05,200 This is a weigela. 81 00:03:05,266 --> 00:03:08,333 I like the burgundy color. Adds a little pop. 82 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,166 But it's doing its job hiding the gas meter. 83 00:03:11,233 --> 00:03:13,600 So, I think this one we'll just prune. 84 00:03:13,666 --> 00:03:15,933 And then this rose of Sharon? 85 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:17,933 I think we could take it down, like, 86 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,700 three feet and just keep... 87 00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:22,966 If you keep on the pruning throughout the season 88 00:03:23,033 --> 00:03:24,966 and know what time of year to prune what, 89 00:03:25,033 --> 00:03:28,433 so you don't cut off the flower buds, it's beneficial. 90 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:30,633 And then you'll have constant blooms in your landscape. 91 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:32,000 Stephen: That's what I want. 92 00:03:32,066 --> 00:03:35,533 Jenn: Okay? So, do you guys have any other comments? 93 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,000 Stephen: Well, we would love to have it more like 94 00:03:37,066 --> 00:03:38,500 a pollinator garden... Jenn: Okay. 95 00:03:38,566 --> 00:03:39,800 Stephen: ...and get rid of some grass 96 00:03:39,866 --> 00:03:41,833 and bring kind of the plantings 97 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:43,866 a little bit into the space now that it's open. 98 00:03:43,933 --> 00:03:46,566 Jenn: Okay, I'm a fan of removing grass, 99 00:03:46,633 --> 00:03:47,900 so we could definitely do that. 100 00:03:47,966 --> 00:03:50,566 And then maybe incorporate where this old stump is 101 00:03:50,633 --> 00:03:52,166 and then even it out a little bit. 102 00:03:52,233 --> 00:03:53,800 Stephen: Yeah, that sounds good. Jenn: All right. 103 00:03:53,866 --> 00:03:56,766 So why don't we just get started cleaning out what is existing, 104 00:03:56,833 --> 00:03:58,966 what you have here, and then we'll build off of that. 105 00:03:59,033 --> 00:04:00,933 Stephen: Sounds great. Jenn: Okay. 106 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:02,900 And then try to get a nice root ball. 107 00:04:02,966 --> 00:04:04,600 And then when you pop it out, 108 00:04:04,666 --> 00:04:06,266 we can put it over there on that blue tarp. 109 00:04:06,333 --> 00:04:08,233 And then we'll repurpose it after. 110 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:11,366 Awesome. 111 00:04:11,433 --> 00:04:12,966 Angel: I don't think they're very deep, though. 112 00:04:13,033 --> 00:04:14,133 Jenn: No, they're not. 113 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:15,333 I try not to break the root ball. 114 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:16,466 Angel: Yep. 115 00:04:16,533 --> 00:04:17,666 Jenn: What you want to do 116 00:04:17,733 --> 00:04:19,733 is cut right above the two next little buds 117 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,733 coming out -- nice, clean cut. 118 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,966 And then next season these buds are going to grow up 119 00:04:25,033 --> 00:04:26,666 and be the next leaves. 120 00:04:26,733 --> 00:04:29,100 So, let's take this rose of Sharon down. 121 00:04:29,166 --> 00:04:31,666 Stephen: Yeah, let's. Jenn: I mean, just take it -- 122 00:04:31,733 --> 00:04:34,033 I go back three feet, two and a half, three feet. 123 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:35,533 Stephen: Okay, great. Yeah. Yeah. 124 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,433 Jenn: See, I like pruning by hand 125 00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:41,233 because it's just then you can dictate the shape. 126 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:44,466 ♪♪ 127 00:04:44,533 --> 00:04:47,633 Now that we've cleaned up, let's mark out our bed lines. 128 00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:49,433 You can use a garden hose or rope 129 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:52,133 to figure out your desired shape. 130 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:53,433 Okay. Stephen: Looks great. 131 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:54,933 Jenn: Sod-cutter time. 132 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,533 Stephen: All right, I want to see this, heavy machinery. 133 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:04,700 ♪♪ 134 00:05:04,766 --> 00:05:06,033 Jenn: All right, guys. 135 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:07,933 So, we're going to go around with rakes. 136 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:09,500 And this is what it's going to look like. 137 00:05:09,566 --> 00:05:13,600 So, the sod cutter just takes up 138 00:05:13,666 --> 00:05:15,400 the roots, right? Stephen: Oh, yep. 139 00:05:15,466 --> 00:05:16,900 Jenn: So, it's a nice clean, clean cut. 140 00:05:16,966 --> 00:05:19,166 And when you rake it back... You know, 141 00:05:19,233 --> 00:05:21,400 if this was really thick sod, it would stick together. 142 00:05:21,466 --> 00:05:25,500 We could roll it back like a carpet, but this is just fine. 143 00:05:25,566 --> 00:05:27,100 You could use your hands. You could use a rake. 144 00:05:27,166 --> 00:05:28,366 We'll make a pile and then get rid of it. 145 00:05:28,433 --> 00:05:29,700 Stephen: Sounds great. 146 00:05:29,766 --> 00:05:32,200 Jenn: So, why don't you guys start over there? 