Best Practices (Residential)

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Best Practices (Residential)

Best Building, Retrofitting, or even Auditing Practices - what are they, what should change, what needs to find it's way to the dust bin of history?

Members: 254
Latest Activity: 18 hours ago

Discussion Forum

Systematic Study of Retrofit Practices 1 Reply

I have questions about roof cavity insulation, have input from local experts, though welcome hearing from those who are practicing in cold climate and hopefully near/at the cutting edge of Wx…Continue

Tags: condensation, strategy, dense pack, workforce guidelines, inaccessible

Started by John Porterfield. Last reply by Sean Lintow Sr on Saturday.

Attic ventilation with mixed soffit heights. 34 Replies

Passive venting solution needed.How do you manage the air flow to properly ventilate an attic when one soffit is low and the other somewhere in between low and high?  I have a cape with an almost…Continue

Tags: venting, attic

Started by Bud Poll. Last reply by Bud Poll Apr 17.

Looking for advice on garage-to-house air sealing 12 Replies

We know that air from attached garages moves into houses, and we have some data on the size of the leakage area from the garage to the house, based upon field research. However, we are now working on…Continue

Started by Don Fugler. Last reply by Eric Kjelshus Apr 4.

Variable Frequency Drive controllers 3 Replies

Would anyone out there happen to have experience with a retro-fit VFD controller for a pool pump system?  I'm interested in the complexity of the the retro-fit as well as the measured savings.Continue

Started by Eric Sperline. Last reply by Dennis Heidner Mar 30.

Connected home refrigerators - are we excited? 7 Replies

A read-through of the revisions proposed for ENERGY STAR refrigerators (expected to take effect in March 2014) indicate that "connectivity" capability is included in the guideline. …Continue

Tags: response, appliances, demand, STAR, ENERGY

Started by Barbara Smith. Last reply by Barbara Smith Mar 22.

RESNET & Confirmed Ratings - no more fake numbers 2 Replies

Who says they don't listen or they deny almost every response? I just got the email last night that...Accepted. BSR/RESNET Standard 301-201X will be modified to require testing of envelope leakage…Continue

Started by Sean Lintow Sr. Last reply by Sean Lintow Sr Mar 2.

To tyvek or not to tyvek... that is the question 3 Replies

Lately I have been seeing & getting numerous questions on the use of WRB’s or Weather Resistive Barriers. For example; do I need it if I am using foam? If I am installing foam, should it be…Continue

Started by Sean Lintow Sr. Last reply by Bud Poll Jan 22.

Ridge Vent NFA 15 Replies

I'm confused.  If a ridge vent is advertising 18 in² of Net Free Vent Area (NFA) per linear foot, yet is only 3/4" thick, what is the real NFA.  18 in² would be the exposed edge of the vent (9 in²…Continue

Tags: NFA, vents, ridge

Started by Bud Poll. Last reply by Bob Blanchette Jan 5.

Attempting to identify fireplace outside air intake 4 Replies

Wood burning fireplace on 13 year old home in Wisconsin. Exterior wall with cantilevered chase. During blower door test I found noticeable air leakage to the inside from above the metal firebox.…Continue

Started by John Shillito. Last reply by Ed Voytovich Dec 25, 2012.

Don't eat your sweater 13 Replies

Many of you may have  heard Joe Lstiburek say"Build tight, ventilate right and don't eat your sweater.."or you may heave read where John Straube called walls without outside insulation "Turds"I would…Continue

Started by John Brooks. Last reply by tedkidd Oct 18, 2012.

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Best Practices (Residential) to add comments!

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on January 25, 2012 at 2:24pm

Yes I am and agree it is a good site & program to check out - also another good group to consider joining

Comment by David Eggleton on January 25, 2012 at 7:20am

Are you a member of the 1000 Home Challenge group?  There are many common interests.

