Guest guest Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 Barb and Live: Like I stated that I was on the 6th floor, well there are 3 more floors of apartments above me. Windows on my side of the building they claim to be brand new (I have been here 2 years). Now, one of my windows in the living room and bedroom leak with heavy rains. In tonights resident meeting, we were told that no windows on my side of the building will be replaced, only on the other side of the building. As far as fans, they have the ones in the bathroom walls that suck out (not a fan that you can turn on and off), kitchen has one like this. As far as number of people living here, is just me and my little dog. I do not use the buildings central air system due to the molds in the HVAC, so I blocked the supply ducts and kept the return duct free (do not turn this HVAC on at all). I have one of those new floor model air conditioners in which is also a dehimidifier, it constantly draws out (have to empty the bucket at least 2 times a day). I need to stay as safe as I can with these molds in my HVAC so I do not run it or I would be in more trouble than I all ready am as far as health due to the entire building having mold. Landlord, well that is another project that I am in the middle of. The painters have been remediating some apartments with visible molds on the walls, yes the painters. So no PPE's on them, no containment or should I say proper containment of the moldy walls they cut out of these apartments ex: I was walking down the hall a few weeks ago, and the painters had moldy wallboards on the top of a cart sitting in the hallway. Well I hope I explained this somewhat better for you. I have done everything I know possibly to try to keep the humidity levels down in my apartment. Darlene barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: Darlene, I'll take a crack at this question also. All my problems are coming from the attic right now so I've had to learn something about air currents that might be appropriate depending on your building. Is humidity in your part of the country high right now? You said you live on 6th floor. Any apartments above you? Maybe humidity is coming down from above you. This is new thing I learned this year. People from other group are going to get bored with me on this one: Most recent explanation from an indoor air quality person to me: " Keep in mind that energy, and that includes the energy contained in air and moisture, follows the rules of the second law of thermodynamics: ie; hot moves to cold and wet moves to dry, and high pressure moves to low pressure. So attic air is more likely to have more moisture and be hotter than the conditioned air in the occupied space of your dwellings in the summertime, so air will move downward from attic IF IT CAN find a way. Also as the air moves so moves the moisture and odors. " >> What this means is that in summertime air flows from top of building down through lower floors (the reverse of flow it has in winter), so if attic is hot and humid and you are anywhere near attic or top of building, heat and humidity could be coming down from attic above it. Solution: See if there are any 'holes' in top of apartment such as ceiling lights that are recessed, i.e. ceiling had to be perforated in order to install them. Caulk around those. Have landlord check attic for you, or go along with him. Make sure there isn't a current moisture problem up there that is doing his roof some damage. If the windows are old style and loose fitting caulk around those. Seal and caulk around wall outlets, light switches. If there are any cracks in walls or ceiling, those should be caulked or otherwise fixed. Humidity is definately too high!!! Can you purchase another dehumidifier for bedroom?? If at all possible you need to bring humidity down in all room to 40-45% or below 50%. If you can, you will feel alot more comfortable with less air conditioning expense, just fan. If there is mold problem, you **absolutely** MUST bring humidity level down! > > Carl, I live in a complex is full of mold and my apartment has a high humidity level before they turned the air conditioning on and after. I blocked --------------------------------- Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Autos new Car Finder tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Darlene, Sorry for my late response but I've been rather occupied lately. A few thoughts to begin. High humidity from window leaks would occur only during and immediately after the heavy rains. Not all the time. A possibility is the RH is coming up through the return duct, depending on their configuration in your building and where all they go. How are you measuring the humidity? Many people buy the $3 to $5 round metal humidity meters. I've seen them read 80% RH on hot, dry summer days when a $30 one from Radio Shack measured 15% and a professional meter measured 13.4%. So we need to know what your meter is and if it is reasonably accurate. The floor model air conditioners must have the exhaust hose sticking out a window so the heat and humidity goes to the outside air. If not, you are recirculating