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Re: Basement air problem

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If basement air is not sealed off from house yet, do you think I can

use an HRV. Advantage are that it will exchange air in basement

without negatively pressurizing it???

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> Really, Barb, I would strongly recommend an HRV to you. Sure, nobody

> in many parts of the US has heard of them, but they are great..

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I don't know much about the need for building codes, so I will ask

about that before anything is done.

As for floor, it isn't even two floors. It is one row of wood plants

over joists. You see the bottom of floor on top of the joists in the

basement. I can't put a ceiling in basement since all kinds of wires

run criss cross the ceiling and copper water pipes and large metal

ducts for furnace and wiring is kind that will need to be replaced

soon. It's old 'tube and knob' wiring which is not up to code but I

don't need to replace it unless wiring work is done, then you have to

upgrade to today's wiring, so since that will need to be done some day,

a ceiling would make that more difficult and ALSO I was told foam stuff

can't be used around 'tube and knob wiring', so probably only thing

would be to put something on top of floor is just largest area rugs I

can find. Thanks for your suggestions though.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> Barb, yes, you definitely need to do everything you can to close up

> those holes in your floor.

> Your house sounds very rustic with the old floor planks, etc, and

> those old wood floors

> can be very, very nice when done right, but I would consult with some

pros about

> how you might block the holes properly..

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I don't have standing water anywhere in house.

I see moisture on the floor of garage on some days that I believe is

coming up from below, since I have seen it on days that there is no

rain, so not brought in by car. Part of garage is already dug up for

another thing going on and no standing water there, so there is no

sign of standing water and also garage air doesn't mix with house.

It has a finished ceiling, unlike the basement. I think the areas of

moisture must indicate water under garage floor in areas. It is

spotty. Since tree had roots there, I imagine there disappearance,

as well as disturbance of soil in that area where we REPLACED WHOLE

WALL OF FOUNDATION......huge job, may have caused air pockets in soil

when settled, or roots disappearing left air pockets which maybe

attracting water when soil is moist. I don't know. Noone will know

unless the garage floor is dug up.

Basement has a corner that has some cracking for years but not much

water comes in but dampness on the wall in corner. No mold growing

on wall that can be seen but dampish, muggy odor if you are near it.

There MUST BE mold inside of cinder blocks there since there is

moisture constantly. It isn't a large area but it should be taken

care of. It would have been fixed years ago BUT there is no way to

get at it from outside. No machinery can get in there. It's too

small an area between houses and there is an overhang of the house

which would be in the way. I did the most could be done outside. I

had it hand dug down to 20 inches, about 8 years ago as I said,

repaired and waterproofed down to 20 inches, which is

the 'freeze/thaw' line, which is recommended. However we couldn't go

any further down due to size and number of huge ancient Maple tree

and ALSO ran into the underground gutter system, so I did the rest of

work inside. Inside a french drain system was installed which drains

into a sump pump which I have mentioned before, but I'm not satisfied

with solution, as floor stays dry but corner stays damp. Drylock

paint that was put there in 1998 has worn off. I lasted about 5-6

years. I plan to clean the area again and put drylock cement and

paint on there again but that isn't really a permanent solution but

should keep air and moisture from getting into the house for awhile.

I've talked to someone to do this for me but he can't do it for a

couple weeks, so I was thinking of putting the plastic up and an air

cleaner. That's where the question came from.

Why would I call a building inspector?? I've done everything

recommended already. I had hand digging done as far down as possible

outside and I paid $3k french drain system and sump pump inside, also

in 1998. I just don't like the fact I still have a damp corner in

the basement. After french drain system was put in they put drylock

on the wall. Just putting the drylock back on wall would restore it

to how it was after $3k spent there but I know now there is still

dampness, otherwise it wouldn't have come off.

Anyway, I'm not asking for someone to solve this problem for me, here

on the board. I just asking about the air cleaner. I thought I'd

put it in corner to catch any spores that might come from damp corner

until corner can be patched with drylock or cement water proofing or

other improvement made, and put plastic up to protect air from that

area from being picked up and circulating around basement and up into

house. Not a permanent solution, but for today/tomorrow, etc.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

>If i were you, I would consult with your building inspector.

> > They know you might not be able to afford a lot,

> they don't know about mold but they can keep you legal..

>

>

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