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Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > Modular Mountain Retreat > Energy Efficient Heat, Column Deck Supports, and The Mount > 1422 Transcript
1422 - Energy Efficient Heat, Column Deck Supports, and The Mount
February 2-8, 2004 | August 2-8, 2004
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN.
IT'S RAINING
IN THE BERKSHIRES,
AND SO TODAY
WE'RE GONNA GET WET.
WE'RE PUTTING DOWN A MAHOGANY
DECK ON THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE,
AND WE'RE PUTTING UP
SOME CHADSWORTH COLUMNS,
WHICH GO ON PART OF
THE EXTERIOR TRIM OF THE JOB.
INSIDE, WE'VE GOT A HEATING
SYSTEM BEING PUT IN PLACE.
WE'RE ALSO TAKING YOU ON
A TOUR OF AN INTERESTING
HISTORIC SUNKEN GARDEN
OVER AT EDITH WHARTON'S PLACE
THE MOUNT.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
WELL, THE WEATHER HAS CHANGED
FOR THE WORSE
HERE IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS,
AND THE BUILDING SEASON
IS COMING TO AN END.
BUT THANKS TO
THE MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
OF OUR PROJECT HOUSE HERE,
THINGS CAME TOGETHER
VERY QUICKLY,
AND THE SKIN,
THE WINDOWS,
ALL THE EXTERIOR
COMPONENTS ARE ON
SO THAT THE HOUSE
IS TIGHT AS A DRUM.
I THINK
MY FAVORITE ASPECT OF IT
IS THE COMBINATION OF
ROOF STYLES.
ON THE CENTRAL PART
OF THE HOUSE,
WE'VE GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL
METAL ROOF FROM ENGLERT.
AND THEN ON THE FLANKERS--
THE MASTER BEDROOM WING
AND THE SUNROOM--
WE'VE PUT IN THIS TERRIFIC
SHAKE ROOF FROM ENVIROSHAKE,
WHICH IS A MAN-MADE PRODUCT
FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS.
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
THE SKIN OF THE HOUSE
IS A VARIETY
OF DIFFERENT TREATMENTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT
THE CENTRAL PORTION OF IT,
YOU'VE GOT A COMBINATION
OF CEDAR VALLEY SHINGLES--
WHICH COME IN
TWO BY EIGHT FOOT SECTIONS--
AS WELL AS THE CULTURED STONE
THAT'S ON THE PIERS
AND ON SOME OF THE FLANKERS,
AND THE CHIMNEY HAS BEEN FACED
WITH THE SAME CULTURED STONE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU'VE GOT
THE FENESTRATION OF THE HOUSE
THANKS TO ALL THESE INTERESTING
PELLA WINDOWS
WITH THE SIX OVER ONE LIGHTS
WHICH ARE VERY APPROPRIATE
TO THE PERIOD.
ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE,
WE'VE FINISHED THIS VAST
CHOICEDEK FROM WEYERHAEUSER
SO THAT WE HAVE AN EXTERIOR
LIVING SPACE
THAT IS REALLY ENORMOUS
WITH THE VIEW OF THE WOODS.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
THE MAHOGANY FRONT DECK
FROM LUMBER LIQUIDATORS.
LOTS OF THE ELEMENTS OF
THIS HOUSE ARE RELATIVELY
VAST IN SCALE.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
A BIG FRONT PORCH,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'VE DECKED IT
WITH THIS MAHOGANY.
THIS IS A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT,
AND IT'S REALLY AFFORDABLE.
IT'S ABOUT 49 CENTS
A LINEAR FOOT.
THAT TRANSLATES TO ABOUT
A BUCK AND A HALF A BOARD FOOT.
AND IT HAS, YOU KNOW--
I LIKE IT BETTER THAN
A LOT OF OTHER PRODUCTS,
BECAUSE IT'S
A VERY NATURAL LOOK.
IT WEATHERS VERY NICELY.
YOU CAN PUT A PRESERVATIVE ON IT
EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THE FELLAS ARE NAILING IT
IN THE TRADITIONAL FASHION,
SPACING IT JUST ABOUT--
BARELY 1/4.
AND USING ANNULAR
STAINLESS STEEL RING NAILS
TO GET IT DOWN,
WHICH PROVIDES A VERY GOOD GRIP
AND, OF COURSE, WILL NOT RUST.
