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About TJ Nichols
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Hello, I'd be glad to answer your questions on IAQ & other related issues! The top TEN are as follows: (1) IAQ mysterious symptoms and how to locate & stop the causing problem. (2) Duct system designs & engineering. (3) Duct cleaning & filtration. (4) HVAC inspections, repairs, & installs. *see below. (5) Carpet & furniture cleaning. (6) Restoration services. **see below. (7) Crawlspace humidity problems. (8) Home insulation. (9) Home energy saving tips. (10) Home/Apt. maintenance with plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc. With these following * & ** questions I'll try my best to assist you in. *(some basic knowledge & experience on oil fired furnaces, very limited knowledge on water furnaces, no boilers or chillers questions, please). **(just water damage, no smoke or fire damage questions, please)

Experience
My approach is to treat the home as one system with individual working parts. Think (TEAMWORK). When one or more areas (PLAYERS) are failing or bad, it affects the whole system (TEAM) to operate less efficiently. I aim to address the problem, not just the symptoms, to offer better solution options. I've been experienced in carpet & upholstery care since 1994; Have been EPA Licensed & Certified in Types I & II Refrigeration since 1997; and have been working in IAQ issues & Home Energy Testing since 2004. I have experience with the new refrigerant R410-A. I'm currently studying Home Inspection Courses & NATE Certification Courses. Also, I've been an apartment maintenance supervisor at a couple communities. I have lived & worked at a four seasons resort supervising housekeeping & maintenance issues. I've worked for local & regional service companies. I have sold HVAC units, Duct Systems, Home Energy Tests, Infiltrometer Tests, IAQ Tests, Crawlspace Dehumidifacation Upgrades, Home Insulation Upgrades, & Water Heater.

Publications
Hopefully here, in the near future.

Education/Credentials
High School Grad (06/1991)(VA) EPA licensed & certified in Types I & II Refrigeration (04/1997)(MD) Lennox Certifications (04/2006-02/2008) (SC)

Awards and Honors
I have several letters of recommendations from customers I've served while being employed & self employed. My business opportunities grow from customers word of mouth.

Past/Present Clients
Self Employed: Local Sprint/Nextel offices in SC; local REMAX real estate office in SC; local real estate investors in SC; Apartment Communities Across NC & SC; Several Church Daycare Centers in SC; Wintergreen Resort Property Owners in VA; Home Owners across NC & SC. Employeed Locally & Regionally: Serviced Home Owners & Business in VA, NC & SC, TN, MS, & GA.

   

You are here:  Experts > Parenting/Family > Protecting your Home and Family > Indoor Air Quality

