Radiant Heat Slab Home

Joe Grib

I own a big slab ranch home with radiant heating in the floors. Last spring, my wife, who is an insulation freak, had the attic filled with blown in insulation. Shortly after that, condensation coated the walls around the two adjacent bathroom, mold started growing, and before it was all over, my insurance company paid to have the several walls torn down, the air was scrubbed, and everything was replaced. It all worked fine, till now, November, it’s winter starting, and the furnace was turned on. Now, the condensation is back and the mold is back, too. I don’t even know if the insurance company is going to help me out this time.

Here are some of the possible causes for the problem:

The water pipes in the walls leak. Was supposed to be fixed by the crew who replaced the walls.

The roof leaks I had the roof looked at and patched off. The construction crew told me there were no leaks.

The dirt in the pipe-dugout between the bathrooms is wet or gets wet when it rains.

The insulation traps any moisture into the bathroom and the mold compounds every time I take a shower or when the weather gets damp or a combination of both.

Can you give be some feedback about my situation?

I'm an ex .com er and I’ve been out of work since December. I really need to find out what’s happening.

I mentioned to the construction crew to put vertical pipes in the walls to come out in the attic well above the insulation to create a venting system. They said that was against code.

Thanks.

Joe Gribat

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

i don't know the

answer, but i may have a solution. a customer had the sme problem for years, tried mny things, and what worked for him is leaving on his bathroom fan all the time. no more condensate. bob

Chris_4

that

worked for me too Bob.

had mold problems in my bath only, but leaving the fan on works and keeps the moisture out. should have a dehumidifier installed, but until then, the fan will do!

Chris

Bob Bona_4

a

short answer would be to look into an ERV to change the air in the house without pressurizing/depressurizing the envelope.

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Tom Bradd

ERV/HRV

I would first check all the vents in the roof and soffit make sure you have positive ventilation in your roof area.
or you could try a whole house ventilation system.Better than all is your erv/hrv system. check this out www.lifebreath.com Good Luck
Tom