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/

Ceiling Fans are HVAC Heroes in High Performance Homes

See how our forever home's 7 ceiling fans play a pivotal part in our performance-tuned house's HVAC system. The Wrap Custom is among the most efficient fans in the world in 2020 (420 CFM generated per Watt), and they are a silent and beautiful reminder of the invisible dynamics at play around us all day, every day.

See more about these high-efficiency systems: http://Fanimation.com

See the first-ever TV show about the science of homes: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Uncomfortable Homes Explained: How Air Sealing, Insulation, HVAC and Thermal Mass Actually Works

From the upcoming Season Two of 'Home Diagnosis': through a 5-day recording of temperature, humidity, and dewpoint with a datalogger, see the actual performance curves of five built environments on our property. Watch the evolution of primitive to advanced built environments, from an open-air workshop to a lived-in high performance home- the effect of air sealing and insulation alone is pretty incredible when you see it like this.

Become a member and help support this show: http://patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

See more about Home Diagnosis TV series: http://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Lessons Learned Building High Performance Forever Homes: Factory-Built Modular Home & Self-Build DIY

For the national home performance conference, we presented side-by-side with our longtime friend and collaborator Bill Spohn (https://spohnhome.com/) about our simultaneous building of family forever homes. Pretty different approaches, and yes, this is a long presentation- hope the super nerds out there will enjoy hearing the breakdown.

Find Bill through his company, TruTech Tools: https://TruTechTools.com

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

How to Hotrod a Radon Mitigation System

We've been looking forward to showing off this system for a long time- the pipes for it were installed during foundation work at the start of construction, and now 2 years later it's finished, with the Fantech Rn4 EC fan (infinitely variable), multiple drainage systems, and a roof cap. Get the details on all the tweaks we had to use to make sure this system runs perfectly, which it's doing right now.

Radon fan at: https://shop.fantech.net/en-US/radon--mitigation--fans/c46856

Wave Plus radon monitor at: https://www.trutechtools.com/AirThings-Wave-Plus-Indoor-Air-Quality-Radon

Pango Wrap at: https://www.stegoindustries.com/products/pango-wrap

Indoor Chemistry Experiment #288: Home Pest Control

I used to wonder what exactly the chemicals in bug spray were doing to my pets and my kids. Now I don't have to care anymore. Freed up some brain space for more important things. Here's how you can do it too. Learn more at: https://HealthyIndoors.com

See more about this incredible house at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

Become a member and support our work at: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Active vs. Passive Ventilation: Why Spend $$ on Fresh Air?

Thanks to subscriber Big O for challenging us on this question: Why are windows no longer good enough? Here's at least four reasons why, installed in our own performance-tuned home. Learn more about these and all the other awesome systems we used to build this house at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

Check out Healthy Indoors Magazine: http://HealthyIndoors.com

Thanks to our Patreon supporters for keeping our work going strong: http://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Forever Deck Railings from RailFX: Science + DIY

See the science behind our forever home's railings, through the installation by my parents and our interview with David Lord, Engineer and Project Manager for RailFX. See more about our forever home's design and progress at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

Become a member and help support our work exploring the Science of Homes: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Forever Home Product Preview

Welcome to the final sprint to the finish on this scientifically incredible forever home of ours. Here's what's to come in this last 3 months of our family build (product highlights linked below).

Kichler Lighting: https://kichler.com/

Fanimation: https://fanimation.com/

RailFX: https://railfx.net/

Miele Appliances: http://mieleusa.com/

Elite Water Systems: https://elitewateroftexas.com/

CBP Tile System: https://custombuildingproducts.com/

Thermory Wood: https://thermoryusa.com/

Mitsubishi HVAC: https://mitsubishicomfort.com/

Fantech Ventilation: http://fantech.net/

Ultra-Aire Dehumidifiers: https://santa-fe-products.com/

TZOA Haven: https://tzoa.com/

Chronomite Water Heaters: https://chronomite.com/

Performance Duct Design & Installation: Advanced DIY

In our LONGEST VIDEO YET, get a comprehensive tour of the concepts, design, tools, and install tips that go into building a home's breathing apparatus- the central duct system. Here I get into both the conditioning duct system (heat pump/dehumidifier/filtration loop) and the ERV fresh air ventilation duct system.

Thanks to Neil Comparetto (https://www.facebook.com/comparettocomfortsolutions/) John Semmelhack (http://think-little.com) and Bryan Orr (https://hvacrschool.com) and many other HVAC pro friends for their continual advice and expertise.

I got all my Malco tools used here at: https://TruTechTools.com

Check out my awesome ride, the Aerocreeper: http://aerocreeper.com/

Check out all of Stellar Engraving's duct grilles: https://stellarairdecorativeventcovers.com/

Learn more about the HVAC design process: https://youtu.be/aCIrbSFWD20

Get consulting or training with Corbett: https://BuildingPerformanceWorkshop.com

Deep Dive into Interior Airsealing & Insulation

After we airsealed and insulated our family home from the exterior, we kept going with the details shown in this 30 min video, using airsealing systems from 475 High Performance Building Supply including Intello Plus membrane and Vana tape, with Rockwool cavity insulation (aka Roxul).

Please support our work and become a member at: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

See all about this house at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead