BBB

Happy Students!

Just a note to tell you that Don thought yesterday’s class was great. — Sandy Hartman

Building Type: Residential Home
Primary Complaint: Crawlspace Mold
Project Number: 101009

Relevant Project Info:

Weather

  • Overcast and raining

General

  • Temperature:
    • Outside: 39 degrees F
    • Main Floor: 69 degrees F

  • Relative Humidity (RH):Crawlspace Mold1
    • Outside: 68%
    • Main Floor: 44%
    • Mold growth can occur when the relative humidity levels range 65% to 99% in a given environment. If you keep the humidity low enough, you can prevent mold growth. Maintaining relative humidity below 50% inhibits mold and mildew growth, dust mite infestations, and bacteria. This lower relative humidity also reduces the out-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

  • Carbon Monoxide (CO):
    • Outside: 0 ppm
    • Main Floor: 0 ppm
  • Ideally, CO concentrations indoors are expected to be the same as CO concentrations outdoors. CO concentrations are typically around one to two parts per million parts of air (ppm) or less. Concentrations are usually lower in rural areas. Finding CO concentration higher indoors than outdoors indicates an indoor source of CO, or a source very close to your home.
  • Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas often formed in the process of incomplete combustion of organic substances, including fuels. CO can cause serious health problems.

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2):
    • Outside: 442 ppm
    • Main Floor: 551 ppm
    • The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a concentration of CO2 no more than 700 ppm above the ambient air (outside) concentration in order to minimize human odors and maintain comfort.
    • Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It is produced when any carbon-based material used for fuel (coal, oil, wood, etc.) is burned. When fuel burning is not a factor, the main sources are tobacco smoke, human and animal respiration. Carbon dioxide is given off whenever we exhale. Cars, trucks, industrial equipment, and burning fuel for power are some of the major contributors to CO2 in the air.

General Notes:

  • Mid century rambler with obvious upgrades over the years.
  • 2×6 tongue and groove subfloor, 4 ft centers.

Mainfloor

  • Air sample taken in dining room as a central location.
  • Walls and ceiling were scanned using a thermal imaging, infrared camera to determine any areas of temperature differential which would indicate moisture intrusion, missing insulation and/or other structural defects.  No areas where temperature differentials indicated an area of concern.

Crawlspace

  • No insulation present under floor.
  • Crawlspace did have ventilation but was primarily located around back of home.
  • HVAC ducting had either poor insulation or none at all.
  • HVAC ducting contained many areas where air leakage was occurring.
  • Standing water was present throughout the crawlspace – primarily under the vapor barrier.
  • Vapor barrier was in good condition throughout.
  • Sump pump was present in crawlspace but appeared to not be functioning at time of inspection.
  • No areas of visible mold growth were noted a time of inspection.

RECOMMENDATIONSCrawlspace Mold3

  • Recommend having sump pump replaced to control ground water in crawlspace.
  • Recommend having all insulation removed from HVAC ducts and seal all joints with high velocity mastic.
  • Reinsulate all HVA C ducts after mastic dries.
  • Recommend having R-38 insulation installed throughout floor cavity.
  • Contact Environix if a quote is requested on insulating and sealing air ducts and floor cavities.