Note: This site is a work-in-progress; check back often for additions and updates. Introduction Principles of thermal and moisture protection Heat transfer Radiation Conduction Convection Moisture transfer Diffusion Capillary action Convection Liquid flow Air pressure in houses Wind Gravity The Stack Effect Exhausts Natural Mechanical Duct accidents Leaky Supply Ducts Leaky Return Ducts Accidental Mechanical Ventilation Combining the Stack Effect with Exhaust Building Ventilation Foundation Walls Roof Weatherization Practice The house as a system Pressure diagnostics The blower door CFM50 Air sealing Tools and materials Attics Walls Cellars Ducts Doors Effective insulation Cellulose Foam Dense Pack Indoor Air Quality Soil gases Fungi Combustion safety return plenum bypass Stuff that we buy, bring home, and pollute ourselves with Mechanical exhausts Symptoms to solutions Seeing the Building Outside Inside: Living spaces and basement Attic   Moisture Attic condensation and frost Window condensation and frost Finish failures Exterior blisters and peeling Interior paint peeling Plaster problems Dry indoor air Biogenic activity Mold and decay Sills Walls Roof deck Soaked insulation Walls Attics Crawl spaces Thermal Ice damming High fuel use Cold living space Drafts Inverted Temperature Stratification Frozen plumbing Extraordinary case studies Problems common to typical house designs Half story living space with side attics Two story colonial Ranch Split level Contemporary with cathedralized ceiling Boston house Vermont house New Jersey house New Hampshire house Pennsylvania house New York house An extreme case of self inflicted ITS Fun-can you see the building defect through the bandaids? Problem House #1 Problem House #2 Problem House #3 Doing It Yourself The Front Door Test The Top Sash Test The Toilet Paper Test The Patch Test Smoke Testing Pressure Directed Air Sealing Blowing insulation Heater Checks Not doing it yourself Tell Us a Story Resources Glossary All About Fred