Retrotec

05/12/2026

The most valuable tool you can own isn’t complicated.

It’s a blower door.

Jake Bruton has used one for 15 years, and it’s still the most informative tool in his process. Not just for testing at the end, but for learning, improving, and staying competitive.

Because when you can measure your own work, you stop guessing and start getting better.

And no, it’s not hard to use.

🎧 Full Flow Lab episode is live now.
If you’re serious about building better, this one’s worth your time.

04/30/2026

Testing once isn’t enough.

You test before insulation.
You test after.
You test before handoff.

Because every trade, every pe*******on, every “small change” can impact the result.

Jake Bruton breaks down why repeated blower door testing isn’t overkill, it’s risk management. You’re constantly poking holes in the building whether you mean to or not. The only way to know you didn’t mess it up is to measure.

Your opinion without data is still just an opinion.

🎧 Full Flow Lab episode is out wherever you get your podcasts.

04/27/2026

If you're still running a DM32, now's a great time to upgrade! Retrotec is offering a limited trade-in promotion for DM32 owners in North America and Europe. Purchase a DM32X Digital Manometer, send in your fully functioning DM32, and receive a $500 (€435) rebate.

We heard from a lot of customers who wanted a clearer path to upgrading. This is the perfect opportunity!

Units must be operational to qualify. Credit is not available for gauges with cracked screens, PCB issues, or other damage. This promotion cannot be combined with other discounts or special offers.

For full details, visit retrotec.com or call us at 1 (855) 738-7683.

04/20/2026

Our latest Flow Lab episode tackles a gap that still shows up on too many job sites: assuming a building is tight without actually testing it.

Jake Bruton joins Sam and Ben to explain why airtightness has to be verified, not guessed. They walk through his three-test strategy during construction, the leak paths that still catch teams off guard, and how repeated testing reduces risk, improves outcomes, and cuts down on callbacks.

They also get into what it really takes to work with HVAC contractors on low-load homes, and why alignment and buy-in matter more than confidence alone.

If you are serious about building better, this episode is a must-listen. Check out the full podcast episode. Available on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform.

04/16/2026

What an amazing week in Columbus! The National Home Performance Conference was buzzing with tons of great conversations, informative breakout sessions and hands-on demos, all while we caught up with friends and industry experts to help share our experiences in the home performance journey.

And, stay tuned for our future episode of the Flow Lab, recorded in front of a live audience! Thank you so much to all the attendees, volunteers, and Building Performance Association staff! Here's to another 40 years of sharing our stories in the journey 🍻

04/09/2026

The old way doesn’t work anymore.

“Lick your finger, hold it up, and guess” isn’t a strategy—it’s a liability.

The pros who are winning right now understand one thing: the house is a system.

And when you understand that system:
• You make better decisions
• You design better solutions
• You deliver better results

The HVAC industry is full of great professionals, but the edge comes from adding building science to your toolkit. That’s where the industry is heading.

Catch the full podcast episode with Xavier Walter wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube!

04/07/2026

A big thanks to Matt Risinger of The Build Show for interviewing Sam on the Build Show Podcast!

They talked all about blower doors, construction details that make homes work as they should, and relationships between different trades that make a plan come together.

If you’re not yet listening in, the Build Show Podcast brings in pros from all across the industry. Go check it out!

See the full episode here, or listen wherever you get your podcasts:

https://buildshownetwork.com/podcast/build-show-podcast?blog_id=7628

04/06/2026

Events like the National Home Performance Conference bring together contractors, auditors, trainers, manufacturers, and building science professionals to share ideas, compare notes, and get hands-on with tools and methods you won’t always see in day-to-day work.

For those new to the field, that kind of environment can dramatically shorten the learning curve. For those with experience, it’s a reminder that there’s always more to learn.

This industry has given us a lot over the past 40+ years. This conference is where we give back to share what we’ve learned with those in all stages of the home performance journey.

It’s not too late to buy a ticket and join us in Columbus next week, April 13-16. For first-time attendees, use code: NHPC-FLOW when registering at http://nhpc26.org/flow-lab for a discounted rate. We hope to see you there! And, hear more from our full conversation with Xavier Walter from Building Performance Association on the latest episode of the Flow Lab.

04/02/2026

Homeowners don’t celebrate lower energy bills.

They celebrate:
✔️ Feeling comfortable
✔️ Breathing cleaner air
✔️ Getting rid of dust, odors, and moisture issues

That’s the shift happening right now.

When contractors move beyond “just the equipment” and start asking better questions about how people live in their homes … everything changes.

Better outcomes. Fewer callbacks. Stronger trust. This is what happens when you solve the whole house, not just part of it.

Check out the full conversation with Xavier Walter, live now wherever you get your podcasts.

03/26/2026

New Flow Lab episode is live.

Ben and Sam sat down with Xavier Walter of the Building Performance Association to dig into one of the biggest challenges in our industry: the workforce gap—and what comes next.

This episode covers:
• Why HVAC contractors need building science partners
• How apprenticeship + workforce development are evolving
• Where weatherization and HVAC actually align
• Why solving the whole problem leads to fewer callbacks

Plus: a preview of what’s coming at the BPA National Conference (April 13–16, Columbus).

If you’re thinking about where the industry is headed (or how to stay ahead of it) this one’s worth your time. Listen now 🎧

03/26/2026