The HTRC

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FAQ: To remove or not to remove… (WRB’s aka Tyvek & tar paper)

The guy I have installing my vinyl siding just placed the foam over the old “Tyvek”, is that ok or should he have removed it first? The house has tar paper &/or XYZ on it, can I just go over it / will that cause moisture issues? I had a few delays and am now ready […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology May 27, 2015 By SLS

FAQ: How quickly will my water heater…

I just drained my tank, how long will it take to heat up? How much hot water can I expect with my shower running? Will I have enough hot water with three teenage girls… These are just a few questions that revolve around just how well a water heater will actually perform based on your needs. In order […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: Water May 13, 2015 By SLS

FAQ: Does my freezer really need to be kept at 0º?

What is the ideal temperature I should keep my freezer & refrigerator at; is it really 0º & 40º? Doesn’t “freezing” always mean things are frozen? I turn my thermostat up during the summer & down during the winter to save electricity, hmm can I raise the temperature of my freezer likewise to save? Recently I ran across this tidbit […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology April 16, 2015 By SLS

FAQ: Where should I place a Stand-Alone Freezer?

I don’t have room to put a freezer there… can I leave it outside on my back porch, in an unheated garage, the basement, laundry room??? What happens if it isn’t in the house & temperatures soar or dip below zero, will I have any issues? Convenience First: One of the first considerations is not only where will one fit […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology January 22, 2015 By SLS

FAQ: Why are my windows / walls wet or have ice on them?

It seems like every winter the question pops up – why are my windows sweating / have so much condensation on them. It seems invariably that someone pops up with change out your single pane windows with double or triple paned windows… which in many cases turns into “sounds good but I already have them and it […]

Filed Under: Air Sealing & Insulation, FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology January 16, 2015 By SLS

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 help as they don’t even have an arrow saying which way the fan is blowing or even a simple pictograph showing the sun or a […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: Slider December 3, 2014 By SLS

FAQ: Should I insulate my Water Heater?

So there you are walking through your favorite home improvement store and there is an insulation blanket or kit for water heaters. Hmm, does that really work? Maybe you pull your smartphone out & it brings you to a piece like this one from EPA’s Earth Month where it states “Improve your water heater’s insulation by wrapping […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: Water May 12, 2014 By SLS

FAQ: Who reigns supreme? Codes Vs. Manufacturers Vs….

If you have been in the building industry any length of time, you know how confusing things can get with manufacturers stating you need to do X, which might be opposite of what the codes state, or figuring out which code applies. Recently, I got the following note regarding our article on attic hatches: Corning […]

Filed Under: Building Codes, FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology April 3, 2014 By SLS

FAQ: What decking material should I use

You can say one nice thing about lawsuits, they tend to grab ones attention & ask questions that they probably had never even considered before. For example after being quoted in a recent article saying “In some cases decking is installed in places where it wouldn’t be recommend…” I received the following email; I am trying […]

Filed Under: Deck Maintenance, FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology March 14, 2014 By SLS

FAQ: How often should I replace my smoke detector?

This is the final piece on Daylight Savings Time & Smoke Detectors. In this one we ask the final question, just how long is the unit good for aka when should I replace it? While many manufacturers state 10 years (and for newer units a “replace by date” is listed) we recommend every 5 years […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology, Fire Safety March 9, 2014 By SLS

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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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    This is the final piece on Daylight Savings Time & Smoke Detectors. In this one we ask the final question, just how long is the unit good for aka when should I replace it? While many manufacturers state 10 years (and for newer units a “replace by date” is listed) we recommend every 5 years […]

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