How Richard Became a Plumber | Ask This Old House

[@papadave9061]

Love Richard, and ALL the crew, including everyone "behind the scenes". This Old House......greatest show EVER!

[@Chrispy9393]

I'm nearly 30. I've been watching Richard my entire life. Hell of a guy.

[@tacklebox6239]

He’s a hack

[@Chrispy9393]

@@tacklebox6239 Ah yes, the internet troll says that the guy with over 40 years experience is a hack.

[@tacklebox6239]

@@Chrispy9393 I understand but years of experience doesn’t mean quality work. As a professional plumber I can assure you that I have witnessed poor work practices at the hands of Richard. I’ve been plumbing for 20 years and the more time goes by the more hackery I noticed for him.

[@Chrispy9393]

@@tacklebox6239 You're a hack. 😘

[@gus473]

Old enough to be your dad, and somehow I just KNEW Richard could afford a big sailboat! 😅 Have fun, Richard, and make sure the grandkids wear their PFDs! 👍🏼😎✌🏼

[@OneManParade]

The living legend. He the reason I got in to plumbing.

[@nybirdman]

Unrelated to the plumbing topic, but If this doesn’t show people the impact of being a good father, I really don’t know what will. Generations of them and all successful in the same trade.

[@ahmadjaber2501]

Richard is one of the reasons I want to be plumber, his personality and the way of thinking got intrigued to be a plumber by profession. big respect to you richard

[@tacklebox6239]

Richard’s a hack

[@aaqilian5.085]

@@tacklebox6239 loser

[@daves984]

When you watch this old house or ask this old house you actually learn something. I learned lots of plumbing tips and tricks over the years, as well as framing from Kevin. They know what they are doing

[@WilliamPayneNZ]

The thing I love about Richard is that plumbing which can be a horrible dirty yuck job yet he has such huge enthusiasm for the subject. He just seems to really love what he does.

[@ChadAmI80]

I've been watching Richard my entire life. I've learned so much from him, Tommy and Norm.

[@razzledazzle84921]

The brilliance of Richard is not just his skills as a plumber and an engineer, but his specialty really is how elegantly he can explain his work. At the end of every TOH segment, you know exactly what he did, and why. Have learned so much from him. Thanks Richard!

[@mae2759]

That Hulk Hogan mustache on 22 year old Richard is on point!

[@BTcycle]

What an honor to watch Richard over the years. Learned so much from him.

[@stooge81]

Agreed. Feel like I grew up wit him. All of them.

[@georgephillips84]

I really appreciate it as a plumber myself to grow up and watch these guys

[@deanehill9730]

A very valued tradie on the This Old House . He explains the plumbing systems clearly that makes sense to everyday people. Thanks for the video.

[@phillipbaker3860]

Thanks for sharing Richard story, I enjoy watching all Richard plumbing videos

[@DM7817]

Big fan of Richard. Thanks from your fellow plumbers - you represent the trade well

[@dudeguy7347]

I started plumbing four years ago and had no clue what i was getting into. Its made me a more mechanically inclined person and has to taught me the importance of doing good work.

[@eastunder55]

Richard nailed it with the grandkids. The reward for being a parent is the opportunity to be a grandparent.

[@Mister006]

I had no idea! Papa Trethewey's DAPPER DAN in his hat and tie! THREE Generations of Tretheweys have been contributors to TOH! That is FANTASTIC! Richard, thanks for all you are and do!

[@mwrcrft]

It is amazing that his family plumbing business is still going strong.

[@erikarice6859]

Not if you do the job right

[@joe6096]

His Dad and Grandfather taught them the right way. I am certain they operate with 3 key values: 1. Do the job right. No shortcuts, no cheapening out, always following the proper codes to a T. 2. Excellent customer service 3. Reasonable prices You follow those three values and you will last forever in whatever business you run.

[@tomf9292]

Rich is a true gentleman and has made me a better HVAC contractor..THANKS Rich!!

[@scottburton414]

Lovely photos of Richard and family, past and present.

[@raulgutierrez1093]

Richard and Steve Lavimoniere the best plumbing professors!!😎👍

[@kevinanderson7007]

I keep on getting $7,000 every week from a new trading platforms in town.

[@bubbsmith7480]

Please how, can you list the platforms for me.

[@juliaana1531]

Wow, I have also been hearing a lot about her goodness and perfection in trading Cryptocurrencies with awesome trading strategies.

[@patrobertson1919]

How can I reach out to Mrs Charlotte junko Walsh ? I urgently need her management on my INVESTMENTS !

[@kevinanderson7007]

Mrs Charlotte is on Whats App Messenger👇her number is just down below 👇this comment.

