The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

Tuesday Tip – Check those Batteries

Batteries not included… no worries, I have plenty here in this drawer. Uh oh, are they all dead? Ahh, it must be Christmas time. In today’s tip we are going to show you a quick way to test those batteries because all it takes is for one bad battery in the set to leave you […]

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks December 8, 2020 By SLS

Wacky Weds: Job Security?

As many know, this site was created by & is supported solely by SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC (SLSCBS) as a free resource. Besides SLSCBS focusing on code compliance testing & consulting, we also help homeowners & building owners solve energy, comfort & health problems they may encounter. One might think with all the […]

Filed Under: Wordless Wednesday November 11, 2020 By SLS

Monday Musings: ASHRAE part 2

In last weeks Monday Musings on the Great Ventilation Debate part Deux we dived into what is possibly coming down the pike for 2022 with two standards on ventilation in this “COVID” age, namely 62.1 & 62.2. Unfortunately, the article was getting to long so we had to leave off; hey what about all the […]

Filed Under: Building Codes Tagged With: HVAC, Ventilation November 2, 2020 By SLS

Tuesday Tip: How can I find…

I am looking at getting another… but I don’t know the brand or? What in the world is this thing? I hired Bad Actor XYZ but can’t… how do I find them? Of course my favorite is the calls from out of state, which I get almost once a week – hey are you the […]

Filed Under: How-To's & Planners October 27, 2020 By SLS

Monday Musings: Great Ventilation Debate part Deux?

It’s amazing what one tiny little bug can do & the conversations it stirs up. In this case, it is all the talk about ventilation, filtration, masks, UV lights, social distancing, etc… I don’t think I have ever seen so many Indoor Air Quality “gurus” getting so much press in any 5 year period much […]

Filed Under: Building Codes Tagged With: HVAC, Ventilation October 26, 2020 By SLS

Tuesday Tip: 550 Cord & Sleds / Other Seasonal Toys?

The leaves are falling, which means for many of us up in the northern part of the country we are breaking out our winter gear & toys while stowing our summer gear. One issue we had while doing this, was we noticed that one of the plastic sleds had a broken handle. While we could […]

Filed Under: Tips & Tricks October 13, 2020 By SLS

Monday Musing: Don’t believe the Hype

Lately there is a lot of chatter & hype over a “new study” where many groups are going – wow, we got to ban gas cooking, Electrify Everything, or quite simply saying, see we told you so. They love showing charts similar to this one below (taken from said study) as all the evil attributes […]

Filed Under: Consumer Awareness Tagged With: Cooking, Ventilation October 5, 2020 By SLS

Getting the Details Right: Kitchen Exhaust Venting

Nothing can help complete or accentuate the look of a kitchen more than the exhaust hood. Beyond the looks though, it is an important feature for occupant health & safety. Besides helping to eliminate cooking odors, remove excess steam & grease associated with cooking it helps capture numerous other particulates and off gassing from not […]

Filed Under: Common Sense Building Tagged With: Ventilation September 22, 2020 By SLS

Safety Sunday: Fire Pit Safety by the Numbers

It’s starting to get cooler outside and with many wanting to extend their time outside – what better way than a firepit in the backyard? Turning on the news though with most of the Western seaboard burning and it might just give you pause… For more Fire Safety related to current events: Campfire Safety; Making […]

Filed Under: Fire Safety September 20, 2020 By SLS

Wacky Weds: Politics can be funny… & a few quick thoughts

Generally we stay clear of politics especially because the problem lately is becoming “if you are not with us you are…” a racist, clueless, brainwashed, & the list goes on. It doesn’t matter what the topic is as most people just hear you support X or Y and they close down instantly to anything you […]

Filed Under: Wordless Wednesday September 16, 2020 By SLS

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Featured Posts

February – Winter Maintenance Checklist

Ahhh February, we are now in the second full month of winter and many people in the northern states and elsewhere are starting to feel run down from a lack ...

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Getting ready for Spring: Your deck & grill

Hopefully, this last snow storm was it for spring (really?) meaning most of us can start getting ready to grill and get back to enjoying the great outdoors. Needless to ...

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Taxes, Record Keeping, & Clearing the Clutter

Taxes, Record Keeping, & Clearing the Clutter

Oh no, it’s April 16th and taxes were due… are due on the 18th? In reality, my taxes were actually filed back in February, but if this were any other ...

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FAQ: Should I close my crawl space vents during winter?

FAQ: Should I close my crawl space vents during winter?

In short the answer is generally yes, they should be closed up during the winter months. If you follow our Monthly Maintenance Schedule, we recommend the month of October as ...

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FAQ: Do I need to change my HVAC filter monthly?

FAQ: Do I need to change my HVAC filter monthly?

If you follow our Monthly Maintenance Program, the first item we have listed is "Change out your HVAC filter." This has brought up a few questions, namely: Do I need ...

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FAQ: Exterior HVAC units - Should I cover my unit, or... fall & wintertime questions

When it comes to the exterior HVAC unit most people wonder about hiding them and reducing the amount of noise. We delved into that topic in our Spring & Summer ...

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FAQ: Ceiling fan direction - summer & winter

One of the biggest questions out there is which direction should my fan be running and how can I tell. You look at the switch and realize it isn't any ...

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