#703: Heat Pump Water Heaters, Wiring behind Baseboard, and Off-Grid without Propane

The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Leisure, Construction, Keepcraftalive, Home & Garden, How To, Drywall, Craftsmanship, Education, Homebuilding, Houses

4.6 • 756 Ratings

🗓️ 19 September 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Will says a heat pump water heater was a no-brainer investment. David shares a story about attracting workers to the skilled trades. Evan has been thinking about the challenges of running wires behind baseboard. Jim wonders why the Podcast is suggesting propane for off-grid second homes.

Ian and Randy help Patrick respond to listener feedback and answer their questions about home building, design and remodeling.

Tune in to Episode 703 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about:

Installation and payback of heat pump water heaters
The best ways to attract new trade workers
Can you live a modern lifestyle off-grid without propane

Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at [email protected].

➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 703

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Transcript

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0:00.0	As natural wood species go, redwood is in a class of its own.
0:05.0	A sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods, redwood is grown and harvested to the highest environmental standards in the world.
0:12.0	Name for the dark red hardwood at the center of the tree, redwood imparts natural beauty, warmth, and durability to interior and exterior building applications,
0:22.0	including decking, fencing, paneling, siding, exposed beams and timbers, pergolas,
0:28.2	and other shade structures. To learn more about Redwood from Humboldt Sawmill,
0:32.3	please visit getredwood.com.
0:43.5	It rained as soon as I opened the roof.
0:44.3	Oh, yeah, for sure.
0:45.6	The last time we did one of these,
0:48.1	it rained for like four days straight as soon as we got it torn up.
0:50.4	Oh my gosh.
0:50.9	How do you prepare your clients for that?
0:53.8	You really can't. That's the dirty secret
0:57.0	oven. You've got to keep your phone on and you've got to be ready for the call. Hey, it's 9 o'clock and it's raining in my kitchen.
1:05.0	Welcome to the Fine Home Building podcast, a weekly discussion of building, remodeling, and design topics aimed at anybody who cares deeply about the craft and science of working on houses.
1:14.6	This is Senior Editor Patrick McComb. Today I'm joined by Fine Home Building Contributing Editor and Production Manager for TDS Customs Construction, Ian Schwant.
1:22.8	Howdy?
1:24.1	Green Building Advisor, editor Randy Williams.
1:27.0	Hi.
1:44.5	And producer, Carrie Delahantey. Hey. Please email your questions to FHB Podcast at findhombuilding.com. You can find previous podcasts and check out the show notes at findhomboomboating.com slash podcast. Well, thanks for being here, y'all. It's good to see you. Good to see you. Yeah. Randy, let's talk about the photos you sent me a little bit ago.
1:47.6	So you sent me what looked like two eight by eight wall sections on stands with some kind of, well, blue WRB.
2:00.1	It looks like one is a, you know, a fastened product and it looks
	...

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