InstantForum.NET v4.1.4Therma-Stor Forumhttp://www.thermastor.com/forum/web@thermastor.comSat, 17 May 2008 15:57:22 GMT20http://www.thermastor.com/forum/Topic778-10-1.aspxWe bought a house last year and found out afterwards that there was a heating oil contamination from a leaking copper pipe that was buried in the concrete basement floor. The furnace had been gas-burning for years but an oil tank had remained, and leaked. Very strong oil odors were transported throughout the house via forced air heating ducts. Air quality testing proved the presence of VOCs.The oil tank was removed. The contamination was excavated and new concrete was poured. The old and inefficient furncace was replaced with a high efficiency furnace (now direct vent). The ducts have been cleaned (although some of the "duct work" is merely wall space that serves as a "duct" (house built in 1939) and there could be some residual oil odor in the wood that the furnace air passes over). Most of the basement has been cleaned and repainted. A Santa Fe dehumidifier has been in use to reduce moisture. It seemed like the problem was solved but now that winter is upon us again and the heat is on, we're getting some odors throughout the house that I think are associated with the oil contamination.I'm wondering if there's a ventilation or air exhange system that could rid the basement of contaminated air and replace it with fresh air that would improve the quality of the air being distributed through the ducts.I wonder if some pressure differential is allowing bad basement air to get into the ductwork or the furnace even though they have been well sealed and the furnace is direct vent. In any case, I don't want the air in the basement to bad, whether it gets to the rest of the house or not. We have a 15 month old son who has been in the house since this problem started!A local environmental clean up company did the testing and excavation and is supposed to be helping us now but they have been slow to respond to the latest issue.HELP!Thu, 14 Dec 2006 17:19:30 GMTRMDhttp://www.thermastor.com/forum/Topic773-10-1.aspxI am comtemplating installing a whole house dehumidifier to increase air changes and reduce RH. The east central Ohio house 25 years old, 2700 sq ft, full basement, fully insulated, brick veneer, living area enveloped with plastic behind wallboard, full basement with open stairs from family room to large room with furnace in it and laundry that are finished and insulated from rest of basement, a double garage in one end and large storage room and shop in other end which are fully below grade and not heated or cooled with dehumidifiers that do not work because temp usually below 70.My wife has chronic sinusitus and allergy problems. I want to reduce the humidity in the living area from always, winter and summer, from over 50-60 range to below 50 RH and increase air changes from measured 3 1/2 to 5 or so. Also, how do I lower humidity in storage room and shop where temp less than 70 Degrees and + 70 RH.The AC is 25 kw electric resistance with 24,000 btu cooling 5 years old, air bear filter and fan running 27/7. If exhaust vents placed in basement storage room and shop, will this flow sufficient drier air through these rooms to lower RH in them?Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:24:38 GMTBill