Breaking Down a House
Who among us doesn't like to take a good swing with a sledge hammer at the wall of an old house. I sure do, as you can tell from the lead photo. But demolition isn't the topic at hand today. …
Blog
Making Room for an Electricity Monitor
I've been using an electricity monitor in my all-electric home since 2022. When I began, it was simple. I had only a single electrical panel to monitor. Then I remodeled my basement, and things became more complex. I still have…
Does Radiant Cooling in a Humid Climate Make Sense?
Imagine a sunny spring day. You're feeling warm from the sun as you walk down the street. Then you go into a big concrete parking deck. Suddenly, you feel a chill. That's radiant cooling. (And it was radiant heating from…
The Physics of Radiant Heat Transfer
Radiant heating has been popular for a long time, mainly in cold climates where homes don't have any kind of cooling system. Now those places are getting cooling systems because of the warming climate and frequent wildfires. And the idea…
The Hidden Cost of Owning Ductless Mini-Splits
Last week the condensate line on the wall-mounted ductless mini-split in my sunroom clogged. It didn't take long to discover the problem because I saw water on the floor below the unit. Since that happened on a Monday, I turned…
Your Ducts Work Better With a Variable-Capacity System
Last week I spoke with one of our HVAC design clients. He's in the middle of getting his systems installed and had some concerns. We provide a list of do's and don'ts for changes the installers can or shouldn't make…
Bath Fans Can Make Indoor Humidity Worse
Bath fans are a big topic in building science. How do you get good air flow through them? Should you insulate the duct? Is it OK to use an ERV extract vent instead? Can they work as part of a…
How Can Condensation Occur at Higher Air Temperature?
Condensation happens when moist air meets something below the dew point temperature. Cool the grass overnight with lower air temperature and night-sky radiation, and dew forms in the morning—a drop in temperature causes the condensation. Simple enough. But here's a…
The Case for Home Ventilation Specialists
You'd think that HVAC companies would have this locked down. The V in HVAC, after all, stands for ventilation. But ventilation falls below duct systems for many contractors. And duct systems are below what's in the box that makes the…
The Downspout Fountain: An Unplanned Home “Improvement”
I clean the gutters on my house twice a year—once in early winter to clear the leaves and again in late spring to clear the catkins. I was up there a couple of weeks ago and decided not to bother…