Making a Roof Less Likely to Leak
I got the shingles replaced on my roof this week. I've needed it for a while but held off for a couple of years. Why? Because there were a couple of things I needed to do at the bottom of…
moisture problems
The Problem With Too Many Basement Walls
Ever been in a basement that smelled musty? Maybe the better question to ask would be if you've ever been in a basement that didn't have that smell. Far too many basements do. There could be any number of reasons…
Hotels Have a Humidity Problem
If you travel with a hygrometer, as any seasoned traveler should, what I have to show you here is nothing new. But if instead you've never measured the relative humidity in a hotel room, I've got something interesting for you…
Is Venting an Unconditioned Attic Necessary?
Let’s talk about the controversial issue of venting an unconditioned attic with outdoor air. It's easy to confuse causes and symptoms sometimes, and that happens a lot with attic ventilation. I'll say upfront, though, that the International Residential Code requires…
How to Avoid the Flaw in Structural Insulated Panel Construction
Before 2001, the biggest construction project I had ever taken on was a bookcase. My most complicated project was probably the mahogany lamp table I built in tenth grade shop class. (I still have it!) Then I decided to build…
The Top 10 Articles in the Energy Vanguard Blog in 2022
It's been a good year in the Energy Vanguard Blog. Counting this one, I've published 46 articles during the year. Of the previous 45 articles, I think the following might be ten most important ones. This is just my own…
Can Duct Sealing Lead to Condensation?
When can doing something good for your house turn into something bad? Hmmm. There are way too many answers to that question, so let me narrow it down. Is it possible to make your ducts more airtight, a good thing,…
Which Roof Penetrations Cause Water Damage?
Which roof penetrations cause water damage? They all do, of course. But some are more likely to leak than others. The photo above shows the back of my house. We got a tiny bit of snow on Sunday, and some…
Roof Overhangs and Moisture Problems
Roof overhangs and moisture problems in the walls of a house ought to be related, right? After all, most of the water that lands on a house hits the roof first. From there, rainwater runs to the bottom edge of…
Bad Advice About Indoor Humidity in Cold Weather
It's that time of year again. The cold weather has begun here in the Northern Hemisphere, and people are talking about raising the humidity of the indoor air. I'm certainly no fan of bone-dry air, having experienced too much of…