147 00:05:32,266 --> 00:05:33,866 Stephen: Oh, that's cool. Jenn: Right? 148 00:05:33,933 --> 00:05:36,800 Saves a lot of sweat effort. 149 00:05:36,866 --> 00:05:39,100 ♪♪ 150 00:05:39,166 --> 00:05:41,100 Oh, isn't that satisfying? 151 00:05:41,166 --> 00:05:42,533 Stephen: It is so satisfying! 152 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,700 I will not miss this grass, I'll tell you that. 153 00:05:44,766 --> 00:05:47,800 Jenn: All right, so we're just raking all this compost in 154 00:05:47,866 --> 00:05:51,133 before we rototill. I brought about three yards. 155 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,166 So, we'll just have those extra nutrients. 156 00:05:53,233 --> 00:05:55,366 Let the games begin! Stephen: Ha ha! 157 00:05:55,433 --> 00:06:05,300 ♪♪ 158 00:06:05,366 --> 00:06:09,666 ♪♪ 159 00:06:09,733 --> 00:06:12,266 Jenn: One more. Perfect, right there. 160 00:06:12,333 --> 00:06:16,066 And I was thinking it would go right here. 161 00:06:16,133 --> 00:06:17,533 Stephen: Great spot. Angel: Perfect. 162 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:19,333 Stephen: Yeah, I love it. I love the shape of the leaves. 163 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:20,866 Jenn: I know. This is a ginkgo tree. 164 00:06:20,933 --> 00:06:22,433 It's a dwarf ginkgo. 165 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:25,366 Let's get the hollies. We're only putting two, okay? 166 00:06:25,433 --> 00:06:27,833 You know, we're gonna go three feet from the foundation. 167 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:31,900 Stephen: Okay. 168 00:06:31,966 --> 00:06:34,333 Jenn: All right. Next, ornamental grasses. 169 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:36,800 These are going to get, like, five feet wide 170 00:06:36,866 --> 00:06:38,300 when they spread out. Stephen: Yep. 171 00:06:38,366 --> 00:06:40,733 Where do you like this? Right here? 172 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,333 Angel: Yeah. That's kind of cool. 173 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,166 Jenn: So the purpose of this is so it doesn't grow in a circle, 174 00:06:45,233 --> 00:06:46,566 like around the pot, 175 00:06:46,633 --> 00:06:48,700 because if you don't break the roots up, 176 00:06:48,766 --> 00:06:52,433 they'll continue growing that way and choke themselves out. 177 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:54,400 ♪♪ 178 00:06:54,466 --> 00:06:57,366 Okay. 179 00:06:57,433 --> 00:06:58,366 Stephen: Good? 180 00:06:58,433 --> 00:06:59,366 Jenn: All right. That looks good. 181 00:06:59,433 --> 00:07:00,466 Stephen: Is it standing up straight? 182 00:07:00,533 --> 00:07:01,933 Angel: Yep. 183 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:03,933 ♪♪ 184 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,000 There you go. Yep. 185 00:07:06,066 --> 00:07:07,000 Stephen: You sure? Angel: Yep. 186 00:07:07,066 --> 00:07:08,800 Stephen: You have to be sure. 187 00:07:08,866 --> 00:07:10,866 ♪♪ 188 00:07:10,933 --> 00:07:12,466 Jenn: All right. This is the last step. 189 00:07:12,533 --> 00:07:16,666 We're going to do the mulching. This is a nice leaf mulch. 190 00:07:16,733 --> 00:07:18,900 Stephen: When you said mulch, I was thinking like wood chips, 191 00:07:18,966 --> 00:07:21,300 but I never used leaf mulch before. 192 00:07:21,366 --> 00:07:25,000 Jenn: So, it's like a triple grind of composted leafs. 193 00:07:25,066 --> 00:07:26,566 Stephen: Nice. 194 00:07:26,633 --> 00:07:30,600 Jenn: Everything organic will break down into your soil 195 00:07:30,666 --> 00:07:33,033 and natural fertilizers. 196 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:34,133 Stephen: Hmm. 197 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,366 ♪♪ 198 00:07:37,433 --> 00:07:40,600 Angel: Look at this. Stephen: It's amazing. 199 00:07:40,666 --> 00:07:43,700 Jenn: Wow. It is a beautiful transformation, I have to say. 200 00:07:43,766 --> 00:07:44,733 Stephen: This is what I wanted. Angel: I love it. 201 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:45,866 Jenn: I'm so happy. 202 00:07:45,933 --> 00:07:47,933 And just all we did is move around 203 00:07:48,033 --> 00:07:51,033 plants that were too close, reuse them, redistributed, 204 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:54,066 add a few other bones, and it is beautiful. 205 00:07:54,133 --> 00:07:56,100 So, all you have to do is keep it watered. 206 00:07:56,166 --> 00:07:59,433 I'd go to Thanksgiving time or end of the season, 207 00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:01,733 you know, hard stop. And then the only other thing 208 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,900 I would say is the ornamental grasses. 209 00:08:03,966 --> 00:08:05,433 Some people like to cut them down for it 210 00:08:05,500 --> 00:08:07,866 to be clean in the winter. I like to leave them up. 211 00:08:07,933 --> 00:08:10,233 You know, it's a little habitat for birds and stuff. 212 00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:12,900 And you cut them down in late winter, early spring. 213 00:08:12,966 --> 00:08:14,466 Stephen: Okay, great. 214 00:08:14,533 --> 00:08:16,733 Jenn: This whole middle strip is for you to play with color 215 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,933 so you can have spring, summer, late-fall blooms 216 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,500 and then your bulbs and perennials and just go nuts. 217 00:08:22,566 --> 00:08:24,100 Stephen: That's his job. Jenn: Yeah. 218 00:08:24,166 --> 00:08:26,433 Stephen: And I promise I'll prune things more frequently. 