Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum House moisture issue

Have a double wide that is getting moisture in the walls to the point it’s bubbling out the wallpaper. Also, moisture creeping out on ceiling from behind crown molding in vaulted living room. I’m assuming there is little or no attic above living area. Craw space is cmu block with vents. In one location in center wall where sides are joined together there is a gap with hot air blowing out….i cant tell if air is coming from above or below. I know I need to seal off dirt underneath just trying to start with what’s most important. Any input is appreciated

Sounds like you need a BIG dehumidifier

Yep, I bought one yesterday. Pretty handy device this hot, wet Summer .

Need to consider encapsulation. Just putting a dehumidifier down there will do no good, especially if your air HVAC air handler is also located in the crawlspace. It will just run all the time and not be able keep the relative humidity to an acceptable level. Take a hygrometer and test your RH level in the crawlspace. 60 or below is ideal.

I think that’s a roof leak/rain issue and not just humidity. I don’t see how condensation could get behind crown molding like that.

This too

Lots of hot damp air in walls. I opened one of them up. I would think possibly roof leak also but it’s on opposite side of room and moisture coming out of walls is in a separate room.

encapsulate crawlspace (with dehumidifier down there). triple check for leaks on roof , rubber boots, vents, lip of the roof and eves. also check the caulk around the windows and doors

I think you have a roof leak. Water could be running down from an unexpected spot on the roofing system into the area where you are observing it.

This happened on my hunting trailer which started life as a construction office trailer (sor of looks like mobile home). Like you said, walls were wet and the ceiling/wall interface was wet. I solved it by installing a metal roof on top of the entire existing structure. I probed for rafters (which unhelpfully were unevenly spaced and not even the same spacing at the ridge and eve. So, you had to probe till you hit wood). I cut out the ridge vent length with a circular saw. I used 2x4's as the purling strip, then put metal over everything. It solved the moisture problem and ALSO made the temperature drop inside by a ton. I guess all that galvanized metal with a 1.5" air space separation was able to reject a bunch of heat. Only downside is cell signal went to zero and we had to install a booster.

EDIT: I don't know anything about how the two halves of a double wide are mechanically joined, but perhaps someone can chime in here on the possibility something has separated and allowing air flow into the center.

I'd be happy to come look at it for you if you're in my operating area. No charge. Just help an aldeer member out.

This is solid right here!

In case no one has told you lately Fatty....You're a good dude...

You may have a big supply air duct leak in your AC system.
Your house will be in a vacuum in this situation and hot humid air will pull in from wherever it can.
An easy test to check this theory is to crack open your front door an inch or 2 and see if you feel air rushing inside. Do this test with the Ac on and running and preferably after the house has been sitting with no outside doors being opened for a little while.

That's a nice offer! One educated in-person evaluation is worth 100 bozos like me on the internet!

Very nice. Will be in touch

Ok, I have questions that are pertinent:

New manufactured home or older that just started having problems?
Or an older model perhaps moved to new location?

Any remodeling lately? Like new windows, wall paint, wallpaper, new roof?
Walls are prefab manufactured home boards or Drywall?
Is there a plastic vapor barrier directly behind the wall material? Odd question but I've seen it.

Gap at marriage line. Can you see a gap on inside? Outside is covered with siding and no joint at center?

Leaks. Are you experiencing physical bulk water leaks anywhere. If so, decribe.

Vapor drive. Are you seeing any evidence of moisture or microbial growth around trim, heads of doors and windows, or at outlets/switches?

Have you measured the indoor humidity?

If new roof, is it shingles or metal? Roof over the old? Change in ventilation?
Skirting around the bottom....newly added or preexisting?
No vapor barrier on ground, correct?

I've run into issues over and over all over and these are the first basic things I try to ascertain. I'll be glad to check as well. PM inbound.