The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

Wacky Weds: Spot the Issues

Care to play a quick game of spot the issues? Ready, Set, Go… So how many did you spot & how quick? At least 4? Hmm let’s try a slightly better angle with some hints… A = Gutter apron used not drip edge. Fortunately, they had a large gap, or the water issues would be […]

Filed Under: Wordless Wednesday July 7, 2021 By SLS

2021 IECC & Illinois – Timeline

Here we go again… the 2021 IECC has officially been published (February 2021) so the State of Illinois is now under the clock to adopt the latest IECC per the EEB Act. It is supposed to reviewed & adopted within 1 year of publication & take effect within 6 months of adoption. The tentative timeline […]

Filed Under: Building Codes Tagged With: 2021 ICC, Illinois Energy Code July 5, 2021 By SLS

Common Sense Building: How much insulation should I install?

Lately we have been covering the newest insulation requirements found in the 2021 IECC. Needless to say, some are saying “about time,” while others are left wondering, just when will it stop (aka the law of diminishing returns)? Another twist is the new allowable options for wall insulation & is that really a better option? […]

Filed Under: Common Sense Building March 22, 2021 By SLS

FAQ: Should I always use the Bathroom Fan when taking a Shower?

I am sure you have heard it all before; start the bathroom exhaust fan before your shower or bath, use a timer, run it for 10/20/30 minutes after… The question though is do I really need to always use the bathroom fan; does anything change based on it being summer or wintertime? Heh, does this […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: Ventilation February 2, 2021 By SLS

FAQ Insulation Values & Comparisons – Metric and Imperial

Have you ever wondered what the insulation requirements are like in other countries? Shoot, are we as behind as some might have you believe? Well before we can start to figure that out, did you know that there are also differing ratings? As one gentleman from down under said “We use metric (SI) units. Not […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: Insulation January 19, 2021 By SLS

January 12th SEDAC Panel Discussion – Illinois Residential Energy Code

UPDATED: Yes this event has happened – to see video of it: Accolades / In the News » SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC We invite you to come join us January 12th as we take part in the first Illinois Residential Energy Code Panel Discussion presented by SEDAC. Got questions related to Existing Homes […]

Filed Under: Training, Education, & Confrence Tagged With: Illinois Energy Code January 7, 2021 By SLS

Monday Musings: Words, Phrases & Inclusiveness?

Words matter – it is true. What of course isn’t as simple, is how much does a word or a phrase really matter? In some cases you might just look silly, smart, pompous, or maybe even insensitive. Going to the extremes with just one wrong word, you could lose a fortune or even cost someone […]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Articles January 4, 2021 By SLS

2021 IECC Insulation vrs PHIUS 2.0 & other programs

In our last post we looked at the newest insulation requirements found in the 2021 version of the IECC. Curious how that stacks up to say an ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Home, or maybe even Passive House (PHIUS)? Well lets do that, but first a quick recap with the full chart showing how the […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: Building America, Insulation December 29, 2020 By SLS

Insulation Requirements & 2021 IECC First Look

One common question many people ask is, just how much insulation should I have or use for XY or Z? This generally gets followed up by what type, is more better, how about diminishing returns, and the list goes on… On the flip side, most of those that have building homes for quite a while […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: 2021 ICC, Insulation December 21, 2020 By SLS

FAQ – Help, my water usage doubled?

It seems almost like a monthly occurrence; the water bills come out and someone asks something along the lines of – why did mine jump up so high? Do I have a leak? Did the water main break have something to do with it? Is my meter bad? Did anyone else’s inexplicably double or triple? […]

Filed Under: Consumer Awareness Tagged With: Water December 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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