Mold Problems Began  after radon system installation?

Considering an ERV? Inside information on Energy Recovery Ventilators**

Concealed Radon System Details

Thirteen GOOD Reasons why RadonMan does not recommend or install Energy Recovery Ventilators ERVs for radon mitigation in hot, humid climates:

1. An ERV cannot pressurize a building unless it is tuned to operate inefficiently and waste energy. RadonMan has never seen an ERV installation that pressurized a home.
2. In a hot, humid climate, ERVs commonly create indoor relative humidity levels of 65-69%.
3. ERVs are "moisture dumb." ERVs are not able to tell when a moisture problem is developing, and they just keep on running and keep on delivering moisture regardless.  However, "Moisture Smart" systems have been developed and are available that know how to prevent moisture problems...and do it...automatically. RadonMan Advanced Techology, for example
4. Pressurization is a major radon reduction technique. No pressurization = poor, inefficient radon reduction. All RadonMan systems pressurize
5. Without pressurization, a radon system must reduce radon by dilution only, an expensive to operate, moisture increasing, humidity increasing, mold risky approach when used all by itself.
6. Pressurization is a major mold prevention and control technique. No pressurization = mold problems, mold, bacteria, virus and insect infestations in exterior and demising wall cavities.
7. Pressurization is a major bad odor prevention technique. No pressurization = increased likelihood of moldy and funky odors in a home. The primary way a building scientist eliminates bad odors in a  hot, humid climate is to pressurize the funky-smelling building.
8. In hot, humid climates, ERVs provide poor humidity control. When humidity control is most needed, ERVs perform most poorly. (I know the salesman probably tells you otherwise, but facts are facts.) ERVs work very well in other climates, for which they were developed, but they control moisture poorly in hot, humid climates.
9. ERVs have poor filters that allow the interior of the ERV cabinet and CORE to get loaded with dirt.
10.  ERVs are difficult to clean, messy, need to be cleaned often, and if they are not cleaned often and fully, they become breeding grounds for mold, bacteria and viruses.
11. When ERV CORES get dirty, they must be replaced @ $700.00 plus labor
12. ERVs are bulky and steal your interior room, closet space, etc.
13. ERV installations are very expensive (and very profitable.) Superior technology exists that is much less expensive to install and much less expensive to operate. (I know the ERV salesman and his pal the mold testing "expert" disagree, but call me and talk to me if you want to hear the rest of the story, the part that they won't tell you and don't want you to find out until it is too late.) 239 272-7375
14. It has been said that ERVs are often used because the radon mitigator has no other arrows in his quiver. He knows that mold and moisture problems are a consequence of mechanical ventilation in hot, humid climates, but the ERV is the best he knows how to do. Building Science ain't simple.

In the upper left corner resides the "innocent" metal clothes dryer hood that serves as the air intake for two concealed radon systems. This is a siamesed system in which one air intake serves two separate apartments. It appears that operation of only one of the two radon systems would result in depressurization of the other to the effect that radon levels may increase in it substantially, The partial vacuum would suck even more radon out of the soil and out of the concrete blocks and dump it right into the breathing zone. Negative pressurization of a home is a big radon NO-NO. Both the radon mitigator and his radon "expert" consultant  should have known better.

These are the indoor clues to the existence of the concealed radon system that dumped large quantities of water vapor into this unit every day. The unmarked access panel is visible in the ceiling. There is a powerful blower and there may also be a concealed table lamp timer to turn the system on and off several times a day. It is not unusual for these timers to jam in the "ON" position causing the radon system to run 24/7. To the left is the switch that is likely the means to turn the radon system on and off. The switch is very high and unreachable without a step stool. It is unmarked.

This radon mitigation system is "Moisture Dumb." Even if the moisture in the home goes very high, the system doesn't know and doesn't care and just keeps on adding more water vapor and heat. This duct delivers about 40 to 100 pounds of water vapor contained in hot, humid outdoor air directly into the air conditioning system each day, and it does it every day this radon system is running. As should be expected, this air conditioner apparently has not been able to remove this extra and unexpected moisture and heat load. Before the extra heat and water vapor were added by the concealed radon system, the air conditioner probably was doing a good job of keeping the home so dry that mold could not grow.

 Were it not for the addition of the "Moisture Dumb" radon system this nightmare for the young woman and for the owners of these apartments would not have occurred. 

(Unfortunately, the owners of this apartment complex may have several hundred more apartments with identical dangerous, defective conditions.)

Result? Day-by-day, for several years, the extra moisture that the air conditioner could not remove soaked into the drywall, the furniture, the carpets, drapes, clothing, shoes. It took quite a while before it reached reached 70% moisture saturation by weight, and serious visible mold infestation began. It is likely that most of the mold began growing on the backside of the drywall in the moist exterior wall cavities long before it could be seen inside the apartment. A condo or apartment can have  a serious mold infestation long before anyone sees any mold inside the home.

The radon mitigation firm that installed this concealed radon system left no labels or marks indicating who they were despite the requirements of Florida radon regulations.

It could easily cost $20,000+ to remediate the mold in this apartment.

All because a "Moisture Dumb" radon system was installed and hidden from everyone.

The woman who occupied this apartment is now very sick.

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Last modified: 06/25/11