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Air Conditioning Myths + Ben Gleib's Mid-Century Studio + The Garage Conversion Guide

6/23/202650 min

Every dad seems to have a theory about the thermostat, but does turning off your AC, closing vents, or buying a bigger unit actually save money? Building science expert Allison Bailes shares the smartest ways to stay cool without driving up your energy bill. Then, comedian Ben Gleib takes us inside his San Fernando Valley home, a modest mid-century house transformed into a late-night television studio. Finally, This Old House contractor Charlie Silva explains what it really takes to convert a garage into a livable space.

In This Episode You'll Learn:
* Why common thermostat and AC "money-saving" tricks often don't work the way people think.
* How to diagnose and solve humidity problems in a crawl space before they lead to mold.
* What might be causing grout to crumble and whether it's worth repairing or replacing.
* The biggest mistakes homeowners make when converting a garage into living space.

All of this, plus we’re answering your home improvement questions at (877) 864-7460.

Clips

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds
  1. Speaker 10:00

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  2. Jenn Largesse· Host0:58

    [upbeat music] From LAist and APM American Public Media, it's This Old House Radio Hour. I'm Jen Lardjas. Every dad in America has a theory about the thermostat. Turn it up, turn it down, shut the vents. But what actually saves money?

  3. Allison Bailes· Guest1:15

    When you close vents in one room, you are increasing the pressure in the duct system, and you may be increasing the amount of leakage.

  4. Jenn Largesse· Host1:22

    Comedian Ben Gleib's modest San Fernando Valley home may be hiding the future of late-night comedy.

  5. Ben Gleib· Guest1:28

    This home,

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