219 00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:28,766 Jenn: Yes. And then not as close together. 220 00:08:28,833 --> 00:08:30,300 Stephen: Promise. Jenn: All right? 221 00:08:30,366 --> 00:08:31,600 Stephen: Thank you so much for coming. 222 00:08:31,666 --> 00:08:33,666 Jenn: You're welcome. Nice to meet you. 223 00:08:33,733 --> 00:08:35,100 Stephen: Thanks so much. Jenn: Take care. 224 00:08:35,166 --> 00:08:36,200 Angel: Bye. Stephen: Bye. 225 00:08:36,900 --> 00:08:39,900 Ahh! Look at this! 226 00:08:39,966 --> 00:08:48,233 ♪♪ 227 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:51,233 ♪♪ 228 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:53,433 Richard: I've always been passionate about teaching. 229 00:08:53,500 --> 00:08:56,433 So, I thought we would take a minute to talk about siphons. 230 00:08:56,500 --> 00:08:58,700 So, I thought we'd take a minute to talk about the care 231 00:08:58,766 --> 00:09:02,266 and feeding of an outside sill cock or spigot. 232 00:09:02,333 --> 00:09:04,733 I like teaching, I like when people get it. 233 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,000 See these holes down at the bottom? 234 00:09:06,066 --> 00:09:07,300 Man: Oh, yeah. 235 00:09:07,366 --> 00:09:08,800 Richard: So it's much like those air holes 236 00:09:08,866 --> 00:09:10,766 on a table-hockey game. 237 00:09:10,833 --> 00:09:12,433 You know, where the air is coming this way. 238 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:15,700 Also, the passion comes from my father. 239 00:09:15,766 --> 00:09:17,033 So, way back when, we got a call 240 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:18,866 from a local public-television station. 241 00:09:18,933 --> 00:09:20,333 We got a chance to do "This Old House." 242 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,633 And they said, "You know, we're public television. 243 00:09:22,700 --> 00:09:24,966 You have to work for nothing." And he jumps on the line. 244 00:09:25,033 --> 00:09:27,666 He says, "Sure. Yeah. I think that would be great." 245 00:09:27,733 --> 00:09:30,733 And he hung up and I said, "Why?" 246 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:32,700 He said, "You know what? We're having a good year. 247 00:09:32,766 --> 00:09:34,166 Maybe it'll help the plumber's image." 248 00:09:34,233 --> 00:09:36,900 And he used the term "pay it forward," as I remember. 249 00:09:36,966 --> 00:09:38,666 But he sort of had this way of saying, 250 00:09:38,733 --> 00:09:42,566 "I want to push in and help the industry and float 251 00:09:42,633 --> 00:09:44,133 all the boats in the industry." And he did. 252 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:45,633 Ron: The best way to start 253 00:09:45,700 --> 00:09:49,966 to disassemble it so we can remove it is to drop it. 254 00:09:50,766 --> 00:09:53,966 Oh, super! Super! 255 00:09:54,033 --> 00:09:56,400 It's so good to see that go. 256 00:09:56,466 --> 00:09:58,933 Richard: We had some amazing mechanics 257 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:00,833 at our family business growing up, 258 00:10:00,900 --> 00:10:04,000 these people that had been there for 30, 40, 50 years 259 00:10:04,066 --> 00:10:05,700 that were my mentors. 260 00:10:05,766 --> 00:10:06,900 There was a guy, Bill Gensen, 261 00:10:06,966 --> 00:10:08,566 had been there 50 years when I was there. 262 00:10:08,633 --> 00:10:12,133 So, had this collective-history memory 263 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,033 that just made me feel like I was there in 1902. 264 00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:16,733 And there was another guy, Tony Lucas, 265 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,133 who by the time I would have been able to 266 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,400 just figure out how to get my folding rule open, 267 00:10:21,466 --> 00:10:24,366 he had five pieces of pipe run in the building. 268 00:10:24,433 --> 00:10:26,500 He just was this magician. He could see it. 269 00:10:26,566 --> 00:10:28,033 He could see it in three dimensions. 270 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,366 And he was an artist. And those are the people I grew up with. 271 00:10:30,433 --> 00:10:32,966 And so I borrow from them all the time. 272 00:10:33,033 --> 00:10:34,033 What we're going to install today 273 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:35,766 is an indirect hot-water heater. 274 00:10:35,833 --> 00:10:37,766 This is a radon-mitigation device. 275 00:10:37,833 --> 00:10:38,900 These are great. 276 00:10:38,966 --> 00:10:40,333 You know this -- you think this is pink. 277 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:41,466 But actually you know what they called it back then? 278 00:10:41,533 --> 00:10:43,366 They called it "Bermuda coral." 279 00:10:43,433 --> 00:10:45,033 It sounded a lot better than pink, I guess. 280 00:10:45,100 --> 00:10:47,600 My industry is the least understood 281 00:10:47,666 --> 00:10:49,133 by the public in general. 282 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,633 You know, people know that there's a thermostat in the wall 283 00:10:52,700 --> 00:10:54,066 that sends them a bill. 284 00:10:54,133 --> 00:10:56,500 What I want to do is demystify the mechanical world, 285 00:10:56,566 --> 00:10:59,800 just sort of simplify it. And so when I do that, 286 00:10:59,866 --> 00:11:03,366 I find myself wanting to speak to the third grade. 