AND THEY ARE ALMOST AT THE END,
BUT LET'S US GO
AROUND THE BACK OF THE HOUSE
TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF
THE COLUMNS THAT ARE GOING
IN PLACE.
ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HOUSE,
THE GRADE SLOPES AWAY,
SO WE'VE GOT A FULL-HEIGHT WALL
AND LOTS OF DETAILING GOING ON.
BUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE ASPECTS
OF THE WHOLE HOUSE, REALLY,
IS THE OC CULTURED STONE PRODUCT
THAT WE'VE PUT HERE.
AND THIS LOOKS FOR ALL THE WORLD
LIKE NATIVE STONE.
I ESPECIALLY LIKE
THESE TRIM PIECES
THAT COME ALONG
ALMOST LIKE COBBLESTONES.
BUT WE CAME OUT BACK HERE
TO LOOK AT
THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS
FOR ALL THIS DECKING,
AND WE'RE USING A PRODUCT
THAT JEFF DAVIS IS HERE
TO EXPLAIN TO US.
THIS IS NOT
WOODEN TRIM,
IS IT, JEFF?
THAT'S CORRECT.
IT IS NOT.
IT'S PVC, ACTUALLY,
THAT WE'VE TAKEN,
AND WE'VE
PREFABBED IT FOR YOU
IN THE FACTORY
SO IT'S VERY EASY
FOR YOU
TO INSTALL IT
ON THE JOB SITE.
IT CAN BE TOTALLY
CUSTOMIZABLE
TO EXACTLY YOUR
OVERALL HEIGHTS,
AND YOU CAN ALSO
CUSTOMIZE THE FACES
OF EACH ONE OF THEM.
YEAH.
MOSTLY IN THE PAST,
WE'VE USED YOUR
CIRCULAR COLUMNS--
THE TUSCAN COLUMNS
AND ALL THE OTHER
DIFFERENT ONES--
AND HERE YOU'VE GOT
A SQUARE...
YEAH, A SQUARE
BOX COLUMN.
A BOX COLUMN.
WE ORIGINALLY
CAME OUT WITH
THIS MATERIAL
BECAUSE OF THE
CRAFTSMAN STYLE
COLUMN
AND DOING
THE TRAPEZOIDS,
AND THEN WE FOUND
THAT WE COULD DO
THE BOXES
JUST AS WELL.
ANYTHING THAT HAS
A SQUARE USAGE CAN
BE USED WITH PVC.
YEAH. WHAT ARE
THE ADVANTAGES?
IT'S INSECTPROOF,
AND IT'S WATERPROOF.
MM-HMM.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST
ADVANTAGE.
IT'S EASIER,
ALSO, TO CUT
AND CUSTOMIZE.
AND WHAT ABOUT COST?
WELL, THE COST OF
THE MATERIAL IS
ABOUT 50% OF WOOD,
AND BECAUSE WE
PREFAB A LOT OF THIS
IN THE FACTORY,
IT'S EASIER FOR
A FINISH CARPENTER
TO INSTALL IT.
GREAT.
THANKS, JEFF.
THANK YOU.
LET'S SAY HI TO
THE GUYS OVER HERE.
OVER HERE WE HAVE MIKE SHIELS
AND DENNIS LONG.
NOW, THE
PORCH SUPPORT
IS BASICALLY
FOUR BY SIXES,
RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
OK. AND SO
THE DESIGN
BACK HERE
WAS TO INCLUDE
THESE BASES
WHICH, AGAIN,
ARE MADE OUT
OF THE CULTURED
STONE,
EVEN WITH
THE TRIM PIECE
ON TOP.
BUT THE REAL
STRUCTURE--
DOES THIS
GO DOWN TO...
THERE'S A FOOTING
UNDERNEATH
THE FOUR BY SIX
PRESSURE TREATED
THAT'S SUPPORTING
THE DECK.
YEAH. SO YOU'VE
POURED SONNATUBE
DOWN FOUR FEET
AND ALL OF THAT.
SO THIS IS ALL
COSMETIC WORK.
THAT'S RIGHT.
GOOD. BUT IT
LOOKS REAL NICE.
LOOKS GOOD.
HOW DOES IT
COME TOGETHER?
WELL...
