Hidden Water Leak Causes Damage, Illness

[Guest guest]

Hidden Water Leak Causes Damage, Illness

WFMY News 2 - Greensboro,NC*

Posted by: Tracey McCain, Reporter

4/10/2008

A Greensboro couple says a slow leak in their home is making them

sick.

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?

storyid=101554 & catid=57

Greensboro, NC - A Greensboro couple says their home is making them

sick. A hidden water leak rotted the home's wood foundation. The

problem is making it hard for the family to breathe.

The slow leak caused $8,500 in damages to their home. The entire

floor needs to be replaced and for a retired couple living on a

fixed income, they just can't afford it.

" The hallway bathroom has been constantly leaking onto the joist

underneath the house, " said on. " We were not expecting

this. "

Two years ago, Joe on became very ill.

" It felt like I had swallowed something and it kind of choked me

up, " said on. Joe was hospitalized for 12 days while he

recovered.

It wasn't until the couple pulled up their carpet that they saw the

damage.

" You can tell there's got to be some sort of germs coming from

underneath here, " said on.

Doctors diagnosed Joe with congestive obstructive pulmonary disease.

He takes 12 pills a day.

" Since having this illness my husband's medical bills went from $125

dollars to $6,500 out of pocket money from us. We knew it was

impossible to do both things so we were looking for help, " said

on.

After trying to figure how to pay for both medication and the home

repairs, the on's finally got some relief.

" I think and Joe did the right things. This was something that

was not visible to them at all and we're going to be able to help

them, " said Kathy Carpenter, a relator with the Greensboro Relator's

Foundation.

" The Foundation came to our rescue because at that point we did not

have $8,000 to do this work, " said on.

" This is our retirement home, " she said. " You don't expect your home

to make you sick. That's the one place you want to go for refuge. "

A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water

leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell

you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it's red, you

know you have a problem.

If you have trouble breathing in your home, hire a certified

inspector or plumber to look for possible water leaks. A weak floor

is a good indication your foundation is rotting. And don't assume

every cough or sneeze is allergy related. You may experience the

same symptoms if you have excess moisture in your home.

For $10, the Guilford County Agricultural Extension will submit 5

samples to the NC State University lab for analysis. With a Q-Tip,

swab sections of your home you suspect may have mold or rotted wood.

Place them separately in plastic bags. Drop them off with a check at

the Extension office on Burlington Road in Greensboro. For more

information call them at 336-375-5876.

Source: WFMY News 2

[Guest guest]

A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water

> leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell

> you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it's red, you

> know you have a problem.

>

What is this " moisture meter " they mention? I could totally use that

in my basement.

Does anyone know?

Thanks, Surella

>

> Hidden Water Leak Causes Damage, Illness

> WFMY News 2 - Greensboro,NC*

> Posted by: Tracey McCain, Reporter

> 4/10/2008

>

> A Greensboro couple says a slow leak in their home is making them

> sick.

>

> http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?

> storyid=101554 & catid=57

>

> Greensboro, NC - A Greensboro couple says their home is making them

> sick. A hidden water leak rotted the home's wood foundation. The

> problem is making it hard for the family to breathe.

>

> The slow leak caused $8,500 in damages to their home. The entire

> floor needs to be replaced and for a retired couple living on a

> fixed income, they just can't afford it.

>

> " The hallway bathroom has been constantly leaking onto the joist

> underneath the house, " said on. " We were not expecting

> this. "

>

> Two years ago, Joe on became very ill.

>

> " It felt like I had swallowed something and it kind of choked me

> up, " said on. Joe was hospitalized for 12 days while he

> recovered.

>

> It wasn't until the couple pulled up their carpet that they saw the

> damage.

>

> " You can tell there's got to be some sort of germs coming from

> underneath here, " said on.

>

> Doctors diagnosed Joe with congestive obstructive pulmonary disease.

> He takes 12 pills a day.

>

> " Since having this illness my husband's medical bills went from $125

> dollars to $6,500 out of pocket money from us. We knew it was

> impossible to do both things so we were looking for help, " said

> on.

>

> After trying to figure how to pay for both medication and the home

> repairs, the on's finally got some relief.

>

> " I think and Joe did the right things. This was something that

> was not visible to them at all and we're going to be able to help

> them, " said Kathy Carpenter, a relator with the Greensboro Relator's

> Foundation.

>

> " The Foundation came to our rescue because at that point we did not

> have $8,000 to do this work, " said on.

>

> " This is our retirement home, " she said. " You don't expect your home

> to make you sick. That's the one place you want to go for refuge. "

>

> A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water

> leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell

> you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it's red, you

> know you have a problem.

