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Posted by Mo Hoaner on January 21, 2007, 11:13 am
> We've lived in this house for 12 years and since the first year have
> had water collection in the in-slab air ducts (the down stairs ones)
> when there was a LOT of rain. Originally, we attributed that to a
> drainage problem that we had with an adjacent lot. After the drainage
> was fixed, the problem persisted, but only when there was exceptionally
> heavy rain.
> About 5 years ago, I thought that the airduct/water problem was due to
> my aging rain gutters. At the time, I couldn't afford to replace them,
> but I repaired the bad spots, cleaned them well and extended the down
> spouts far away from the foundation. So far, so good.
> This year, we replaced the gutters with awesome, covered models which
> are very efficient. However, (and I think completely by coincidence)
> even moderate rains are causing water in the ducts.
> A little history. When the water got into the ducts in past, I just
> waited a day or so until the water level subsided. We've never known
> it if we were having mold problems and while annoying, we've lived with
> it. Last week, we were having company so I bought a small pump and to
> my surprise pumped about 500 gallons of water out! No kidding. (garden
> hose down through a vent opening)
> Because these ducts are in my foundation slab, I can't look at them.
> However, I need any and all ideas. My duct professional (hvac guy)
> said I'd have to be clever because there isn't a real 'fix'. Someone
> somewhere must have experienced this before. At this point, I cannot
> pinpoint the actual source or pathway of the water that is getting in
> the ducts. Help, and thanks....
Is the house 12 years old, or did you buy it from someone else that was
smart enough to hide the problem 12 years ago? If you bought it new, and you
had the problem the first year, you should have addressed it then. Guessing
what you think the problem is or isn't won't help.
I'm pretty sure that your "duct professional" gave you some other advice
along with "I'd have to be clever..." as to how to eliminate the problem. It
probably didn't involve continuing to use what's in the slab, and it
probably wasn't what you wanted to hear pricewise, and aggravation-wise.
You are near Memphis, Correct? Find out what the water table level is in
your area, and that will be your answer as to where the water is coming
from.
Wanna see something really cool? Take a sample of the water in the duct and
send it out to have it cultured. (Water testing lab, medical lab, etc.) You
will be surprised what's in that water that will grow, and that doesn't even
begin to address mold or algae. You've got dead (and alive) bugs, and other
critters in that water. Ever seen a mouse or bug in the house? They're in
there. Everything in there is being aerosolized, and evenly distributed
around your house.
Look on the bright side: You don't need a separate humidifier!
Also, replace the thermostat. That will fix the water problem. The more
expensive, the more effective!
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Posted by on January 21, 2007, 12:42 pm
audioron@gmail.com wrote:
>We've lived in this house for 12 years and since the first year have
>had water collection in the in-slab air ducts (the down stairs ones)
>when there was a LOT of rain. Originally, we attributed that to a
>drainage problem that we had with an adjacent lot. After the drainage
>was fixed, the problem persisted, but only when there was exceptionally
>heavy rain.
>About 5 years ago, I thought that the airduct/water problem was due to
>my aging rain gutters. At the time, I couldn't afford to replace them,
>but I repaired the bad spots, cleaned them well and extended the down
>spouts far away from the foundation. So far, so good.
>This year, we replaced the gutters with awesome, covered models which
>are very efficient. However, (and I think completely by coincidence)
>even moderate rains are causing water in the ducts.
>A little history. When the water got into the ducts in past, I just
>waited a day or so until the water level subsided. We've never known
>it if we were having mold problems and while annoying, we've lived with
>it. Last week, we were having company so I bought a small pump and to
>my surprise pumped about 500 gallons of water out! No kidding. (garden
>hose down through a vent opening)
>Because these ducts are in my foundation slab, I can't look at them.
>However, I need any and all ideas. My duct professional (hvac guy)
>said I'd have to be clever because there isn't a real 'fix'. Someone
>somewhere must have experienced this before. At this point, I cannot
>pinpoint the actual source or pathway of the water that is getting in
>the ducts. Help, and thanks....
suppose for a moment you had hydronic piping in the slab or domestic
water lines in the slab that were leaking. you would waste no time
whatsoever saw cutting the slab to access the problem. if you want a
permanant, long term solution, cut the slab, install pvc coated metal
ducting and be done with it. Get a written warrantee from the
installing contractor, then install the most expensive granite or
marble flooring on the new slab.
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Posted by Stormin Mormon on January 21, 2007, 6:30 pm
At this point, you can
1) Stop the water coming in
2) Pump out the water once it gets in
3) Redo the ducts so they are waterproof.
The sump pump through the hole in the slab sounded interesting.
500 galons!
--
Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.
> We've lived in this house for 12 years and since the first year
have
> had water collection in the in-slab air ducts (the down stairs
ones)
> when there was a LOT of rain. Originally, we attributed that
to a
> drainage problem that we had with an adjacent lot. After the
drainage
> was fixed, the problem persisted, but only when there was
exceptionally
> heavy rain.