287 00:11:03,433 --> 00:11:05,533 I want to make sure that everybody understands. 288 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,033 And I use my hands to try 289 00:11:07,100 --> 00:11:09,000 and help understand what the words are. 290 00:11:09,066 --> 00:11:10,800 There's nothing more horrifying than coming home 291 00:11:10,866 --> 00:11:12,733 and seeing water coming out of the walls. 292 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,300 Right now, we got to get you so you can sleep at night. 293 00:11:15,366 --> 00:11:18,266 I always try to use word pictures and metaphors. 294 00:11:18,333 --> 00:11:20,100 You know, this is like this, which means this. 295 00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:22,933 And that's what I would want, how I'd want to be taught. 296 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,100 And so, with that comes a little bit of passion, 297 00:11:25,166 --> 00:11:26,466 a little bit of theater. 298 00:11:26,533 --> 00:11:28,333 Now it'll fill those radiators with steam. 299 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:30,166 Thermostat should shut off. 300 00:11:30,233 --> 00:11:33,100 And now the steam gives off its heat to the room. 301 00:11:33,166 --> 00:11:34,300 And the water that's inside, 302 00:11:34,366 --> 00:11:36,466 the steam that's inside, turns to water. 303 00:11:36,533 --> 00:11:37,566 And now it's called "condensate." 304 00:11:37,633 --> 00:11:39,433 Comes back through the same pipe, 305 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:42,300 all the way back to the boiler, and it can be reheated. 306 00:11:42,366 --> 00:11:44,333 I'm emphatic when I talk, 307 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,033 but I think if you say something, you have to see it. 308 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:50,400 This is an energy-recovery ventilator. 309 00:11:50,466 --> 00:11:53,333 It's pretty simple in size. It has a core right here. 310 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:54,833 And this is really a heat exchanger. 311 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:57,733 You have to help them imagine where it is 312 00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,200 if you're not going to see it, particularly behind walls, 313 00:11:59,266 --> 00:12:00,333 particularly with television. 314 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:02,133 You'll look carefully. 315 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,566 You'll notice that there are different layers. 316 00:12:04,633 --> 00:12:06,600 Air goes this way. This layer, the next, 317 00:12:06,666 --> 00:12:08,733 it goes the opposing way, and they just alternate. 318 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,366 If I'm going to take somebody inside the mechanical world, 319 00:12:11,433 --> 00:12:14,466 a lot of times it's in a really hard place to shoot. 320 00:12:14,533 --> 00:12:17,000 So, oftentimes guess what? Underneath the sink. 321 00:12:17,066 --> 00:12:19,033 Man: Say when. Richard: Okay. 322 00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:23,300 Man: Down? Richard: No, no, no. Okay. 323 00:12:23,366 --> 00:12:25,100 There it is. 324 00:12:25,166 --> 00:12:26,666 And then, you know, there's a lot of times 325 00:12:26,733 --> 00:12:30,800 you want to explain, you know, inside of a pipe. 326 00:12:30,866 --> 00:12:33,533 And these cameras came along that could just go down. 327 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:38,733 And so, nothing is better than taking America down a big drain. 328 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:40,333 It makes it real. 329 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:41,933 These tools have changed everything for me 330 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,200 to be able to tell what's going on. 331 00:12:44,266 --> 00:12:47,500 Then there's all these digital-temperature thermometers 332 00:12:47,566 --> 00:12:51,033 and thermographic cameras that can bring temperature to life, 333 00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:52,433 you know, that we never had before. 334 00:12:52,500 --> 00:12:54,933 It used to be we went, "A-ha-ha, that's hot." 335 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,733 Now we can actually know exactly how hot it is. 336 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:58,666 So, the tools get better and better. 337 00:12:58,733 --> 00:13:00,666 And that only makes it easier to teach. 338 00:13:00,733 --> 00:13:01,933 There's this really brilliant control 339 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,266 on the front that's like a smartphone, 340 00:13:03,333 --> 00:13:05,400 where it puts all the right water temperatures 341 00:13:05,466 --> 00:13:06,600 into the different functions of the building. 342 00:13:06,666 --> 00:13:08,100 Kevin: Beautiful. 343 00:13:08,166 --> 00:13:09,466 Richard: You can remotely dial into it. So, pretty cool. 344 00:13:09,533 --> 00:13:11,133 I think our show has done as good as anybody 345 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,133 to sort of demystify the mechanical room 346 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:15,900 and the whole mechanical world. 347 00:13:15,966 --> 00:13:18,000 So, here's what the unit looks like on the outside. 348 00:13:18,066 --> 00:13:20,700 We've seen these before. They're used all over the world. 