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Your Home Guides
63 guidesThe house around your HVAC system: building science, insulation and air sealing, health and safety, and practical tips that make a home easier to keep comfortable.
Humidity & Moisture ControlWhy Do Your Windows Sweat, and Is It a Problem?Why windows fog up inside or outside in Central Texas, when condensation is harmless, and when it points to a humidity problem.- VentilationDoes a Bathroom Exhaust Fan Need to Vent Outside?Why a bathroom exhaust fan must be ducted all the way outdoors, what happens when it dumps into the attic, and how to check…
Ductwork & Air FlowHow Do You Increase Airflow to One Room?How to get more air from the vents in one weak room, from the quick checks you can do yourself to the duct problems…
Health & SafetyCan a Dirty Air Conditioner Make You Sick?A dirty AC can recirculate dust and grow mold on a wet coil or drain pan; health questions belong with your doctor, but the…
Health & SafetyWhere Should CO Detectors Go in a Home With a Gas Furnace?Put a carbon monoxide alarm on every level and outside each sleeping area, then add coverage near the furnace and attached garage per the…
Health & SafetyCan an Air Conditioner Produce Carbon Monoxide?No: an electric air conditioner or heat pump burns no fuel, so it cannot make carbon monoxide, but its blower can spread CO from…
Health & SafetyWhat Should You Do If Your AC Stops Working in a Heat Wave?If your AC quits in extreme heat, get the most vulnerable people somewhere cool first, then try a few safe checks before calling for…
MaintenanceCan You Hose Off Your Outdoor AC Unit?Yes: with the power off at the disconnect, a gentle rinse with a garden hose is a safe way to clear dust and debris…
MaintenanceHow Do You Clear a Clogged AC Condensate Drain Line?Turn the AC off, flush the drain line through its cleanout, and pull stubborn clogs from the outside end with a wet/dry vacuum.
MaintenanceHow Do You Restart Your AC After a Power Outage?Turn the thermostat off during the outage, wait until power is steady, check the AC breakers, then set it back to Cool and give…
Humidity & Moisture ControlMoisture From Below: Slab and Pier-and-Beam Homes in Central TexasGround moisture reaches Austin homes as vapor through concrete slabs and as humid air in vented crawlspaces. Drainage handles liquid water; sealing, vapor barriers,…
VentilationFresh Air in a Tight House: Ventilation Options for Newer Austin HomesNewer Austin homes are built tight, so stale air, cooking odors and moisture no longer leak out by accident. The fix is planned ventilation:…
