HVAC & Mechanicals

Extreme heat and humidity can drive moisture deep into framing cavities which can cause mold, rot, and structural damage

Left-, right-, and straight-cutting snips with single- and compound-leverage each have their place on a jobsite

Your electrician can make the insulation work better and easier to install

Making vinyl siding look great by eliminating ugly J-channel

Turns out, ducts buried under insulation actually can work to save energy and eliminate condensation inside the ducts. If you seal and insulate them first

Pennsylvania, New York, and Vancouver think so.

Three-pronged solution to indoor pollution: Isolate, eliminate, and ventilate

Q: How many holes will Matt cut before finding the leak?

A: As many as it takes!

Two fans talk to each other to replace stale air with fresh air

Houses cannot expand and contract with changes in pressure like balloons can. Instead, they need paths for air to balance the pressure

Like kitchen & bath remodels, it involves plumbing, ventilation, electrical upgrades, waterproofing, and building inspectors

Keep mechanical equipment within the envelope to improve the quality of houses and homes

Sometimes a cowboy is better off with a mule...

Condensation is when moisture in the air hits a cool enough surface to convert the vapor into water.

As houses are built tighter, they exchange less air between inside and outside. This saves energy, but the inside air can get stale if you don't have a fan and a plan

The first in a series of 'Basics' videos on residential electricity. This one is on receptacles.

These mighty-mites can provide heating, cooling, and air-mixing for a well-insulated house, but they look so darned—European. It is hard for many Americans to warm up to them.  

Stack effect is relentless: it is always working, when you’re awake or asleep, even during blackouts. And it feeds on itself.