> About 5 years ago, I thought that the airduct/water problem was
due to
> my aging rain gutters. At the time, I couldn't afford to
replace them,
> but I repaired the bad spots, cleaned them well and extended
the down
> spouts far away from the foundation. So far, so good.
> This year, we replaced the gutters with awesome, covered models
which
> are very efficient. However, (and I think completely by
coincidence)
> even moderate rains are causing water in the ducts.
> A little history. When the water got into the ducts in past, I
just
> waited a day or so until the water level subsided. We've never
known
> it if we were having mold problems and while annoying, we've
lived with
> it. Last week, we were having company so I bought a small pump
and to
> my surprise pumped about 500 gallons of water out! No kidding.
(garden
> hose down through a vent opening)
> Because these ducts are in my foundation slab, I can't look at
them.
> However, I need any and all ideas. My duct professional (hvac
guy)
> said I'd have to be clever because there isn't a real 'fix'.
Someone
> somewhere must have experienced this before. At this point, I
cannot
> pinpoint the actual source or pathway of the water that is
getting in
> the ducts. Help, and thanks....
>
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Posted by James on January 21, 2007, 9:42 pm
I'd bag the whole thing. Find a way to install duct work elsewhere. People
have their lives ruined by over exposure to mold.
> We've lived in this house for 12 years and since the first year have
> had water collection in the in-slab air ducts (the down stairs ones)
> when there was a LOT of rain. Originally, we attributed that to a
> drainage problem that we had with an adjacent lot. After the drainage
> was fixed, the problem persisted, but only when there was exceptionally
> heavy rain.
> About 5 years ago, I thought that the airduct/water problem was due to
> my aging rain gutters. At the time, I couldn't afford to replace them,
> but I repaired the bad spots, cleaned them well and extended the down
> spouts far away from the foundation. So far, so good.
> This year, we replaced the gutters with awesome, covered models which
> are very efficient. However, (and I think completely by coincidence)
> even moderate rains are causing water in the ducts.
> A little history. When the water got into the ducts in past, I just
> waited a day or so until the water level subsided. We've never known
> it if we were having mold problems and while annoying, we've lived with
> it. Last week, we were having company so I bought a small pump and to
> my surprise pumped about 500 gallons of water out! No kidding. (garden
> hose down through a vent opening)
> Because these ducts are in my foundation slab, I can't look at them.
> However, I need any and all ideas. My duct professional (hvac guy)
> said I'd have to be clever because there isn't a real 'fix'. Someone
> somewhere must have experienced this before. At this point, I cannot
> pinpoint the actual source or pathway of the water that is getting in
> the ducts. Help, and thanks....
>
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Posted by udarrell on January 22, 2007, 12:54 pm
James wrote:
>I'd bag the whole thing. Find a way to install duct work elsewhere. People
>have their lives ruined by over exposure to mold.
>
>
>
>>We've lived in this house for 12 years and since the first year have
>>had water collection in the in-slab air ducts (the down stairs ones)
>>when there was a LOT of rain. Originally, we attributed that to a
>>drainage problem that we had with an adjacent lot. After the drainage
>>was fixed, the problem persisted, but only when there was exceptionally
>>heavy rain.
>>About 5 years ago, I thought that the airduct/water problem was due to
>>my aging rain gutters. At the time, I couldn't afford to replace them,
>>but I repaired the bad spots, cleaned them well and extended the down
>>spouts far away from the foundation. So far, so good.
>>This year, we replaced the gutters with awesome, covered models which
>>are very efficient. However, (and I think completely by coincidence)
>>even moderate rains are causing water in the ducts.
>>A little history. When the water got into the ducts in past, I just
>>waited a day or so until the water level subsided. We've never known
>>it if we were having mold problems and while annoying, we've lived with
>>it. Last week, we were having company so I bought a small pump and to
>>my surprise pumped about 500 gallons of water out! No kidding. (garden
>>hose down through a vent opening)
>>Because these ducts are in my foundation slab, I can't look at them.
>>However, I need any and all ideas. My duct professional (hvac guy)
>>said I'd have to be clever because there isn't a real 'fix'. Someone
>>somewhere must have experienced this before. At this point, I cannot
>>pinpoint the actual source or pathway of the water that is getting in
>>the ducts. Help, and thanks....
>>
>>
Personally, I believe that the mold threat is so great in slab ducts,
used for airconditioning, that perhaps there should be a code preventing
their use.
- udarrell
--
WISDOM PRINCIPLED EMPOWERMENT COMMUNICATIONS -
THE REAL POLITICAL ISSUES and PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT
The Powerful Living Wisdom of the Eternal Cosmic Spiritual Principles’
- LET US all live & be guided by those Powerful Spiritual Truths
http://www.udarrell.com/
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Page 3 of 4 < 1 2 3 > last >>
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