349 00:13:20,766 --> 00:13:23,466 You can see right here at the top 350 00:13:23,533 --> 00:13:26,233 there's a combustion air fan and a gas valve. 351 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:28,566 What I realized after about ten years of doing this, 352 00:13:28,633 --> 00:13:30,566 I'm not going to teach them everything there is, 353 00:13:30,633 --> 00:13:32,033 all the rules. 354 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:34,966 I'm going to teach them what represents good behavior 355 00:13:35,033 --> 00:13:37,400 and then that helps them hire better. 356 00:13:37,466 --> 00:13:39,766 You know what I mean? And they also get to know 357 00:13:39,833 --> 00:13:42,266 what represents a good job, because a lot of times 358 00:13:42,333 --> 00:13:45,433 the consumer is, for lack of knowledge, 359 00:13:45,500 --> 00:13:47,366 they can be fooled by somebody. 360 00:13:47,433 --> 00:13:49,666 And so, what we did is we empowered the homeowner 361 00:13:49,733 --> 00:13:51,333 to sort of hold their own. 362 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,200 And I think it made -- I think it made the relationship better 363 00:13:54,266 --> 00:13:56,166 with the marketplace. We want them to be, 364 00:13:56,233 --> 00:13:57,666 to know enough about their mechanical world 365 00:13:57,733 --> 00:13:59,233 to not live in fear of it 366 00:13:59,300 --> 00:14:01,700 but also know how to hire to have it done right. 367 00:14:01,766 --> 00:14:04,066 We showed radiant floor heating before anybody else did. 368 00:14:04,133 --> 00:14:06,633 We showed the mini-duct system before anybody else did. 369 00:14:06,700 --> 00:14:09,966 We showed the world better stuff, 370 00:14:10,033 --> 00:14:13,233 and it helped the whole industry do a better system 371 00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:14,466 and made people more comfortable. 372 00:14:14,533 --> 00:14:16,200 And guess what? The mechanical contractors, 373 00:14:16,266 --> 00:14:17,666 they might have made more money. 374 00:14:17,733 --> 00:14:19,866 That's okay, as long as the homeowners are happy, too. 375 00:14:19,933 --> 00:14:21,533 Who loses? Nobody loses. 376 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,233 You have hot water. Woman: That's awesome. 377 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:24,700 Thank you. 378 00:14:24,766 --> 00:14:26,966 Richard: This is a cool thing. No matter where I go, 379 00:14:27,033 --> 00:14:31,500 if somebody recognizes me, they'll say, "Thank you." 380 00:14:31,566 --> 00:14:34,966 If you're going to do a career where you give teaching 381 00:14:35,033 --> 00:14:36,433 and anybody that comes up says, 382 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:39,000 "Thank you," that's a career well-lived. 383 00:14:39,066 --> 00:14:41,200 I mean, that's sort of just total reinforcement 384 00:14:41,266 --> 00:14:42,266 for what you've been doing. 385 00:14:42,333 --> 00:14:43,733 Man: Thanks for your help, Richard. 386 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:44,833 Man: Thanks a lot, Richard. 387 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:46,500 Woman: Thanks, Richard. Richard: Enjoy. 388 00:14:46,566 --> 00:14:49,366 The heart of this show is that we're all contractors by birth 389 00:14:49,433 --> 00:14:51,466 and will ultimately die as just contractors. 390 00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:52,700 That's what we know. 391 00:14:52,766 --> 00:14:55,533 And I think as long as we stay true to that, 392 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,300 that with all the next generation of talent, 393 00:14:57,366 --> 00:14:59,600 as long as those people really have real jobs 394 00:14:59,666 --> 00:15:01,800 and they aren't just actors 395 00:15:01,866 --> 00:15:04,366 that are pretending to be contractors, we'll be fine. 396 00:15:04,433 --> 00:15:09,100 ♪♪ 397 00:15:09,166 --> 00:15:11,100 Kevin: Richard, I'm excited to find out where you're taking me. 398 00:15:11,166 --> 00:15:12,933 I don't often get to go on these road trips with you. 399 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,266 Richard: Well, good to have you as my road buddy. 400 00:15:15,333 --> 00:15:17,200 You know, about a year ago, my son Evan and I, 401 00:15:17,266 --> 00:15:19,566 we started renovating this old mill building 402 00:15:19,633 --> 00:15:22,666 we found down in the south coast of Massachusetts 403 00:15:22,733 --> 00:15:25,466 as a training center for the HVAC industry. 404 00:15:25,533 --> 00:15:28,133 Kevin: Right. Because your primary day job nowadays 405 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,100 is to be a rep for manufacturers' equipment 406 00:15:30,166 --> 00:15:31,100 of heating and cooling. 407 00:15:31,166 --> 00:15:32,400 Richard: Right. 408 00:15:32,466 --> 00:15:33,533 And that requires a fair amount of training. 409 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,500 We always have to do it on the jobsite 410 00:15:35,566 --> 00:15:38,766 or out at a manufacturer or a contractor's office. 411 00:15:38,833 --> 00:15:40,700 So, we thought we'd build the ultimate training center, 412 00:15:40,766 --> 00:15:44,233 where you could touch and see and feel everything, 413 00:15:44,300 --> 00:15:45,600 and that could be good for the contractors, 414 00:15:45,666 --> 00:15:47,333 obviously, the distributors, 415 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,333 but also for architects, engineers, builders 416 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,700 and even homeowners to sort of pick out the end product, 417 00:15:53,766 --> 00:15:55,066 sort of like a comfort showroom. 