The Most Expensive Fixed-Capacity HVAC System
It didn't come naturally for me to use my hands when I talk. I had to teach myself to do that, and it has come in quite handy. (Did I really do that?) When I've spoken about the mismatch between…
The Energy Vanguard Blog
It’s Hard to Undersize a Heating System
One of the biggest fears of HVAC contractors is to undersize a heating system. I'm not saying it's impossible, but installing a heating system that won't keep a house warm is really hard to do. Sometimes the rules of thumb…
Induction Cooking Pot Hype vs. Reality
I needed a new induction cooking pot. So I searched Amazon and decided on one that seemed like it would do the job. It said "Induction Cooking Pot" right there in the title (screenshot below). The description reinforced that: "The…
6 Ways Your Oversized HVAC System Makes Things Worse
Whether you live in a house, an apartment, or a condo, your HVAC system is probably oversized. In fact, it's not uncommon for residential systems to be 2 or even 3 times larger than they should be (although they don't…
Decades of Home Performance Expertise Await You in Ohio
Want to be known for your home performance expertise? Or add to your building science knowledge and skills? How about connect with others who do home performance work? There's one event that is hands down the best place to do…
18 HVAC Design Mistakes in Custom Homes
At Energy Vanguard, we've designed HVAC systems for thousands of homes across the United States. We've made our share of HVAC design mistakes, of course. And we've learned from them. We've also been in a lot of homes with HVAC…
![House Burping Means Opening The Windows To Increase Ventilation, But It's Got Problems. [by Catalina Dondiuc, CC BY 2.0]](https://www.energyvanguard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/open-window-house-burping-luften-ventilation.jpg)
The Lunacy of House Burping
Some years ago in a previous century, I spent the month of January in Germany. It happened to be a winter of extreme cold, with a low temperature of -40 degrees† at one point. And yet, my German companions liked…
Source Control Comes First for Good IAQ
There's no mystery about how to achieve good indoor air quality (IAQ). But there's a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding. If you listen to know-nothing influencers, you might think all you need to do is buy whichever magic device they're…
![Static Electricity Can Happen When The Indoor Humidity Is Very Low. But Do You Ever Need A Humidifier In An Airtight House? [Photo By By Dave Fayram, CC BY 2.0]](https://www.energyvanguard.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/static-electricity-low-humidity.jpg)
Is a Humidifier in an Airtight House Ever Needed?
In our HVAC design work at Energy Vanguard, we sometimes try to talk people out of things. I've discussed this in regards to makeup air systems for range hoods, but today let's look at a different one: humidifiers. We don't…
Have You Seen What’s Hiding Behind That…
...drywall, flooring, ceiling, baseboard, et cetera? Children often fear the unknown monsters hiding beneath their bed or in the closet, but it's the adults who should be afraid. The monsters hiding from them are real. I've seen a bunch of…