Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?

[GreyGhost]

They should be able to use a thermal camera and identify the moisture spots. Thus would indicate that there most likely is water coming around that moisture spot.

Home inspectors often have thermal cameras.

I have many tools but that is one I do not have.

Thermal camera will work on the the floor but if the walls are built out (ie not drywall laminated to concrete) there won't be anything to see on the wall. If you're really lucky, one or more stud bays may have higher moisture in the drywall. Before trying to look with the thermal camera, do a rapid temp change in house (eg furnace burning for 30 minutes or more). The damper sections of board will be cooler as they don't change temp as quickly.

Sadly, water travels and while it is generally near the floor puddle, you're not always that lucky. It can be an indoor leak too. My parents waterproofed an outside wall before figuring out there was a crack in the dishwasher discharge line. Obviously intermittent use so it wasn't nearly as obvious as if the sink was leaking. Water on basement floor showed up almost 8' horizontally from leak location.

 

[GreyGhost]

The proper thermal camera are NOT cheap. FLIR is one that comes to mind and I think they are a few thousand $$$. I am not sure how effective a cheap thermal camera would be in this application.

Cheap can be ok. Thermal cameras are not magic though. The cheaper cameras have lower resolution (and cheaper still only have accurate temp at center spot). Both of those are ok for this application. You don't care about calibrated temperatures, just differences and lower resolution means you need to be closer to the wall when scanning to get the detail you want. Not a big deal for a home-gamer. If you are shooting far by necessity (eg tall ceiling or industrial plant) or if you are selling time (scanning a whole wall in a second instead of a minute), better cameras can make sense.

 

[nobbie48]

For the quickest option, Sayal is probably your best choice.
Especially in the East end.

Actually ....
There is a place in Etobicoke (Sherway area) that probably has what you need (and more). Also another place in Mississauga (Dixie/401)

This is the place in Etobicoke. THEY ARE open today till 5 pm ( I called to confirm). Get back on the bike and go for another boot.

Don't get scared by the 1950's website.

a1parts.ca



View attachment 65159

Keep in mind that A-1 is a surplus outlet. You might have to dig through bins hoping for the best.

I've ordered through Digikey and get the stuff in a few days, all paperwork done for crossing the border.

Sayal is pretty good and their website lists what they have in stock and at what store.

Electrosonic used to be on Victoria Part south of Steeles but moved and closed their retail counter

 

[GreyGhost]

Keep in mind that A-1 is a surplus outlet. You might have to dig through bins hoping for the best.

I've ordered through Digikey and get the stuff in a few days, all paperwork done for crossing the border.

Sayal is pretty good and their website lists what they have in stock and at what store.

Electrosonic used to be on Victoria Part south of Steeles but moved and closed their retail counter

We lost Sayal in Barrie. Shipping is my best bet now or drive to vaughan.

 

[crankcall]

Water leaks can be tricky and even the experts can struggle . We had a leak in a utility room in a commercial building . Contractor 1 says dig up the whole floor and next door women’s washroom , water is coming up between the slab . Contractor 2 says , it’s coming through an exit pipe , digs foundation down, waterproofs around pipe exit . 2k and two weeks later , it’s wet . Plumber that was having a beer upstairs and hears us discussing says , let’s look . We run the shower in ladies washroom and the leak is from a 30yr old pipe going to the shower head . He fixes next day for $500. Leak is gone , wasn’t outside at all .


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[nobbie48]

Cheap can be ok. Thermal cameras are not magic though. The cheaper cameras have lower resolution (and cheaper still only have accurate temp at center spot). Both of those are ok for this application. You don't care about calibrated temperatures, just differences and lower resolution means you need to be closer to the wall when scanning to get the detail you want. Not a big deal for a home-gamer. If you are shooting far by necessity (eg tall ceiling or industrial plant) or if you are selling time (scanning a whole wall in a second instead of a minute), better cameras can make sense.

I used mine to pick off a leak appearing in a bedroom ceiling. I've tried the cell phone dongal ones and they work as well. Resolution is more important if you're trying to pick out the one overheating terminal in a strip. Water tends to be a smudge spot on the colour spectrum.

Most of our 65 year old house was waterproofed by digging out, applying a new coat of damp proof and the blister wrap. It cost the price of a decent bike but worth it.

We couldn't safely do that under the deck due to only two feet of headroom, cave in risks etc. I crawled under and contoured the soil to drain away from the house, laid blister wrap on the new grade and used up a ton or so of old patio stones on top to keep everything in place. I haven't seen a trickle since.

 

[Jampy00]

Gords coming out Jan 3
Based on our conversation they'll just dig and patch from the outside.
But, I'll know more once they review things. I do agree that a number of factors are taking place that lead to this leak and I'll have grading and downspouts to deal with in spring. I hate water issues...

