Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Weep Holes

Hi All,
Could the lack of weep holes be what's causing my home to be high in humidity and mold growing on the walls?
Where and how many weep holes should there be? A search around the foundation of my rance style home revealed no such holes. I've been considering a de-humidifier for the crawl hoping it would solve the problem but have been avoiding it because of the high cost of its use.

The problem started when I replaced the forced air furnace which had a cracked heat exchanger. I'm thinking that was allowing the furnace flame to burn off the excess moisture.....

I wouldn't necessarily say it's lack of weep holes. Weep holes would allow you to have a water problem. Since you don't have any, I would say that that's a good thing. But the mold is from the moisture, you might want to find a way of sealing the space, so that you don't have the moisture in there to create that mold. The humidity is created from the moisture, possibly you don't have a vapor barrier.

Stacy

Stacy,
I don't understand your reply in that I do have a water problem "moisture". What exactly do weep hole accomplish?
The house being 50 years old it may or may not have a vapor barrier but I won't be ripping down walls to add one in any case.
I don't believe there's been a mold problem for 50 years so am trying to pinpoint the actual cause rather than treat the symptoms....
LC

OK, is this a crawl space or a basement? I'm assuming a crawl space due to previous statements...so with that in mind, weep holes, as I've come to know over the years, accomplish nothing except for a way to allow water (moisture)in. When the cold air is allowed to come in to a warmer area,which the crawl space is, it will condensate. What I am saying about the vapor barrier, is that if there is one, it's not working. The moisture and humidity is what can cause mold, whether you have it now, or are trying to avoid it. If your crawlspace is concrete, you can seal it from the inside. By eliminating the moisture, you will in turn eliminate the problems that we're speaking about. So to pinpoint the problem--moisture in your crawlspace-granted the old furnace may have helped to dry it out before. You need to seal the crawlspace, and as you mentioned, you might need to get a dehumidier for your home. They have good ones for the entire house that run about $130.00. Not bad. Hope this helps somewhat--I just think that you need to seal the crawlspace and you may find that you won't need a dehumidier.

Stacy

Does your crawl space have a dirt or concrete floor?

Thanks for responding...
I have a crawl with a dirt floor covered with plastic visquene (spelling?). I used to get plenty of water there but put the downspouts into piping out toward the street (75') to dry wells where it either drains to the sewers or dissipates in the ground. I now only get water when it rains very hard and for long periods.
I'm trying to avoid a de-humidifier because of the cost to run it but will go that route if necessary.
I might add the house is full of females with the need to take long and hot showers (steam baths is more like it). I assume then that is problem although I did setup the bath exhaust to turn on and run during showers and 15 min after automatically. I was thinking the weep holes discussed were at the foundation line to let moisture out from between the bricks facia and the living space.
LC

I now only get water when it rains very hard and for long periods Still some work to do in the long run. :) It never ends.

With a dirt floor covered with polyethylene, I doubt that weep holes would do much if they would be in the wall area between the outside and the crawl space.