"Any bets on how long it will take this company to land in court?
A local energy efficiency group in Michigan tried a similar idea last year in a small town and got a lot of backlash from homeowners. This is an idea that looks good to energy wonks…"
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Nick Helmholdt
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Nick Helmholdt's Groups
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Tools of the Trade
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Best Practices (Resident…
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INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY US…
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Nick Helmholdt's Discussions
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 replied to Joshua Knittel's discussion Google Thermal View? in the group INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY USERSNick Helmholdt's discussion was featuredBackdraft 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
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/
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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?"
Nick Helmholdt joined Diane Chojnowski's group
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.
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…"
Nick Helmholdt posted a discussionBackdraft 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
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"…"
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…"
Nick Helmholdt's blog post was featuredCO 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
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…"
Nick Helmholdt posted a blog postCO 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
Nick Helmholdt joined Sean Lintow Sr's group
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
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…"
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…"
Nick Helmholdt's discussion was featuredBackup 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
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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…
ContinuePosted on April 15, 2013 at 12:14pm — 2 Comments
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Home Energy Pros
Home Energy Pros was founded by the developers of Home Energy Saver Pro (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and brought to you in partnership with Home Energy magazine.
Latest Activity
Dennis Heidner replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"Ben, the German highway system concept actually started BEFORE Nazi Germany during the…"
Stan Kuhn replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories"You note overheating on the south side (naturally.) Assuming the typical roof overhang of…"
Patrick Michaelyan replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories"Thanks a lot Ed. And thanks to all who have added their two cents.
I think I know where to take…"
Ed Minch replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories"We have successfully treated this same problem in perhaps 1000 of this same house in the…"
Craig Savage commented on Craig Savage's video
What is a Heat Pump Water Heater
"Hello Tom
We are working with A.O. Smith, GE and Stiebel Eltron on a Building America task to…"
Tom Delconte commented on Craig Savage's videoWhat is a Heat Pump Water Heater
"Craig: I was serious, since my propane price jumped from .98 to 1.85! according to everyone the GE…"
Ben Jacobs replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"I think that government support for good ideas results in major benefits over the long haul.
Please…"
Craig Savage commented on Craig Savage's videoWhat is a Heat Pump Water Heater
"Hello Tom
Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but a serious answer would be that GE is selling…"
Tom Delconte commented on Craig Savage's videoWhat is a Heat Pump Water Heater
"Craig: do you have a diagram of one that will run longer than one year? They don't really seem…"
Cory Chovanec replied to Bachi Brunato's discussion Boxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans"All good points brought up. My advice is not to leave the lights. When you said halogen I think…"
Jon Haehnel replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"The first 2 answers by Tom and Sean jive with my thinking and experience. Thank you Don for…"
Tom Smith replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories"The most bang for your buck will come from airsealing the attic plane and sealing the…"
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