 

[jc100]

Gords coming out Jan 3
Based on our conversation they'll just dig and patch from the outside.
But, I'll know more once they review things. I do agree that a number of factors are taking place that lead to this leak and I'll have grading and downspouts to deal with in spring. I hate water issues...

My buddy in Quebec bought a house years ago near a big river. The river burst its banks and the flood of the century ensued and his entire home was flooded. After remediation for mould etc the entire house was jacked up and put on stilts. Solved all his water issues. The pictures of the procedure were impressive.

 

[sburns]

Gords coming out Jan 3
Based on our conversation they'll just dig and patch from the outside.
But, I'll know more once they review things. I do agree that a number of factors are taking place that lead to this leak and I'll have grading and downspouts to deal with in spring. I hate water issues...

I would deal with the downspouts right a way if possible. These are usually culprits to basement dampness if they are not extended far enough.
Grading will only do so much, as the water will find it's own way under the ground. Basically your house sits in a pit, which has disrupted the natural flow, a upside down semi circle. The grading and downspouts should put the water, best as possible, past this semi circle. Because otherwise it can flow back to the house.

 

[Jampy00]

I would deal with the downspouts right a way if possible. These are usually culprits to basement dampness if they are not extended far enough.
Grading will only do so much, as the water will find it's own way under the ground. Basically your house sits in a pit, which has disrupted the natural flow, a upside down semi circle. The grading and downspouts should put the water, best as possible, past this semi circle. Because otherwise it can flow back to the house.

Agreed it's at the top of my list. Need to get materials and tools together.

 

[crankcall]

Anyone know how to wire a three way switch as a timer ? Upstairs guest bath has an exhaust fan , which I just figured out is a three way , linked to a switch on ground floor beside thermostat. It was a thing twenty yrs ago , but I want that fan on a timer . Does a three way timer exist?


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[Hardwrkr13]

Anyone know how to wire a three way switch as a timer ? Upstairs guest bath has an exhaust fan , which I just figured out is a three way , linked to a switch on ground floor beside thermostat. It was a thing twenty yrs ago , but I want that fan on a timer . Does a three way timer exist?


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Wifi smart switch. I have KASA ones from Amazon. Reliable and can set a “smart dimmer” timer in the settings.

 

[AllistonGT]

Wifi smart switch. I have KASA ones from Amazon. Reliable and can set a “smart dimmer” timer in the settings.

Have a few Kasa's as well. Better than the Lutron ones. Garbage.

 

[crankcall]

Ok , how about a not wifi smart switch . I’d like a wired in regular. I understand all the wifi stuff is getting better but I’d like it to last 10yrs or so


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[GreyGhost]

Anyone know how to wire a three way switch as a timer ? Upstairs guest bath has an exhaust fan , which I just figured out is a three way , linked to a switch on ground floor beside thermostat. It was a thing twenty yrs ago , but I want that fan on a timer . Does a three way timer exist?


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The other option is get rid of that stupid thermostat fan switch. Hardwire and put a blank cover on (or leave the disconnected switch so a home inspector probably misses it). Such a dumb code requirement and used by nobody. That is easily on the list of things that should never have been in code and just drive costs up with no benefit.

 

[nobbie48]

Anyone know how to wire a three way switch as a timer ? Upstairs guest bath has an exhaust fan , which I just figured out is a three way , linked to a switch on ground floor beside thermostat. It was a thing twenty yrs ago , but I want that fan on a timer . Does a three way timer exist?


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I've been kicking around wiring a humidistat into our fan for automatic operation. IIRC they are typically 24 volts so it means a small panel to house the relays etc. It would work for shower humidity but not for fumes.

 

[GreyGhost]

I've been kicking around wiring a humidistat into our fan for automatic operation. IIRC they are typically 24 volts so it means a small panel to house the relays etc. It would work for shower humidity but not for fumes.

View attachment 65201

The easy answer to that is a humistat switch. About $30. Runs fan for set time when you turn it on as well as turning on fan automatically when humidity is really high (showering with no fan).

 

[Gary]

The other option is get rid of that stupid thermostat fan switch. Hardwire and put a blank cover on (or leave the disconnected switch so a home inspector probably misses it). Such a dumb code requirement and used by nobody. That is easily on the list of things that should never have been in code and just drive costs up with no benefit.

I re purposed mine.
Now, the switch near the thermostat powers the ceiling fan that didn't come with the house.

 

[oioioi]

@crankcall
Get rid of the 3-Way switch and just wire it up as a regular single pole switch.

There are timers that will work with a 3-way. I don't think this application is worth the hassle and research in terms of which one will work. Even it is is a .10sec google search.

 

[crankcall]

3 way being decommisioned .......