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Old 10-16-15, 04:10 PM   #1
Al Von
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Location: Ashland, Ohio
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Default Hello from a newbie

Hi folks,

I live in northern Ohio and have always been interested in alternative energy. I am planning a pair of solar air heaters to help heat the finished, but unheated, basement of our ranch home. I found this forum via BuildItSolar.com, a GREAT site! My wife and I got married almost three years ago and bought this money pit of a house. We are slowly upgrading it to be more modern and energy efficient. The previous owners did very little maintenance and what they did was shoddy.

I work as a paramedic, working on getting my funeral director's license, and have been a gearhead all my life.

I am looking forward to interacting with you.

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Old 10-16-15, 05:11 PM   #2
stevehull
Steve Hull
 
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As a paramedic, think of your home as a "slow bleeder". Just a couple drops per second from a venous wound or a perforated gut bleed. Much like air infiltration into your home. Tiny amount, but it adds up.

As you know, just a couple drops a second is a LOT of blood loss, hundreds of ml loss per hour (life threatening). Looked at individually, air looses at each spot seem small. Added up all over the home, and over your dominant heating season, it is HUGE.

Focus on buttoning the home up first. This is actually easier WITHOUT a lot of extra insulation as the air infiltration is much easier to detect. Foam cans, silicone caulk, blower doors, "smoke" candles and perhaps a rented FLIR gun are likely all in your future.

You are in the right spot as we encourage the perspectives that have the highest return on investment.

Each hour of time spent on detecting air leaks actually pays you hundreds of dollars in future utility costs. Yup each hour . . . .

Then - and only then do the other things. Button up, tighten up first.

Read up, tell us of your triumphs and we will console you with our trial/tribulations when you hit "walls".

Welcome,

Steve
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Old 10-19-15, 12:18 PM   #3
Daox
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Welcome to the site.

We would love to hear about and see pictures of your solar air heaters.

BuildItSolar really is a great site. Gary (BIS owner) does visit here from time to time too.

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