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Hidden Causes Of Water Damage In The Home
By Ed Bishop, Fri Dec 9th
In addition to causing destruction, water damage also has anadverse affect to the indoor air quality of your home. Damage from water can cause wood rot, insect infestation andmold .
The obvious causes of water damage are leaking roofs, windows,doors, foundation cracks and visible plumbing leaks. These are fairly easy to detect, enabling a quick repair beforemaximum damage occurs. The not-so-obvious culprits are moisture behind finishedbasement walls that are insulated with fiberglass; poor gradingaround foundation walls and air leaks that occur between theliving space and attic. Insulating finished basement walls with fiberglass is not a goodidea. Fiberglass will absorb water and not allow it to travel throughthe wall, preventing a drying effect. Some people thinkinstalling a plastic barrier in the wall is the answer, but thisapproach only traps moisture. A better way is to use rigid insulation (also known as blueboard). This insulation is semi-permeable and allows moisture totravel through the wall, allowing it to dry. Water can also enter the basement if the grade of the land ispitched toward the house. Grading the soil away from the house and adding rain gutterswill guide rainwater away from the house. Openings from the house to the attic and poor ceiling insulationin houses located in colder climates can lead to ice dams thatcause water to back up into the house. Air leakage
from the house to the attic will carry moisture inthe form of humidity into the attic that can form water on theunderside of the roof leading to rotting and mold. Typical leakage points between the house and attic are: * leaky attic hatches * holes drilled for plumbing pipes andelectrical wires that penetrate the attic and are usually notsealed * Recessed light fixtures that are not the airtight type* Exhaust fans that vent directly into the attic For those who live in warmer climates, water damage can occurwithin your walls because of poorly designed air conditioningsystems. Systems that are oversized (a larger capacity thannecessary)will not remove enough humidity which leads to highmoisture levels that condense on cooler surfaces. Duct systems that are imbalanced can draw outside humiditythrough walls that can produce water in the walls. Mitigating these problems requires a professional. Repairing the attic problems listed above may seem simpleenough, but trying to do it yourself doesn’t guarantee youreally fixed the problem and can sometimes lead to otherproblems. Hiring an insulation expert who specializes in building science(also known as a building performance specialist) will ensurethe job is done properly and safely. These specilaists come equipped with tools such as blower doors,pressure guages, etc. to quantify the measures taken for therepairs. The same goes for the air conditioning specialist, he shouldhave duct diagnostic tools to test your ductwork to be sure itis properly designed and performing efficiently. If you are unable to find someone in your area, go towww.energyconservatory.com. They are manufacturers of the required testing instruments andthey will have contractors in their database they can recommend. In addition to taking care of the water damage, your home willbe more comfortable, you’ll save money on your energy bills andimprove your indoor air quality. About the author:Ed Bishop is founder and president of Enhanced Living Inc., aTroy, NY-based design-consulting and contracting company.contracting. Trained in the “House Is A System” approach to HVACdesign. He was formerly a building analyst instructor, providingcertification training for New York's Home Performance withENERGY STAR® program Go to |