Guides A-Z | Building America Solution Center

Adding Boiler Controls to an Existing Boiler in Multifamily Buildings

Guide describing the installation of boiler controls in multifamily housing.

Air Conditioning

Guide describing refrigerant-based compression-cooling air conditioning systems for space cooling.

Air Seal HVAC Cabinet Seams

Guide describing air-sealing of the seams and holes in HVAC air handler and furnace cabinets.

Air Sealing the Air Handler Closet

Guide describing the repair and reconfiguration of the air handler closet and platform when replacing the air handler.

Airflow Control in Elevator Shafts, Corridors, Stairwells, and Trash Chutes in Multifamily Buildings

Guide describing airflow control strategies for elevator shafts, corridors, stairwells, and trash chutes in multifamily buildings.

Attic Ventilation Fans

Guide describing the use of attic ventilation fans to mechanically pull outside air through the attic in an attempt to cool the attic, control moisture, and prevent ice dams.

Back-Draft Dampers at Shared Common Exhaust Duct

Guide describing how to install back-draft dampers in exhaust fans to make a shared duct possible.

Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install a bathroom exhaust fan to remove excess moisture.

Bathroom Fan Ratings

Guide describing the bathroom exhaust fan ENERGY STAR rating requirements.

Building Cavities Not Used as Supply or Return Ducts

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Building Science Introduction - Air Flow

Information guide providing background information about air flow in residential buildings.

Building Science Introduction - Heat Flow

Information guide providing background information about heat flow in residential buildings.

Cold Climate Heat Pump Sizing and Selection

Guide describing sizing methods for cold climate heat pumps.

Combustion Furnaces

Guide describing combustion furnaces with selection and installation guidance.

Common Exhaust Duct Not Shared by Fans in Separate Dwellings

Guide describing correct ducting for exhaust fans.

Compact Air Distribution

Guide describing design and installation of compact duct systems for central heating and cooling systems.

Condensing Boilers

Guide describing condensing boilers and hot water heat distribution systems used for home heating.

Condensing HVAC has Corrosion-Resistant Condensate Drain Pan

Guide describing how to install a corrosion-resistant drain pan in condensate-producing HVAC equipment.

Continuous Supply/Exhaust Fan Ratings

Guide describing how to select low-sone supply and exhaust fans for quiet, continuous operation.

Continuously Operating Ventilation and Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install continuously operating exhaust fans.

Creating a Cool Room for Extreme Heat Events

Guide describing how to create a designated shelter-from-heat space in a home to help occupants successfully weather an extreme heat event.

Direct Vent Equipment

Guide describing categories of direct-vent combustion space- and water-heating equipment and combustion safety testing.

Guide describing how to conduct duct leakage tests on all components of the HVAC system (including the air handler, ductwork, register boxes/boots, and all air devices such as diffusers, registers, or grilles).

Ducted Returns

Guide describing how to install ducted returns in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms and to enable stale air to return to a central heating system's air handler for reconditioning even when room doors are closed.

Ducts Buried in Attic Insulation and Encapsulated

Guide describing approaches to burying and encapsulating ducts in unconditioned attics to increase the overall R-value of duct insulation.

Ducts in Dropped Ceilings

Guide describing method for installing ducts in a duct chase above a dropped ceiling.

Ducts in Interstitial Floor Framing

Guide for designing and installing interior ducts in an interstitial floor cavity in new and existing homes.

Ducts in Raised Ceiling Sections

Guide describing method for designing and installing ducts in a raised ceiling chase.

ECM Air Handler Fans

Guide describing the use of electronically commutated motors (ECMs) in HVAC central air handler fans to reduce power consumption compared to a single-stage fan motor.

Emergency Air Conditioning and Food Refrigeration

Guide describing methods for providing space cooling and refrigeration during extreme heat events and/or power outages.

Encapsulated Ducts

Guide that illustrates how and when to encapsulate ductwork in unconditioned attics, increases the R-value of duct insulation, mitigating condensation issues and reducing air leakage.

Evaporative Cooling Systems

This guide describes evaporative cooling technologies which can be used to cool homes in dry climates.

Existing HVAC System Upgrade or Expansion

Guide describing how to upgrade or expand an existing HVAC system.

Fireplaces and Wood Stoves Have Proper Ventilation

Guide describing how to provide combustion air for fireplaces and how to test fireplaces for combustion safety.

Gas-Fired Boilers

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

Heat Pump Quality Installation and Commissioning

Guide describing best practices for testing and commissioning heat pump systems using smart tools during and after installation.

High-MERV Filters

Guide describing the uses, selection process, and specification of high-MERV filters.

Home Performance Assessment

Information guide describing how to apply a whole-house approach to home improvement with energy efficiency upgrades, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort.

HVAC Ducts Shall Not Be Run within Exterior Walls

Guide describing the use of building cavities as supply or return ducts.

Injected Spray Sealant for Existing HVAC Ducts

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.

Intermittent Supply/Exhaust Fan Ratings

Guide describing how to choose ENERGY STAR fans.

Jump Ducts

Guide describing how to install jump ducts in bedroom walls to balance air pressures between rooms, enabling constant air flow for conditioning and freshness even when room doors are closed.

Kitchen Exhaust Fans

Guide describing how to install efficient kitchen exhaust systems.

Landscaping to Reduce Cooling Load

Guide describing ways to use landscaping to keep a home cooler.

Mechanical Exhaust for Multifamily Garages

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

No Ducts or Air Handlers Located in Garage

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 air sealed conditioned attic, basement, or crawl space.

No Excessive Coiled or Looped Flex Ducts

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

No Kinks or Sharp Bends in Flex Duct Installation

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

Obvious Ventilation Controls

Guide describing how to install obvious ventilation controls.

Outdoor Air Intake Damper Controlled

No outdoor air intakes connected to return side of the HVAC system, unless controls are installed to operate intermittently & automatically based on a timer and to restrict intake when not in use (e.g., motorized damper)