The “Mold Grows on our Clothes” Home
“Our services pay for themselves over time. Guaranteed.”
— Home Energy Solutions
The Homeowner’s Humidity and Mold Problem
The homeowners had already consulted three HVAC contractors, but none had identified a solution. By the time they contacted Home Energy Solutions, they had endured uncomfortable conditions and mold growing on clothing in their closets for three years.
Solving the problem required evaluating the home and its HVAC equipment as one interconnected system. We examined how the building envelope, equipment sizing, ductwork, airflow, temperature, and moisture were interacting inside the home.
HVAC Testing, Load Calculations & Airflow Evaluation
We performed a Manual J load calculation and Manual D duct design for each room. These calculations accounted for differences in room orientation, sunlight exposure, construction, and cooling requirements.
We then mapped the existing ductwork and developed a properly balanced distribution strategy. Whenever possible, the plan preserved usable portions of the existing duct system to reduce the homeowner’s remediation costs.
Finally, we measured how the installed HVAC system and ductwork were actually performing during cooling operation.
Direct airflow measurements revealed that the closets were receiving more than 90% excess supply air compared with their calculated cooling requirements. Meanwhile, return airflow in the primary bedroom suite was nearly 30% below the required level. This severe imbalance contributed to poor humidity control in the affected spaces.
The second floor had four tons of installed cooling capacity but required only approximately 2.7 tons. The oversized and improperly commissioned system could not consistently deliver the correct volume of conditioned air to each room.
How Missing Balancing Dampers Affected Airflow
Without balancing dampers, conditioned air was distributed unevenly throughout the home. Home Energy Solutions designed a properly sized replacement system with balancing dampers installed on every supply branch, allowing airflow to be adjusted for each room’s calculated requirements.
Our measurements and calculations also gave the homeowner’s builder clear evidence of the original installation errors. We developed a corrective work plan that the builder and HVAC contractor could follow to resolve the airflow, comfort, and humidity problems.
The Results: Better Humidity Control & Lower Energy Use
The corrected system improved humidity regulation and overall comfort while reducing unnecessary equipment capacity. Replacing the improperly installed four-ton system with a correctly sized three-ton system reduced the blower fan’s measured power draw from 478 watts to 342 watts—approximately 29%.
Why Early Building-Science Consultation Matters
The homeowners lived with discomfort, excessive humidity, and mold concerns for three years before the underlying problems were correctly diagnosed. Building-science consultation during construction could have identified the equipment-sizing and airflow problems before the original HVAC system was installed. Instead, the homeowners required extensive diagnostic work and remediation after moving into their new home.
