Water in Central Air Ducts in slab foundation - a common problem?

[viewton]

We've had our house since June, and we've now had water get (and stay) in the central air ducts twice. The house is about 20 yrs old, and is built on a slab foundation which I'm guessing has a few cracks, and it seems that if it rains for too long (a day or two), then water will build up in the ducts and won't recede until the ground around the house becomes less saturated.

It just happened again last night. We've had rain and snow for a couple days now, and I'm guessing that the ground is frozen and saturated, so we had to turn off our heat last night for two reasons....

The house gets too humid with the air running while water is in the ducts.
It makes this loud "gurgling" sound if the heat (or air) is on w/ water in the ducts.

The family that we bought the house from didn't mention anything about this in the paperwork while selling the house, and they lived in the house for 20 yrs, so I would assume this happened to them plenty of times. I'm just curious if anyone else has had this problem? If it's a common thing, I'm not too worried, but if this is unusual, I think the lady that sold the house should have said something.

Thanks

 

[samgau]

Im nt sure whether is common...but its definetly a problem... you should get it looked at... the water can only do more damage to the foundations... and thats definetly not good...

 

[TomC25]

That's no fun

When I was buying our house I asked the previous owner if water ever got into the basement. The house has a driveway that enters into the basement. He says that water never came into the garage ever. Well we buy the house and EVERY time it rains more than a drizzle water crests over into the garage. Luckily there is a drain in the garage and the water runs straight to it.

Just goes to show you can never take the word of someone selling a house. They will say anything to get you to sign the papers.

I have never encountered your problem so I cannot comment on it.

Keep warm

 

[dwil]

I feel for you.
I had a prblem that was a little like what you have, ok well not too much.

My neighbors houses were more elevated than mine. So run off came to my yard and stayed.
We had a huge storm in Chicago, and the water accumulated and came over the top of the foundation, and ran under the hardwood floors and into the ductwork in the slab. I had a wet/dry vac sucking it out becuase of the humidity, it was horrible. The house smelled musty after that. Wanted to spray Lysol down there.... ran the fan to dry it out.

Turns out the City came and looked at it and they laid a 10inch drainline from the backyard out to the street.
$12k they paid to fix it!!!! Not ME!!!!

Oh, and I got new carpet out of it too. There was a crack in the foundation that water came up through on the other side of the house.

Man am I glad I moved home to Phoenix!

dave

 

[TheGameIs21]

It is common and to fix you need a french drain installed......

 

[viewton]

Thanks for the responses

I guess I can't really go after the previous homeowner, since I can't prove that it was a pre-existing problem.

Glad to find out it's a common problem. I'll research French Drains, and see if it's an economical fix. TheGameIs21, do you know if it's pretty expensive to have that done, or is it easy enough for the avg homeowner to do?

 

[Tarmouth]

It's really not that hard to do. You can rent a ditch witch from most rental places. Simply cut a ditch , about 3 feet down, around the perimeter of your house and end it at an area lower than your foundation. Lay about 2 inches of gravel in the bottom of the ditch , drop in some pvc drain pipe(you can find it at most home improvement stores) fill the ditch ,up to about 4 inches from the top, with gravel. Backfill the rest with soil, haul away the remaining soil, resead. Thats pretty much it . If you want extra protection and/or you don't have a lower place on your property, have a large hole dug at the end of the drain line and fill it with gravel ! If you want a more detailed explanation please PM me



edit- allmost forgot you will have to contact your local utilities!!! Most of them offer free services that come out and mark any underground pipes, wires, etc..... Make sure you do this !

 

[GasX]

Water and central air ducts don't mix. Can you say Legionnaire's Disease?

 

[Ornery]

"I guess I can't really go after the previous homeowner, since I can't prove that it was a pre-existing problem."

Was there a real estate agent involved in the sale for either party? I'd have a word with them and find out if they feel the same way you do about it. Your agent should be looking out for you in this matter. There's is no way the previous owner would not have known about this. There is a Residential Seller's Property Disclosure Statement that was signed by the seller. I'd pursue legal action if they won't pay for at least some of the repair bill, which isn't going to be cheap.

Would you have purchased the house if you had known about this defect? Would have asked for an allowance for having it repaired before making the purchase?

 

[kranky]

Question for Tarmouth:
How does the water get into the drain pipe to be carried away?

 

[Ornery]

The pvc drain pipe has slits in it. The proper name for that pipe would be perforated drainage pipe.

French Drainage System

 

[Tarmouth]

Nice link ornery but I'd still recommend going a bit deeper than they say there Also the grass needs more than 2 inches of soil to keep a decent stock of nutrients. Only 20' feet in a day ? lmao thank god for ditch witches Oh btw my info does come from practical experience . I've been a greenskeeper for many years now .

 

[Ornery]

Greenskeeper, eh? Then I'll make doubly sure you NEVER catch a glimpse of what passes for landscaping around here!

Well, I'll let you give me some advice on this one project. What would you use instead of the skyrocket in this bed? My wife hates it!