[@kevinanderson7007]

෴十𝟏𝟔𝟔𝟕𝟐𝟓𝟒𝟖𝟐𝟐𝟎෴📲📲

[@cmp9600]

I’ve always enjoyed watching this old house since it began… And when I saw that Carol Trethewey‘s little brother Richard was going to be on it I was just tickled pink! We moved from Dedham 106 Ledgewood Road in December 1962. And the Trethewey’s lived on the other side behind the “forest” that was between our streets… Carol was a great girl, I really liked her! The Folks moved us to Torrance, California. Richard is The Best! Along with all of his cohort’s 😃

[@stevenlensing1094]

After almost 30 years in the plumbing and HVAC trade I have people asking me why I ever got into this line of work and I tell them I fully blame Richard Trethewey. He made the trade seem so honorable. It has been a good life. Thank You Richard.

[@elncalls]

Just imagine if everyone in our world was like this guy. Problems solved.

[@1ELiMusic]

My earliest memory was watching my older brother see this show on Saturday mornings (may be Sunday) learning on on home improvements. I’m 35 now and glad to see that this show not only taught us, but best of all, it originated in Boston where I’m from. Until this day, I still watch TOH. Simply put…the best!

[@michellemarie1197]

My dad was a carpenter and also a cement worker both union and non union and he would always put on this old house in the mornings, and I'd always watch it with him even when i was 4 or 5 and I remember early on my dad waking up super early at 4 am in the winter time when it's still dark out, my mom would be asleep and he would make me cereal and hug me and get his stuff and go to work in his old used coca cola truck that he used to get to work, watching this old house always makes me think of him.

[@davidmollard9832]

Same here. Second generation local 562 plumber/pipefitter. I'd be so proud to see my son follow in my footsteps.

[@20pump]

Enjoy the show very much. I’ve been a plumber for 43 years, cheers to my brother Richard.

[@obviousness8113]

I've been watching TOH and Richard Trethewey for so long now.. since I was maybe 20, and I'm 47 now. They have been such a blessing. I appreciate them all and I hope they are all blessed and happy.

[@0blivioniox864]

The way Richard explains things resonates with me easily. I've really enjoyed learning everything he's taught over the years. He's the best.

[@FMFC0RPSMAN]

I've been watching TOH since I was a child. Nice to get the back stories on the cast.

[@ejohny1987]

I enjoy watching TOH and especially content presented by Richard or Tom. Learned a lot, love the cutaways he uses to demonstrate how parts work. Lastly as I am living in Slovakia, Europe, I really appreciate how he tries to change the mindset of people when it comes to energy efficiency (i.e. trip to Germany showing sustainable heating). Wish him, other presenters and the show all the best.

[@RADIUMGLASS]

I learned more from these guys than any of my own relatives.

[@chrisgreene9745]

Richard, I too was a red head. Of course we will never meet , but I think we would be friends. Love your humble servant like attitude.

[@mohamednabulsi3533]

beyond the master plumber

[@BloodyIron]

So much to admire about him, his story, this old house and more! Loving it! So glad to hear this story :D

[@JayZoop]

This guy is the best, and a great teacher. He bailed me out of many tight plumbing situations.

[@bonitahighley7922]

Thank you so much Richard!

[@JonnyDIY]

Too cool, nice to see his kids following in the families footsteps. And holy cow his boys and grandkids look just like him! 💕👍

[@markesselstynmiller747]

Very nice to see the personal side of one of the host of This Old House been seeing it for over the past 40 years and I'm 60 years old now. I do remember the first broadcast when it came to my local PBS station WKAR - Michigan State University Television.

[@4seeableTV]

And he was right about his dad being nervous on the show. Bless his heart.

[@GTAHomeGuy]

Stories like this are key. I love the people on this channel, their insight is great but their being is better. Thanks for sharing your lives with us who need you!

[@rawbacon]

Richard taught me to plumb. Mom was hardly wealthy so I'd try to fix anything I could, looking back I can't believe I managed to replace the pressure tank which included soldering 1" copper my first time. That job survived the rest of Mom's life.

[@brandonminiman]

Richard's depth of knowledge is vast. I've learned so much from him and all of TOH

[@barconati]

As a kid I used to watch This Old House with my dad. We would always joke that once Rich the plumber came on screen the project would immediately go over budget. He never had good news for the owner :) It’s so good to now see him doing these clips with homeowners and showing everyone how to do some of this work themselves and save some money. Seems like a good guy.

[@mfplumbing9341]

richards the best ..!!

