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Re: Condensation on vinyl floor

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Flooring
Remote Name: 63.198.181.43
Date: 01 Jun 2002
Time: 11:24 AM

Comments

During warm humid days, you notice a slick of condensation on your vinyl floor, which has been installed over a slab. First, when it comes to condensation, here a few definitions: "Condensation is the phase change of a gas to a liquid. In the atmosphere, the change of water vapor to liquid water. Dew point is the temperature air would have to be cooled to in order for saturation to occur. The dew point temperature assumes there is no change in air pressure or moisture content of the air." Given that a slab has a large thermal mass, it's temperature will be largely controlled by the ground temperature, heating gradually throughout the day as the indoor temperature rises. As the warm, humid indoor air meets the cool vinyl surface, condensation can occur. To mitigate this, you must reduce the indoor temperature and humidity, or both. Air conditioning is one approach. It's also possible that your situation is compounded by a foundation drainage problem. Slabs, particularly those without vapor barriers and perimeter drainage systems, can draw in moisture from the ground, permeating the floor through pores, seams or cracks. This source of moisture further exacerbate condensation problems on your floor. Resolving this condensation problem is essential. Leaving it unchecked may promote mold growth on or under the vinyl, which can lead the poor indoor air quality. Do you have air conditioning and do you still notice condensation while the air conditioner is running?

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