The HTRC

The Homeowners & Trades Resource Center

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

BS4D: The Fire Sprinklers & Air Barrier conundrum

Ahh the dreaded question, just how does one comply with the codes when they conflict with each other? In this case how does one install fire sprinklers, while keeping them in conditioned space so they don’t freeze while ensuring that insulation stays in continuous contact with the air-barrier? Well what happens in most cases is you sweet […]

Filed Under: Common Sense Building, Fire Safety Tagged With: BS4D November 1, 2013 By SLS

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 […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology, Money Saving Tagged With: BS4D, Slider October 22, 2013 By SLS

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 […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology, Myth or Misconception Tagged With: BS4D June 13, 2013 By SLS

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 […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: BS4D June 3, 2013 By SLS

BS4D: 10 simple rules to remember

Whether you are tradesmen, builder, architect, designer, or… there are a few simple rules that if you remember & apply will help keep you out of trouble not only now, but well into the future… Hot moves to cold Wet moves to dry Everything expands & contracts Water is like Murphy’s law & it wants […]

Filed Under: Common Sense Building, Tips & Tricks Tagged With: BS4D February 9, 2013 By SLS

BS4D: The truth behind a watched pot never…

While “a watched pot never boils” has been proven to be incorrect, did you know there is an interesting phenomenon that makes that perception feel like reality?  How about water can be at 32° F and still not be frozen? Well lets introduce you to two interesting terms; latent & sensible heat and see how […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: BS4D February 4, 2013 By SLS

BS4D: Ice Dam’s, Icicles & Attic Condensation, Oh My…

Living in Arizona, I used to love traveling up to Flagstaff especially during the winter months. One of my favorite places was the Little America as not only did they have a huge roaring fire, an awesome buffet, great Christmas light display, but some of the largest icicles I have ever seen. Ahhh if I had […]

Filed Under: Air Sealing & Insulation, FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: BS4D, Roofing January 11, 2013 By SLS

BS4D: Mold

Just mentioning the word mold or as it is known across the pond as “mould” is enough to send some people directly into panic mode. With the toxic mold scare from years ago many insurance companies (especially after losing millions) no longer cover mold damage or remediation as they consider it a “maintenance” issue. There’s […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: BS4D, Cleaning, IR Testing October 2, 2012 By SLS

BS4D: NFRC Labels (Windows, Doors, Skylights)

The NFRC or National Fenestration Rating Council basically tests & labels glass products used on buildings like doors, windows, and skylights. The label will include who the manufacturer is, a brief description of the product, and the official ratings for one or more of performance characteristics for that product. The NFRC’s also has an online […]

Filed Under: FAQ's, Acronym’s, & Terminology Tagged With: BS4D, Radiant Heat(ing) September 12, 2012 By SLS

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Featured Posts

Holiday Checklist – The day after

First off, we hope everyone had a great Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. Many people will be heading out today for the annual gift exchange / ...

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January is National Radon Month

January is National Radon Month

Should you be worried? Believe it or not – this is actually debatable by some people. According to the EPA, they estimate that there are over 21,000 lung cancer deaths per ...

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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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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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