Nick Helmholdt
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  • Ann Arbor, MI
  • United States
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Backdraft Detectors - Are they reliable?
2 Replies

On a recent Quality Assurance…Continue

Tags: gas-fired, spillage, backdraft, heater, water

Started this discussion. Last reply by Jim Peck May 10.

Backup Power for Pump on Radiant Heat System
6 Replies

A friend of mine in Traverse City asked about options for powering a pump on his home's radiant heat system. During an extended power outage last winter, their gas-fired boiler was able to provide…Continue

Tags: renewable, energy, pump, distribution, heat

Started this discussion. Last reply by Dennis Heidner Apr 11.

New furnace causing interference with AM radio?
9 Replies

I just wrapped up a quality assurance site inspection where I heard something unusual. The homeowner had a new furnace & central air conditioning system installed in November.  Since then he's…Continue

Tags: weird, radio, conditioning, air, furnace

Started this discussion. Last reply by Nick Helmholdt Mar 25.

Frozen Pipes on Interior Wall
7 Replies

On a recent quality assurance site inspection I found a situation where pipes froze and burst within an interior wall. Here is the story:The homeowners have been in the home for 14 years. The home is…Continue

Tags: water, damage, insulation, weatherization, assurance

Started this discussion. Last reply by Michael Jensen Mar 14.

 

Nick Helmholdt's Page

Latest Activity

Nick Helmholdt's discussion was featured

Backdraft Detectors - Are they reliable?

On a recent Quality Assurance site visit, I found a gas-fired water heater with a "Vent-rite Spill Alarm" installed on the flue. The contractor noted that worst-case spillage and draft failed in this home both on the test-in and test-out. I had heard of folks using these alarms, but had yet to see one installed until…See More
Wednesday
2 Comments
Nick Helmholdt replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??
"Is this the study you're thinking of http://drivingdemand.lbl.gov/ "
May 10
Jim Peck replied to Nick Helmholdt's discussion Backdraft Detectors - Are they reliable?
"Does not appear to have Code Compliant pitch on that Venting, does it?"
May 10
Nick Helmholdt joined Diane Chojnowski's group
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Tools of the Trade

A hammer and a saw used to be the key tools for home contractors. Today, the best-in-breed also use high-tech equipment while performing a professional energy audit or verifying that construction has been done correctly.
May 8
12 Comments
George Mullikin replied to Nick Helmholdt's discussion Backdraft Detectors - Are they reliable?
"Sorry, no experience with the spillage alarms. Though from product description found elsewhere it should have a test/reset button so homeowner can check that it is still functioning.  I once had a client who had installed a draft inducer fan on…"
Apr 27
Nick Helmholdt posted a discussion

Backdraft Detectors - Are they reliable?

On a recent Quality Assurance site visit, I found a gas-fired water heater with a "Vent-rite Spill Alarm" installed on the flue. The contractor noted that worst-case spillage and draft failed in this home both on the test-in and test-out. I had heard of folks using these alarms, but had yet to see one installed until…See More
Apr 26
2 Comments
Nick Helmholdt replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+
"I can't speak for Colorado, but in Michigan we see a wide range of prices for a lot of the reasons that Sean Lintow mentioned. From my perspective, we also see a lot of homeowners concerned about indoor air quality and adding 4"…"
Apr 18
Nick Helmholdt commented on Nick Helmholdt's blog post CO in Attached Garages
"The garages both contained cars, but not at the time of the inspection. I agree about the foam & fan run time. Personally, I would like to see the test #s on a full spray foam attached garage, since I have had clients who have spray foam…"
Apr 16
Nick Helmholdt's blog post was featured

CO in Attached Garages

On two separate Quality Assurance site visits in the past two weeks I've detected elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) coming from attached garages. I was a bit surprised at this since neither garage contained a car - let alone any active source of combustion. So I did some digging and came up with this great resource from Iowa State on the topic. From my reading of it,…See More
Apr 16
2 Comments
Sean Lintow Sr commented on Nick Helmholdt's blog post CO in Attached Garages
"Nice piece & I got to ask, was the increased level because they had cars in there earlier as the article alludes to? Pretty good points made in that piece though I think it would have been useful if they had a few garages done with foam as…"
Apr 15
Nick Helmholdt posted a blog post