it inside your apt like a dog chasing its tail. Lots of activity but no production. There are other possibilities and I have other questions before we can narrow this down somewhat. Send me a private e-mail and we can talk about this in detail. Carl Grimes Healthy Habitats LLC ----- > Barb and Live: Like I stated that I was on the 6th floor, well there are 3 more floors of apartments above me. Windows on my side of the building they claim to be brand new (I have been here 2 years). Now, one of my windows in the living room and bedroom leak with heavy rains. In tonights resident meeting, we were told that no windows on my side of the building will be replaced, only on the other side of the building. As far as fans, they have the ones in the bathroom walls that suck out (not a fan that you can turn on and off), kitchen has one like this. As far as number of people living here, is just me and my little dog. > > I do not use the buildings central air system due to the molds in the HVAC, so I blocked the supply ducts and kept the return duct free (do not turn this HVAC on at all). I have one of those new floor model air conditioners in which is also a dehimidifier, it constantly draws out (have to empty the bucket at least 2 times a day). I need to stay as safe as I can with these molds in my HVAC so I do not run it or I would be in more trouble than I all ready am as far as health due to the entire building having mold. > > Landlord, well that is another project that I am in the middle of. The painters have been remediating some apartments with visible molds on the walls, yes the painters. So no PPE's on them, no containment or should I say proper containment of the moldy walls they cut out of these apartments ex: I was walking down the hall a few weeks ago, and the painters had moldy wallboards on the top of a cart sitting in the hallway. > > Well I hope I explained this somewhat better for you. I have done everything I know possibly to try to keep the humidity levels down in my apartment. Darlene > > barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: Darlene, I'll take a crack at this question also. > All my problems are coming from the attic right now so I've had to > learn something about air currents that might be appropriate > depending on your building. > Is humidity in your part of the country high right now? You said > you live on 6th floor. Any apartments above you? > Maybe humidity is coming down from above you. > This is new thing I learned this year. People from other group are > going to get bored with me on this one: > > Most recent explanation from an indoor air quality person to me: > > " Keep in mind that energy, and that includes the energy contained in > air and moisture, follows the rules of the second law of > thermodynamics: ie; hot moves to cold and wet moves to dry, and high > pressure moves to low pressure. So attic air is more likely to have > more moisture and be hotter than the conditioned air in the occupied > space of your dwellings in the summertime, so air will move downward > from attic IF IT CAN find a way. Also as the air moves so moves the > moisture and odors. " > > >> > What this means is that in summertime air flows from top of building > down through lower floors (the reverse of flow it has in winter), so > if attic is hot and humid and you are anywhere near attic or top of > building, heat and humidity could be coming down from attic above > it. Solution: See if there are any 'holes' in top of apartment > such as ceiling lights that are recessed, i.e. ceiling had to be > perforated in order to install them. Caulk around those. Have > landlord check attic for you, or go along with him. Make sure there > isn't a current moisture problem up there that is doing his roof > some damage. If the windows are old style and loose fitting caulk > around those. Seal and caulk around wall outlets, light switches. > If there are any cracks in walls or ceiling, those should be caulked > or otherwise fixed. > Humidity is definately too high!!! Can you purchase another > dehumidifier for bedroom?? If at all possible you need to bring > humidity down in all room to 40-45% or below 50%. If you can, you > will feel alot more comfortable with less air conditioning expense, > just fan. > If there is mold problem, you **absolutely** MUST bring humidity > level down! > > > > > > Carl, I live in a complex is full of mold and my apartment has a > high humidity level before they turned the air conditioning on and > after. I blocked > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Autos new Car Finder tool. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Darlene, I'm assuming you have a portable AC, is it one of the ones with two pipes (intake and output) or just one (output)? Its importat because if you just have one, whenever you run that AC, you will be depressurizing your apartment - sucking air into it from inside the walls.. You need to supply air to prevent that.. Also, if you block supply plenum, you will need to open windows or also block return plenum or else the air in the walls will filter through cracks to make up for it. And that air may be very moldy. Is the air outside clean and breatheable? On 6/13/07, Darlene <darlenesb2000@...