Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - pier and beam home musty smell in house
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nashvegas
10-06-05, 11:13 AM
I have a problem... I have a new large pier and beam home with wood flooring throughout. the builder installed humidistats under the home and insulation is installed under the flooring... so we have ground, crawl space, insulation, air gap, ply wood, felt paper, wood flooring.
in one of the rooms we have noticed a musty smell that we believe is from the crawl space. with inspection we noticed that the insulators did not install the insulation under the floor in this room. the builder states that by installing the insulation, the mustiness will go away? Do you agree? Should we worry about the insulation getting into the home... ie if the smell gets in, will the insulation as well?
Thanks.
in one of the rooms we have noticed a musty smell that we believe is from the crawl space. with inspection we noticed that the insulators did not install the insulation under the floor in this room. the builder states that by installing the insulation, the mustiness will go away? Do you agree? Should we worry about the insulation getting into the home... ie if the smell gets in, will the insulation as well?
Thanks.
Concretemasonry
10-06-05, 01:07 PM
Do you have a heavy poly layer (vapor barier) on top of the soil under your home? This a can prevent moisture and ground odors for getting into a crawl space.
From your name, I am guessing you are in Las Vegas, which I normally think of as dry, but I know that do some precipitation that could cause the odor. The placement of the humidistats indicates the builder was aware of a possible moisture problem.
Dick
From your name, I am guessing you are in Las Vegas, which I normally think of as dry, but I know that do some precipitation that could cause the odor. The placement of the humidistats indicates the builder was aware of a possible moisture problem.
Dick
nashvegas
10-06-05, 03:10 PM
I'm actually in nashville... fairly humid cliamate with good rainfall. There is no vapor barrier. We actually looked into this but opted away from it as we didn't want to see things (moisture) get trapped in the crawlspace with no circulation. We were told that the insulation would serve as a "vapor" barrier to prevent moisture and smells from getting into the home?
Concretemasonry
10-07-05, 10:36 AM
Insulation is not a vapor barrier. If it has a vapor barrier attached (backed up) it may be a vapor barrier. It probably is not 100% due to punctures and edges, but is usually OK for moisture.
Odor is a different problem, since you nose is so sensitive.
Poly on the soil will drastically reduce the moisture and odor in the crawl space. If the insulation between the joists has the vapor barrier (if any), you have many opportunities to let odor into the house.
Ventilation of the crawl space can purge the odors.
Dick
Odor is a different problem, since you nose is so sensitive.
Poly on the soil will drastically reduce the moisture and odor in the crawl space. If the insulation between the joists has the vapor barrier (if any), you have many opportunities to let odor into the house.
Ventilation of the crawl space can purge the odors.
Dick