Debating crawl space in new build--do they all get damp/musty?
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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- 2 years ago
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Newer home w/ musty smell - please help
Comments (12)I like the stand alone dehumidifers better than ones incorprated in to hvac system. When you place the dehumidiferes in the conditioned space they sense the RH in that space, many central dehumidifiers sense the RH in the area they are located in and do not dehumidify the conditioned space as well. Where are you located? Where are central units located? Have you talked to hvac company about adjusting dip switch settings? Many times they are installed with factory settings and need to be adjusted for your climate. ERV's are usually not for cold climates..that would be an HRV, so I wonder about your location. Also ERV's are for 'tight' houses..with less than .25 air changes per hour. If your house is not at this level of air tightness the ERV can bring in moisture adding to the dehumidification load of hvac. Was the house tested for air tightness with a blower door? To 'see' what is happening behind the walls and between floors of your home would require a thermal scan of your home. This will show you moisture intrustion sites and moisture in walls, ceilings and floors. IMO this will be the way to go to actually KNOW what is happening. Then whatever the IR scan shows will be on you to address. Around here (Louisiana) thermal scan (InfraRed) scans are used often when home owners and builders are seeking solutions. I've even seen them used in court cases. But hopefully...it won't come to that! best of luck....See MoreMusty Smell in ONE room of new home (after pressure washing)
Comments (17)Since I last posted, I've narrowed a few things down. One of the rooms that was affected (there were 2 rooms total), has been fixed. The french drain I installed around the perimeter of the front of the house, where water was creeping under the foundation, seems to have fixed the issue in the larger room. There is now no more musty smell in there. However, the other room, which is a "closet" that backs up directly to a bathroom, still has the odor, which has actually gotten worse. The smell is definitely partially sweet, and partially musty. I've cut the drywall all the way around the room to see if there is any signs of water damage, dead animals, etc inside of the walls. Interestingly enough, the inside of the walls that butt up to other rooms, smell fine. The walls that have concrete on the other side, have the odor present (perimeter walls). The only two things I haven't addressed yet are the roof (I'd have to cut the ceiling open because there is no attic access at this point for how low the roof pitches). The other thing would be the foundation (slab). I have fairly expensive laminate flooring and underlayment in that room, which would have to be removed, and the floor would have to be inspected for dampness. However, given the circumstances, it's been narrowed down quite a bit. The room has 4 walls (2 butt up to exterior concrete and 2 others butt up to interior rooms), a standard hollow core wood door, a West-facing window, and a drywall knockdown ceiling. There is only two piece of furniture in the room, which are bookcases. One is MDF (still wrapped in plastic to hold it together before I bolt it in), and the other is pine wood, also wrapped in thin plastic to protect it. I've just put two large shop fans, a big air purifier, an ionizer, and ozone generator all in the room with a big bucket of damprid (although humidity levels in that room are only 49% in south florida, which is fairly average). I've also sprayed half a can of lysol air spray into the room. I'll let you guys know how that works out, and hopefully we can figure it out. and ESMAN - let me know your notes as well. Thanks....See Morewould you buy this house?
Comments (22)You might want to post on the 'Plumbing' forum about what happens when a vacant house in a northern climate isn't winterized. One burst pipe may only be a part of the story. (Damage to toilets, water heaters, boilers, walls, even electrical.) What's the HVAC in this house? Have you talked to any neighbors? This would be a good weekend to walk around asking questions. The worst that can happen is that they won't want to talk to you. You may get an earfull! I can't understand why you'd offer $147.5K when the photo page shows a list of $130K. Was this a 1950's development -- one builder? Does the city's bulding and development department have plans on the original, and plans/permits on the addition? I'd pass on this unless you can buy for little more than land value and would be OK doing a total gut of the house or teardown. How long do you plan to stay in whatever house you buy?...See Moretowel warmer. waster of space or must have?
Comments (40)HI ms shanyne. lol we keep changing our mind about the tile. My hubby is the one with the ideas. I hope it will look okay but I am a little nervous it might look too dark http://www.ylighting.com/bocci-series-14-1-mini-pendant-light.html http://rbctile.com/series/life/ [http://www.floridatile.com/products/time2_0(http://www.floridatile.com/products/time2_0) the vanity will be in the walnut below by this company [https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-contemporary-bathroom-seattle-phvw-vp~1131578[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-bathroom-contemporary-bathroom-seattle-phvw-vp~1131578) the floor tile will be the florida snow tile and that will be on two side walls of the shower. The middle of the shower will be the walnut tile as will the side of the Jacuzzi/ we have not picked anything for the the sides over the vanity and around the mirror. in the separate toilet rom the back wall will be the walnut tile going straight up. the floor will be the florida snow and the walls will be a light color of some sort. over the vanity we will have 3 robern 36 x 24 mirrors for a total of 72 x 36 inches. I might put those bocci pendants on the sides of the mirror or over the tub r both . not sure. the pebbles will go on the shower floor http://www.cooltiles.com/stafp108.html...See More- 2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
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