Ask This Old House Season 2 Episode 17 Snaking Speaker Wire; What Is It?; Planting a Tree

In Ask This Old House season 2 episode 17, the show's experts offer their expertise on three different home improvement and landscaping projects. In the first segment, host Kevin O'Connor and electrician Scott Caron help a homeowner install a speaker system in his home theater room. The issue is that the speaker wires are disappearing into the walls, and the homeowner doesn't know how to retrieve them. Using a special tool called a snake, Scott is able to guide the wires out of the wall and connect them to the receiver. Kevin and Scott also provide some advice on optimizing the speaker placement for the best sound.

Next up, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey takes center stage to help a curious homeowner understand a mystery pipe that's connected to his house's water supply. The homeowner has noticed that when he turns off the main water valve at the street, the pipe continues to hold water. Richard explains that this is called a "water hammer arrestor" and is designed to prevent banging pipes when the water valve is turned off quickly. He shows how to test the valve and replace it if necessary, and offers some additional tips for keeping pipes flowing smoothly.

Finally, landscape contractor Roger Cook joins Kevin to help a homeowner plant a tree in her front yard. The homeowner has already dug the hole, but isn't sure how to properly plant the tree. Roger provides some expert tips on how to prep the soil, position the tree, and backfill around the roots. He also demonstrates how to properly tamp down the soil to remove any air pockets that could hinder the tree's growth. As the episode concludes, Kevin and Roger offer some additional advice on tree watering and care to ensure the tree thrives for years to come.

Overall, Ask This Old House season 2 episode 17 offers a wide range of home improvement topics, all presented with the show's signature blend of expertise and approachability. Whether you're a seasoned DIYer or just getting started with home improvement projects, you're sure to pick up some valuable tips and tricks from the Ask This Old House team.