Basement in Florida? Why Mold Took 20 Years to Fail this House...

A very cool client of ours named Niko came to us with a wildly different home issue- a finished basement. In Florida. That's vented to the outdoors. Watch us tour the home being renovated with Tony Gomes, my Tampa go-to-guy for advanced diagnostics on existing homes. We explore how it's possible that mold was held at bay for 20 years, until Niko did a 'good' thing and replaced an old HVAC system with a VRF (variable capacity) heat pump.

Find the brilliant Tony Gomes and Faraday Energy in Tampa Bay at: https://faradayenergy.com/

Test your home for airborne mold with this easy kit: https://GotMold.com

When HGTV Starts Copying 'Home Diagnosis'...

Children Building Homes for No Pay on National Television: Science of Homes for Cable Networks

We shot a pilot episode for the Shark Week version of our show on PBS, and we think this could win awards. Not for science though. For slapstick. Are there awards for that?

Our children ‘design’ and ‘build’ a ‘high performance home’ that we then ‘test’ with ‘scientific diagnostics’ so that we can ‘educate the public’. Including ‘HVAC diagnostics’, ‘comfort analysis’, ‘pressure balancing’, infrared thermal photography, and a ‘blower door test’ that does not bode well.

Roasting the Home HVAC Industry on National TV: Technicians vs. Mechanics

HVAC technicians will someday be the masters of the science of homes, but right now it's not looking too hot. Hear from Jim Bergmann, one of the world's HVAC legends, why most HVAC installs are wrong from the minute the load calculations are started using Manual J, Manual S, and Manual D without using a blower door first.

Watch the show at https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Support our work changing the building industry: http://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Start testing your HVAC installs with: https://measurequick.com/

Get your blower door at: https://www.trutechtools.com/system-blower-doors-and-duct-testers.html

Basic Building Science for Homes: Testing is the Cornerstone (from Home Diagnosis)

In our practice of diagnostics, inspections, computer modeling, load calculations, and verifying that healthy home targets have been achieved, we use a very simple approach, and here it is. From season 2 of Home Diagnosis: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Ventilation, Diagnostics, and DET Verifier Training Break Down

Done with our first 4-day training at our Atlanta home- save a spot in the next one! This time we had people travel all the way from New York and Texas- remember, we’re 5 minutes from the busiest airport in the world, and this is a state-of-the-art training center. You’ll be happy you made the time for the trip!
https://BuildingPerformanceWorkshop.com/training

Advanced Blower Door Testing Tips for Historic Home Renovation

Demo is starting soon on this 1920's home in Atlanta, and as an introduction we test the most important aspect- air leakage. This turned out to be the leakiest house I've ever tested (the test DOES include all attic spaces, since we're wanting to compare the same test before and after, and these attics will be a lot less confused when they're officially inside the house).

Check out the work of Matt Hoots at Sawhorse Design-Build:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1JqnAmtx8YqF-pzp1Pmdfg
https://sawhorse.net/

Check out the work of Chris and Jodi at LG Squared Architects:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2sJ6CQzqJ3DdeP7acjPRrg
https://www.lgsquaredinc.com/

Hands-On Training in Building Science at our Atlanta School

Welcome to the training center of our dreams! In this multi-use space at our newly-constructed high performance home in Atlanta’s College Park neighborhood, we’re hosting professional and DIY crowds who want to get hands on with the science of homes: design, installation, and testing.

Come learn about diagnostics, ventilation, air tightness, HVAC, ductwork, blower door testing, infrared thermal photography, moisture investigation, and much more in this state-of-the-art contaminant controlled room. Our balanced Energy Recovery Ventilation system, HEPA filtration loop, and dedicated dehumidifier all work with stellar airtightness and insulation to create a clean, quiet classroom only 5 minutes from the busiest airport in the world.

Check out our upcoming courses: https://BuildingPerformanceWorkshop.com/training

First Blower Door and Duct Testing Certification Trainings

Our first 8 newly certified DET Verifiers came through our brand new training center at our home in Atlanta! It was a thrill, honestly, since I haven’t given any in-person trainings in over a year (like most trainers). Everyone passed their certification exams, which doesn’t always happen- they have to earn 80% on both written and hands-on exams with the equipment, and do a bunch of geometry calculations that we all forgot since high school.

They all totally rocked the use of the blower door and duct tightness tester, and are ready to rock the houses in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Alabama (no joke, that’s where all these folks work). Super happy also that we didn’t have a bunch of last minute registrations, which used to be the bane of my existence. Sold out weeks ahead of time- very grateful!

A few class stats:

Furthest Traveled: Nashville, TN (thanks DocAir for sending 3 of your crew!)

