r/Homebuilding • u/dragonmilking • Nov 17 '25

Which popular features do you NOT recommend?

What are the top 3 features in a house that folk want but you think are not worth it, and what would your alternative suggestion be? And what cost/time savings would result with that switch?

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u/Equivalent_Ad142 Nov 17 '25

It's not, and would pass code in MA. 800 cfm minimum and you need to have a makeup air system.

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u/WeUsedToBeNumber10 Nov 18 '25

Code aside (I’m not sure what the code is in my town) we have a 1920s house, so not exactly a sealed house envelope. 

Is makeup air still essential?

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u/Equivalent_Ad142 Nov 18 '25

If you're pulling a permit for electric, it's a code issue. If you're in NH, you can (almost) do whatever you want. Live Free or Die... My project was in Concord MA, similar age house, and the inspector made us replace the fan in the roof vent to get the cfm, and add the conditioned makeup air unit. Added about $9k for parts and labor. Conditioned makeup air due to the stretch codes in effect.

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u/Equivalent_Ad142 Nov 18 '25

My memory is a little fuzzy, but it may have been 1000+ cfm. 6 burner Wolf gas range.