IT DOESN'T COME IN
FOUR INDIVIDUAL
PIECES?
OR DID YOU
ASSEMBLE IT?
NO, IT COMES
AS ONE PIECE.
AND THEN...
THE INSTALLATION...
IS RELATIVELY EASY.
YEAH, IT SURE
LOOKS THAT WAY.
YOU'RE GONNA SHUT
THE DOOR ON IT,
AND THAT'S IT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
OK. SO YOU DID
HAVE TO PUT
A COUPLE
OF BLOCKS IN
ON THE INSIDE.
THOSE ARE
THE SUPPORT BLOCKS.
WE HAVE THEM PLUMBED
WHERE THEY ARE.
NOW WE'LL JUST
CLOSE THE DOOR
AND SECURE IT.
OK. AND YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO ADD ANYTHING
TO IT?
THIS IS THE WAY
IT CAME THROUGH?
JUST LIKE THAT.
WHAT'S THE HINGING?
THE HINGING IS ALL
PART OF THE UNIT.
IT'S ALL PREFABRICATED
THIS WAY.
SO IT'S THE EXTERIOR
FINISH THAT ACTS AS
A HINGE?
EXACTLY.
OH, OK. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'M GONNA
GET MY HANDS
OUT OF THE WAY.
DO YOU HAVE TO ADD
A CAULKING BEAD
TO THIS?
YES, YOU DO.
OH, ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. SO THEN
ONCE WE SHUT IT...
THEN WE BRING
THE CORNERS
TOGETHER.
AND BRING THE CORNERS
TOGETHER, IT'S SQUARE.
THEN WE CAN HIT IT
WITH A PIN NAILER.
JUST BRADS?
YEAH, 'CAUSE NOTHING
ABOUT THIS IS STRUCTURAL.
Shiels: THAT'S CORRECT.
RIGHT.
IT'S ALL DECORATIVE.
AND THERE
YOU HAVE IT.
AND--NO, YOU'RE STILL
MISSING THE TRIM.
AND THIS ALL GETS
DONE AT THE DESIGN
STAGE, RIGHT?
Shiels: YES.
YEAH. YEAH.
GLUE 'EM
AND NAIL 'EM UP.
VERY NICE JOB.
THANKS, GUYS.
Bob: WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL VISIT
THE RESTORED GARDENS
AT EDITH WHARTON'S HOME
THE MOUNT.
OUR OC CULTURED STONE BACK HERE
LOOKS FOR ALL THE WORLD
LIKE SOME OF THE 19th-CENTURY
STONE WALLS THAT WE FIND
IN MANY OF THE COTTAGES
HERE IN THE BERKSHIRES.
IN LENOX, MASS.,
WE VISITED THE MOUNT,
WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE LATE
19th CENTURY FOR EDITH WHARTON,
A WOMAN WHO WAS
A VERY SUCCESSFUL WRITER
IN THE 19th
AND 20th CENTURIES.
WE GOT TOGETHER WITH
STEPHANIE COPELAND,
WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE EDITH WHARTON RESTORATION,
TO TOUR THE SUNKEN GARDENS.
WATCH.
Bob: SO AS I
UNDERSTAND IT,
THE GARDENS THAT
EDITH WHARTON
CREATED HERE
A CENTURY AGO
HAD PRETTY MUCH
DISAPPEARED, RIGHT?
YES, THEY HAD.
HARDLY ANY TRACE
OF THEM REMAINED
WHEN WE BEGAN
THE RESTORATION
OF THE GARDENS.
MM-HMM. AND WHAT
SHE HAD CREATED HERE
WAS VERY MUCH OF
A EUROPEAN SCHEME.
YES, VERY MUCH OF
A EUROPEAN SCHEME.
IN FACT, YOU HAVE
THE PARTERRE
DOWN THERE,
THE FLOWER GARDEN
CONNECTED BY
THE LIME WALK
THAT EXTENDS ALL
THE WAY ACROSS
TO THE WALLED GARDEN
ON THE OTHER END.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE GARDEN IS
A BARBELL DESIGN.
SO WHAT YOU MEAN IS,
IT'S A LONG BAR,
IF YOU WILL,
WITH TWO SQUARES
AT EITHER END.
RIGHT. EXACTLY.
THE ONE OVER THERE
IS A FORMAL
FRENCH STYLE
PARTERRE
WHERE YOU'D HAVE
A LOT OF COLOR.
A LOT OF FLOWERS.
I DON'T SEE
ANY FLOWERS
IN THERE YET.
NO, IT HASN'T
HAPPENED YET.
WE HAVE TO RAISE
THE MONEY TO PLANT THEM
AND TAKE CARE OF THEM
BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT.
AND THEN
AT THE OTHER END
IS A WALLED GARDEN.
AND THAT--YES.
NOW, THAT IS
A GARDEN THAT,
SHE WROTE ABOUT,
"HAS A CHARM
INDEPENDENT OF
THE SEASONS."
IT'S NOT A GARDEN
FOR FLOWERS.
IT'S MORE A GARDEN
WHERE FLOWERS CAN EXIST,
BUT IT'S NOT FOR THEM.
MM-HMM.
IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE.
IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING--
HER TREATMENT OF
THE GRADE HERE.
'CAUSE WE'VE COME DOWN
FROM THIS BELVEDERE,
AND THERE'S
ONE TERRACE LEVEL
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US,
AND THEN
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
ALMOST LIKE A WAVE.
WE'RE SLOWLY DESCENDING
AWAY FROM THE ARCHITECTURE
OF THE HOUSE,
WHICH IS ALL PART OF
HER THEORY ON DESIGN--
THAT EACH STEP
AWAY FROM THE HOUSE
SHOULD BE A CLOSER
STEP TO NATURE.
OK. AND THEN EVERYTHING
I'M LOOKING AT IS
NEWLY PLANTED.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS--
DID YOU SAY
THEY'RE LINDEN TREES?
YES.
SO THERE'S
A WHOLE ALLEY OF THEM
THAT MUST BE 200 FEET.
48. 48 LINDEN TREES.
AND AS THEY GROW,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE
PLEACHED
SO THAT THEY WILL
ALL LINK TOGETHER
AND FORM, LIKE,
A BOX GOING ACROSS--
LIKE AN ELEVATED HEDGE.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY
WHAT PLEACHING IS.
LIKE AN ELEVATED HEDGE.
EXACTLY.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS
WITH THE ACTUAL HEDGE
THAT'S DOWN BELOW THEM?
WHEN IT GROWS UP, IT'LL--
WHEN IT GETS TO ABOUT
HIP HEIGHT,
IT'LL BE CUT OFF THERE,
SO AS YOU'RE WALKING
DOWN THE LINDEN WALK,
YOU'LL BE LOOKING
THROUGH A BOX.
A CONTINUOUS WINDOW
KIND OF...
THAT'S CORRECT.
NOW, HOW DO YOU KNOW
THAT WAS PART OF
HER DESIGN?
WE KNOW IT WAS PART OF
HER DESIGN BECAUSE WE HAVE
HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS.
MM-HMM. EXCELLENT.
WELL, WHY DON'T WE
GO DOWN
TO TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK AT
THE WALLED GARDEN?
ALL RIGHT.
Bob: SO THIS IS
THE BALANCE
FOR THE PARTERRE
AT THE OTHER END.
AND WAS THIS CREATED
AS PART OF THE WHOLE
BIG JOB,
OR WAS THIS DONE LATER?
SHE BEGAN WITH
THE FLOWER GARDEN
ON THE OPPOSITE END.
AND THEN
AS FUNDS WERE--
CAME IN HAND--
THIS WAS A VERY
EXPENSIVE GARDEN
TO BUILD.
SHE WASN'T REALLY
ABLE TO COMPLETE IT
UNTIL ABOUT 4 YEARS
AFTER THE HOUSE
HAD BEEN BUILT--
AFTER THE
FLOWER GARDEN.
WELL, THE STONEWORK
IS BEAUTIFUL,
BUT IT'S ALSO RETAINING
ON THIS SIDE, RIGHT?
YES.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO RETAIN
THE EARTH THERE.
AND THEN SHE'S DONE
THE SAME KIND OF
STEPPING WORK HERE
THAT EXISTS RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
RIGHT.
SHE'S COME DOWN SLOWLY
INTO WHAT IS CALLED
A WALLED OR SUNK GARDEN.
AND HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHAT PLANT MATERIAL
WAS HERE?
