Testing UL Listed Carbon Monoxide Alarms vs. Defender Low Level Upgrade

You probably completely overestimate what your carbon monoxide alarm is protecting your family from- in this quick 'bump test' demonstration, we prove that your family's immediate death might be prevented, but long term health effects from low level CO poisoning are also a huge issue that literally no one but you can prevent.

Check out the CO alarms we recommend: https://www.trutechtools.com/Defender_c_1955.html

Subscribe to Healthy Indoors Magazine: http://HealthyIndoors.com

See the first-ever TV series about the Science of Homes: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Tweaking our Home's Water System with Chronomite Point-of-Use Water Heaters

I've heard lots of myths and misinformation about water heating, and lots of 'silver bullet' products that don't actually do what they claim. Here's a refresher on a bunch of things that you might not have ever seen or considered before, and the testing to prove they work. Featuring Chronomite instantaneous tankless water heaters with a low flow activation down to 0.2 gpm, microprocessor control, and self-cleaning features, along with our system’s efficient PEX one-pipe plumbing, and even ventilation location selection.

Check out these handy machines at: http://Chronomite.com

The Science Behind Waterproof Bathroom and Shower Tile Installs

Loads of people have had nightmares with cracked tile or rotting from leaks- but it doesn't have to be that way. There are techniques and tools out there to help you build a 100-year tile bathroom floor and shower. Check out our adventure with the Custom Building Products system in our family's forever home. We demonstrate installation details (and inspection tips) for RedGard membrane and Uncoupling Mat, Multi-Surface Bonding Primer, ProLite mortar and Wonderboard. All lighting you see in our house is from Kichler, by the way, if you love it too.

Become a member and support our work exploring the science of homes: http://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Learn more about this unique performance-tuned house at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

Hire Corbett to consult on your own home: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/video-consulting

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

Healthy Homes for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

Tonight I interviewed Corinne Segura (https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/), one of my Mastermind students who helps people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (aka MCS, or Environmental Sensitivity), which she also suffers from herself. We discuss how home building and home improvements need to adapt to people with this condition, applied specifically to the TinyLab and our new 3,000 sq ft house that's almost finished.

Learn tons more at Corinne's blog: https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2019/07/natural-wall-systems.html

Read more about making your indoors healthier at: http://HealthyIndoors.com

Check out my Mastermind Course: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/mastermind

Support our work on the Science of Homes: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

See the 'Home Diagnosis' TV series: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

HOMEChem 101 and the Basic Science of Homes

Presented in partnership with our friends at Santa Fe and Ultra-Aire Dehumidifiers. Understand the underlying dynamics that make a home healthy or unhealthy by learning the basic physics, chemistry, and microbiology happening all around us inside homes.

Get the book at: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/homeperformancediagnosticsbook

Watch the TV series: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv