Ep 8. Jamestown: Air Tight House

Jamestown: Air Tight House is the eighth episode of the 40th season of the popular home renovation series This Old House. This episode takes viewers to Jamestown, Rhode Island, where a team of experts is working to transform an old, drafty house into a modern, energy-efficient home.

The episode begins with a tour of the old house, which is over 100 years old and has seen better days. The house is drafty and cold, with old windows and poor insulation. However, the team is determined to turn things around and make the house as energy-efficient as possible.

To do this, the team focuses on making the house air-tight. This means sealing up any gaps, cracks, or leaks in the house's exterior shell to prevent heat from escaping in the winter and entering in the summer. The team first focuses on the windows, replacing them with new, energy-efficient models that are designed to keep out air and moisture.

Next, the team turns their attention to the house's walls. They use a spray foam insulation material to fill in any gaps and cracks, creating a tight seal that will help to keep the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The process is messy and time-consuming, but the results are impressive.

The team also installs a new HVAC system in the house, which is designed to be highly energy-efficient and to work in tandem with the new insulation and air-tightness of the house. The system includes a heat pump, which extracts heat from the outdoor air and brings it into the house, as well as a ventilation system that circulates fresh air throughout the house.

With the major energy improvements in place, the team turns their attention to the finishing touches of the house, including installing new fixtures and finishes in the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as painting the walls and adding new flooring. The end result is a beautiful, energy-efficient home that the homeowners can be proud of.

Throughout the episode, the team provides helpful tips and advice for anyone looking to make their home more energy-efficient. Viewers will learn about the importance of air-tightness, insulation, and proper ventilation in creating an energy-efficient home, as well as the benefits of upgrading to modern, energy-efficient windows and HVAC systems.

Overall, Jamestown: Air Tight House is an informative and inspiring episode of This Old House that showcases the power of energy-efficient home renovations. With helpful tips and expert advice, viewers can learn how to make their own homes more energy-efficient and comfortable, while also reducing their carbon footprint.