Indoor Chemistry Test: Formaldehyde and VOCs during Construction

Modern homes are built more airtight than ever, and the engineered wood products that make such efficient use of our planet's materials also lean much more heavily on advances in adhesives, curing agents, moisture repellants, etc. Other building materials nowadays incorporate anti-microbial chemicals, anti-fungal and anti-termite compounds, and who knows what else (manufacturers DO NOT have to tell us what's in there, yet). The beyond-passive-house-airtight house we're building in Atlanta is an extreme example of all of this, and we'll happily be the guinea pigs to uncover the evolution of indoor chemistry from rough construction through ventilation activation, and move-in. Hayward Score has introduced us to a serious chemistry lab, Prism Analytical Technologies (http://pati-air.com) where we'll be sending the samples we take in this video. See what we're testing for, why, and how it's done.

Corbett gets serious details about indoor chemistry from Dr. Alice Delia, Laboratory Director at Prism Analytical Technologies (http://pati-air.com) about the test results from 6 samples of formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds taken at the new build and the TinyLab.

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

Become a member and be part of our work! http://patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Assess your home's health with Hayward Score: http://HaywardScore.com

Bubble Experiment with a Blower Door

To try and seal the last nasty little leaks in the Mento 3000 roof membrane, Corbett and his Dad try an experiment using soapy water and a flipped-around Retrotec blower door.

How the rain screen was installed: https://youtu.be/ZTfVb9NXAOc

How the Mento 3000 was installed: https://youtu.be/hOh28nYrCzI

Learn more at: http://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

3 Simple Home ventilation methods tested

'Home Diagnosis' co-host Corbett Lunsford visits the home of Jason Wolfson, inventor of AirCycler, to discuss and test the 3 simplest, quickest methods to ventilate any home: exhaust only (1:26), supply only (5:02), and exhaust + supply (8:51) using a G2 controller. Tested using the Testo 440 kit from TruTech Tools.

Learn more about AirCycler controls: http://AirCycler.com

Calculate any home's ventilation at: https://www.redcalc.com/ashrae-62-2-2016/

Get your hands on tools at: http://TruTechTools.com

Read the testing manual: https://buildingperformanceworkshop.com/homeperformancediagnosticsbook

Find HVI-certified fans: http://HVI.org

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

Testing a Radon Mitigation System

Corbett teams up with Fantech's aerospace engineer and radon system expert Hamid Massali to prove the radon mitigation field works, and find out how much airflow the radon fan will need to exhaust to maintain safe air quality indoors.

More on this PFEDK system at: https://shop.fantech.net/en-US/pfedk--rn--diagnostic--tool--kit/p401891

More on radon's health impacts at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/radon/radon-fact-sheet

Corbett and Grace are not joking around- they will diagnose the crap out of the forever home they're building. Here's another example of creative testing that can tell us secrets about predicting and preventing failures in the indoor physics, chemistry, and microbiology of homes. Check out the Cirrus smoke tool, and others demo'd here: https://www.trutechtools.com/Cirrus-CWI200-Wind-Indicator

More on this house and the TV show at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

2020 Update from Corbett and Grace

Here's a quick update on what Grace and Corbett will be doing to help change the building industry over the next few months. We need everyone's help to make the change, so please consider joining us at: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

How a Trip to Europe Changed Our Work

This is not so much about building science specifics- more about 'Home Diagnosis' co-creator Corbett Lunsford's revelations while traveling through Venice and Bern. Read 35 year's worth of home performance articles at: http://HomeEnergy.org

Join the Building Performance Association at: http://Building-Performance.org

Watch the first-ever TV series about Building Performance at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Houses That 'Breathe'

'Home Diagnosis' TV hosts Grace and Corbett Lunsford quickly explain why it's a mistake to avoid air sealing homes. Homes DO need to 'breathe', but not through gaps and cracks we leave in the enclosure. More at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Become a member and help make this show: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV

Radiant Barrier: How Does It Work?

'Home Diagnosis' co-host Corbett Lunsford uses an infrared thermal camera to demonstrate how a radiant barrier works. This one is built into the Thermostat roof sheathing, and it needs to be kept clean and have an air gap against the radiant barrier coating.

More on Thermostat at: http://BuildGP.com/thermostat

Roof Rain Screen Design and Installation

On his family's 3:12 pitch roof, Corbett Lunsford installs a ventilation gap before the 24 gauge standing seam galvanized roof goes up.

Learn more about the furring strips at: http://Cor-a-Vent.com

More about tapes and membranes at: http://FourSevenFive.com

More about this build at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

Manual J Load Calculations: What, Why, How, When, and Who?

Now that Corbett has been doing HVAC load calcs for almost a decade, he's ready to make this very long (and also much too short) video tutorial about the what, why, how, when, and who of heat load calcs for sizing your HVAC equipment.

Cleaning House May Be Bad for Your Family

Home Diagnosis co-host Corbett Lunsford explains why the HOMEChem scientists are saying cleaning might not be the answer for indoor chemistry. Explore the meaning of vacuuming with and without a HEPA filter, and where a central vacuum system should be installed to keep from totally messing up your indoor physics and chemistry. Subscribe to Healthy Indoors Magazine for free at: http://HealthyIndoors.com

Check out this NuTone HEPA central vac system at: http://www.nutone.com/purepower

More on this build at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

How to Build Bolt-On Roof Eaves Separately from the Enclosure

Corbett Lunsford demonstrates how to add 2-ft. eaves to a high performance home enclosure using 475 Building Supply tapes and membranes and ForceField WRB. Check out the sealing products used at: http://FourSevenFive.com

More on this build at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv/atlanta-homestead

Become a member and help make the TV show: https://Patreon.com/HomeDiagnosisTV