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Moisture Leaking Through Wall?

 07/22/2006 03:36 PM ntrainer
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basement humidity

07/22/2006 04:54 PM Billhart Moderator
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Basement Humidity

07/22/2006 07:38 PM ntrainer
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Proves my point

07/23/2006 12:50 AM Billhart Moderator
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One More Detail

07/23/2006 06:48 AM ntrainer
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relative humidity

07/23/2006 09:46 AM Billhart Moderator

The AC being off just one day would not cause this.

You might want to get a hygrometer (relative humidity moisture meter) and keep it up stairs for a week and observing it.

Then a week down in the basement.

An RH of over 70 and mold will grow.

"How to Identify the Cause of a Mold and Mildew Problem

Mold and mildew are commonly found on the exterior wall surfaces of corner rooms in heating climate locations. An exposed corner room is likely to be significantly colder than adjoining rooms, so that it has a higher relative humidity (RH) than other rooms at the same water vapor pressure. If mold and mildew growth are found in a corner room, then relative humidity next to the room surfaces is above 70%. However, is the RH above 70% at the surfaces because the room is too cold or because there is too much moisture present (high water vapor pressure)?

The amount of moisture in the room can be estimated by measuring both temperature and RH at the same location and at the same time. Suppose there are two cases. In the first case, assume that the RH is 30% and the temperature is 70oF in the middle of the room. The low RH at that temperature indicates that the water vapor pressure (or absolute humidity) is low. The high surface RH is probably due to room surfaces that are "too cold." Temperature is the dominating factor, and control strategies should involve increasing the temperature at cold room surfaces.

In the second case, assume that the RH is 50% and the temperature is 70oF in the middle of the room. The higher RH at that temperature indicates that the water vapor pressure is high and there is a relatively large amount of moisture in the air. The high surface RH is probably due to air that is "too moist." Humidity is the dominating factor, and control strategies should involve decreasing the moisture content of the indoor air."

http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html

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