[@robertbamford8266]

Great story! “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “Orchard” in this case. And a sailor to boot. Thanks for the story. (And now I know how your last name is pronounced.)

[@ColonelK0rn1]

What an in-depth interview that really brought to life the personality of Richard. I always respected all of the trades that had people that worked on TOH, and it's great to hear the backstory how they became involved with the show. I thought it was hilarious to see Bob Vila in his Bob Ross days :D

[@robertf6344]

Good video RIchard. Been watching for decades and have always Loved your stuff. Never a BS story or fix, always top quality stuff. Yourself, Tom Silva, Norm, Roger, and some others have truly been the dream team to watch for anything home related. I couldn't come up with a single complaint if someone paid me - which is certainly not true of many tradesmen's 'how to' videos on the net. Live long and prosper !

[@Kulpythekulpster]

Learned a lot from Richard over the years. Always some way you haven't seen it done before or how someone else goes about it

[@tacklebox6239]

He’s a hack

[@donc-m4900]

I started watching durring the Bob V. days. The Victory Garden was before/after on WGBH. So long ago I don't remember the plumber. (sorry) was young then.

[@StreetRacingR34]

This was such a nice episode.

[@patrickwhitehead7584]

Richard, Bob, Norm, and Tom were figures of my childhood. PBS was so amazing back then. So much of what I use every day in my middle age I learned from This Old House, Mr Rogers, and Sesame Street.

[@tacklebox6239]

Lol

[@danlourenco]

I never really appreciated This Old House until I became a home owner almost 9 months ago. What an invaluable resource this program is. Thanks Richard and the rest of the crew for all that you do; we’re all better for it.

[@PlumbingExplained]

This was a great video! Really enjoyed it, I’m a second generation plumber.

[@syedjavedahmad9719]

Good to know about you Richard Young man. 👍 Allah bless 🙌 you.

[@SteadyRed]

This man is a national treasure!

[@oskarGoesTubbe]

Legends. And also, the world needs more unibrows.

[@marstonstrength]

This is an awesome video. I'm 34 and I start training to be an hvac tech in May. It's shows like This, my carpenter father and Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs that got me out of retail. I plan on opening my own business. Thank you This old house for the inspiration.

[@erikjohnson2889]

That’s awesome! Good luck. Thanks for sharing your story!

[@marstonstrength]

@@erikjohnson2889 Thank you Erik. It is truly appreciated.

[@erikjohnson2889]

@@marstonstrength I’m looking to apprentice with my neighbor, a master carpenter and electrician. I’m a full time musician, but building and woodworking really satisfies my soul. Mike Rowe and TOH are also huge inspirations for me! I wish you the best. Thanks again for the inspiration.

[@marstonstrength]

@@erikjohnson2889 Good luck my new friend.

[@MichaelWolfrom]

Awesome. Been watching Richard since the beginning. It is wonderful to see the evolution of his family !

[@brianbazzle2513]

As a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher, I really enjoyed this clip. I think it shines a much needed positive light on an important skilled trade. As I try to inspire students to pursue careers in the technical fields, I am already thinking how I can work this clip into one of my lessons. I hope TOH will do more similar clips in the future about some of its other regular contributors and their trades.

[@markofsaltburn]

It seems to be an anglophone thing that building trade professionals are somehow seen as “lower class”; it certainly isn’t that way in countries like Germany, for example. Plumbers like Richard who casually throw words like “serendipitously” into their conversation are just what’s needed to chip away at that culture!

[@donaloflynn]

​@@markofsaltburn I think the reason for this is that many people go into the trades because they're not smart enough to earn the same level of income doing more intellectually-demanding work. They make up much of the higher-earning segment of the so-called 'working class' or what Americans call 'blue collar' workers. I don't say so as any kind of slight against them, but simply as a statement of fact. Because they've gone to trade school rather than college, the class-concious don't rate them very highly. There is a great need to attract more high-achieving young people into the trades. Of course, some very intelligent people like Richard work in the trades, but I suspect that many of their equally intelligent peers just trod the well-worn path to college and into the corporate world. College isn't for everybody and as many office jobs that require a third level degree now need fewer staff than before because of automation, skilled tradespeople will have a much easier time finding employment than those with academic qualifications.

[@sigsauer3719]

Been a plumber for over 80 years and still learning..,

[@meme-yc4ks]

Grew up with this show and Richard. Great to learn about the personal aspects of the show. An honor.

[@trustnoone4328]

Great show , learn a lot from Richard .Great plumber a asset to the plumbing industry .

[@54Belvedere]

I became a plumber when I was 30, that was in 2000. Best job I ever had. I do service, everyday is never the same!