418 00:15:55,133 --> 00:15:57,666 Kevin: Sounds cool. Always the professor, right? 419 00:15:57,733 --> 00:15:59,566 Richard: Try to be. Kevin: Oh, let's do it. 420 00:15:59,633 --> 00:16:03,366 ♪♪ 421 00:16:03,433 --> 00:16:04,566 Richard: So, Kevin, welcome 422 00:16:04,633 --> 00:16:06,133 to our little corner of the world here. 423 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,600 Kevin: Thank you. Boy, nothing little about it, Richard. 424 00:16:08,666 --> 00:16:09,933 Richard: We're in an industrialized city 425 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,166 called Fall River. 426 00:16:11,233 --> 00:16:13,900 And my son Evan and I saw this building 427 00:16:13,966 --> 00:16:15,433 and thought this could be a perfect place 428 00:16:15,500 --> 00:16:18,200 for a training center for the HVAC industry. 429 00:16:18,266 --> 00:16:20,333 It's a 1904 mill building. 430 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,833 Kevin: You guys cleaned it up? Richard: Yeah. 431 00:16:21,900 --> 00:16:25,333 It's been a labor of love over the past year or so. 432 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,800 And this is the training room right here. 433 00:16:27,866 --> 00:16:30,366 It's a comfortable, natural-lit place. 434 00:16:30,433 --> 00:16:32,333 And in this room, we've got tables and chairs 435 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,233 that we can fill the room if we choose to, 436 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:36,500 but we can keep it much more intimate. 437 00:16:36,566 --> 00:16:38,600 We want it to be a great place to learn. 438 00:16:38,666 --> 00:16:41,266 The displays go all around the room. 439 00:16:41,333 --> 00:16:43,000 What we can do is modify those displays 440 00:16:43,066 --> 00:16:45,500 based on who we're teaching that particular day. 441 00:16:45,566 --> 00:16:47,933 Over here, we've got stuff that has to do with all the ways 442 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,400 that you can zone, 443 00:16:49,466 --> 00:16:51,033 different ways you can put the right temperatures 444 00:16:51,100 --> 00:16:52,333 in different parts of the building. 445 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:53,733 Kevin: Right. 446 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:55,866 Richard: Over here, this is radiant floor heating. 447 00:16:55,933 --> 00:16:57,100 Kevin: "Plumbing University." 448 00:16:57,166 --> 00:16:58,566 Richard: Absolutely. And then many times 449 00:16:58,633 --> 00:17:01,133 we start right here on this drafting board. 450 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:02,833 We'll bring the set of plans in for the project, 451 00:17:02,900 --> 00:17:04,233 think about the choices. 452 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:05,666 You know, there's many choices 453 00:17:05,733 --> 00:17:08,533 nowadays to do heating or cooling in the building. 454 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:12,000 This shows a conventional heat-pump air handler. 455 00:17:12,066 --> 00:17:14,366 And then this is a distribution method 456 00:17:14,433 --> 00:17:16,600 that we've used for years, which is the mini-duct system 457 00:17:16,666 --> 00:17:18,166 that has the small holes. 458 00:17:18,233 --> 00:17:22,100 And so, that's one choice. This is the condenser unit, 459 00:17:22,166 --> 00:17:25,066 the inverter heat-pump units that we see in wide use. 460 00:17:25,133 --> 00:17:27,133 This could have a single box outside 461 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:28,800 with multiple indoor units. 462 00:17:28,866 --> 00:17:31,033 So, you could have conventional air systems, 463 00:17:31,100 --> 00:17:33,933 but you could also have those high sidewall cassettes. 464 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,800 Here would be geothermal. You can see right here 465 00:17:36,866 --> 00:17:38,666 that the pathways are a different way 466 00:17:38,733 --> 00:17:40,566 that we'll change the energy. 467 00:17:40,633 --> 00:17:42,066 Kevin: So, when they see this, is it helping them 468 00:17:42,133 --> 00:17:43,633 get a sense of both the scale 469 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:45,200 but also kind of like where you pipe it, 470 00:17:45,266 --> 00:17:46,833 how they go in and out? Richard: Yeah. 471 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:49,100 I think guys and gals in the mechanical world, 472 00:17:49,166 --> 00:17:50,500 I think they're artists, and they do better 473 00:17:50,566 --> 00:17:53,200 when they see the stuff and can sort of relate that 474 00:17:53,266 --> 00:17:54,533 "Yeah, I could do that" and think about 475 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:55,800 how to fit it into the building. 476 00:17:55,866 --> 00:17:57,566 Kevin: Tactile, physical. 477 00:17:57,633 --> 00:17:59,566 Richard: This is actually air to water. 478 00:17:59,633 --> 00:18:03,100 This is actually a unit that has a big outdoor unit. 479 00:18:03,166 --> 00:18:05,433 So, we're using this actually to do this building, 480 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:06,833 heating and cooling right now. 481 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:08,066 This is the tank we use 482 00:18:08,133 --> 00:18:10,333 for the hot water for the faucets. 