You may have heard that the HVAC industry is going through a big refrigerant change. What does this actually mean? A refrigerant is the chemical inside your air conditioner or heat pump that moves heat from where you don’t want it, to where you do. It’s what makes cooling possible. The new generation of refrigerants (like R-454B) have a much lower global warming potential. In fact, it’s about one-quarter as potent as the older R-410A. Because refrigerants contribute significa

This year, I set a goal to finally tackle a few long-overdue home efficiency upgrades, and at the top of the list was my attic. If you’re looking for one of the most impactful places to improve your home’s efficiency, start here. It’s not glamorous, but it makes a big difference. If your home has uneven temperatures between rooms, high heating and cooling bills, drafty spaces, or even ice dams in the winter, there’s a good chance your attic is part of the problem. It’s one of

After nearly a decade as a site superintendent, I’ve led countless new home demos and pre-closing walks. I’ve had this conversation with many peers and construction managers over the years, and one area consistently rises to the top as the most challenging: the attic. Whether it’s a single-story or two-story home, attic access is rarely simple. If it’s a scuttle hole, you need the right ladder. If it’s a pull-down stair or small door, it’s still not exactly convenient. The sp

Once upon a time, there was a large homebuilder growing faster than anyone thought possible. New communities rose quickly, trades multiplied, and schedules stayed full. From the outside, everything looked strong. But inside the kingdom, a dragon was forming. The dragon fed on small mistakes. A missed flashing detail here, a rushed insulation install there, inconsistent framing practices across distant markets. At first, the damage seemed manageable. A few callbacks. Some unha