BECAUSE AS I
UNDERSTAND IT,
THERE WAS JUST
A JUNGLE HERE, RIGHT?
OH, IT WAS
INCREDIBLE JUNGLE.
BUT WE HAD HISTORICAL
PHOTOGRAPHS,
AND WE HAD AN EXPERT
COME FROM THE ARNOLD
ARBORETUM IN BOSTON
AND HE WAS ABLE TO STUDY
THE PHOTOGRAPHS
AND IDENTIFY
THE PLANT MATERIAL
THAT WAS HERE
ORIGINALLY.
YEAH. AND RIGHT NOW,
MUCH OF THIS GARDEN
IS IN SHADE,
SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF
PLANT MATERIAL THAT LOVES SHADE.
YES. WE'VE HAD TO
ADAPT TO THE FACT
THAT THIS GARDEN
WASN'T IN SO MUCH
SHADE IN HER DAY,
BUT NOW IT'S IN
TOTAL SHADE.
BUT ALL THE HOSTA
ALONG THE WHOLE
PERIMETER OF IT
IS BEAUTIFUL TO HAVE.
AND OF COURSE,
WE'RE VISITING YOU HERE
IN LATE SUMMER,
SO THERE AREN'T
TOO MANY OTHER THINGS
THAT WOULD BE BLOOMING.
YOU'RE SEEING THE END.
THIS IS REALLY A WHITE GARDEN.
ALL THE FLOWERS THAT ARE USED IN
THIS GARDEN ARE WHITE.
SO AT NIGHTTIME AND DUSK,
IT MUST BE BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS GORGEOUS.
I'VE NEVER QUITE SEEN
A ROCK PILE LIKE THIS.
IS THIS PART OF
HER ORIGINAL SCHEME?
IT IS. THIS IS
A VERY RUSTIC GARDEN
WITH STONE WALLS,
AND TO REFLECT THAT,
SHE CREATED THIS
ROCK PILE FOUNTAIN.
BUT IT BALANCES THE
VERY FORMAL FOUNTAIN
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
OK. AND ON THIS END,
YOU WOULD HAVE HAD
A GREAT VIEW,
BUT, UM...
YES.
I GUESS THINGS ARE
A LITTLE BIT
OUT OF PLUMB HERE.
THAT COLUMN CERTAINLY
SEEMS TO BE LEANING
OVER TO THE LEFT.
YOU'RE RIGHT, BOB,
AND IT WAS DONE
DELIBERATELY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
IT WAS DONE TO GIVE
A SORT OF OLD
OR ANCIENT--
ANTIQUITY FEELING
TO THE GARDEN
RATHER THAN JUST
HAVING A STRAIGHT,
BRAND-NEW
STONE COLUMN.
WHAT WAS THE COST
OF ALL OF THIS?
TO DO HER GARDENS
COST AS MUCH AS
DOING HER HOUSE--
57,000,
WHICH IS ABOUT
$1 MILLION TODAY.
IN TODAY'S MONEY,
AND THAT WAS IN THE 1890s.
NO, THAT WAS IN--
JUST AT THE TURN
OF THE CENTURY.
OK. AND THEN ALL
THE RESTORATION WORK
TO THE GROUNDS
HAS JUST BEEN ACCOMPLISHED
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS
AT WHAT SORT OF COST?
$2.5 MILLION.
BUT THAT ENTAILED DOING
ALL THE ARCHAEOLOGY,
BRINGING IN EXPERTS TO
IDENTIFY PLANT MATERIAL,
RE-CREATING ALL OF
THE TERRACES THAT HAD
LOST THEIR DEFINITION,
AND WE'RE NOT
FINISHED YET.
NO. I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE
A LITTLE POINTING WORK
TO DO OVER HERE.
YES, WE CERTAINLY DO.
THANKS.
Bob: NEXT, WE'LL BE BACK
AT OUR BUILDING SITE
FOR THE INSTALLATION
OF THE HVAC SYSTEM.
STICK AROUND.
NEXT TIME ON
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
WORK CONTINUES ON
OUR MODULAR HOUSE
IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE'LL BE PUTTING DOWN
A MAHOGANY DECK,
AND WE'RE ADDING
SOME CHADSWORTH COLUMNS
TO THE EXTERIOR TRIM
ON THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
INSIDE, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT
THE HVAC SYSTEM,
INCLUDING A POINT OF USE
HOT WATER SYSTEM.
