If you have anything at all to add to this discussion please feel free to
chime in. My wife and I'll be closing on a 44 year old home with a crawlspace
in a couple of days and I need some peace of mind.

There are two problems, likely related. Upon entering the house for the first
time all three of us - me, wife, agent - noticed an odor. My agent wondered
where the litter box was, thinking it was a cat urine smell. Just yesterday I
noticed that the smell was on my hands two hours after crawling around in the
crawlspace without gloves.

A couple of problems were discovered that may be the cause of the odor.
First, the condensate line from the AC/Furnace drained right into the
crawlspace, dripping directly on top of a return duct that was insulated with
a brown paper backed fiberglass looking insulation. It was a wet, messy
puddle.

Second, the dryer vent hose had fallen off and all the lint from the clothes
dryer was collecting close by. The home inspector believed that by fixing
these two problems the odor would go away.

On Wednesday two contractor sized garbage bags filled with wet insulation and
dryer lint were pulled out of the crawlspace. Then a 50 lb bag of lime was
spread around the damp areas.

The guy doing the work noticed another dripping sound. He placed a bucket
under the drip. Turns out that there was a loose fitting inside the house and
the owner tightened it up on Friday.

I got under there myself twice on Friday. The approx 1 gallon bucket was
almost full. I heard no drip. There was a puddle of water and lime on top of
the return duct. I came back a few hours later and the puddle of water was
mostly gone, but the white lime was still damp.

A few other notes:
- I noticed that I could smell the PVC bonding solvent when very close
the newly installed condensate drain line. Figured there must not be too much
air movement through the crawlspace if that odor is still present 48 hours
after the repair.
- There is no vapor barrier installed
- The rest of the crawlspace is dry as a bone, no other moisture
problems whatsoever
- Automatic vents are installed. Two on each side of the house, maybe
more.
- One of the heat/AC vents is not sealed and must be leaking a lot of
air.

So, we've got this musty smell inside the house in some places. We've had a
bunch of things going on in the crawlspace, that have been recently repaired.

I'm betting that what's been done so far will eventually eliminate the odors
I'm describing once enough time has passed for the space to dry up good.
Plus, I can do more like sealing up the heater vents, putting down a vapor
barrier, and possibly installing more vents or fans in the crawlspace.

Most important question: is there anything else I need to be concerned about
before closing on this house?

One longshot question: could the front door being out of alignment be in any
way related? The smell is most noticeable around the front entrance. A
nearby closet door is out of alignment too. Rest of the doors in house are
pretty square.

You have mold and need to think, you may be alergic, it may make you or
someone in your family sick, do you want to buy a nightmare

"Mail Ias" wrote in message
news:ASImb.22156$mZ5.87914@attbi_s54...
If you have anything at all to add to this discussion please feel free to
chime in. My wife and I'll be closing on a 44 year old home with a
crawlspace
in a couple of days and I need some peace of mind.


After reading your post, you really should pass on that home.


There are two problems, likely related. Upon entering the house for the
first
time all three of us - me, wife, agent - noticed an odor. My agent
wondered
where the litter box was, thinking it was a cat urine smell. Just
yesterday I
noticed that the smell was on my hands two hours after crawling around in
the
crawlspace without gloves.



A couple of problems were discovered that may be the cause of the odor.
First, the condensate line from the AC/Furnace drained right into the
crawlspace, dripping directly on top of a return duct that was insulated
with
a brown paper backed fiberglass looking insulation. It was a wet, messy
puddle.

Not to code, and a mold maker.


Second, the dryer vent hose had fallen off and all the lint from the
clothes
dryer was collecting close by. The home inspector believed that by fixing
these two problems the odor would go away.

Nope.


On Wednesday two contractor sized garbage bags filled with wet insulation
and
dryer lint were pulled out of the crawlspace. Then a 50 lb bag of lime
was
spread around the damp areas.


Lime was pointless...


The guy doing the work noticed another dripping sound. He placed a bucket
under the drip. Turns out that there was a loose fitting inside the house
and
the owner tightened it up on Friday.

I got under there myself twice on Friday. The approx 1 gallon bucket was
almost full. I heard no drip. There was a puddle of water and lime on
top of
the return duct. I came back a few hours later and the puddle of water
was
mostly gone, but the white lime was still damp.

A few other notes:
- I noticed that I could smell the PVC bonding solvent when very
close
the newly installed condensate drain line. Figured there must not be too
much
air movement through the crawlspace if that odor is still present 48 hours
after the repair.

Umm....depending on the brand and type used, you might smell it a month
later...its called outgassing...

