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Question for you construction gurus

submitted by AugustineOfHippo2 to AskUpgoat 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 09:48:29 ago (+5/-0)     (AskUpgoat)

Every house in our development has high humidity problems. In the winter, I can drive down our street and see condensation on everyone's windows. Houses were built in 1985-ish. All 2 or 3 levels splits.
I've been able to mitigate by installing an cheaper HRV, and supplementing with a small dehumidifier when needed so we keep the humidity down around 50%.
We just had our windows replaced, and I am a bit uneasy due to the new windows being sealed better and causing our humidity to go up in spite of the HRV and dehumidifier.
What is a good way to figure out where the humidity is coming from?
Should I replace the cheapie HRV with a super fancy one, or replace with a heavy duty whole house dehumidifier? Or do both?
Any other options?


41 comments block

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[ - ] SumerBreeze 5 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 09:56:03 ago (+5/-0)

Could even be coming from the foundation - that concrete sometimes breathes so much that you have to cover it with a moisture barrier.

They have dehumidifiers for the AC/heat systems, gets rid of moisture pretty well throughout home…

[ - ] bonghits4jeebus 2 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 14:06:08 ago (+2/-0)

If you buy an expensive - ass AC it comes with adjustable dehumidification.

Are you supposed to rely on mechanical dehumidifiers tho?

[ - ] Anus_Expander 3 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 15:36:23 ago (+3/-0)

Many times the problem is that retards insulated the ground floor, and covered it with a plastic sheeting barrier. Water evaporating from the ground goes up, gets trapped in the insulation, and slowly works its way thru the ground floor. The ground floor joists need AIR FLOW. I recently ripped all that shit out from an old lady's house, it was GUSHING water. All her hardwood floors are cupped, and she runs 2 dehumidifiers night and day. Do NOT cover the ground floor joists with plastic sheeting, moist air WILL get in, and go thru your floor.---a carpenter with 35+ years on the job

[ - ] Sector2 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 15:55:45 ago (+1/-0)

Recently saw a youtube short under a house, where they had sealed the ground, foundation, and piers with white plastic sheeting, had a dehumidifier as backup, and sump pump in the lower corner. Was well lit too.

Gave the impression of one of those aircraft hangers where the floor is white and so spotless it gleams. Similar concept to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haX9wmkvMrM, but ultra professional grade.

During my carpenter years in the 70s, I installed paneling in a basement, not realizing the owners vented their dryer directly into the basement. Whew, that didn't turn out well.

[ - ] Anus_Expander 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 16:55:56 ago (+0/-0)

I should have added a disclaimer: it depends on the house. If it's low to the ground, on posts, then plastic sheeting will absolutely trap ground water (rain) evaporation, and it will get through the plywood subfloor. This goes triple for areas known to have occasional flooding.


If it's more than 4 feet off the ground, it shouldn't be a problem, but it's also not a benefit, except cosmetic. I prefer to have quick access to pipes and wires under the house, not have it obscured.

[ - ] Sector2 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 17:26:16 ago (+0/-0)

Was 4 to 8 feet above ground level in the video. The plastic isolated the interior of the 'crawlspace' from moisture, and the dehumidifier removed any coming down from above. The lighting system kept the place bright as daylight. Everything was clean and easily accessed.

There were no walkways on top of the plastic, but wouldn't be surprised if it was raked sand under the plastic to make access non-damaging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG0lDIeqmBY

Pretty sure this is the same guy as in the short, although different house. He seems nuts and is covered in cancerous tattoos, but check out this crawlspace.

[ - ] DitchPig 3 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 10:11:12 ago (+3/-0)

Install a wood stove.

[ - ] 2Drunk 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 12:52:11 ago (+0/-0)

Those are illegal to install in comifornia

[ - ] DitchPig 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:08:07 ago (+1/-0)

Probably time to use those guns then, eh?

[ - ] 2Drunk 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:24:13 ago (+1/-0)

They have background checks for ammo purchases too.

[ - ] DitchPig 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:29:16 ago (+1/-0)

jesus wept

I'm Canadian, and I have more freedoms than you, bro.

[ - ] 2Drunk 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:34:15 ago (+1/-0)

If I park 10" off the curb I get a ticket. If I get T-bonded by an illegal I will have to pay its medical bills and if I object I will likely be arrested.

[ - ] puremadness 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 14:05:21 ago (+1/-0)

now I'm weeping. and you have a monarch

[ - ] DitchPig 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 14:59:11 ago (+0/-0)

Dude, I can buy a firearm like it's potatoes.

Walk in, pick gun, walk out.

Ammo we only recently started having to show a firearm's license for.

[ - ] Sector2 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 15:38:24 ago (+1/-0)

Freedoms are taken, not given.

[ - ] DitchPig 2 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 15:59:34 ago (+2/-0)

I'm one of the freest people you will meet, bro.

Who has rights?

Those willing to defend them.

Nobody fucks with me.

[ - ] bosunmoon 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 12:28:45 ago (+1/-0)

Dryloc your basement, get gutters if you don't have them, add venting to your roof.

[ - ] JustALover 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 09:56:21 ago (+1/-0)

Condensation on the inside or outside?

