Browse by Category | Building America Solution Center

Guide describing how to thoroughly seal HVAC ducts to ensure air delivery without leakage, and to ensure economical and quiet performance of the HVAC system.

Guide describing design and installation considerations for combined space and water heating systems using a tankless on-demand water heater, a hydronic heating coil and air handler, and optional cooling coil.

Guide describing how to choose high-performance exhaust fans.

Guide describing how to install jump ducts in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms, enabling stale air to return of the central air handler, even when room doors are closed.

Guide describing how to install an efficient kitchen exhaust fan.

Guide describing the retrofit of kitchen exhaust systems, including duct sizing and routing considerations.

Guide describing steps to take to minimize indoor humidity during cold winter weather.

Guide describing tools and methods required for accurately measuring airflow with mechanical ventilation.

Guide describing requirements and best practices for mechanical garage exhaust in multifamily buildings.

Guide describing how to install an exhaust fan in an attached garage to pull fumes out of the garage and to depressurize the garage with reference to the home.

Guide describing how to design HVAC systems to be located within the conditioned space of the home, either in a utility closet or in an attic, basement, or crawl space.

Guide describing how to correctly install flex ducts without excessive coils or loops.

Guide describing how to correctly install flex ducts without kinks or sharp bends.

Guide describing how to install obvious ventilation controls for continuous and intermittent exhaust fans used for whole-house ventilation.

Guide describing oil-fired boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Guide describing how to install outdoor air intakes and connect them to the return side of the HVAC system, using controls installed to operate intermittently & automatically based on a timer and to restrict intake when not in use (e.g., a motorized damper).

A guide describing how to elevate and secure HVAC equipment for protection against floods, earthquakes, and high winds.

Guide describing various ways of implementing passive and low-energy cooling techniques for a house.

Information guide describing things to consider before attempting air sealing, insulating, and equipment retrofits in a home that has combustion appliances located within the home.

Information guide describing options to consider when retrofitting or upgrading a home's HVAC system.

Guide describing how to evaluate ventilations systems before performing home upgrades.

Information guide describing how to balance air pressure in supply and return ducts of a central forced air system to minimize drafts and help provide consistent temperatures from room to room.

Guide describing proper sizing and installation of high-MERV furnace and air-handler filters.

Guide describing how to correctly locate duct terminals to meet the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes program.

HVAC

Injected Spray Sealant for Existing HVAC Ducts

Integrated Heating and Hot Water with Tankless Gas or Electric Water Heating

Intermittent Supply/Exhaust Fan Ratings

Jump Ducts

Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Kitchen Exhaust Retrofit Duct Guide

Managing Indoor Humidity and Ventilation in Cold Weather

Measuring Mechanical Ventilation Airflow

Mechanical Exhaust for Multifamily Garages

Mechanical Ventilation for Attached Garage

No Ducts or Air Handlers Located in Garage

No Excessive Coiled or Looped Flex Ducts

No Kinks or Sharp Bends in Flex Duct Installation

Obvious Ventilation Controls

Oil-Fired Boilers

Outdoor Air Intake Damper Controlled

Outdoor HVAC Equipment Elevated and Secured for Resistance to Floods, Earthquakes, and High Winds

Passive and Low-Energy Cooling

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Combustion Appliances

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Existing HVAC Systems

Pre-Retrofit Assessment of Ventilation Systems

Pressure Balancing Supply and Return Ducts in Existing Homes

Proper Installation of Furnace and Air-Handler Filters

Quantity and Location of Supply and Return Duct Terminals Match Contractor Balancing Report