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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 Leave a Comment

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 Leave a Comment

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 Leave a Comment

FAQ: Do I really need to test smoke detector monthly?

Yes, for a few reasons. The primary reason for a stand-alone system is to make sure the battery is still alive & the unit is working properly. For interconnected units which will set every unit off, this is to ensure that a mouse or other critter hasn’t done any damage. Most have a simple “test” […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology, Fire Safety March 8, 2014 By SLS Leave a Comment

FAQ: Smoke Detectors, Batteries, & DST?

I am not sure you have caught it yet on the news or around the water cooler, but this Sunday marks the start of Daylight Savings Time (DST.) You can almost be guaranteed a piece on a clock shop & a reminder to change out your smoke detectors batteries. Amazingly most forget to mention your carbon monoxide batteries. When […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology, Fire Safety March 7, 2014 By SLS Leave a Comment

FAQ: Dear Abby… Valentines Renovation Edition

Growing up one basically started the day with the newspaper. One guilty pleasure section for some guys (yeah I read one or two… occasionally) was Dear Abby, where one would write in about an issue they were having – personal, financial, how to handle whatever. They would then generally end it with a playful name […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology February 14, 2014 By SLS Leave a Comment

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 to change it out every month & if I don’t what will happen? I have a thick specialty filter & the manufacturer says I should […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology, Myth or Misconception February 7, 2014 By SLS Leave a Comment

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 a good time to do this. There are a couple of reasons for this with the first being you want to prevent frozen water lines &/or […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: radon February 3, 2014 By SLS 4 Comments

BS4D: Termites

Have you ever heard the saying, if you could just keep the water out of homes, they would last forever. Well there is one more character out there which can be just as insidious & even more crafty… This map goes by many names but most refer to it as simply TIPS or TIP Zones which shows the possibility that […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: BS4D January 7, 2014 By SLS Leave a Comment

BS4D: Duct Testing 101

Lately there have been some interesting discussions on exactly what is required for a duct test, especially as it relates to rough in tests & ducts located outside the conditioned envelope. Many of these problems seem to stem with not only a lack of knowledge of what the codes state but also what the standards […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology November 15, 2013 By SLS Leave a Comment

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Featured Posts

January - Mid Winter Maintenance Checklist

Welcome to the start of a New Year, and the first full month of winter. This is the time of the year when many individuals try to wipe the slate ...

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Preventing or fixing frozen water pipes

Updated: This article was originally posted in early 2010 after the Alabama Department of Health issued the following warning via press release: Prolonged period of cold weather ahead prompts warnings to ...

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BS4D: Saving on Heating Related Energy Costs

For the bulk of the year, energy costs are not a big concern to many and instead most calls relate to comfort, safety or health issues. We are now starting ...

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FAQ - Do I need storm doors or windows?

As the weather starts turning colder many start wondering - should I replace my windows, get a storm door, install storm windows, or??? Shoot I live in an area governed ...

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Common Sense Building: Build Radon Out

Common Sense Building: Build Radon Out

As many of you probably already know, January is National Radon Month. Just like CO, it is an odorless & tasteless gas; however, unlike CO there are no warning signs ...

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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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FAQ on Duct Cleaning: All Hype or Worthy Expense?

It must be spring time... I got the following in the mail just the other day: 5 different ads all for duct cleaning. With allergy season starting along with my ...

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Random Glossary term

  • LRV

    Lately there have been some interesting discussions on exactly what is required for a duct test, especially as it relates to rough in tests & ducts located outside the conditioned envelope. Many of these problems seem to stem with not only a lack of knowledge of what the codes state but also what the standards […]

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