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Guides A-Z

Showing results 101 - 150 of 345

Decks are Wildfire-Resistant

Guide describing how to properly construct decks and other building attachments to be resistant to ignition in the event of a wildfire.

Demand Plumbing

Guide describing the use of recirculation pumps to speed the flow of hot water to faucets for reduced wait times and savings in energy and water usage.

Design and Retrofit for Flood Protection

To minimize flood risks with new construction, homes should be built on high ground outside of high-risk flood areas and above the base flood elevation (BFE). New homes should be constructed in conformance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and local floodplain management regulations...

Design for Extreme Heat

Information guide describing ways to design a home to be resistant to extreme heat.

Direct Vent Equipment

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

Disaster-Resistant Roof Venting

Guide describing the installation of roof vents that are resistant to damage from high winds and entry of wind-borne rain, wildfire embers, or pests.

Dishwashers

Guide describing how to install dishwashers in new and existing homes.

Double-Wall Architectural Feature

This guide describes air barrier and insulation installation, along with air sealing for double walls - half or full walls included in a home design as an architectural feature that provides a more dimensional appearance.

Duct Leakage to Outdoors

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.

Earthquake Overview

Overview guide describing how to prepare homes to be resistant to earthquake forces.

ECM Air Handler Fans

Home owners who use an HVAC system with a central air handler fan can realize significant energy savings by using a fan with an electronically commutated (ECM) motor (see Figure 1). Savings will be even larger for homeowners who run the HVAC fan continuously or frequently to filter the air or to...

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.

Enclosure Leakage Test

Guide describing how to use a blower door test to determine building envelope air leakage.

Evaporative Cooling Systems

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

Extreme Heat Overview

Overview guide providing background information on extreme heat in the United States as it relates to homes and links to guides describing specific ways to make homes more resistant to extreme heat.

Flashing of Penetrations in Existing Roofs

Guide describing how to provide a continuous water control layer across the roof assembly by sealing all penetrations for pipes, vents, etc. in existing roofs.

Flashing of Wall Penetrations in Existing Homes

Guide describing how to install flashing that is integrated with air and water control layers around piping, vents, and other wall penetrations as part of an exterior wall retrofit.

Flooding Overview

Overview guide describing residential floodproofing steps.