Moisture

Damage & Mold

Window Condensate

Caused Mold In Wall Cavity

Moisture Damage & Mold

Window Condensate Caused Mold In Wall Cavity

Moisture Damage & Mold

Window Condensate Caused Mold In Wall Cavity

Homeowners reported noticing persistent condensation forming on a north-facing window subsequent to major renovations to their Utah home.  In the weeks that followed, they began to notice the musty odor of microbial growth in the vicinity of the window.  Eventually, the wall below the window was opened to reveal apparent microbial growth within the wall cavity.  An EIS engineer was engaged to evaluate the site conditions to determine why condensation was continually forming on the window.

At the time of the inspection, the wall cavity was open and the affected insulation and the bottoms of some of the 2×4 studs had been removed.  There was still visible microbial growth on the plywood floor, the bottom wall plate, and the wall sheathing.  Condensation was observed to have formed on the window the time of the inspection.

Microbial Growth In Wall Cavity
Condensation On Window

Several alterations had been made to the home’s HVAC system during the aforementioned renovations.  A supply duct had formerly discharge through a floor register below the subject window.  The floor register was removed, and the supply duct capped during the renovation.  The home was also outfitted with a whole-house humidifier which delivered moisture to the air at the supply duct, just downstream of the furnace.

EIS determined that condensation was forming on the window because the cold outside air during the winter was cooling the glass down to a temperature below the dew point of the air in the room.  When the air in the room came in contact with the cold glass, the moisture in the air condensed on the glass.  Prior to the renovations, it was believed that the floor register directed warm air toward the cold glass, raising it above the dew-point temperature of the air in the room, and also producing a drying effect to any condensation that might have formed on the glass.  Also, the addition of the humidifier would have increased the level of humidity in the room, thereby increasing the dew-point temperature of the air.  The result was an increase in the formation of condensation on the window.     

Homeowners reported noticing persistent condensation forming on a north-facing window subsequent to major renovations to their Utah home.  In the weeks that followed, they began to notice the musty odor of microbial growth in the vicinity of the window.  Eventually, the wall below the window was opened to reveal apparent microbial growth within the wall cavity.  An EIS engineer was engaged to evaluate the site conditions to determine why condensation was continually forming on the window.

At the time of the inspection, the wall cavity was open and the affected insulation and the bottoms of some of the 2×4 studs had been removed.  There was still visible microbial growth on the plywood floor, the bottom wall plate, and the wall sheathing.  Condensation was observed to have formed on the window the time of the inspection.

Microbial Growth In Wall Cavity
Condensation On Window

Several alterations had been made to the home’s HVAC system during the aforementioned renovations.  A supply duct had formerly discharge through a floor register below the subject window.  The floor register was removed, and the supply duct capped during the renovation.  The home was also outfitted with a whole-house humidifier which delivered moisture to the air at the supply duct, just downstream of the furnace.

EIS determined that condensation was forming on the window because the cold outside air during the winter was cooling the glass down to a temperature below the dew point of the air in the room.  When the air in the room came in contact with the cold glass, the moisture in the air condensed on the glass.  Prior to the renovations, it was believed that the floor register directed warm air toward the cold glass, raising it above the dew-point temperature of the air in the room, and also producing a drying effect to any condensation that might have formed on the glass.  Also, the addition of the humidifier would have increased the level of humidity in the room, thereby increasing the dew-point temperature of the air.  The result was an increase in the formation of condensation on the window.     

Homeowners reported noticing persistent condensation forming on a north-facing window subsequent to major renovations to their Utah home.  In the weeks that followed, they began to notice the musty odor of microbial growth in the vicinity of the window.  Eventually, the wall below the window was opened to reveal apparent microbial growth within the wall cavity.  An EIS engineer was engaged to evaluate the site conditions to determine why condensation was continually forming on the window.

At the time of the inspection, the wall cavity was open and the affected insulation and the bottoms of some of the 2×4 studs had been removed.  There was still visible microbial growth on the plywood floor, the bottom wall plate, and the wall sheathing.  Condensation was observed to have formed on the window at the time of the inspection.

Microbial Growth In Wall Cavity
Condensation On Window

Several alterations had been made to the home’s HVAC system during the aforementioned renovations.  A supply duct had formerly discharge through a floor register below the subject window.  The floor register was removed, and the supply duct capped during the renovation.  The home was also outfitted with a whole-house humidifier which delivered moisture to the air at the supply duct, just downstream of the furnace.

EIS determined that condensation was forming on the window because the cold outside air during the winter was cooling the glass down to a temperature below the dew point of the air in the room.  When the air in the room came in contact with the cold glass, the moisture in the air condensed on the glass.  Prior to the renovations, it was believed that the floor register directed warm air toward the cold glass, raising it above the dew-point temperature of the air in the room, and also producing a drying effect to any condensation that might have formed on the glass.  Also, the addition of the humidifier would have increased the level of humidity in the room, thereby increasing the dew-point temperature of the air.  The result was an increase in the formation of condensation on the window.