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on December 18, 2011 at 5:20am

Hi Judy, I have  few thoughts on this & I am sure many others do as well. Unfortunately with it being on the comment wall, not to many people may see it so I am going to create a copy of your question in the discussion area above. Not only will this allow for everyone to reply directly, but everyone should get an email of the question.

Comment by Judi Lyall on December 17, 2011 at 6:44am

Good morning,

   I have a client that complained that certain rooms were either cold or hot. She had 45% leakage. We gave her more air, tightened the ducts and now she called and said that the home is now getting very dusty. What is the cause and what to do next. It has gone through the summer with the air blowing thru it, I would think the the dust in the ducts are already blown out

thanks for your reply

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on July 17, 2011 at 6:52pm
Thanks Thomas, I don't know what happened there - http://blog.sls-construction.com/tag/recovery-thru-retrofit is the main page for all articles on it. Thanks
Comment by Thomas Burke on July 17, 2011 at 5:14pm
Hey Sean- your links here don't work.
Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on July 16, 2011 at 2:24pm

As I am not the type to recomend something and never do it myself - My review on the new draft Workforce guidelines: Combustion Safety, Ventilation, Air SealingHeating & Cooling, Insulation, Crawl Space & Basements, Base-Load aka Appliances & Lighting.

 

Just remember all the comments from the organizations need to be in by this Friday to DOE, so you should get your comments finished up quickly - RESNET's cut off is Monday & BPI's is... (Sorry I never saw anything from them, but was told they did send out a request)

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on June 29, 2011 at 6:10am

Residential Workforce Guidelines Part Deuce:

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) developed a draft Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades with the goal to foster the growth of a high-quality home energy efficiency industry and a skilled and credentialed workforce. 

RESNET and a broad range of contractor associations had serious concerns with the draft and requested a second round of public comments.

DOE has agreed to seek industry input on the draft guidelines.  RESNET has been invited to part of this review process.  This industry review and comment process is open through July 22, 2011.  After the review DOE will make changes to the draft guidelines and open a public review in fall 2011.

To view the draft DOE Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades click on http://www.nrel.gov/applying_technologies/retrofit_review/pdfs/work...

If you are a member of RENET - send comments to sbaden@resnet.us by Monday, July 18, 2011

*** At first glance, it appears they listened to many of our comments & have eliminated a lot of the duplicate material & created a global section. Unfortunately they still have plenty of issues - like all fans WILL be orientated to final termination point (Nice but not doable in all cases) & hardly any mention of building codes, or using anyone licensed  trades (electricians are covered - not HVAC, plumbing, gas)

Now even if you don't belong to RESNET or your group has not sent out an email, I would encourage you to read through them & forward any comments you have to any "industry association" you belong to. If all else fails - create a thread above & I will add it to my comments & it may also get picked up by others

 

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on March 19, 2011 at 5:58am

As an FYI, a new group has been created on here for historic homes by my good friend John D. Poole. It's mission is "Historic and vintage homes are significant to our cultural heritage, yet often lack energy efficiency and comfort. Our mission is to identify key issues, solutions, and best practices when retrofitting much older homes."

As some of us know from experience, what might be a best practice or a semi-easy fix on say a ranch house, becomes a totally different animal when you are dealing with a Victorian house built in the late 1800's, etc... So if historic homes are in your area, you are just interested, etc... I encourage you to check it

 

Speaking of items to check out, I also encourage everyone to check out the discussions above, add in your 2 cents or create a new discussion on

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on January 18, 2011 at 4:55pm

John most of the larger foam companies offer a system like that - to my knowledge this is Demilec's version http://www.demilecusa.com/Default.aspx?ip=3&sip=19 which I have not used nor heard about.

I have heard some great things about Icenyne's version. I should also mention though - a few of their installers won't use it based on concerns of drywall popping off the walls (same issue with dense packing cellulose - if the wall panel isn't attached properly, it can blow off and make a big mess)

 

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