483 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,666 And we use this to both heat or cool and do the radiant. 484 00:18:13,733 --> 00:18:15,733 Kevin: So, a display but also operational. 485 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:17,300 Richard: Right. And then they can see the operation. 486 00:18:17,366 --> 00:18:18,433 They can see what's going on. 487 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:20,666 So, it becomes much more user-friendly. 488 00:18:20,733 --> 00:18:22,600 This is a gas-fired condensing boiler 489 00:18:22,666 --> 00:18:24,300 with a tank underneath it. 490 00:18:24,366 --> 00:18:28,666 In here you can actually show the proper way to do the piping 491 00:18:28,733 --> 00:18:30,900 for the radiant system that's in our building. 492 00:18:30,966 --> 00:18:33,166 So, they see that and they go, "Yeah, I could do that. 493 00:18:33,233 --> 00:18:36,066 Okay. Yeah." And the building might change, 494 00:18:36,133 --> 00:18:38,333 but the basic concept becomes now repeatable. 495 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:39,866 And that's what we're looking for -- 496 00:18:39,933 --> 00:18:41,666 HVAC systems that can be installed right 497 00:18:41,733 --> 00:18:43,200 so they become repeatable. 498 00:18:43,266 --> 00:18:45,200 Kevin: Right. 499 00:18:45,266 --> 00:18:46,533 Richard: We also want to teach the importance 500 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,033 of fresh air in a building. 501 00:18:48,100 --> 00:18:49,800 What good is it to make that building tight, tight, tight 502 00:18:49,866 --> 00:18:51,866 and then starve to death for fresh air? 503 00:18:51,933 --> 00:18:53,966 We've got all these energy-recovery ventilators. 504 00:18:54,033 --> 00:18:55,966 We've shown them before, every size, 505 00:18:56,033 --> 00:18:58,366 and can't have enough fresh air. Kevin: Mm-hmm. 506 00:18:58,433 --> 00:18:59,966 Richard: Then this is some of the equipment 507 00:19:00,033 --> 00:19:02,833 where you'll touch and feel to make them more comfortable here 508 00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:04,800 before they get out in the field. 509 00:19:04,866 --> 00:19:07,733 Commercial spaces will have equipment like this. 510 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,800 The equipment just gets bigger with more choices 511 00:19:10,866 --> 00:19:14,000 for how you deliver heating and cooling into the building. 512 00:19:14,066 --> 00:19:18,033 And then back here is our kitchen, team room, and offices. 513 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:20,866 Kevin: It's nice -- kitchen, couches, 514 00:19:20,933 --> 00:19:22,000 ping-pong tables, the whole deal. 515 00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:23,300 Richard: Little coffee once in a while. 516 00:19:23,366 --> 00:19:26,066 Kevin: Yeah. So, what's the philosophy? 517 00:19:26,133 --> 00:19:28,700 I mean, what is it? I've seen showroom. 518 00:19:28,766 --> 00:19:32,633 I've seen training rooms. What are you going for? 519 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:34,433 Richard: Sort of like a field of dreams. 520 00:19:34,500 --> 00:19:36,333 If we build it, we hope they'll come. 521 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,400 You know? This is a way to show the mechanical world, 522 00:19:40,466 --> 00:19:41,900 demystify the mechanical world, 523 00:19:41,966 --> 00:19:43,466 all the different choices -- not all the choices, 524 00:19:43,533 --> 00:19:46,933 but so many of the choices that are available to people -- 525 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,633 and let them touch it, feel it, learn about it. 526 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:52,400 Kevin: Is there somewhere else that they can get together 527 00:19:52,466 --> 00:19:54,900 in that environment, or has it sort of been lost? 528 00:19:54,966 --> 00:19:56,100 Richard: I don't know. 529 00:19:56,166 --> 00:19:58,366 I don't know there's that many HVAC 530 00:19:58,433 --> 00:20:01,200 or comfort showrooms, you know, I think, but I can use 531 00:20:01,266 --> 00:20:03,066 the analogy, I think, to the plumbing world. 532 00:20:03,133 --> 00:20:06,166 There was a time when there was no plumbing showroom, 533 00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:08,533 and you bought a simple chrome faucet 534 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,800 and a white fixture. 535 00:20:10,866 --> 00:20:13,666 And the plumbing showrooms came along, and people went in 536 00:20:13,733 --> 00:20:15,333 and said, "Oh, I like that." 537 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,900 And "Oh, okay, I can actually afford that." 538 00:20:17,966 --> 00:20:19,366 And they would pick a better product. 539 00:20:19,433 --> 00:20:22,500 I think there's some of that going on here, 540 00:20:22,566 --> 00:20:24,566 where people can come in here and go, 541 00:20:24,633 --> 00:20:26,533 "Oh, so that's what I'd see in my house? Okay." 542 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,866 Or "That's what I'd see in this building? Oh, okay. Yeah." 543 00:20:28,933 --> 00:20:31,066 And so, if they can make that decision 544 00:20:31,133 --> 00:20:33,133 based on what the finished product is 545 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,800 and then work back, because so often in this world, 546 00:20:35,866 --> 00:20:39,166 you just get a proposal from a mechanical contractor 547 00:20:39,233 --> 00:20:40,933 and you go, "Oh, that's a lot of money," 548 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,100 But you don't even know what a ton of anything is. 549 00:20:43,166 --> 00:20:44,300 You don't know what's on it, you know? 550 00:20:44,366 --> 00:20:45,600 So, you're buying a recipe 551 00:20:45,666 --> 00:20:46,666 that you don't even know what's there. 