Entire Basement Carpet Damp !

As far as I know remember and things do change it is against code to have the condensation line tied into the sewer. It usually just terminated into daylight as we call it.

Lee j

 

Lee I think you are right about the timing. We had a TH in Broadlands North that was built in 2003 and the condensation line was just dumping directly into the hole in the floor near the furnace. And we had an inspector mention a year later that they had stopped doing that recently. But that pipe in our case was a PVC that ran in the foundation and out the back of the house and then came out of the ground near the property line.

The big issue I saw many of our neighbors have was that this line would get blocked by debris, mud etc. and then back-up and flood the utility room.

I suspect that this might be a possible cause for the problem described here. Take a look in your utility room if it is near this damp carpet and check for a drain in the floor. Look for PVC pipe(s) that are terminated there. I think you may want to look at this further. See if you can find in your back yard, right at the foundation, about 2-3 inches under the soil, the PVC pipe that comes out there could be your problem.

The other big issue with this is that the humidifiers dump into them as well so in the winter, I saw people with big sheets of ice in the townhouse backyards - a nice hazard too.

 

I just talked to one of the loudoun plumbing inspectors and he said there is nothing in the code that says you can't tie the condensate line into the sewer line and they use a air valve to keep the sewer gases from coming into your home.

Having said that he said LCSA does frown upon it, and perfers it is not tied to their sewer system.

So there you have it from the horses mouth Now I know why I don't like answering building questions too much like the non fun part of my business. ha ha ha
GeauxTigers I think I might of got this one RIght and right from the horses mouth.

Lee j

 

Lee - you should get help from that guy on the issue being discussed on the irrigation systems and back-flow questions thread. Seems like the inspectors are making stinks about the way these have been installed around the county....

 

This happened to us many years ago in a townhouse. Turns out our neighbors clothes washer had overflowed and it seeped over to "our side." Call them to make sure nothing's happend on their end!

 

When I replaced my carpet at the base level there were cracks along the foundation - fortunately nothing I couldn't seal up before laying the new floor, but I would pull up the carpet and inspect to rule out water seepage and make sure your gutter down spout is directed away from the sub wall.