AND WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF
A HISTORIC SUNKEN GARDEN
AT EDITH WHARTON'S HOME
THE MOUNT.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON "HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME ON
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
IT'S CHADSWORTH COLUMNS,
A MAHOGANY DECK,
AND THE HVAC SYSTEM.
DON'T MISS IT.
WELL, WE'RE JOINING
MARK GALLIVAN
AND BRENT MORIN,
WHO ARE HERE,
AND WE'RE GETTING
A HEATING SYSTEM
INSTALLED.
AND IT'S NOT A...
IT'S A NICE
STATE-OF-
THE-ART SYSTEM.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
IT'S A HYDRO
AIR SYSTEM, BOB.
THAT'S A COMPONENT
OF A BOILER,
VARIABLE SPEED
AIR HANDLERS,
HUMIDIFIERS,
ELECTRONIC
AIR CLEANERS,
AND THREE OUTDOOR
CONDENSING UNITS.
IT'S ABOUT
AS COMPLICATED
AS YOU CAN GET.
IT ABSOLUTELY IS.
BUT IT'S
HIGH-EFFICIENCY,
AND IT'S GOING TO
MAKE THE HOUSE
RUN PERFECTLY
IN WINTER--
AND THEY'RE
TOUGH WINTERS HERE--
AS WELL AS
THE STICKY SUMMERS
THAT THEY GET
IN THE MOUNTAINS.
EXACTLY. AND THE
DEHUMIDIFICATION
THAT WE'LL WORK WITH
THROUGH THE VARIABLE SPEED
AIR HANDLER WILL HELP
ALL THOSE PROBLEMS.
WHAT'S THIS
COMPONENT, THEN?
THIS IS OUR FAN COIL,
AND IT'S A VARIABLE SPEED
FAN COIL.
IT CONSISTS OF
A BLOWER MOTOR
AND AN "A" COIL,
AND IT ALLOWS FOR
THE FLOW-THROUGH OF
THE WARM OR COOL AIR
THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE HOME.
AND THEN WE'LL ALSO
BE INSTALLING
AN ELECTRONIC
AIR CLEANER.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND UP ABOVE, BOB,
THERE IS
THE HOT WATER FOIL
THAT WILL CIRCULATE
THE HOT WATER
AND FLOW-THROUGH
WITH A HUMIDIFIER
TO MAKE THE HOUSE
THAT MUCH MORE
COMFORTABLE.
ALL RIGHT,
BECAUSE, MARK,
THIS BOILER IS GONNA
BE SUPPLYING US WITH
HOT WATER
WHICH WILL CIRCULATE
THROUGH THAT
AS WELL AS THROUGH
BASEBOARD HEATING
IN OTHER SECTIONS
OF THE HOUSE.
HOW MANY ZONES ARE
IN THIS HOUSE?
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT
8 ZONES IN.
THERE'S A TOTAL OF 7 ZONES
AT THE MOMENT THAT WE HAVE.
SO THIS IS
THE FIRST FLOOR.
WE'RE IN THE
BASEMENT, RIGHT?
LET'S SEE.
IS THAT
THE BASEMENT?
THIS IS
THE BASEMENT, YEP.
AND WHERE ARE
WE STANDING
RIGHT NOW?
OVER HERE IN THE MECHANICAL ROOM
IN THE BASEMENT.
OK. SO WHAT
WE'RE DOING
IS PROVIDING HEATING
AND AIR CONDITIONING
FOR ALL OF
THESE ROOMS--
THAT'S ONE ZONE.
AND THEN
OVER HERE, IT'S
A DIFFERENT ZONE?
YES, IT IS.
THE BASEMENT IS PRIMARILY
BASEBOARD HEAT.
WE HAVE NO HYDRO AIR
IN HERE.
WE'RE JUST GONNA BE PUTTING
RADIATION BASEBOARD AROUND.
YEAH. AND, OF COURSE,
YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT
FOUNDATION WALLS,
SO YOU CAN'T JUST
PUT DUCTS VERY EASILY
FROM ONE AREA
TO THE OTHER.
