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The Flow Lab

The Flow Lab

By: Ben Walker & Sam Myers
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Explore building science with The Flow Lab Podcast, hosted by Ben Walker and Sam Meyers of Retrotec. Discover building envelope and HVAC ductwork airtightness, featuring discussions with industry leaders on evolving codes, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Learn from pioneers and case studies to enhance your expertise. Join our community and lead in building science. Follow The Flow Lab Podcast for insights and innovations in building performance.© 2026 The Flow Lab
Episodes
  • Why Pressure Testing Beats Guessing
    Jun 12 2026

    Sam Myers is joined by Lee Canegaly from Retrotec’s tech support and dev team, along with Michael and Greg, to talk about what happens when blower door testing moves beyond code compliance and into industrial rooms, fire suppression systems, and strange building failures. The episode gets into enclosure integrity, blast-proof shelters, server rooms, and why field testing beats guessing every time.

    Michael and Greg share stories from refineries, cigar bars, crawlspaces, and humid homes, showing how air leakage can affect safety, comfort, and millions of dollars in protected equipment.

    Video Notes:
    00:13 Show Intro
    00:51 Meet The Guests
    02:01 Blast-Proof Buildings
    03:44 Getting Into Testing
    06:05 Enclosure Integrity
    08:43 Commercial Vs Residential
    10:06 Testing And Sealing
    14:27 Industrial Learning Curve
    18:14 Fantastic Integrity
    19:17 Strange Field Stories
    23:20 Getting Into Industrial
    31:27 Training Matters

    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

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Find the Pathway, Fix the Problem
    May 14 2026

    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

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Stop Guessing Start Testing
    Apr 16 2026

    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

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
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