Looking for a Chinese drywall house that is getting a new coil - HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion

teddy bear · #1 11-17-2009, 08:37 AM

Homes with Chinese drywall (CDW) have high H2S levels that corrode the copper and other metals throughout the home. A/c coils last <2years and have a black smutty corrosion. The best fix is to replace the CDW ASAP. Some unfortunate occupants are unable to afford the replacement of the CDW. They are living in the homes while waiting to resolve the CDW problem.
I am interested in monitoring a CDW home that is getting a new a/c coil in SO FL for natural fresh air change rate, %RH, and H2S levels.
After verifying high H2S, I would apply fresh air ventilation and humidity control. I would continue the monitoring the ventilation rate, %RH, and sulfur compounds to judge the effect. There would be no charge for the process. The ventilation equipment would be installed using a spare bedroom window for fresh air access. This would allow easy removal at the end of the test. There is a possibility that fresh air ventilation and low humidity may reduce the generation of H2S and purge the remaining H2S from the home. This would make the home more habitable until the CDW problem is resolved. Regards TB

Gaskeeter · #2 11-17-2009, 10:09 AM

I have a house in north Ga getting a new coated coil today for suspected cds.6 coils in 7 years!

davefr · #3 11-17-2009, 10:59 AM

1. If H2S is corroding copper this quickly then what is it doing to the occupants of the home?

2. Why is only the Chinese drywall emitting H2S? I thought drywall was basically gypsum and paper?

3. If copper is so vulnerable to corrosion has the HVAC industry looked at alternatives like stainless steel coils?

ibis1 · #4 11-17-2009, 11:17 AM

TB,

There are lots of holmes in Parkland (NW Broward county) Florida with this problem. Many are vacant and some are still in use. This is a very upscale development which is why so many people have left. Contact the Parkland homeowners assy. and they should be able to help you out. If you need assistence contact me by email (profile) and I'll get you some names and numbers. ibis1

beenthere · #5 11-17-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davefr

2. Why is only the Chinese drywall emitting H2S? I thought drywall was basically gypsum and paper?

While the material source of the problem is known, the cause of the problem is unknown.
Initially, the most common theory was that the tainted drywall was manufactured in gypsum
mines in China which used fly ash, a waste material that is a byproduct from power plants using
coal. Samples of Chinese drywall tested by United Engineering, however, consisted of 5-15%
organic material, which contradicts the theory that Chinese drywall was made of waste from coal
fired power plants. It is now believed that the tainted drywall from China comes from mined
gypsum, not synthetic gypsum which is made from coal ash. Mined gypsum contains high
levels of strontium, which is visible as inclusions in electron scanning microscopy.

Another theory is that Chinese drywall contains bacteria which is degrading iron and sulfur
compounds to produce sulfur odors. Drywall imported from China was kept on barges at sea for
months awaiting permission to enter the United States. While at sea, the drywall was exposed
to seawater. In fact, there are reports that the drywall was wet (and stunk) when unloaded
from the ships. A new theory focuses on the water source used to manufacture the drywall,
which may not have been properly treated to remove fecal waste.

In other words, the full verdict is still out. Do a search on the net, you find lots and lots info on it.

shophound · #6 11-17-2009, 02:14 PM

Good post, beenthere.

I would also want to know about what effect CDW has on the air in stud cavities of interior walls. Those walls often have copper plumbing and copper wiring in them. No amount of ventilation can stem whatever toxic fog is corroding those materials inside of a stud cavity, if indeed corrosion of a cooling coil is not the only problem CDW houses experience.

wolfstrike · #7 11-17-2009, 02:52 PM

i was told the same thing by a Goodman dealer

shophound · #8 11-17-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shophound

Good post, beenthere.

I would also want to know about what effect CDW has on the air in stud cavities of interior walls. Those walls often have copper plumbing and copper wiring in them. No amount of ventilation can stem whatever toxic fog is corroding those materials inside of a stud cavity, if indeed corrosion of a cooling coil is not the only problem CDW houses experience.

I think I answered my own question regarding whether the drywall is affecting more than just cooling coils. See this link:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...182073&ps=cprs

So, with that in mind, the only effective remedy is to demo the CDW and replace with a safer product. Ventilation might stem the toxic tide pertaining to human lungs and cooling coils, but what good does that do in stud cavities? When water starts gushing out of the walls or sparks fly out of electrical outlets, the hand is forced, whether anyone wants to pay for it or not. The drywall must be replaced. What a shameful mess.

wptski · #9 11-17-2009, 03:40 PM

I've heard of fifty vacant two year old homes in one sub!

You can go on YouTube for all kinds of CDW stories. One that get me is a contractor or whatever stating the the stuff was so damp that you could bend it in a circle. Didn't they question that???

davefr · #10 11-17-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wptski

One that get me is a contractor or whatever stating the the stuff was so damp that you could bend it in a circle. Didn't they question that???

Why would a sheetrock sub accept anything like that? It should have been sent right back to the local distributer.

Sounds similar to the Weyerhauser hardiboard fiasco. The homeowners got a pitance out of that lawsuit

ibis1 · #11 11-17-2009, 04:37 PM

It's a sad situation for the homeowners. A lot of them were "very" upper middle class and had enough money and credit to walk away. Giving up any equity they may have had to move there families into a safe home. For others who weren't as wealthy, the only option is to tuff it out. A lot of the builders are either out of business or in bankruptcy. It's like watching a "Chinese" fire drill with the buck passing, between the contractors, sub contractors, city inspectors and the insurance companies. On a positive note, there were one or two builders that stepped up and ripped out and replaced all the drywall, but the long term effects will take years to show up. ibis1

beenthere · #12 11-17-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davefr

Why would a sheetrock sub accept anything like that? It should have been sent right back to the local distributer.

Sounds similar to the Weyerhauser hardiboard fiasco. The homeowners got a pitance out of that lawsuit

Sadly. Most of this occurred during the housing booms. And after natural disasters. When supplies could be low. So to stay on schedule, and not be sued. Some contractors may have used it because it was the only material available.

others. may have used it because it was cheap and they didn't care.

jelectric · #13 11-18-2009, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wptski

I've heard of fifty vacant two year old homes in one sub!

You can go on YouTube for all kinds of CDW stories. One that get me is a contractor or whatever stating the the stuff was so damp that you could bend it in a circle. Didn't they question that???

NOPE all they saw were $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$