Freezing a Frost-Free Outdoor Faucet
A personal case study of frost-free outdoor faucets and the time a fracture leak was found in a valve of an outdoor faucet due to sub-zero temperatures.
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Recent Blog Posts
Why Are Brand-New Hotel Showers Falling Apart?
An EDT Case Study on the cause of damage to multiple newly renovated shower installations in an urban-market hotel.
Managing Forensic Engineering Costs by Defining the Project Scope
This post provides suggestions related to establishing project scopes when an assignment is made in order to manage the costs associated with the involvement of a forensic engineer.
Why Frozen Pipes Rupture
With winter (or frozen pipe season) upon us, I’m reminded about misconceptions regarding frozen pipes and pipe bursts that were located in a heated space. The following information will illustrate how this happens.
The Nautical Origins of Common Phrases
Ahoy, Mateys! We hear many phrases and words which we think we know the origin of – or at least they seem to have simple explanations. As a marine engineer, Mr. Steve Lindholm knows that words from the sea often wash ashore! Read on, Landlubbers, and we’ll Cut to the Chase.
Where did the Water Come From?
As a materials engineer with some experience in chemistry, I am often asked to assist other engineers in determining the source of water in a crawlspace or an affected area. Obviously, seawater versus freshwater is not a difficult determination. This can be differentiated by simple turbidity tests...
A Forensic Engineer’s Journey to Becoming a Drone Pilot
The "Aha!" Moment - When I realized that an unsafe situation I was in while examining a roof for hail damage could have been solved by a 30-minute drone flight. That was when I decided to get serious about becoming certified to fly drones for commercial purposes through the Federal Aviation...
Air Infiltration & Leakage (Part 2)
Air infiltration (air that comes in) and air leakage (air that goes out) negatively impact energy usage and costs in conditioned spaces – for homes and businesses alike. We’ve talked about what infiltration and leakage are and how to combat them at a basic level, but to really fix the problem for...
Air Infiltration & Leakage (Part 1)
In this blog, we will discuss air infiltration and leakage, what they are, how they can impact energy costs and simple steps that home and business owners can take to reduce excess costs brought on by air infiltration and leakage.
Drywall: Levels of Finish
An EDT Case Study regarding issues pertaining to drywall within a residence under construction during a stormy and cold fall season. Was it due to the storm or power outage? Or was it just inadequate surface preparation of the drywall by the contractors? And what are the industry-wide recommended...
Hurricane Forces: Wind VS Wave Forces
Hurricanes are somewhat unique in that they generate multiple types of forces that can affect coastal properties. This blog discusses how EDT determines the cause of damage based on hurricane wind and water forces.
Renewable Energy: Pumped Storage
Pumped storage is the process of pumping water uphill from one body of water to another which allows power companies to store the energy generated during the low demand periods of the day so that it can be used to meet later peak demands.
A "Tun" of Fun (Beer Making & The Failure of a Mash Tun)
Have you ever wondered how beer is created? Water, barley malt, yeast, and hops are mixed together in a Mash Tun (steel vessel) during the brewing process. In this case study, EDT was called to a local craft brewery to investigate why one of their mash tuns had failed.
Fire Effects on Concrete
Concrete exposed to the elevated temperatures of a fire can experience both mechanical changes and chemical changes. Both can provide pathways for direct heating of exposed Reinforcing Steel (rebar).
Fire Effects on Steel
After a fire involving a building or industrial structure, there are often multiple types of damage to the building materials. Knowing how heat affects various building materials can be helpful in determining the level of damage to building components.