Our DIY Forever Home Build: Testing Blower Door, Infrared, HVAC, Pressure Imbalances

From ‘Home Diagnosis’ Season 2 ep13: See what comprehensive home performance testing looks like, as we prove the forever home we built does what we designed it to do. Test instruments used, all available thru https://TruTechTools.com:

• Retrotec 5000 blower door and DM-32 pressure gauge

• Retrotec Flow Box

• Hikmicro M30 infrared thermal camera

• TEC DG-8 pressure gauge

• TEC TruFlow Grid

• HOBO MX1101 temp/humidity datalogger

• Testo 400 large vane anemometer

Watch the whole episode: https://homediagnosis.tv/episode-213-proof-testing-the-house

Testing the World's Worst Duct System

I'd love to show you this, but my client has asked that I take this video down while they try to reconcile with the installer. Fingers crossed everybody, and sorry to be a tease.

Testing Atlanta's #DryVault with Blower Door & Infrared Camera

Now that Corbett's finished building the #DryVault, a super-sophisticated, dessicant-dehumidified tool shed, it's time to whip out the Retrotec 5000 and FLIR T660 to see exactly how well he did. For more about any of the building or testing products used, visit:

http://foursevenfive.com
http://roxul.com
http://retrotec.com
http://flir.com

PODCAST #81: Keep Asking Questions with Hap Haven

Today Corbett talks with Hap Haven of US Green Home about where home performance contractors come from and where we're going (and how not to crash and burn on the way there). Sponsored by the Building Performance Workshop's 6-Week Mastermind Distance Course and Home Performance for Tiny Spaces course.

'Home Diagnosis' Finally Puts Home Performance Testing on Mainstream TV

Grace and I have been trying to make a TV show about home performance testing for years- we've tried three times so far!  This is how it works traditionally:

1. You get a network executive to want to see you as a couple onscreen because they think you're quirky or weird or otherwise compelling in a I-can't-look-away kind of way
2. You work with a production company and pay out of your own pocket to shoot a 'sizzle reel' that shows off the personality of the hosts
3. You remind yourself and everyone else that your show is about SCIENCE, not about relationship drama and being quirky or weird
4. They remind you that no one cares about the topic in reality TV
5. You feel frustrated and you throw the whole idea in the garbage because you don't want to play their stupid game

So we've decided to make the show ourselves, without asking anyone's permission. We find that works best for us- whether self-publishing a book (Home Performance Diagnostics) or making a feature film (The Other One), it always seems to work perfectly when we don't have someone breathing down our neck to conform to 'the way things get done around here normally.' Here's the show that will actually make it onto mainstream television: HOME DIAGNOSIS.

In 2014, we pushed hard for a show called PRESCRIPTION HOME PERFORMANCE to get made, but it went exactly nowhere. We went to the national RealScreen Summit, a non-fiction television programming conference (yeah, I know!), met with all kinds of networks to pitch the idea, and finally had Science Channel interested until they finally said, "wait, we don't want to compete with HGTV." And that was that. But you can still see what the show was like here:

And way back in 2009, we worked with our friends and client Sandy Gordon to make OUR GREEN COMPANY, which resulted in all of us being told by the Discovery Green channel that 'green' was a fad. Look at these kids- so young, so fresh, and maybe clueless!

Stay tuned for developments on HOME DIAGNOSIS- at the very least, it'll show on PBS just like This Old House does, and at most, it'll be running 24 hours a day on every channel there is.  Probably it'll be somewhere in between!

If you'd like to participate in the making of this show, please reach out to us about it!

How to Renovate a Home in Dallas- the RIGHT Way

Dear Corbett-
I am not a contractor, but a residential homeowner that has become increasingly interested in owning (and taking a part in creating) a high performance building. After going through several series of podcasts, I ran across yours, and immediately loved it because you went into greater detail about the things that I want to learn about; so I want to thank you for the podcast.
Onto my situation.... I am looking to buy an older (1940's) home that has no hvac, next to no insulation, and needs a good deal of work; but I believe it has the best potential for making a high performance home.... a blank canvas.
What I am having trouble with is finding the local rock stars that can really help me make my house as efficient and comfortable as possible with my given budget. Do you know of any really good people in the Dallas area that could get me on the right track? Thanks again for putting out all the info!
~Derek R.

---

Thanks for reaching out, Derek! I'm always happy to help, and I think the home you're considering is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY. A blank canvas is much easier to paint on, and when a house is fully 'finished' and has been renovated, it just means you'll have to dig harder and deeper to find and fix the issues that are lurking under the surface.
I'll hook you up privately with a few of my own black belts who are part of Fall Fast Track, but I also want you to know that when we take this show on the road next year for the Proof Is Possible Tour, we'll be creating a directory of pros who pledge to deliver guaranteed results across the U.S.!  Stay tuned here for further developments on that front, and keep in touch about your high performance home renovation!
Looking Forward,
Corbett

PODCAST #75 REALTORS OF THE FUTURE: Chad Curry on Technology & Real Estate

Today Corbett talks with Chad Curry, managing director of the Center for REALTOR Technology, about how performance metrics are changing the real estate industry. From the Internet of Things to measuring air quality in neighborhoods, Chad's group is on the cutting edge of helping the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) incorporate home performance into the selling and buying of homes everywhere! Sponsored by Fall Fast Track- my 6-week mastermind course in home performance ninja techniques.

To download this episode or hear more, subscribe in iTunes or visit BuildingPerformancePodcast.com

What Clients Want: AUGUST 2015 Building Forensics Mastermind

First, let me make the world a better place by saying this: DO NOT BUY AN ATTIC FAN. ESPECIALLY A SOLAR POWERED ONE.  Fans that suck air out of the attic through the roof (not whole house fans) are COMPLETELY THE WRONG THING to fix the problem you're having. No matter what the problem is, it's definitely the wrong thing to use. Now, enjoy learning why!

First Wednesday of every month, I demonstrate all the advanced testing used for last month's awesome clients. I actually re-worked this entire webinar the night before because of a job that day that knocked my freaking socks off- solving a chimney backdrafting problem with some super sucky solar attic fans! A few other jobs are sprinkled in, to add spice.

When Performance Testing Goes Weird: BUILDING FORENSICS MASTERMIND APRIL 2015

Are you sure your home performance diagnostics are giving you accurate information? Join building forensics guru Corbett Lunsford in slapping foreheads when things don’t turn out quite as we expect in a number of home improvement projects in Chicago.

MORE THAN AN ENERGY AUDIT: Our Home Performance Analysis

Building forensics expert Corbett Lunsford explains what you should expect from any home performance testing report.  Included: Recommendations for Home Improvement, Infrared Thermal Inspection Report, Air Leakage and Pressure Testing, Combustion System Analysis, Investment Analysis, and Bonuses.

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