Replies

1. 
   Gabe_Martel | Jun 30, 1999 02:41am | #1

   *
   Hi Carl,

   I'm assuming that you are in North East Pennsylvania.

   I'm not the greatest expert on HVAC's but you do have a condensation problem big time.

   The discussion will be about what causes it.

   My first thought is that the poly shouldn't have been where you found it. Better gone than wrong.

   My second thought is that the unit itself is not balanced properly.

   My third thought is a question. If this unit is located in the attic, the pipe is insulated flexpipe removing hot air from inside the house and feeding cold air and your ductwork is filling up with condensate water, where is the condensate line draining to? By the way, how much humidity do you guys have out there, anyway? Run a dehumidifier and get it down.

   For water to form inside the ductwork, the air would have be loaded with water.

   I don't think that the attic ventilation is only culprit. I think your entire building envelope is failed.

   Gabe

1. 
   CARL_J. | Jun 30, 1999 03:46am | #2

   *Hello Gabe You got it I am in ne.penn.approx.40 minutes south west of the pocono mountians our temp range is from sub zero to mid nineties, humidity during late spring @summer sometimes reaches 80%&above.Their is a pan and drain under the unit it was working.I also belive the entire envelope has failed ,except I was unable to find any other typical sign of moisture through the home(no water spots,no black marks on roof sheeting or any mold or mildew ect..) My concern is now for the home owner because of the still water in the duct causing health problems.

1. 
   Gabe_Martel | Jun 30, 1999 04:11am | #3

   *Hi Carl,If the entire system has failed, you won't see any concentration of marking on the ceiling. It's leaking everywhere. The plugs, baseboards, pipes, ducts, drains, vents, fixtures, under all the casings, around windows, the entire basement, you've got the picture I'm sure.A band aid solution would be to slope the ductwork to collect the water using a drain at the low point. But it's much better to find a solution. Using cel. would only help the ceiling a little but would do little to seal the envelope.You should check the humidity in the house and the attic and don't forget the basement. I'm sure that running a dehumidifier will go a long way to reduce the problem.These types of situations are a real pain to solve because most of the time it's a combination.Good luck buddy,Gabe

1. 
   Joe_Fusco_ | Jul 01, 1999 06:01am | #4

   * Carl J,

   You didn't say whether it was a supply or return duct that the condensation was found in. Knowing this would help diagnose the problem.

   Joseph Fusco View Image

1. 
   CARL_J. | Jul 01, 1999 07:03am | #5

   *DEAR JOE The moisture is in the supply duct. CARL J.

2. 
   FredB | Jul 01, 1999 12:42pm | #6

   *"The moisture is in the supply duct" = Intake to the AC?If so maybe not condensation or system failure. Maybe a leak from the exterior or plumbing since it is upstream from the condensation causing heating/cooling process?This in addition to the dual barrier trapped moisture problem.

3. 
   CARL_J. | Jul 12, 1999 04:47am | #7

   *Thanks for the help. I have fixed the venting and vapor barrier problems and installed a dehumidifer in the basement. THANKS GUYS CARL J.

2. 
   CARL_J. | Jul 12, 1999 04:47am | #8

   *
   HVAC OR NOT
   I have recived a call to check out a moisture problem in a one story ranch style home with hvac .The home owner has informed me that upon going into the attic he has found duct work sagging between joist filled with water.He said he has removed approx.three gallons of water from one duct at one time!!!.I went to the home and found the hvac installed in the center of the attic with flex insulated duct work. Once i started looking around i found two major problems first the past home owner either installed or had installed a second layer of fiberglass insulation 9.5 unfaced on top of the joist the only problem whom ever first installed a poly vapor barrier above the first layer of faced 6.5 insulation now trapping moisture between insulation .Number two new vented soffit had been installed on the old solid wood soffit with no slots cut in for air intake. The home owner has had an hvac installer check the system and the installer blames the moisture in the ducts on poor venting I agree this may be a factor but am I wrong to feel their must be a problem with the hvac system.I saw first hand water by the gallon in the duct.