Step 25b – Install the Heat Pump Water Heater
The beautiful efficiency of a heat pump can not only be used to heat the house, but also to heat the water. A heat pump water heater is the most efficient type of water heater on the market today. One …
Tag: ERV
Step 23b – Complete Drywall Installation
Building your own home allows you to customize as much as you want. Learn how easy it can be to add beautiful drywall arches, curved walls, and custom niches. Drywall is easy to work with and also 100 percent recyclable. Simply use a utility knife to score the back (brown) side at 2″ intervals and snap the sheets at each of the scores. The white side of the sheet remains uncut to provide a nice, clean surface for finishing. For convex curves, use plenty of water on the back side so the gypsum will soften and bend easier. Clamp the sheet so it will dry in the new, curved shape and don’t attach the sheet to the framing until it is completely dry.
Step 22c – Test the Air Sealing
Learn how to ensure your insulation is most effective by creating an airtight seal all around it.
Step 22a – Complete the Conditioned Attic
I had already installed the flooring for the conditioned attic when I assembled the ductwork of the house, but now it was time to throw up some walls and air seal it. I would also need to install some baffles …
Step 19c – Exterior Ducting and Control Wiring
The last step in installing the ERV was to duct the supply and exhaust to the exterior of the house. The manufacturer recommended using insulated flex duct for this portion of the install, since these ducts will run through unconditioned …
Step 19b – Install the Ductwork
Installing ductwork properly is quite a bit more difficult than running pipes for plumbing or wires for electrical. It is, in fact, so difficult that “more than half of new HVAC systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated …
Step 19a – Plan Out the Ductwork
I meticulously planned out my electrical and plumbing runs before I even submitted my plans to get a building permit. Unfortunately I had not done likewise with my ductwork. I had planned for a conditioned space in the attic to …
Step 19 – Install the Ventilation System
Not too many people have ever heard of an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator), or the very similar HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator). The machines are relatively new to residential buildings so you would be hard pressed to find one in anything …