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

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

Super Airtight House: Blower Door Test

Corbett and Grace and their family have built a house that has better control over air leakage than 99.999% of any house ever built, anywhere in the universe. Here's how they found out.

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Learn more about this build at: https://HomeDiagnosis.tv

Tree Testing with a Resistograph: Home Performance Outdoors

Home Diagnosis hosts Grace and Corbett Lunsford show the process of testing the gigantic old tree growing over their tiny house and normal sized new house. The question: whether to trust it and let it grow, or cut it down before it crushes important stuff. See how it works, and what the verdict was!

TOOL REVIEW: DG-1000 from Energy Conservatory and Minneapolis Blower Door

Corbett gives a crash course in the TEC’s DG-1000 used with Minneapolis Blower Door equipment (including the Duct Blaster, TruFlow Plate, and Exhaust Fan Flow Meter). TEC took away a few features like Equivalent Leakage Area estimation, but added the Tubing Assistant and firmware updating, which could endlessly add features based on user feedback.

IAQ Sensors: Human Nose vs. Mass Spectrometer

Charlie Weschler sits down with Grace and Corbett and gives fascinating examples of the complexity of indoor air chemistry. He is an air quality legend, a professor on 3 continents, and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. More at: http://HomeDiagnosis.tv/homechem

Review: EasyHood HVAC Diagnostic Tool $400

Corbett likes tools that are sexy and scary at the same time. This flow hood is both. Measure CFM, Drybulb, Wetbulb, Dewpoint, Velocity, and more with this very affordable tool that will help revolutionize the HVAC industry.

Static Pressure Testing Demonstration

Watch building forensics expert Corbett Lunsford demonstrate Total External Static Pressure testing and pressure drop testing for a residential furnace and air conditioner. Learn to diagnose pressure problems in supply and return ductwork, filters, evaporator coils, and duct sections in just a few minutes with a minimum of testing tools!

Home Performance Diagnostics Museum with Neil Moyer

Building forensics guru Corbett Lunsford gets his fix for prototypes of the testing tools we all know and love in the collection of American Treasure Neil Moyer: the first duct tightness tester (or Duct Blaster) built by Gary Nelson, a handmade flow pan (or Exhaust Fan Flow Hood), and a DIY House of Pressure!

#TinyLab Noise Reduction Test with APC Cork Flooring

Grace and Corbett Lunsford show not just the installation of APC Cork floating floor planks, but also the sound reduction testing to prove that it's performing the way it's supposed to! See the #TinyLab on the Proof Is Possible Tour in 2016: http://ProofisPossible.com

PODCAST #66 RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB: Spohn & Bergmann on the Evolution of Test Equipment

Today Corbett talks with Bill Spohn of TruTech Tools and James Bergmann of Stride Tool about where testing tools have been, where they're going, and how contractors are using them to prove they kick the competition's butts. This special episode is from the 2014 Fall Fast Track- learn more at HomePerformance.training

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