"In present form the number one reason HP is declining is it is way too complicated to get any job done. People do not like paperwrok, and government intervention as it is practiced today is purely paperwork.
Get public money out of…"
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Pat Dundon
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- Windsor, NY
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Pat Dundon's Discussions
Basements and BAS
16 Replies
I frequently find that if I include basement area and volume in a BPI calculation for Building Airflow Standard then relatively high flow rates will be considered too tight. As I have gone through…Continue
Tags: Too, Tight, Standard, Airflow, Building
Started this discussion. Last reply by Pat Dundon Apr 11.
thinking in 3 dimensions
3 Replies
I had a Eureka moment about 10 years ago.Folks like us who look at buildings tend to simplify them and miss too much. Not only are buildings 3 dimensional, the various components of the buildings…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Pat Dundon Nov 13, 2012.
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Pat Dundon replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Whew, lots of differing opinions.
On venting no matter what, when does venting become excessive air infiltration? Initial versions of Rem Rate ended up penalizing the score quite a bit due to energy use of the HRV. In the case of a…"
tedkidd replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"You can invest in a bunch of AirAdvice and let us know. They are not cheap devices, and I don't know anyone that has them that actively promotes the service. What would you need to hire someone to drive 30+/- minutes, install, then…"
Ed Minch replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"What is the charge? What do you think it costs you to drop it off, pick it up, and deal with it? What percentage of houses would consider reasonable to measure? Have you then ventilated more and measured? Has anybody?
Ed Minch"
tedkidd replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Ed,
I used AirAdvice. You leave it in the home for 3 days to a week and it logs Radon, CO2, CO, VOC's, Allergens, etc...
Like many of the things I've done in this grand experiment I did not get paid for the work.…"
Ed Minch replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Ted
What measure did you use for IAQ? What pollutants did you look for? Do you do it in every house? I recently had to refute a guy who measured "high cellulose" in the carpet of the bedroom with the pull down stair to the…"
tedkidd replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"I've tested tight houses with really great iaq, and really loose houses with terrible iaq. That got me thinking about ACH seasonality due to stack pressure. Think a house with good IAQ on a 15f day has the same IAQ on a 55f day?…"
George Mullikin replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Although I have yet to find an explicit requirement to include the basement volume in the minimum airflow calculation, the BPI BA standards example strongly implies that basement volume should be included always. BPI instructors I've…"
George Mullikin replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Here's how I figure the opportunity for air sealing: Measured CFM50 - BAS. The smaller the CFM50 or the larger the BAS, then the less room for tightening.
Another way to look at this is that the air flow requirement gets larger as…"
Michael Dunseith replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"One size does not fit all, and Standards cannot be written to meet every type of issue presented in the field. BPI always refers to State or local codes. In the absents of clearly defined measures ikt all comes down to a competent person to evaluate…"
Ed Minch replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Look at the example on page 4 of the BPI BA standard - it says nothing about occupied, conditioned, etc. BPI says to use the basement as part of the calculation. There will certainly be times, as has been noted, where extenuating circumstances…"
Pat Dundon replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"I understand all the theory and logic you all are putting forth here. Most of it a agree with. But, in the end the owner sets a budget and we need to stay within it. If that weren't the case I would always foam a basement.
What I am asking for…"
Dale Sherman replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Generally, the older the house, the nastier the basement. If we do a good job of air-sealing a house, where is the remaining infiltration air coming from? If the path from outside to the living space is via the basement, how much is the air…"
Ed Minch replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"The only basement (in the mid-Atlantic) I would consider unconditioned is a basement in a baseboard electric heated house where the water heater was upstairs, say in the kitchen. Only then would I seal and insulate the basement or crawlspace)…"
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."
John Nicholas replied to Pat Dundon's discussion Basements and BAS"Most homes in this area have full conditioned basements. They are finished and used for all types of living activity.
If the basement is intentionally conditioned, you have to include the volume. If it is unconditioned, you really should…"
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Pat Dundon's Blog
Merry Christmas to all!
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a cool draft was freezing, to wake up the mouse.
The owner called a contractor with knowledge so rare,
In hopes that great comfort soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their bed,
With nary a cough or a cold in their heads.
And Momma in her Kerchief and I in my cap
Had just settled down for a long winters nap.
When from my neighbor there a rose such a…
ContinuePosted on December 17, 2011 at 9:00am
Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 9:57am on July 12, 2011,
Diane Chojnowski said… Hi Pat,
Welcome to Home Energy Pros! Feel free to join the conversation in the Forum and Groups. And share your energy efficiency photos, videos and upcoming events. If you're blogging about home performance, this is the place for you!
Thanks!
Diane, HEP Moderator
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