552 00:20:46,733 --> 00:20:48,500 So, now with this, you sort of say, 553 00:20:48,566 --> 00:20:49,933 "Let's break it down. 554 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,100 Let's see what's in that bag of groceries." 555 00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:54,033 Kevin: There's a lot going on here. I mean, it's a big space, 556 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:55,700 but you've got a lot of equipment. 557 00:20:55,766 --> 00:20:57,800 Is there a financial incentive? 558 00:20:57,866 --> 00:20:59,466 Is it good for business or is it...? 559 00:20:59,533 --> 00:21:00,800 Richard: Well, we certainly hope so. 560 00:21:00,866 --> 00:21:02,166 You know, we're a manufacturer's rep, 561 00:21:02,233 --> 00:21:04,933 so we do represent products and distribute them. 562 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,433 But this is actually bigger than just that, I think, 563 00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:09,600 because all the products that are here are not just ours. 564 00:21:09,666 --> 00:21:12,033 We're trying to take a bigger mission 565 00:21:12,100 --> 00:21:14,000 to sort of teach people, teach the industry, 566 00:21:14,066 --> 00:21:15,633 hoping that, you know, 567 00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:18,266 that rising tide floats all the boats. 568 00:21:18,333 --> 00:21:22,100 Kevin: So, why this? Or actually why now? 569 00:21:22,166 --> 00:21:24,766 I mean, you've always been a teacher to all of us. 570 00:21:24,833 --> 00:21:27,233 This is pretty late in your career. 571 00:21:27,300 --> 00:21:28,900 Why now? 572 00:21:28,966 --> 00:21:29,966 Richard: This particular building 573 00:21:30,033 --> 00:21:31,833 is the brainchild of my son Evan, 574 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:35,366 who wants to sort of grow this thing to the next level. 575 00:21:35,433 --> 00:21:36,966 And he's really good at it, you know? 576 00:21:37,033 --> 00:21:40,533 But this is sort of a place to keep my legacy going, I hope. 577 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,366 I mean, I think it goes back -- you know, my dad, 578 00:21:43,433 --> 00:21:45,966 you know, ran our family business, and he grew it. 579 00:21:46,033 --> 00:21:47,833 And that's the reason we ended up on the show. 580 00:21:47,900 --> 00:21:50,233 But he was always the one trying to train the next generation. 581 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:51,566 He would train people. 582 00:21:51,633 --> 00:21:53,633 He'd bring them in and adopt them. 583 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:54,866 And then some of those guys 584 00:21:54,933 --> 00:21:56,466 went off to start their own businesses. 585 00:21:56,533 --> 00:21:58,333 And I'd always be like, "Dad, why do we keep training them 586 00:21:58,400 --> 00:21:59,366 and they leave?" 587 00:21:59,433 --> 00:22:00,666 He said, "It doesn't matter. 588 00:22:00,733 --> 00:22:02,033 It's going to help the whole industry." 589 00:22:02,100 --> 00:22:04,100 And I think if we can do that, if we can educate, 590 00:22:04,166 --> 00:22:05,666 and where do you stop educating? 591 00:22:05,733 --> 00:22:08,166 You should educate everybody. Kevin: Right. 592 00:22:08,233 --> 00:22:10,700 Richard: Distributors, mechanical contractors, 593 00:22:10,766 --> 00:22:13,000 architects, engineers, homeowners, building owners, 594 00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:15,800 because building owners don't know what to do 595 00:22:15,866 --> 00:22:19,800 to solve this issue of energy in their operating costs. 596 00:22:19,866 --> 00:22:21,900 Kevin: Well, it's nice to see the space, 597 00:22:21,966 --> 00:22:24,466 but it's also nice to see you taking your dad's philosophy 598 00:22:24,533 --> 00:22:26,600 and keeping it going, passing it on to the sons. 599 00:22:26,666 --> 00:22:28,400 As I said, you've always been a teacher to all of us. 600 00:22:28,466 --> 00:22:29,933 And so, to think that there's another generation 601 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,033 coming behind you, it's terrific. 602 00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:33,500 Richard: It's really fun. Kevin: Congrats. 603 00:22:33,566 --> 00:22:35,400 Richard: Fun to see it. 604 00:22:35,466 --> 00:22:39,500 ♪♪ 605 00:22:41,933 --> 00:22:43,966 Kevin: Next time on "Ask This Old House"... 606 00:22:44,033 --> 00:22:46,166 Mauro shows how playing with shades of color 607 00:22:46,233 --> 00:22:47,933 can brighten a dark space. 608 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:52,033 Mauro: You know, this is going to look very nice here. 609 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:54,100 Kevin: And do you struggle with water in your basement? 610 00:22:54,166 --> 00:22:56,533 Richard and Mark answer some common questions 611 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,966 about this problem. 612 00:22:59,033 --> 00:23:01,533 Plus, on "Build It," Tom makes a bat house 613 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:05,333 that can support the ecosystem of these beneficial creatures. 614 00:23:06,733 --> 00:23:10,100 All that on "Ask This Old House."