THEN THE FIRST FLOOR
IS ONE ZONE FOR ALL
THE LIVING AREA--
KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM,
DINING AREA, ETCETERA--
AND A SEPARATE ONE
FOR THE MASTER AREA,
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE
FOR THE SUNROOM,
AND THEN A LAST, SEVENTH
ZONE FOR UP THERE...
YES. SEPARATE HYDRO AIR
UPSTAIRS.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, WHAT TYPE
OF BOILER DO WE
HAVE HERE?
WE HAVE A CARRIER BOILER
WITH A CAST ALUMINUM
HEAT EXCHANGER,
WHICH IS THREE TIMES FASTER
ON HEAT TRANSFER
THAN A STANDARD CAST BOILER.
SO ALUMINUM
TRANSFERS MORE
QUICKLY THAN IRON?
YES, IT DOES.
IT'S ALSO
A HIGH-EFFICIENCY 90%
WITH THE CONDENSING.
WE HAVE A DIRECT VENT
CONCENTRIC FLUE
THAT ALLOWS US
TO TAKE AIR IN.
THIS IS ALL YOU'LL
SEE ON THE OUTSIDE
OF THE HOUSE, RIGHT?
THIS IS IT, YEP.
AND IT EXHAUSTS
THROUGH HERE?
RIGHT. WE BRING AIR IN
THROUGH HERE,
AND IT COMES BACK
THROUGH THESE PIPES.
FRESH AIR'S
TAKEN IN
THROUGH HERE?
YES, IT IS.
OH, I SEE.
IT'S A DOUBLE PIPE.
WHAT GOES THROUGH HERE,
FRESH AIR COMES IN,
AND OUR FLUE GASES
GO OUT HERE.
VERY CLEVER.
YOU DON'T NEED
A CHIMNEY,
IN OTHER WORDS.
WELL, THIS IN ESSENCE IS.
IT ALSO HELPS THAT YOU CAN
KEEP THIS ROOM CLOSED UP
FROM THE REST OF THE HOUSE--
THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T NEED
COMBUSTION AIR.
YOU'RE BRINGING IN
COMBUSTION AIR HERE,
SO THIS ROOM CAN BE SEALED OFF
FROM THE HOUSE.
YOU'RE NOT STEALING THE AIR
FROM THE REST OF THE HOME.
OK. AND THEN OVER
BEHIND YOU, MARK,
WE'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY
ALL THE...
THE ZONE VALVES, RIGHT?
YES. EACH ONE OF THESE,
WE CAN ISOLATE EACH ZONE.
IS EACH ONE JUST
FILLED WITH WATER?
NO. WE HAVE
AN ANTIFREEZE.
IT'S A BRINE SYSTEM
THAT WE HAVE IN IT.
BECAUSE OF THE
HOT WATER COILS
IN THE ATTIC,
WE HAVE TO PREVENT
THE PIPES AND STUFF
FROM FREEZING.
AND THIS WAY HERE,
WE ISOLATE EVERYTHING,
AND EACH ZONE
CAN BE TURNED ON
OR OFF AS NEEDED.
THAT'S GREAT.
AND IN THIS BIG HOUSE,
WHICH HAS 5 BATHROOMS
AND TWO LAUNDRY ROOMS,
WE HAVE
A RINNAI TANKLESS
WATER HEATING SYSTEM.
ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO,
MY SON CHRIS
WAS OUT HERE LEARNING
ALL ABOUT IT. WATCH.
JACK, WHAT EXACTLY IS
A POINT OF USE WATER HEATER?
WELL, CHRIS, THIS IS THE
CONTINUUM WATER HEATER,
MANUFACTURED BY RINNAI.
THIS WATER HEATER
WILL NOT MAKE HOT WATER.
IT WILL CONSUME NO GAS
UNLESS THERE IS
A DEMAND FOR HOT WATER.
WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENS
THE HOT WATER TAP,
THE UNIT STARTS,
IT PRODUCES THE AMOUNT
OF HOT WATER REQUIRED.
IT BURNS ONLY THE AMOUNT
OF GAS NECESSARY TO HEAT
THAT AMOUNT OF WATER,
AND IT DELIVERS IT TO
THE CONSUMER AS LONG AS
THEY HAVE A DEMAND.
SO EFFICIENCY'S
A HUGE ISSUE HERE.
ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S NO SENSE
MAKING HOT WATER
UNLESS THE TAP IS OPEN,
SO WE DON'T.
AND YOU CAN SAVE
AS MUCH AS 70% ON
YOUR HOT WATER BILL
BY CONVERTING TO THIS
TYPE OF WATER HEATER.
UNBELIEVABLE.
NOW, YOU'VE GOT
THESE CONTROL PANELS.
YOU CAN PUT
UP TO 3 WITH THIS
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE?
WE CAN RUN UP TO 3 OF
THE TOUCH PAD CONTROLS.
YOU CAN PUT ONE
IN THE LAUNDRY OR
THE KITCHEN AREA,
AND THEN YOU CAN PUT ONE
IN THE MASTER BATH OR
IN THE SECONDARY BATH.
SO THESE WORK AS
A SAFETY SAFEGUARD
AS WELL.
CERTAINLY. THIS WILL
PREVENT SCALDING.
IT ALLOWS YOU TO SET
THE ABSOLUTE TEMPERATURE
THAT YOU REQUIRE
FOR YOUR HOT WATER,
SO IF YOU'RE FILLING
A BATH,
YOU'RE GONNA BATHE AT
104 OR 105 DEGREES,
SET IT AT 104,
OPEN THE TAP.
IT'LL DELIVER THE WATER
TEMPERATURE YOU WANT.
IF YOU'RE BATHING
THE CHILDREN,
RUN IT AT A COOLER
TEMPERATURE.
BUT IT ELIMINATES
THE SCALDING ISSUES
THAT ARE PREVALENT WITH
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES
IN A TANK-TYPE
WATER HEATER.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
OK, THE WAY
THIS OPERATES
IS THAT WE HAVE
OUR COLD WATER COMING IN
ON THE BOTTOM OF
THE UNIT.
IT FEEDS THROUGH
THE COLD WATER VALVE,
AND THE WATER THEN
TRAVELS AROUND.
WE HAVE THE ELECTRONICS
THAT CONTROL THE
OPERATION OF THE UNIT.
WE HAVE OUR GAS VALVE
MOUNTED HERE.
WE HAVE
OUR INDUCER MOTOR.
SO OUR COMBUSTION AIR
COMES DOWN THROUGH HERE.
IT'S FED, AND WE MIX
THE AIR AND THE GAS
IN THE CHAMBER.
WE THEN HAVE THE BURNER
RIGHT HERE,
AND THIS IS
THE HEAT EXCHANGER.
AND THIS IS THE COPPER
TUBING THAT THE WATER
FLOWS THROUGH,
SO THAT WE'RE HEATING
THE WATER IN THIS PIPE.
IT THEN COMES DOWN
THROUGH THE BACK
AND COMES OUT THROUGH
THE HOT WATER LINE,
WHERE IT THEN GOES TO
THE HOUSE.
NOW, WHAT EXACTLY
ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE?
IS THIS THE FLUE?
THAT'S THE VENT SYSTEM,
AND IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF
THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF
THE RINNAI
IN THAT IT'S
A SEALED COMBUSTION
DIRECT VENT SYSTEM.
WE BRING OUTDOOR AIR
FOR COMBUSTION THROUGH
THE OUTER PIPE,
AND WE EXHAUST
THE HOT FLUE GASES
THROUGH THE CENTER PIPE,
SO THAT ACTUALLY
HELPS US ON THE
EFFICIENCY SIDE, TOO.
AND IT TAKES NO INDOOR
AIR FOR COMBUSTION.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
FEATURE IN TODAY'S
HOME CONSTRUCTION.
AS TIGHTLY
AS WE BUILD HOMES,
THAT'S A VERY NICE
FEATURE ON THIS PRODUCT.
IT IS. WELL,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
Bob: WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT
WITH A PREVIEW OF OUR NEXT SHOW.
DON'T GO AWAY.
WELL, THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT TIME.
WE'LL STILL BE HERE
IN THE BERKSHIRES,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE VISITING
SHAKESPEARE & COMPANY.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
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• Bellawood - Prefinished Hardwood Floors
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Additional Bob Vila Showrooms• FixtureUniverse.com - Plumbing, kitchen and bath fixtures
• Renovation Experts - Put your home in good hands. Get FREE estimates on your project.
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