- There is no vapor barrier installed

Need one, or might not..where is the home located?

- The rest of the crawlspace is dry as a bone, no other moisture
problems whatsoever

Does not matter..mold only needs 3 things...water, (in the air) food and
dark.....guess what you have?

- Automatic vents are installed. Two on each side of the house,
maybe
more.

Trivial..really. Nice, however.

- One of the heat/AC vents is not sealed and must be leaking a lot
of
air.

They all need to be checked and repaired.


So, we've got this musty smell inside the house in some places. We've had
a
bunch of things going on in the crawlspace, that have been recently
repaired.

I'm betting that what's been done so far will eventually eliminate the
odors
I'm describing once enough time has passed for the space to dry up good.
Plus, I can do more like sealing up the heater vents, putting down a vapor
barrier, and possibly installing more vents or fans in the crawlspace.

I am betting it wont.
Ten to one, you now have a serious mold issue in the AC system, and
throughout the home.
Dealing with one like this as I type. Waiting on the results from the mold
sample to get faxed over.....


Most important question: is there anything else I need to be concerned
about
before closing on this house?

Umm....complete new AC system, including ductwork???
See it all the time.


One longshot question: could the front door being out of alignment be in
any
way related? The smell is most noticeable around the front entrance. A
nearby closet door is out of alignment too. Rest of the doors in house
are
pretty square.

I'd suggest something like a bathroom vent fan on one end of the crawl
space, to push some air out.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.org
..
..

"Mail Ias" wrote in message
news:ASImb.22156$mZ5.87914@attbi_s54...
If you have anything at all to add to this discussion please feel free to
chime in. My wife and I'll be closing on a 44 year old home with a
crawlspace
in a couple of days and I need some peace of mind.

There are two problems, likely related. Upon entering the house for the
first
time all three of us - me, wife, agent - noticed an odor. My agent wondered
where the litter box was, thinking it was a cat urine smell. Just yesterday
I
noticed that the smell was on my hands two hours after crawling around in
the
crawlspace without gloves.

A couple of problems were discovered that may be the cause of the odor.
First, the condensate line from the AC/Furnace drained right into the
crawlspace, dripping directly on top of a return duct that was insulated
with
a brown paper backed fiberglass looking insulation. It was a wet, messy
puddle.

Second, the dryer vent hose had fallen off and all the lint from the clothes
dryer was collecting close by. The home inspector believed that by fixing
these two problems the odor would go away.

On Wednesday two contractor sized garbage bags filled with wet insulation
and
dryer lint were pulled out of the crawlspace. Then a 50 lb bag of lime was
spread around the damp areas.

The guy doing the work noticed another dripping sound. He placed a bucket
under the drip. Turns out that there was a loose fitting inside the house
and
the owner tightened it up on Friday.

I got under there myself twice on Friday. The approx 1 gallon bucket was
almost full. I heard no drip. There was a puddle of water and lime on top
of
the return duct. I came back a few hours later and the puddle of water was
mostly gone, but the white lime was still damp.

A few other notes:
- I noticed that I could smell the PVC bonding solvent when very close
the newly installed condensate drain line. Figured there must not be too
much
air movement through the crawlspace if that odor is still present 48 hours
after the repair.
- There is no vapor barrier installed
- The rest of the crawlspace is dry as a bone, no other moisture
problems whatsoever
- Automatic vents are installed. Two on each side of the house, maybe
more.
- One of the heat/AC vents is not sealed and must be leaking a lot of
air.

So, we've got this musty smell inside the house in some places. We've had a
bunch of things going on in the crawlspace, that have been recently
repaired.

I'm betting that what's been done so far will eventually eliminate the odors
I'm describing once enough time has passed for the space to dry up good.
Plus, I can do more like sealing up the heater vents, putting down a vapor
barrier, and possibly installing more vents or fans in the crawlspace.

Most important question: is there anything else I need to be concerned
about
before closing on this house?

One longshot question: could the front door being out of alignment be in
any
way related? The smell is most noticeable around the front entrance. A
nearby closet door is out of alignment too. Rest of the doors in house are
pretty square.

Stormim Moron sugests bath fan, how Cute, and SO effective in solving a
situation that has not even been diagnosed completly as to where mold is
, walls? ducts? dirt? attic? And what are the leaks, roof ?
plumbing supply ? drains? in upper level ? grading and gutters ?
condensation? And if it is a toxic mold, is it easily cured and
controled. And whether anyone in the the family will be affected. Or
is it a rainy season problem , where the home has many small leaks . The
truth is even if they fix what they can diagnose today, it will be
months , to be sure they dont have the problem re occur. A
bath fan HA.