Funniest Pandemic Hobby: breeding fish

Funniest Place to Keep a Calculator: chest pocket of bib overalls

Number of 100% scores on exam: 2 (25%)

Tiny House Building Science Basics

1. Tell us about the TinyLab:

Our #TinyLab is a 210 sq. ft. house on wheels we designed and built ourselves to be the best performing home most people have ever seen. It’s supremely airtight, quiet, and comfortable, while also being equipped with the best heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in the world. We’re showing Americans how home performance works with our non-profit Proof Is Possible Tour. There’s this mythology around houses that ‘they all have problems, that’s just how they are’; it’s just not true.

2. How did the TinyLab start?

Well, the dynamics of home performance are based in physics, which is tough to explain- our colleagues have been trying for decades. But these dynamics can have real consequences for your family- they can cause sickness or even death. We thought, ‘how can we show consumers home performance?’ The #TinyLab is what all homes could evolve to be, whether they’re big or small. It’s a critical time for this, since building codes in all 50 states are requiring performance testing.

3. What are the major findings between the relationship of health and homes?

Two major health problems anyone can find out themselves for starters: dampness and carbon monoxide (CO). The symptoms of CO poisoning are ‘flu-like’, but ask yourself how many times you’ve been to the doctor with ‘flu-like’ symptoms and ever been tested for CO poisoning (never, say most people). And though we know dampness causes mold, mildew, dust mites, etc, do we think about what causes dampness? It’s usually air leakage- air leakage is the single biggest problem in most homes.

4. How do you protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning?

The only way to be sure is to test. Whole-home performance testing can prove if your gas stove, water heater, furnace, or fireplace are exhausting properly and creating very little CO. We have a Defender ‘low-level’ monitor in the TinyLab. Your normal CO detector won’t always protect you. If it’s what’s called ‘UL-listed’ then it specifically will NOT protect children, pregnant women, ill or elderly people from low-level carbon monoxide poisoning. And it says so right in the manual. Crazy.

5. What are 5 tips you have for any homeowner/ renter reading this?

One: Your home is a system of interacting parts, so anyone who says one product can fix it is lying or naïve. Two: Proof is Possible- act on diagnostic proof before you undertake surgery on your home and before you pay your contractors for measured improvements. Three: airtightness is good- don’t let anyone tell you we should build crappy houses that can ‘breathe’ through the cracks. Four: ventilation is critical- take stale air out, bring fresh air in. Five: Our YouTube channel is called ‘Home Performance’- you can learn tips 6 through 1000 there.

6. What specific diagnostics are recommended for homes?

Great question! Blower door testing is most important- our TinyLab’s test proves that as first-time homebuilders, we achieved the most airtight standard in the world (that’s what makes it so quiet in here). Infrared thermal photos prove our insulation works. Pressure testing proves our home is not sucking air back in through exhaust fans or chimneys. Airflow testing proves our HVAC system’s working as designed. Air quality tests prove our family isn’t being poisoned. Proof is possible. Ask for it.

To learn more about your home’s performance, download the free ‘GeniusBooklet’ at:

https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/geniusbooklet-how-your-home-works

To see the #TinyLab as it travels across the U.S. on the Proof Is Possible Tour, see the schedule at:

http://ProofIsPossible.com

WRB Sheathing vs. House Wrap: Landus Bennett’s Building Science Field Lab

Hear from the inventors of two WRB sheathing systems about why taped WRB panels are taking over for housewraps, and how to abuse your building materials to see how tough they are. Shot at the Watson Springs research lab with building scientists Landus Bennett. More at: http://WatsonSprings.com

Thanks to our Patreon supporters for helping us continue exploring the science of homes! Become a member at: http://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

4 Year Old Tests Home Air Leakage

My daughter can find out whether your house will perform well or not- but I got to be her first client. She runs our Retrotec 5000 up to 50Pa and shows off how awesomely airtight our family's forever home will be for the next 100 years.

Get the book on testing homes: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/homeperformancediagnosticsbook

See more about the inner airtightness system: https://foursevenfive.com

More about blower door systems: https://retrotec.com

Newest DET Verifier Certified in Georgia!

Never taught a DET Verifier training for one before- this should be interesting!

In a customized 1-on-1 COVID-adapted class, Corbett Lunsford trained, examined and certified Treondras Manning, HVAC technician and Georgia’s newest certified Duct and Envelope Testing (DET) Verifier. As a DET Verifier, Treondras is certified to perform blower door tests and duct tightness testing on new construction and renovations in the state of Georgia. He is also one of Corbett’s Mastermind students, and is helping homeowners in the Atlanta area tune the air quality, comfort, durability and energy efficiency of their homes with his building science and diagnostics expertise.

DET Verifier Trainees are taught the accepted blower door and duct leakage test protocols from the book ‘Home Performance Diagnostics: the Guide to Advanced Testing’ written by trainer Corbett Lunsford

Treondras Manning, right before he received his well-deserved certification as a Georgia certified DET Verifier

Watch DET Verifier Treondras Manning test Corbett’s heat pump cabinet for duct leakage in the high performance house his family is building.