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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Conservation or Restoration
I couldn’t help but take this shot when I was in Chicago the other day as I loved the architectural detail & how it stood out from the other buildings. While some work was definitely going on inside which involved a large dumpster (renovation), some work was going on outside which left the copper patina showing (top […]
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 to get to an interesting time of year of when energy costs actually become more of a concern for many. The reason; good ole man […]
BS4D: Ventilation Strategies
Let me start off with one quick key point to keep in mind, ventilation is not about energy savings; rather it is about the building occupant’s health, safety, & comfort. Yes, the choices one makes can play a factor on energy costs & savings but that should not be ones primary focus when choosing a […]
BS4D: But my house needs to breathe…
When it comes to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) there is a ton of good information out there & likewise there is a ton of bad information out there. While many of us might have thought that the corner was turned on the whole “my house needs to breathe” myth, it appears that might not be […]
BS4D: Air Barrier’s
An Air Barrier is technically defined as an item that has been tested to only allow for a certain amount of air to pass or permeate through it. The official standard is that an item should have an air permeance level of less than 0.02 L/(s•m2) @ 75 Pa (0.004 cfm/ft2 @ 1.57 lb/ft2.) In […]