>

> If you have trouble breathing in your home, hire a certified

> inspector or plumber to look for possible water leaks. A weak floor

> is a good indication your foundation is rotting. And don't assume

> every cough or sneeze is allergy related. You may experience the

> same symptoms if you have excess moisture in your home.

>

> For $10, the Guilford County Agricultural Extension will submit 5

> samples to the NC State University lab for analysis. With a Q-Tip,

> swab sections of your home you suspect may have mold or rotted wood.

> Place them separately in plastic bags. Drop them off with a check at

> the Extension office on Burlington Road in Greensboro. For more

> information call them at 336-375-5876.

>

> Source: WFMY News 2

>

[Guest guest]

Surella,

Google " moisture meter " and you will find lots of moisture meters

for sale from $20 to $6000. Obviously, the cheaper ones have

limited capability and less accuracy. As with any tool, you have to

understand what it does and what it does not do. Not all high

readings are caused by water. The article has some very

simplistic statements and the one about moisture meters is but

one of them.

That said, a simple $20 probe can be useful, especially for

carpets, and a <$100 non-penetrating meter could be a wise

investment for a homeowner. Just learn about proper use and

interpretation. One that is accurate for wood will be very

inaccurate for concrete, and conversely. It is better to get

comparative readings between suspect areas and known dry

areas rather than rely on the scale or " red light " as the article

suggests.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

>

>

> A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water

> > leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell

> > you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it's red, you

> > know you have a problem.

> >

>

>

> What is this " moisture meter " they mention? I could totally use that

> in my basement.

> Does anyone know?

> Thanks, Surella

>

>

>

> >

> > Hidden Water Leak Causes Damage, Illness

> > WFMY News 2 - Greensboro,NC*

> > Posted by: Tracey McCain, Reporter

> > 4/10/2008

> >

> > A Greensboro couple says a slow leak in their home is making them

> > sick.

> >

> > http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?

> > storyid=101554 & catid=57

> >

> > Greensboro, NC - A Greensboro couple says their home is making them

> > sick. A hidden water leak rotted the home's wood foundation. The

> > problem is making it hard for the family to breathe.

> >

> > The slow leak caused $8,500 in damages to their home. The entire

> > floor needs to be replaced and for a retired couple living on a

> > fixed income, they just can't afford it.

> >

> > " The hallway bathroom has been constantly leaking onto the joist

> > underneath the house, " said on. " We were not expecting

> > this. "

> >

> > Two years ago, Joe on became very ill.

> >

> > " It felt like I had swallowed something and it kind of choked me

> > up, " said on. Joe was hospitalized for 12 days while he

> > recovered.

> >

> > It wasn't until the couple pulled up their carpet that they saw the

> > damage.

> >

> > " You can tell there's got to be some sort of germs coming from

> > underneath here, " said on.

> >

> > Doctors diagnosed Joe with congestive obstructive pulmonary disease.

> > He takes 12 pills a day.

> >

> > " Since having this illness my husband's medical bills went from $125

> > dollars to $6,500 out of pocket money from us. We knew it was

> > impossible to do both things so we were looking for help, " said

> > on.

> >

> > After trying to figure how to pay for both medication and the home

> > repairs, the on's finally got some relief.

> >

> > " I think and Joe did the right things. This was something that

> > was not visible to them at all and we're going to be able to help

> > them, " said Kathy Carpenter, a relator with the Greensboro Relator's

> > Foundation.

> >

> > " The Foundation came to our rescue because at that point we did not

> > have $8,000 to do this work, " said on.

> >

> > " This is our retirement home, " she said. " You don't expect your home

> > to make you sick. That's the one place you want to go for refuge. "

> >

> > A moisture meter is a homeowners best defense against hidden water

> > leaks. You put the device against the wall or floor and it will tell

> > you exactly how much moisture is behind the walls. If it's red, you

> > know you have a problem.

> >

> > If you have trouble breathing in your home, hire a certified

> > inspector or plumber to look for possible water leaks. A weak floor

> > is a good indication your foundation is rotting. And don't assume

> > every cough or sneeze is allergy related. You may experience the

> > same symptoms if you have excess moisture in your home.

> >

> > For $10, the Guilford County Agricultural Extension will submit 5

> > samples to the NC State University lab for analysis. With a Q-Tip,

> > swab sections of your home you suspect may have mold or rotted wood.

> > Place them separately in plastic bags. Drop them off with a check at

> > the Extension office on Burlington Road in Greensboro. For more

> > information call them at 336-375-5876.

> >

> > Source: WFMY News 2

> >

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

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