[@nathanjones5653]

This was great. I think it would be cool, if okay with the guys and gals do like a legit hour KZbin special on each one’s life.

[@Ted_E_Bear]

Old plumbers never die, they are just flushed away !

[@MikeBramm]

I've been watching This Old House since the very beginning. I can remember being so excited to watch when it came on. It's been fun watching little Richie grow up. 🙂

[@Jw-iu2el]

Havent watched norm in a long time!

[@johnnyfeathers2567]

I love these origin stories..such a great bunch of guys.

[@richardburrell9270]

Have been watching since day one Always enjoyed the new products I have a similar story

[@david24442]

Great video. Thanks for sharing Richard's story.

[@davidmollard9832]

The plumber protects the health of the nation

[@ClarkS963]

Absolutely great video. More personal videos about the team would be awesome.

[@johnbaptist7476]

I ❤ 🕯 love it . I am edicted to your shows almost 30 years , I think . GOD bless you all . We love you all. 🔨🔧🎵✂ 󾓦✟✡✟󾓦

[@johnnywadd7960]

Cool story

[@Nifty-Stuff]

Rich has been wonderful to watch all these years. Great personality and incredibly smart and experienced. Wonderful to see more of his son as well!

[@bosse641]

Good to see :o)

[@ryanroberts1104]

I still remember Richard explaining this new fangled "PVC" pipe to Bob Vila in 1980s ultra low def. Guess that stuff worked out! Richard taught me never to shake hands with a plumber...they aren't into gloves for some reason!

[@CreachterZ]

I grew up with this fella. On tv, but I feel like I know the whole crew.

[@murrayvt]

Grew up with the show, what an amazing group of guys. Love them all.

[@xoxo2008oxox]

I enjoy most of the TOH crew, especially Richard. But I want to ask, does Richard have MG - Myasthenia gravis? His eye and arm seem to be same as a carpenter I know that was diagnosed with it.

[@plazatacoma03]

The plumbing goat

[@toddjasper1]

Great video. However, I’m tremendously disappointed that no cutaways were featured… 😉

[@WillowLawson-k3e]

im a plumber in scotland and i know no one will read this but thank you richars, as an apprentice at a huge commercial company there was little or no effort in teaching us it was sweep up fir the first twi years then after that you were expected to go fit a row of toilets or commercial crimped pipe in a boiler house, every day i came home from work and watched richard on youtube and although it was different from the pipes i fit it helped me and gave me comfort i continued on and just got stuck in the deep end and became qualified although i feel i am not competent in houses all i was taught and got the chance to do was commercial sized pipe and stuff you could find in huge buildings never got the chance to learn bathrooms or kitchen sinks typically there should be a commercial abd domestic plumbing apprenticeship im technically a qualified plumber but all i know how to do us commercial it really gets me down, anyways thank you richard!

[@cubanlock15]

Richard at 22 looks to be 10 years my senior. I am currently 27 years old!

[@Oldhogleg]

I've been a contractor since the 80's, I'd have to admit I'm still doing it because to do anything else is just too monotonous and boring.

[@vestel777]

I would LOVE to hear all their stories of how they got into the business. I already know Kevin’s Story. I just don’t know the Silva’s Story or Norm’s Story.

[@rwr7260]

Richard and this old house is a big reason I became a plumber/gas fitter. Been in the trade for 28 years now!

[@Mixwell1983]

I already have the tissue and lotion out for "how Tom became a carpenter" Fr fr mad respect for these tradesmen and I enjoyed their storiew

[@valazuniga]

Awesome interview. Loved seeing the old pics. He's the prefect fit for TOH!

[@valeriekoch9128]

His father did look nervous (I can't blame him)

[@666BIGBLOCK]

Great guy. Skilled Man. Honest Man.

[@avalon449]

Richard is the patron saint of plumbers! What a spokesperson !!!!!

[@tacklebox6239]

Richard a hack!

[@48sufi]

Richard is one of the reasons I watch TOH. Its like watching a master. The knowledge and the skills he has and of course the gentleman that he is. god bless you sir

[@joeleauvano7417]

I’m happy I saw this, this is amazing. I’m a journeymen out of Houston. Always put pride in what you do.

[@iguesi]

Thank you for generously sharing your time and know-how!... the generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

[@ZipKickGo]

Richard, you are the genuine American Man. Your story is humbling and inspiring.

[@mwc6849]

Always enjoy the mechanical section of the shows.

[@lineshaftrestorations7903]

I wonder if he's ever been to Trethewey, Cornwall, UK? A few years back I was working in Cornwall and unintentionally drove through that little community and mused it was his namesake.