> wrote: > > Barb and Live: Like I stated that I was on the 6th floor, well there are > 3 more floors of apartments above me. Windows on my side of the building > they claim to be brand new (I have been here 2 years). Now, one of my > windows in the living room and bedroom leak with heavy rains. In tonights > resident meeting, we were told that no windows on my side of the building > will be replaced, only on the other side of the building. As far as fans, > they have the ones in the bathroom walls that suck out (not a fan that you > can turn on and off), kitchen has one like this. As far as number of people > living here, is just me and my little dog. > > I do not use the buildings central air system due to the molds in the > HVAC, so I blocked the supply ducts and kept the return duct free (do not > turn this HVAC on at all). I have one of those new floor model air > conditioners in which is also a dehimidifier, it constantly draws out (have > to empty the bucket at least 2 times a day). I need to stay as safe as I can > with these molds in my HVAC so I do not run it or I would be in more trouble > than I all ready am as far as health due to the entire building having mold. > > > Landlord, well that is another project that I am in the middle of. The > painters have been remediating some apartments with visible molds on the > walls, yes the painters. So no PPE's on them, no containment or should I say > proper containment of the moldy walls they cut out of these apartments ex: I > was walking down the hall a few weeks ago, and the painters had moldy > wallboards on the top of a cart sitting in the hallway. > > Well I hope I explained this somewhat better for you. I have done > everything I know possibly to try to keep the humidity levels down in my > apartment. Darlene > > barb1283 <barb1283@... <barb1283%40>> wrote: Darlene, I'll > take a crack at this question also. > > All my problems are coming from the attic right now so I've had to > learn something about air currents that might be appropriate > depending on your building. > Is humidity in your part of the country high right now? You said > you live on 6th floor. Any apartments above you? > Maybe humidity is coming down from above you. > This is new thing I learned this year. People from other group are > going to get bored with me on this one: > > Most recent explanation from an indoor air quality person to me: > > " Keep in mind that energy, and that includes the energy contained in > air and moisture, follows the rules of the second law of > thermodynamics: ie; hot moves to cold and wet moves to dry, and high > pressure moves to low pressure. So attic air is more likely to have > more moisture and be hotter than the conditioned air in the occupied > space of your dwellings in the summertime, so air will move downward > from attic IF IT CAN find a way. Also as the air moves so moves the > moisture and odors. " > > >> > What this means is that in summertime air flows from top of building > down through lower floors (the reverse of flow it has in winter), so > if attic is hot and humid and you are anywhere near attic or top of > building, heat and humidity could be coming down from attic above > it. Solution: See if there are any 'holes' in top of apartment > such as ceiling lights that are recessed, i.e. ceiling had to be > perforated in order to install them. Caulk around those. Have > landlord check attic for you, or go along with him. Make sure there > isn't a current moisture problem up there that is doing his roof > some damage. If the windows are old style and loose fitting caulk > around those. Seal and caulk around wall outlets, light switches. > If there are any cracks in walls or ceiling, those should be caulked > or otherwise fixed. > Humidity is definately too high!!! Can you purchase another > dehumidifier for bedroom?? If at all possible you need to bring > humidity down in all room to 40-45% or below 50%. If you can, you > will feel alot more comfortable with less air conditioning expense, > just fan. > If there is mold problem, you **absolutely** MUST bring humidity > level down! > > > > > > Carl, I live in a complex is full of mold and my apartment has a > high humidity level before they turned the air conditioning on and > after. I blocked > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Barb, the entire building notorious for water intrusion. Let me give you another example of what happened here on one occasion a few months back: We had very heavy rains and many people on different floors of this 9 floor building had water intrusion (once again) that came down their ceilings above the windows, and down the walls. The ceilings have holes in the now and the walls bubbled out from the water and peeled. I visited one lady yesterday and asked after these few months why wasn't this taken care of in her apartment yet. She told me she had called the office management and they said " Your on the list " . This is the favorite phrase they make. So from a few months ago the water intrusion was not taken care of. Like I said, we have pipes that break frequently in the hallways, tenants stated the mold is in the entire building and has been for years. So this is an example of what we deal with here. Darlene barb1283 <barb1283@...