CO in Attached Garages

On two separate Quality Assurance site visits in the past two weeks I've detected elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) coming from attached garages. I was a bit surprised at this since neither garage contained a car - let alone any active source of combustion. So I did some digging and came up with this great resource from Iowa State on the topic. From my reading of it,…See More
Apr 15
2 Comments
Nick Helmholdt 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 15
25 Comments
Dennis Heidner replied to Nick Helmholdt's discussion Backup Power for Pump on Radiant Heat System
"Another blog on homenergypros discussed the problems with the portable temporary generators... too many people running them closed to the house - with the resulting CO poisoning.  I have lots of UPS's for computers including some 1000VA…"
Apr 11
Curt Kinder replied to Nick Helmholdt's discussion Backup Power for Pump on Radiant Heat System
"UPS likely has the VA but not the duration. UPS additionally may not provide power quality pump needs. I like the idea of a standby genny sized to carry essential loads. If NG is used for all the big stuff (range, dryer, water heater, boiler), it…"
Apr 11
Nick Helmholdt's discussion was featured

Backup Power for Pump on Radiant Heat System

A friend of mine in Traverse City asked about options for powering a pump on his home's radiant heat system. During an extended power outage last winter, their gas-fired boiler was able to provide heat, but without a pump, the heated water couldn't reach the living area. Tall pine trees surround the home so there is little opportunity for solar power without extensive tree removal. My question is if there is a system that allows a manual override of the pump for this type of system? See More
Apr 10
6 Comments
Nick Helmholdt replied to Nick Helmholdt's discussion Backup Power for Pump on Radiant Heat System
"Thanks for the ideas everybody. I've shared this with the family in TC so they can do some homework on pump size and configuration. I will be sure to let you know what gets done."
Apr 9

Profile Information

Company
Clean Energy Coalition
Professional Certification
HERS Rater
Professional Interests
Quality Assurance, Building Science, Window Rehabilitation,
Twitter ID
NHelmholdt
LinkedIn Profile
www.linkedin.com/in/nickhelmholdt/

Nick Helmholdt's Blog

CO in Attached Garages

On two separate Quality Assurance site visits in the past two weeks I've detected elevated levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) coming from attached garages. I was a bit surprised at this since neither garage contained a car - let alone any active source of combustion. So I did some digging and came up with this great resource from Iowa State on the topic. From my reading of…

Continue

Posted on April 15, 2013 at 12:14pm — 2 Comments

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Johnny Ritzo posted a discussion

Selecting a Water Heater

I am looking at updating the heating and water heating systems in a rental home I recently…See More
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Eric Kjelshus replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories
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Bud Poll replied to Bachi Brunato's discussion Boxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans
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Sean Lintow Sr replied to Bachi Brunato's discussion Boxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans
"If you can't talk them into replacing with IC rated... Look into Tenmat - those are designed…"
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Bachi Brunato posted a discussion

Boxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans

I have a client with 16) 4" halogen recessed light fixtures in the attic.I'd like to cover the cans…See More
23 hours ago
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Dennis Heidner replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories
"Could you have them make a simple two line graph of the outside temperature, noting sun/clouds,…"
yesterday
Bob Blanchette replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??
"You make some valid points, especially with the base rate charges. Increasing the base rate instead…"
yesterday
Bob Blanchette replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??
"Amen, make energy show it's true cost instead of subsidizing it. We have some of the lowest…"
yesterday
Dennis Heidner replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??
"The press report really doesn't give enough information to clearly answer why  they are…"
yesterday
Edward Foskey commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump
"Gustavo, Thanks for the input. I agree with you in that I will be waiting till my system's…"
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