Ask This Old House

The Season 13 premiere discusses rust staining; the installation of a pass-through in a load-bearing wall; and the replacement of a poorly built fence gate. Also: NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio joins the fun when the guys play "What is it?"

Citrus greening, a disease that's killing citrus trees in Florida, is discussed. Also: replacing an old vinyl peel-and-stick floor with ceramic tile.

Beneficial insects are discussed. Also: resizing a front door that gets stuck on the carpet whenever it's opened; and repairing an outdoor garden faucet.

Practical solutions for drought. Included: replacing a water-guzzling lawn with a desert-appropriate alternative; and replacing an old-fashioned toilet with a "water sense" solution. Also: meteorologist Jim Cantore shares cautionary tales from the front lines of the drought.

Repairing structural problems in a home and running wiring for a new ceiling fixture and switch in a living room.

Installing a natural gas line for a new grill and hanging a heavy, decorative mirror on a masonry chimney. Also: what grows best in the shade.

Setting up a beehive and adding lighting to a dark kitchen without running new wiring.

Harvesting honey and adding outlets to a home.

A hydroponic garden is built and a hot- and cold-water outdoor faucet is installed.

Connecting a basement lighting system to one switch; air conditioning maintenance; rejuvenating a crabapple tree.

A broken window is replaced with a safer option; and a toilet is rotated.

A cover for a fire pit is built; and a bathroom sink is upgraded.

Interior window trim is installed; an above-ground pool is wired. Also: first-time plumbing tips.

Removing overgrown shrubs and replacing them with edible landscape; snaking drains; replacing damaged pieces of vinyl siding.

Installing a whole house ductless heating and cooling system; hearing protection; repairing a plaster ceiling.

Transforming an old backsplash; installing a new kitchen faucet.

How to repair broken sash cords; and plant bulbs. Also: historian Doris Kearns Goodwin guests in the "What Is It?" segment.

Building a basic entry shelf from poplar and plywood; wiring a basement room for outlets and lighting.

Replacing an undersized ceiling fan; bonsai nursery.

Lightning protection system; installing a reverse osmosis filter for drinking water.

Installing landscape lighting; replacing a water main shutoff.

Replacing a mailbox damaged by a snowplow; window anatomy; reusing an old door in a new opening.

Kitchen island dimensions; quieting a noisy baseboard heating system; adding light to a kitchen.

Planting an indoor tropical garden with plants from Jamaica; changing the temperature on water heaters; building an American flag out of wood.

Installing an electric vehicle charger; installing a new kitchen sink.

Installing a thermostat that interfaces with a smartphone to save energy; installing a photovoltaic solar array on a barn.