Water in your ductwork whadayado

Wayco Wayne

installing a Carrier high eff air handler for a homeowner that I've been after them for years. They have money but they are the type that spend it on everything but their mechanical equipment. You've seen the type. they have new hardwood floors, marble tile in the foyer and a 30 year old electric furnce that's leaning towards falling over due to rust in the garage, and when this is called to their attention, they ask, "can't you fix it?? My response is quiet incredulaty.(sp?)Well back to my story, I just finished replacing their air handler. They would only replace the inside unit. They might let me put a heat pump outside next year. I'm writing the ticket and hear water noise coming from the kitchen. I follow the noise and finally locate it in the floor register. There's about 3 inches of water down there in the bottom of the torpedo boot, being blown around by the air from the new air handler. The ducts are encased by the slab. There is no basement. Apparently the water table is extra high due to lots of rain in the D.C area. (try 35 of the last 40 days. We feel like we moved to Seattle.) The ducts have apparently corroded through and the water is seeping up through the slab and into the ducts to be blown around by the air flow. Even if the water recedes I'm thinking mold. These folks weren't home. I'm sure they are going to ask me what they should do, but I don't have many good ideas. Maybe I can sell them on the humidification benefits.

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Al Letellier

wet ducts

Check into sewer lining contractors in your area. they use an epoxy lining system that can completely seal off any leaks in almost any piping system underground. It won't be cheap, but a lot less expensive than tearing up that duct system.....just make sure that the liner they use is safe for the application

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Steamhead

Maybe it's time

to go hydronic? And install overhead A/C ducts?

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Don_2

why not

Put an all new distribution system in the attic. Whats the
humidity like in the house with all that water laying in the duct? Just explain to them how important iaq is..
I know for a fact if you go to the boss"the wife" that is and explain to her how you can get rid of all the dust balls rolling around the house,not to mention all the other issu that there is with stagnet water.
Sometimes what seem like an hard sell,is usally a piece of cake,once you walk them thru the benefits.

Bob_19

What About

Going with flex/rigid duct, on the lines of re-lining if they won't go for the expense of epoxy coating.
If this is the only problem duct and you won't restrict air flow to much. It's cheaper
But the other problem, mold, what to do?
Are you sure it's ground water? and not spill issues.
Hope they don't blame this on you somehow. Good Luck

Wayco Wayne

Yeah

I'm pretty sure it's ground water. I was thinking that if it wasn't living space they could put in a sump pump of some sort to fight the water table until things dry out. Don't know much about this kind of thing. Lining the old ducts sounds intriging but these guys are squeaky when it comes to pulling out the old wallet. Thanks for the ideas. Whe I call them tomorrow at least I'll have some ideas. :)WW

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Jim Walls_2

water problem

Considering there is no basement, does this mean all of the ductwork is buried, with a downflow furnace & buried plenum?Can you get a low profile condensate pump or puddle pump in the plenum?

hot_rod

Moist, damp, dark

duct work can lead to thay dreaded M word. Better look at an "above water table" retro fit

hot rod

Wayco Wayne_2

I like

that idea Steamhead. 8-)

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Wayco Wayne_2

Actually it's

an upflow furnace, with 2 10" ducts going down into the slab for the Living room and the Kitchen. The other ducts take off for the upstairs floors.

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