Andrew McDowell
  • Male
  • Downingtown, PA
  • United States
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  • Silvie Votrubova

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Latest Activity

Andrew McDowell replied to Don Fugler's discussion Looking for advice on garage-to-house air sealing in the group Best Practices (Residential)
"There have been several cases of CO posoning fatalities relating to hybrid vehicles parked in attached garages. …"
Apr 4
Andrew McDowell joined Sean Lintow Sr's group
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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?See More
Apr 4
Andrew McDowell replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS
"I have yet to see the basement that was more connected to outdoors than the living area above, so all my basements are included in the volume calculation."
Mar 28
Andrew McDowell replied to Chase Counts's discussion Low-Rise Multifamily Infiltration Data
"Chase, Please share your info with me.  Thanks Drew McDowell This Leaky House drewmcd@verizon.net 610-241-7792"
Apr 12, 2012
Andrew McDowell replied to Ti Mougne's discussion Dirty Sock Syndrome in high efficiency HVAC units
"I had a customer who came to me about DSS.  She had been looking for an answer for several years, after trying ultraviolet lights, filters, bleach, etc.  The smell only occurred in the fall, after the cooling season.  I found some…"
Feb 2, 2012
Andrew McDowell commented on Diane Chojnowski's group Facebook Pages
Dec 8, 2011
Andrew McDowell joined Diane Chojnowski's group
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Facebook Pages

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Dec 8, 2011
Andrew McDowell joined Michael Stuart's group
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INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY USERS

This group is dedicated to knowledge sharing and discussion of infrared thermography for building sciences and energy applications.See More
Mar 24, 2011
David Meiland left a comment for Andrew McDowell
"I would not rely on a waiver. Maybe the best outcome is that they have an abatement contractor remove the insulation without your involvement, and then you proceed with testing and improvements. Maybe refer the owner to…"
Mar 9, 2011
Andrew McDowell left a comment for David Meiland
"David,   Thanks for the comment.  I was intending to use pressurization, but still am concerned about the liability.  Even a pressurized house can disturb the material; then, with a leaky duct system, there is no assurance the…"
Mar 9, 2011
David Meiland left a comment for Andrew McDowell
"Andrew, received the following from you but don't see where a reply can be posted:   I have a customer with vermiculite in the attic. I don't want the liability of running a Blower Door test, and made the case to the customer why…"
Mar 9, 2011
Andrew McDowell commented on Leslie McDowell, BPI's group Building Performance Institute (BPI)
"Tamasin,   I'm using both a static pressure probe and the Testo 327 combustion analyzer (draft function) and the readings are very close to each other."
Feb 16, 2011
Andrew McDowell joined Leslie McDowell, BPI's group
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Building Performance Institute (BPI)

BPI is the nation's premier standards development, quality assurance and credentialing organization for residential energy efficiency retrofit work.See More
Feb 16, 2011
Silvie Votrubova and Andrew McDowell are now friends
Feb 14, 2011
Andrew McDowell replied to Norm Bourassa's discussion Low-rise Residential - Favored retrofit strategies & stories in the group Multifamily Buildings
"What method are folks using for infiltration testing adjacent apartments?  I had to hire two other auditors to measure air leakage in a middle unit.  Is there a better way?"
Feb 10, 2011
Andrew McDowell joined Norm Bourassa's group
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Multifamily Buildings

For too long there has been relatively little EE focus on multifamily, but some new programs have recently started. This group gives us a venue to share our experiences on cost effective audit & retrofit strategies and analysis tool needs.See More
Feb 10, 2011

Profile Information

Company
This Leaky House
Professional Certification
BPI Multi-family, RESNET
Website URL
http://www.thisleakyhouse.com

Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 10:58am on March 9, 2011, David Meiland said…
I would not rely on a waiver. Maybe the best outcome is that they have an abatement contractor remove the insulation without your involvement, and then you proceed with testing and improvements. Maybe refer the owner to this: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/verm.html
At 9:04am on March 9, 2011, David Meiland said…

Andrew, received the following from you but don't see where a reply can be posted:

 

I have a customer with vermiculite in the attic. I don't want the liability of running a Blower Door test, and made the case to the customer why it's not a good idea to test. However, he is willing to sign a waiver stating that he would not hold me be liable. Question: does anyone run the Blower Door (or duct blaster) with known vermiculite or asbestos in the home? Is the waiver a good idea?

 

I would be cautious of relying on any type of waiver. The law takes a dim view of a professional who tells the consumer that something is dangerous but that they can sign a waiver. Not worth the risk IMO, but I'm not a lawyer and don't play one on TV.

 

What about pressurizing the house with the blower door instead of depressurizing?

 
 
 

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