Ben Walker and Sam Myers sit down with Brantley May to talk indoor air quality investigations, building forensics, and why you need both a contaminant and a pathway for a real problem. Brantley explains how blower doors, duct testing, and pressure diagnostics help prove where mold, smoke, dust, and odors actually enter a home. They also go over common misses from standard inspections, plus why better ventilation can be worth the energy tradeoff when health is on the line. If you want your houses to breathe right, share this with someone who still treats a blower door like a one time service.

Show Notes:
00:48 Meet Brantley
02:02 Beyond Energy Testing
04:11 Forensics Rabbit Hole
07:27 Who Calls Brantley
09:10 Missed Building Clues
11:17 Pressure Imbalance Story
14:45 Pathways Matter Most
17:47 Testing Without Harm
20:25 Everyday Pressure Checks
22:07 Health Success Stories
31:09 Training Better Inspectors
36:36 Duct Leakage Clues
46:52 Mold In Every Climate
49:53 Learning The Craft

Connect with:
Brantley May
Website: https://www.buildingscience.us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brantley.iaq

Follow Hosts:
Ben Walker (Co-CEO, Retrotec)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-walker-4a05901/

Sam Myers (Building Science Specialist & Trainer)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-myers-ms-a9a4a546/

Website: https://retrotec.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrotec/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrotec/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetrotecEnergy/

Listen on
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xMDAhIttUTHWK41DH7KhB

Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes on airtightness, ventilation strategies, and innovations in building science!

#BuildingScience #AirtightnessTesting #EnergyEfficiency #BuildingPerformance #HVAC #Retrotec #GreenStar #EnergyWaste #HomeImprovement

Ben Walker and Sam Myers sit down with Jake Bruton to talk blower door testing, airtightness, and why data beats opinions every time. Jake explains why he tests multiple times during a build, what leak paths still surprise teams, and how those checks reduce risk and callbacks. They also get into vetting HVAC contractors for low load homes and why buy-in matters more than bravado. If you are serious about building better, share this with a builder who still “just knows” it’s tight.

Show Notes:
00:00 Data Over Opinions
00:59 Three Test Strategy
03:09 When To Test
05:07 Hidden Leakage Spots
06:19 The 30% Drop
08:57 Solving The Lid
19:16 Vetting HVAC Subs
25:21 Advice For Builders
31:31 Tight Means Tested
38:59 Where To Learn
49:41 Buy The Blower

Connect with:
Jake Bruton
Website: www.aarowbuilding.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.bruton

Follow Hosts:
Ben Walker (Co-CEO, Retrotec)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-walker-4a05901/

Sam Myers (Building Science Specialist & Trainer)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-myers-ms-a9a4a546/

Website: https://retrotec.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrotec/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrotec/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetrotecEnergy/

Listen on
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xMDAhIttUTHWK41DH7KhB

Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes on airtightness, ventilation strategies, and innovations in building science!

#BuildingScience #AirtightnessTesting #EnergyEfficiency #BuildingPerformance #HVAC #Retrotec #GreenStar #EnergyWaste #HomeImprovement

Ben Walker and Sam Myers sit down with Xavier Walter of the Building Performance Association to talk about the workforce gap, why HVAC contractors need building science partners, and where the industry is headed next. They get into apprenticeship and workforce development, how weatherization and HVAC can work together, and why callbacks drop when contractors solve the whole problem. Plus, a quick run-through of what to expect at the BPA National Conference in Columbus, April 13–16.

And if you want to attend, use this link to register: http://nhpc26.org/flow-lab

Use code NHPC-Flow for a discounted registration rate ($825)

Video Notes:
00:00 Show Intro
01:03 Xavier’s Path In
03:52 BPA Resources
05:07 Workforce Challenges
09:23 HVAC And Weatherization
13:20 Building Science Basics
18:43 Why Attend BPA
21:08 Beyond Residential Work
24:00 Conference Game Plan
28:36 Free Market Shift
33:48 Questions Homeowners Ask
35:35 Pass It Forward

Connect with:
Xavier Walter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavier-walter-1164812b/

Follow Hosts:
Ben Walker (Co-CEO, Retrotec)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-walker-4a05901/

Sam Myers (Building Science Specialist & Trainer)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-myers-ms-a9a4a546/

Website: https://retrotec.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrotec/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrotec/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetrotecEnergy/

Listen on
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xMDAhIttUTHWK41DH7KhB

Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes on airtightness, ventilation strategies, and innovations in building science!

#BuildingScience #AirtightnessTesting #EnergyEfficiency #BuildingPerformance #HVAC #Retrotec #GreenStar #EnergyWaste #HomeImprovement