SubjectDate AskedExpert

Musty muddy smell11/22/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: Like Rashmi, one of your previous correspondents, I Iive in Bahrain. It is a new-build townhouse by ...
  A: Well it seems that HVAC engineering in Bahrain isn't all that great, lol. Based on what you & the ...
odor in older home11/19/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: My daughter is pregnant and has moved out of her home due to an odor that makes her sick. She has ...
  A: I rarely recommend products, but a air cleaner that also filters down to at least .3 microns ...
odor in older home11/18/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: My daughter is pregnant and has moved out of her home due to an odor that makes her sick. She has ...
  A: OK, another thing to find out is to know if there's a dead small animal in the duct system, or in ...
odor in older home11/17/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: My daughter is pregnant and has moved out of her home due to an odor that makes her sick. She has ...
  A: Well the odor can come from a wide range of sources and may be from more than one. I need more info ...
Mold in attic11/15/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I and my parents live in SE Texas in a one-story home that is about 40 years old. About two months ...
  A: Well it appears that you & your family have done a lot to get rid of this problem. And, I'm glad ...
Home insulation11/13/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I have one of the four bedrooms on the upper floor losing heat big time. I believe the culprit is ...
  A: You'll need to view this as investment choices, what will give you the best return on your ...
Odor in Basement11/10/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We have recently bought a house and moved there in July/09. During the initial showing, we noticed ...
  A: It is possible that heated air, and sometimes cooled air will hide odors. To eliminate this or not, ...
Fresh make up air needed11/5/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I have been updating the windows/doors/insulation in my ranch house, 2000sqft inc. unfinsished ...
  A: Yes, I would recommend a HRV, because it's doing both, helping dehumidify, and helping bring in ...
Odor in Basement11/4/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We have recently bought a house and moved there in July/09. During the initial showing, we noticed ...
  A: By what you're describing to me, sounds like it's most likely in the duct system. Being the case ...
Puzzling wall vent with dust11/1/2009Val Riedman
  Q: I put a fiberglass screen behind the fins of a wall vent in my living room. It is @ 1' - 2' from the ...
  A: I think the vent down low is probably the return vent to the furnace and AC coil. It can be ...
gas furnace10/27/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: we recently purchased a 20 yrs old home and the furnace might be same age, not sure if previous ...
  A: If it is just one HVAC system & not two HVAC systems, then most of it is probably due to the duct ...
crawl space odor10/16/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in a 2 story home (2200 square ft.) built on a 3 foot tall crawlspace. There is a "musty" ...
  A: Duct tape does not seal air tight. In time, the adhesive will wear off. Mastic is what you need. ...
crawl space odor10/14/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in a 2 story home (2200 square ft.) built on a 3 foot tall crawlspace. There is a "musty" ...
  A: Well there's a few things you need to do. That heavy black plastic that you mentioned, make sure ...
apartment air10/13/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: Why are my eyes always itchy. Live in 1 bedroom . no aircondiioning, baseboard heat in winter,(not ...
  A: Well, I'm going to need some more general info & some questions answered, so that I can better ...
Odor from Vents10/6/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We have stumped everyone so far, hopefully you can help. Some background - last year this exact ...
  A: As far as I know plugging the floor drain shouldn't hurt anything. But, I would want it there as a ...
Dusty smell in 40yr old home10/4/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We just purchased a 40yr old house. The sellers were apparently covering an intense dusty smell with ...
  A: And, I'll be a little more specific on what you asked about, OK. The rock-wool should be removed if ...
Cold air blowing from vents10/1/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: Why would cold air be blowing from our furnace? It is freezing out %26 we have 4 children. We ...
  A: Sorry to hear about this, and I understand especially since I have 4 kids myself. There could be ...
Dusty smell in 40yr old home10/1/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We just purchased a 40yr old house. The sellers were apparently covering an intense dusty smell with ...
  A: That's an interesting question you have there. And, yes the rock-wool insulation could be the ...
Odor from Vents9/30/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We have stumped everyone so far, hopefully you can help. Some background - last year this exact ...
  A: Let me start off by saying...WOW! Sounds liked you've been working a while crossing off on your ...
Mildew odor in upstairs room9/30/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: One of our upstairs bedrooms (actually used as a dressing room/office) has had a mildew odor for the ...
  A: Well, by what you have described, I'd suspect that there has been some sort of water intrusion via ...
Odor coming from intake air vent and stale smell in general9/29/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I have noticed a smell coming from the intake air vents in the house, as well as the floor vents, ...
  A: The flex ducts that have been used only a couple months should be fine. Just need to visually check ...
Peculiar odour in air9/29/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: ..I am really troubled by my airconditioning system I live in 2 bedroom flat entire air condition ...
  A: Well, having a HVAC system in the bathroom area is not an ideal place, in fact not good at all. One ...
Odor coming from intake air vent and stale smell in general9/29/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I have noticed a smell coming from the intake air vents in the house, as well as the floor vents, ...
  A: By what you have described you may have a few things going on. I go over the duct system, the ...
Air condition ducts/asbstos9/26/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I laid a black jacket by a air condition vent in a 1973 mobile home with central air and in the ...
  A: This dust that you mentioned could be asbestos or just some other dust particles. Neither are good, ...
odor coming from air ducts9/11/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: We live in a community of older houses just outside of Chicago. We moved into a house three months ...
  A: Yes it does sound like a lot going on up there. But all of those mentioned are just symptoms of a ...
Odor Elimination9/8/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: A non-smoker, I've lived in my 2nd floor condo (1250 sq ft) w/no one above me for the last 10 years. ...
  A: If the HVAC system is being replaced then I would wait. But, my question to that is...will it ...
Crawl space/indoor air quality9/2/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: Can you recommend a vapor barrier to use to seal off the dirt floor in my crawl space? I read your ...
  A: Sure I'll do that. First clear out all debri, rock, bricks, etc, to smooth out as best as possible. ...
Odor in apartment9/1/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: A year ago, my landlord had the roof replaced. Shortly after, rain began leaking in from the top of ...
  A: That's a possibility. I do have a question for you that will help point us both in the right ...
Condense water on air grill8/31/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: Could you please help me to eliminate the water condensate on the cold air grill on the false ...
  A: By what you have stated, I will mention some things for you to eliminate. If most or if all the ...
Radon8/31/2009Val Riedman
  Q: We are considering buying a home with summer radons level of ~4pCi. Is a mitigation system ...
  A: Chances are very good that with a radon mitigation systems installed your home will have the lowest ...
Radon Extracton8/30/2009Val Riedman
  Q: Why wouldn't a roof mounted wind turbine work to assist a passive radon system?
  A: I think it may help, great idea. I can't say for sure but with a radon monitor installed in your ...
duct problems, mold, and smells8/29/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in an older house wood frame house that was converted to apartments many years ago. The ...
  A: Great & challenging question with detailed information! Well it sounds like this has been an never ...
Condense water on air grill8/29/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: Could you please help me to eliminate the water condensate on the cold air grill on the false ...
  A: Sorry about your situation. To address your question in the best possible way, I'll need you to ...
air duct cleaning8/16/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in a condo with central a/c and I'm told that what some say are water stains around 2 of the ...
  A: I'm so glad to be of help to you! As far as a Mold Inspector, that wouldn't hurt, and the HVAC ...
"dusty" smell from air conditioning system8/16/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in a condo - about 40 years old. It has a forced air system that can be used for both heating ...
  A: Well this is a very interesting situation you have here. The best way to tackle this is by going ...
air duct cleaning8/15/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in a condo with central a/c and I'm told that what some say are water stains around 2 of the ...
  A: The sections that will be sheet metal & insulated will be the return side plenum, the supply side ...
air duct cleaning8/15/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: I live in a condo with central a/c and I'm told that what some say are water stains around 2 of the ...
  A: Well, in my professional opinion you'd be wasting your time & money trying to clean fiberglass duct ...
high moisture content in attached garage8/12/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: My home is a single story w/attached garage & is approx 1 1/2 yrs old. I'm currently experiencing ...
  A: Yes, I would imagine it's possible for a chemical reaction to occur and accelerate the problem. ...
cold air return8/10/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: we rent a duplex and we have mice so one day i watched a mouse come right out of the vent on the ...
  A: Yes ducting is suppose to be on all return & supply vents. If mice pop their head up through the ...
high moisture content in attached garage8/9/2009TJ Nichols
  Q: My home is a single story w/attached garage & is approx 1 1/2 yrs old. I'm currently experiencing ...
  A: I've added to the top of my original answer, so just disregard the bottom part. By what you are ...

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Questions by
Active Experts:
Val RiedmanStephen Major (Principal--Lakeland Environmental)TJ Nichols
   

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