> wrote: Darlene, People handle mold like it is nothing, re: moldy wallpaper hanging out in hall. I came to see this apt I'm in due to fact it had hardwood floors and advertised new a/c. New a/c was not put in yet due to fact it was fall but I asked them to take old a/c out of window for me before I moved in. Then I noticed in basement had an odor and found landlord had not thrown out old moldy air conditioner but was storing it in basement, for what reason I don't know, but on top of new one he bought to replace it!! I got some plastic and wrapped it up. People think nothing of mold. Maybe since room that is damp is next to bathroom, perhaps plumbing problems and moisture is being carried through holes in walls that the plumbing fixtures go through. I don't know. > > Barb and Live: Like I stated that I was on the 6th floor, well there are 3 more floors of apartments above --------------------------------- Get the free toolbar and rest assured with the added security of spyware protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 Live, the type of AC that I have has one window kit, one pipe, this unit is also a dehumidifier so tank does fill up. So what you saying if I block the HVAC unit in my apartments supply air ducts that would normally supply me with air/heat then I should also block the return as well. The outside air seems to be clean and breathable, except for the days it can get very humid here like it did a weak or so ago. Darlene LiveSimply <quackadillian@...> wrote: Darlene, I'm assuming you have a portable AC, is it one of the ones with two pipes (intake and output) or just one (output)? Its importat because if you just have one, whenever you run that AC, you will be depressurizing your apartment - sucking air into it from inside the walls.. You need to supply air to prevent that.. Also, if you block supply plenum, you will need to open windows or also block return plenum or else the air in the walls will filter through cracks to make up for it. And that air may be very moldy. Is the air outside clean and breatheable? On 6/13/07, Darlene <darlenesb2000@...> wrote: > > Barb and Live: Like I stated that I was on the 6th floor, well there are > 3 more floors of apartments above me. Windows on my side of the building > they claim to be brand new (I have been here 2 years). Now, one of my > windows in the living room and bedroom leak with heavy rains. In tonights > resident meeting, we were told that no windows on my side of the building > will be replaced, only on the other side of the building. As far as fans, > they have the ones in the bathroom walls that suck out (not a fan that you > can turn on and off), kitchen has one like this. As far as number of people > living here, is just me and my little dog. > > I do not use the buildings central air system due to the molds in the > HVAC, so I blocked the supply ducts and kept the return duct free (do not > turn this HVAC on at all). I have one of those new floor model air > conditioners in which is also a dehimidifier, it constantly draws out (have > to empty the bucket at least 2 times a day). I need to stay as safe as I can > with these molds in my HVAC so I do not run it or I would be in more trouble > than I all ready am as far as health due to the entire building having mold. > > > Landlord, well that is another project that I am in the middle of. The > painters have been remediating some apartments with visible molds on the > walls, yes the painters. So no PPE's on them, no containment or should I say > proper containment of the moldy walls they cut out of these apartments ex: I > was walking down the hall a few weeks ago, and the painters had moldy > wallboards on the top of a cart sitting in the hallway. > > Well I hope I explained this somewhat better for you. I have done > everything I know possibly to try to keep the humidity levels down in my > apartment. Darlene > > barb1283 <barb1283@... <barb1283%40>> wrote: Darlene, I'll > take a crack at this question also. > > All my problems are coming from the attic right now so I've had to > learn something about air currents that might be appropriate > depending on your building. > Is humidity in your part of the country high right now? You said > you live on 6th floor. Any apartments above you? > Maybe humidity is coming down from above you. > This is new thing I learned this year. People from other group are > going to get bored with me on this one: > > Most recent explanation from an indoor air quality person to me: > > " Keep in mind that energy, and that includes the energy contained in > air and moisture, follows the rules of the second law of > thermodynamics: ie; hot moves to cold and wet moves to dry, and high > pressure moves to low pressure. So attic air is more likely to have > more moisture and be hotter than the conditioned air in the occupied > space of your dwellings in the summertime, so air will move downward > from attic IF IT CAN find a way. Also as the air moves so moves the > moisture and odors. " > > >> > What this means is that in summertime air flows from top of building > down through lower floors (the reverse of flow it has in winter), so > if attic is hot and humid and you are anywhere near attic or top of > building, heat and humidity could be coming down from attic above > it. Solution: See if there are any 'holes' in top of apartment > such as ceiling lights that are recessed, i.e. ceiling had to be > perforated in order to install them. Caulk around those. Have > landlord check attic for you, or go along with him. Make sure there > isn't a current moisture problem up there that is doing his roof > some damage. If the windows are old style and loose fitting caulk > around those. Seal and caulk around wall outlets, light switches. > If there are any cracks in walls or ceiling, those should be caulked > or otherwise fixed. > Humidity is definately too high!!! Can you purchase another > dehumidifier for bedroom?? If at all possible you need to bring > humidity down in all room to 40-45% or below 50%. If you can, you > will feel alot more comfortable with less air conditioning expense, > just fan. > If there is mold problem, you **absolutely** MUST bring humidity > level down! > > > > > > Carl, I live in a complex is full of mold and my apartment has a > high humidity level before they turned the air conditioning on and > after. I blocked > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 In a message dated 6/13/2007 2:12:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time, quackadillian@... writes: What I mean is that if the mold is hidden mold inside the building walls, the existence of anything that is 'depressurizing' your apartment will pull more mold into your apartment from inside the walls, through the tiny holes that often exist in them. AC return plenum on would do that. One hose portable air conditioner would also do it. (that is why the best portable ac units have two hoses) Bathroom and kitchen vent fans can also do it, esp. if they are operated when all doors and windows are shut. Ah, this may be a stupid question but why would running the fan in the kitchen or bath with doors and windows closed cause depressurization? Wouldn't opening windows cause depressurization? ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2007 Report Share Posted June 13, 2007 What I mean is that if the mold is hidden mold inside the building walls, the existence of anything that is 'depressurizing' your apartment will pull more mold into your apartment from inside the walls, through the tiny holes that often exist in them. AC return plenum on would do that. One hose portable air conditioner would also do it. (that is why the best portable ac units have two hoses) Bathroom and kitchen vent fans can also do it, esp. if they are operated when all doors and windows are shut. They all 'suck' so to speak... Yes- blocking the vent that blows in without blocking the one that goes out may have made the situation worse. Carl might have some suggestions there. I do too, which I will send you in email. On 6/13/07, Darlene <darlenesb2000@...> wrote: > > Live, the type of AC that I have has one window kit, one pipe, this unit > is also a dehumidifier so tank does fill up. So what you saying if I block > the HVAC unit in my apartments supply air ducts that would normally supply > me with air/heat then I should also block the return as well. The outside > air seems to be clean and breathable, except for the days it can get very > humid here like it did a weak or so ago. Darlene > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 For some odd reason my e-mail did not transmit properly the first time and thus is confusing with my question to Quack being at the end of his post looking like it is part of his statement. Thus I am reposting it. My question to his post is the following; At the risk of sounding stupid, why would running the fan in the kitchen and bath with the doors and windows closed cause depressurization? Wouldn't opening windows cause depressurization? In a message dated 6/13/2007 2:12:26 PM Pacific Daylight Time, _quackadillian@quackadil_ (mailto:quackadillian@...) writes: What I mean is that if the mold is hidden mold inside the building walls, the existence of anything that is 'depressurizing' your apartment will pull more mold into your apartment from inside the walls, through the tiny holes that often exist in them. AC return plenum on would do that. One hose portable air conditioner would also do it. (that is why the best portable ac units have two hoses) Bathroom and kitchen vent fans can also do it, esp. if they are operated when all doors and windows are shut. Ah, this may be a stupid question but why would running the fan in the kitchen or bath with doors and windows closed cause depressurization? Wouldn't opening windows cause depressurization? ******************************************<WBR>*********<WBR>*_http://www.aol. http_ (http://www.aol.com./) ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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