Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
mimiboy_gw

moisture vapor entering house

mimiboy
17 years ago

Hello, I live in a prefabricated house and am having a moisture vapor problem. In one of my bedroom it smells like a cave. I went under the house by the crawling space and noticed that the ground is wet( there is no water, but the sand and gravel look wet) in some area. Any one having the same problem? How did you stop/seal the smell.

I was thinking of using the GREAT STUFF foam can and try to seal right underneath the bedroom. the black foam that is under the house seem to be in a good condition.

Thank you for any help

Philippe

Comments (4)

  • coolvt
    17 years ago

    If the ground is wet, the first order of business is to try to seal it off. Someone should have spread heavy plastic under the enire home. You can still do it should help somewhat. Also, do you have ventilation in your skirting? That would also help.
    Be reminded that much of the moisture found might be generated within the home. Is your dryer vented out side the skirting? Do you run humidifiers? Do you hang clothes to dry inside the home? Do you have exhaust fans in your bathroom that are vented to the outdoors? Are you in the habit of simmering food on the stove for hours at a time? Just some suggestions of how moisture can build up from the inside. Good luck.

  • mimiboy
    Original Author
    17 years ago

    The ground isn't seal with heavy plastic. If I do so isn't the plastic going to get wet and mildew will form?Dryer is vented out and I don't dry clothes inside my home, no vent in bathroom and I cook a lot, but that doesn't explain why I have only wet ground at certain area of the house only and not the entire ground. I should put a fan ventilation underneath my house.
    Thanks

    Philippe

  • coolvt
    17 years ago

    If you use a heavy plastic this will act as a vapor barrier. The moisture will stay below the plastic and this is what you want. Plastic is available in different sizes. We used to get it in 100 foot long rolls and used it under every mobile home that we installed if the home was not on a concrete slab.
    If you seem to be getting more moisture in one room, I would be sure to check that water is not somehow getting into that room. Could you have a roof leak that is getting into the walls of that bad area?
    Is there a plastic barrier with insulation that is attached to the underside of the home? Most of the mobile homes came with this. If this is missing or torn, moisture will get in through this opening.
    I once saw a home with this plastic installed as it shoud be. A pipe leaked under the home and the wate became trapped up inside this plastic. Since the water just sat there, a lot of moisture developed in the home. If you crawl under the home, check to see if there is a big bulge anywhere in the plastic. If there is, check to see if it feels like there is water in there. If so, it could be a leaky pipe.
    While you are under the home, also check to see if the plastic and insulation is torn in any place. If it is, you might be able to repair it with duct tape.
    Hope this helps.
    Mark

  • rockwood84
    16 years ago

    you are going to have to use mastik tape it is only sold at mobile home supply stores. it is what they use when they build them and it is sticky and it do cost plenty. $15.00 a roll.

Sponsored
Columbus' Home Design Experts Specializing in Custom Cabinets