Ask TOH | Water Filter, Fire Pit: 1521

On this episode of Ask This Old House Not so tasty – See Richard help a homeowner improve her drinking water with a whole house filter. Jenn Nawada creates a backyard sanctuary with a patio and granite fire pit. Watch Tom explain the differences between soft and hard wood. How to Install a Whole House Water Filter Richard improves the taste and odor of municipal drinking water with a whole house filtration system that includes a sediment filter and a granulated activated carbon filter. Where to find it? Richard installed the Carbon Series Premium Whole House Filter, manufactured by Pelican Water Systems. It includes a cartridge based prefilter and a carbon filter. How to Identify Hardwoods and Softwoods Tom walks Kevin through the types of woods available and the best uses for each. Where to find it? Tom notes that the terms hardwood and softwood do not refer to density but rather to the type of tree- hardwoods come from deciduous trees and softwoods from conifers. For example, balsa wood is a hardwood that is incredibly lightweight whereas Argentine Lignum Vitae is a heavy softwood. Softwoods grow fast and straight so they are a good option for framing material like fir and spruce. The less knots, the stronger the wood is. These woods are typically dried in a kiln to prevent warping and shrinkage. Some softwoods like pine are inexpensive and can be used for interior trim, but they can warp and twist. A hardwood like maple is used for cabinets whereas oak is a good choice for flooring. Both of these are more common hardwoods. Fine hardwoods are denser and include species like walnut and mahogany. They’re used for balusters and decking and are more expensive than common hardwoods. Exotic hardwoods like purple heart and zebra wood are the most expensive and usually used for accents on fine furniture. The more basic woods demonstrated can be found at home centers. The higher end and more exotic pieces need to be purchased from a specialty lumber yard or woodworking shop. Future House | Road Testing Smart Home Devices Ross visits a hotel room that’s powered by voice activation and tablet apps. Ross visited the Aloft Boston Seaport, which has a select number of voice-activated rooms available for rent. The lighting that changes level and color is Philips Hue. The thermostat that can be controlled by voice or tablet is manufactured by Ecobee. The system for using voice commands for smart home products is part of HomeKit, which is available on phones, tablets, and watches made by Apple. How to Install a Natural Stone Patio with Fire Pit Landscape designer Jenn Nawada installs a bluestone patio with a reclaimed granite fire pit. Where to find it? For the base material, Jenn used a mixture of 3/4” stone and stone dust. These can be purchased from a landscape supply shop. Jenn selected thermal bluestone for the patio surface, which is available through a stone supplier. Jenn found oversized pieces of reclaimed granite from a mason, though a stone supplier can help locate something similar. Expert assistance with this project was provided by Nawada Landscape Design, A. Bonadio and Sons, Inc., and Landcape Depot, Inc.