Condensation outside is fine.

Condensation inside is not as fine - the window does not have enough airflow passing by.

[ - ] AugustineOfHippo2 [op] 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 10:48:25 ago (+0/-0)

Inside.

[ - ] Sector2 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:48:28 ago (+0/-0)

What are your CO2 levels in the house? Maybe you don't have enough air exchange.

And if your house in in contact with the ground, you might have moisture coming in. If it's more than normal ventilation can remove, you can dehumidify or spend probably large amounts of money on repairs.

[ - ] Anus_Expander 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 15:37:44 ago (+1/-0)

precisely

[ - ] ruck_feddit 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:24:12 ago (+0/-0)

You're not prepared to remedy any foundational or structural source of humidity.

1) Buy a dehumidifier for your basement, and run a hose to a floor drain so you don't have to dump it.

2) Flip the little switch on your ceiling fans so they spin in reverse. Run them on low/med to help keep condensation down and heat circulated.

3) Profit

[ - ] uvulectomy 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:19:29 ago (+0/-0)

Whole house dehumidifier. Or if you have the money, replace your HVAC with a system that has dehumidification built in (so both the indoor air handler and outdoor compressor will likely be the variable-speed type that runs off an inverter, bonus points is they're soft-starting, so no massive inrush and lights flickering when they turn on).

[ - ] Master_Foo 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 12:57:03 ago (+0/-0)

Describe the house.
Is it brick? stick?
Is there a vapor barrier in the walls?
HVAC?
What is the climate like?

Your humidity is likely comimg from just you living in the house.
Dishwasher, stove cooking, even the vapor in your breath needs to go somewhere.

Without knowing anything about your house, so I'm 100% wrong about this, I'd suspect that the humidity created from daily living just gets trapped into the house because it can't escape.

Vapor barriers allow moisture to escape, but prevents it from entering.
Be prepared to tear down your walls though if you want to modernize your house.

Otherwise talk to an HVAC guy about a central dehumidifier.

[ - ] ItsOk2bArian 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 12:17:12 ago (+0/-0)

Sounds like the developer used a cheap vapor barrier that has either degraded over the years or was not installed correctly to begin with. If that is the case, the only real fix would be to completely remove the exterior wall/siding and install a proper sheet of vapor barrier. Not a cheap fix even if you do it yourself. It would probably be easier to just sell and move

[ - ] FluffyBunnySlippers 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 12:09:39 ago (+0/-0)

Any musty smell in the house? Perhaps the roof penetrations have a common sealing problem allowing rain moisture in?

If it is a 3 level, I would turn off air circulation for a while, pause any cooking or showering or laundry and take humidity readings at each level to get a sense of which direction it is coming in from.
L

[ - ] PostWallHelena 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:42:21 ago (+0/-0)

What part of the country are you in?

[ - ] Thyhorrorcosmic103 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:08:28 ago (+0/-0)

Stop mouth breathing

[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 10:22:17 ago (+0/-0)

Open your windows once in awhile.

[ - ] AugustineOfHippo2 [op] 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:16:12 ago (+1/-0)

When it's -10 outside? I live in MN.

[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 20:08:26 ago (+0/-0)

Well, I guess not, but it is the imbalance of temperature that caused the condensation. At least lift the blinds and let air circulate near the glass.

[ - ] TheOriginal1Icemonkey 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 20:09:08 ago (+0/-0)

Well, I guess not, but it is the imbalance of temperature that caused the condensation. At least lift the blinds and let air circulate near the glass.

[ - ] Drstrangestgov 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 10:15:57 ago (+0/-0)

Ventilate. Air flow gets rid of moisture.

[ - ] BoozyB 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 09:59:35 ago (+0/-0)

Slab on grade or basement?
Most folks up here have the opposite problem.

[ - ] AugustineOfHippo2 [op] 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 10:48:02 ago (+0/-0)

Basement. It's a 3 level split.

[ - ] BoozyB 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:08:39 ago (+0/-0)

If everyone in your development is having the same issue, y'all should have a chat with the city/county and the developer about site prep and percolation test results.
Things may not be up to code.

[ - ] AugustineOfHippo2 [op] 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:17:01 ago (+0/-0)

These houses were built in 1985, no recourse left.

[ - ] BoozyB 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:32:38 ago (+0/-0)

The moisture has to be coming from the ground.
Is it a recent change?
Have there been any changes in the drainage ditches or anything like that? New roads? Tree removal?
Does the lower level smell damp or moldy?

[ - ] AugustineOfHippo2 [op] 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 11:36:57 ago (+0/-0)

It's always been this way, for the 10 yrs I've been here. I do have the HRV which really helps.

[ - ] FluffyBunnySlippers 0 points 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 12:13:35 ago (+0/-0)

That would be my guess too, probably a high water table. MN is land of 10,000 lakes. Seal and dehumidify is about all one can do

[ - ] BoozyB 1 point 6 monthsNov 16, 2024 13:51:17 ago (+1/-0)

Yup. I'm in MN too, part time.
We have different kinds of issues with water.
But we live by a lake because we like water....