Last winter I developed an interesting situation. Two walls started showing some condensation on one bitterly cold day, and both walls are in my foyer.
And how did I find this out? My two home inspectors (Rotley and Ruggles) were studying the condensation. Rotley was dabbing at it, and Ruggles was reading it as if it were the Rosetta stone.
I think the insulation may have packed down. Has this happened to anyone?
Haven't dealt with that problem directly, I know that the trailors we used to work out of lost all the insulation because of some unknown reason.
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
Sorry, I am totally useless there. Can Google help?
http://www.google.fi/search?hl=fi&q=How+to+insulate+right%3F&btnG=Hae&meta=
Emma, do you have the type of insulation that is "hung" - it's usually pink sheets that gets tacked to the studs of the wall. Or, was your insulation blown in and is loose?
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
Betty, I kinda doubt that there is insulation on those two walls at all!
I am going to try to get a contractor to handle the situation. This place is over 20 years old and I think what insulation it has is "hung."
These townhomes are all well-built, but compared to the way houses were built 50 years ago -- well, you know.
They are predicting a colder and snowier winter up here than last year, and I've got to do something and get a handle on these heating bills. Last year a friend of mine was billed $600 and she has a single story house. Mine approached $200 last January, and I know it will be higher this year because of the rise of energy costs.
Last week I took my 11-year-old SUV to get gas, and I swear I heard "Your bank loan has been approved" when I withdrew my credit card.
We've had awfully good luck with having insulation blown into the spots where they couldn't put the insulation batting. It dramatically lowered the heat in our attic when we did that. It's kind of $$$ but it lasts forever It stays pretty "fluffy". We had it put in our garage in El Paso and it made a huge difference.
Maybe you could get a contractor to give an estimate?
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
I talked with the facilities guys at the office and one of them -- God bless the lad! -- said he could give me a name and number on Tuesday.
Something has got to be done.
I was planning on getting new windows and doors in 2010 when I make the last payment on the mortgage, but it looks like this is going to have to happen sooner rather than later.
The attic has insulation, from what I remember about the human home inspector that we used 10 years ago when we bought the place. But I also remember the guy went bankrupt and out of business three years later.
Gosh, isn't home ownership fun ?!?
PS: Thanks for the link, Miu. Most informative! And it looks like you've set me on the right track.
Emma...normally on they do not put insulation in walls that do not have exterior exposure. When have some one check it out I would have them look for the cause of the condensation. It may continue after the walls are insulated and then the insulation would just hold the moisture and cause more problems.
Posted 3 years ago by Crazycatman - CA #
Both of these two walls have exterior exposure. One is at the front door and the other wall is perpendicular to that first wall, and it is the one that does not butt up against my neighbor's wall. It is sort of like this:
... 1 ------[front door]----
... |
.2..|
... |
----
(this is where I start sharing an interior wall with my neighbor.)
The dots in the drawing above indicate the great outdoors!
This condensation just started a couple of years ago -- I noticed because I was home a bit more, since my husband passed away. I don't remember that he had never mentioned it at all.
I would definitely have it checked for water damage, it could be possible that the problem started more than a couple of years ago and is just now managing to seep thru...which may also have damaged the insulation
Posted 3 years ago by Crazycatman - CA #
Emma, if I don't forget I'll ask my hubby for his thoughts and ideas on your situation. He used to build houses. I might have to ask you for a little more info. I'll see. Nowadays, they have insulation that is blown in but it swells up to fill all the space. It is a type of foam insulation. It reminds me of canned whipped cream being squirted out of the can. :)
Posted 3 years ago by Renee in Arkansas #
Sorry can't help you there. The only thing I know about insukation,is that I don't have enuf of it on my skinny, 5'2", 95 lb. frame. When I went to the Health fair alittle while back,they took a body fat mass test (?) she said mine was perfect. I told her yeah for a skeleton maybe.
If there is moisture you may need to tear down the walls to get rid of mold first, which I suspect you have if the moisture has been there awhile.. If there was a roof leak the water ruins the insulation. Do not waste your money on new insulation until you get rid of the mold-it could be very harmful to your health.
Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #
Susie, honey, you can have a fat transplant from me, and that will provide a LOT of insulation!
Thanks, all of you for the suggestions. The moisture isn't in the wall or between the wall and the bricks. It appears on the inside of the wall in my house when it is bitterly cold out and warm inside (sorta like a reversed glass of cold water on a warm day).
One of the guys at work talked about blowing the insulation into the wall.
Can you imagine my initial visual?!?
And thanks again!
Emma, our electricity bills here in NZ are rising and rising. I have two layers of pink batts (pink fibreglass insulation -- I think what you call hung insulation) in the roof but, when I can afford it, I am also going to put some kind of insulation under my floorboards. And heat pumps are apparently the most efficient form of heating. They say, to save money on electric bills, insulate from the top down, for comfort, insulate from the bottom up (hence the floorboards). If I could afford double glazing, that would help too...
Good ideas with the insulation, I have a heat pump in this house and IMHO it doesn't do as good a job as it is supposed to be and it has been checked out by maintenance guys. Well actually the heating part wasn't and hasn't been bad, but the a/c part bites.
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
Jcat, I will have them pump some stuff under my kitchen floor. That floor is over the garage and boy, does it get cold! I have throw rugs for the cats' placements and food and water dishes (I hate the idea of tiny frosty feet), and I don't want to have to get a rug for the whole kitchen.
This insulation may get expensive, but it's stuff that just has to be done.
tee-hee @ #5!
Posted 3 years ago by JoanfromNewJersey #
lol Emma, now do you honestly think they will stop snickering??? Glad that you found the solution.
Posted 3 years ago by AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew #
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