Terra-Dome Earth Shelter Build

[dave1949]

Hi Sam,

One of our bathrooms has a cool floor. It is probably because that is the most buried part of the house. The consequence is a little condensation on the tile surface on muggy days, also the shower rug stays damp all the time. The only fix I've thought of is to put a little electric heat with a low speed fan in that corner.

If I were doing it again (and using in-floor heat), I'd consider running a zone just for the bathroom, so it could always be a little warmer. Just a thought, don't know how it will fit with your plans.

Steve

You may still have some excess humidity from your concrete. Your slab wasn't poured all that long ago was it? After you go through one winter with heat on, the concrete will be much drier I am guessing.

Summer is when I have had some condensation show up in our bathrooms. I just get some air movement going and that seems to cure it. Only happens if we get a stretch of high humidity.
Dave.

 

[sajurcaju]

You may still have some excess humidity from your concrete. Your slab wasn't poured all that long ago was it? After you go through one winter with heat on, the concrete will be much drier I am guessing.

Summer is when I have had some condensation show up in our bathrooms. I just get some air movement going and that seems to cure it. Only happens if we get a stretch of high humidity.
Dave.

The house slab was poured in January. Also, the tile surface is where the moisture shows up. I'm pretty sure it is condensation.

Air and maybe a little heat seems like the answer. We've got forced air ventilation, but I just realized it was set at the lowest setting, I cranked it up to middle.

Steve

 

[dave1949]

The house slab was poured in January. Also, the tile surface is where the moisture shows up. I'm pretty sure it is condensation.

Air and maybe a little heat seems like the answer. We've got forced air ventilation, but I just realized it was set at the lowest setting, I cranked it up to middle.

Steve

It is no doubt condensation Steve. What I meant is your newish slab is contributing humidity to your air in all probablity. It takes some time for the slab to be really dry. The increased air movement should help through evaporation and warming the cool spot.
Dave.

 

[sajurcaju]

It is no doubt condensation Steve. What I meant is your newish slab is contributing humidity to your air in all probablity. It takes some time for the slab to be really dry. The increased air movement should help through evaporation and warming the cool spot.
Dave.

OK, that makes lots more sense.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Concrete is a weird beast. We were told the concrete in the hoover dam is still wet and may never dry.

 

[SamWalton]

We lay out and installed our starting collars on our plenum including the twelve inch top clean out. We have four pressure loops to heat and cool three and a half modules.

 

[SamWalton]

We insulated and wrapped the plenum and began installing the pressure loops.

 

[dave1949]

We insulated and wrapped the plenum and began installing the pressure loops.

I see you are hard at it Sam. Lots of details before calling the concrete trucks. Is there a need to plan on dealing with any condensation issues that could occur in your air system? Or, do you think that will not be an issue?

Some early solar homes using rock beds and under/in slab air passages experienced mold issues as a result of condensation build up. I think they were circulating outside, unconditioned air in most cases.
Dave.

 

[SamWalton]

I see you are hard at it Sam. Lots of details before calling the concrete trucks. Is there a need to plan on dealing with any condensation issues that could occur in your air system? Or, do you think that will not be an issue?

Some early solar homes using rock beds and under/in slab air passages experienced mold issues as a result of condensation build up. I think they were circulating outside, unconditioned air in most cases.
Dave.

Condensation shouldn稚 occur but the system is all plastic and can be cleaned fairly easily via 12 inch clean out in plenum and at register level as well

 

[SamWalton]

We installed more HVAC pressure loop pipe and 3/4" chip rock.