Ask This Old House Season 4 Episode 14 Radon Mitigation System; Pruning an Apple Tree

In the 14th episode of the fourth season of Ask This Old House, the team tackles two very different home improvement projects. First up, Kevin O'Connor heads to Connecticut to help a family install a radon mitigation system in their home. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is harmful to humans when breathed in over an extended period of time. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, after smoking. The homeowners were concerned about the levels of radon in their basement, where they spend a lot of time, especially since they have young children.

During his visit, Kevin interviews an expert on radon mitigation and learns about the different methods for reducing radon levels in homes. He then works with the homeowners to install a sub-slab depressurization system, which involves creating a suction point under the basement floor that draws the radon from the soil and vents it outside. The project is not a quick fix, but rather a long-term solution to ensuring the family's health and safety.

In the second segment of the episode, Roger Cook travels to Massachusetts to help a homeowner with some pruning on her apple tree. The tree has grown too tall for the owner to harvest the fruit, and it also needs to be pruned to maintain its overall health. Roger demonstrates the proper techniques for pruning an apple tree, including where and how to make cuts on the branches. He also talks about the importance of pruning to promote new growth and prevent the tree from becoming too dense.

The episode concludes with a segment called "What Is It?" in which the team tries to identify an unusual object sent in by a viewer. The object turns out to be a grapevine pruner, used for trimming grapevines to ensure a better yield of fruit.

Overall, this episode of Ask This Old House provides homeowners with valuable information on how to protect their families from radon gas and how to take care of their fruit trees. The show's combination of expert advice and practical tips make it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve their home and garden.