Drywall Cracking Lack of Furnace??

[Rob Manley]

So I had a customer call me yesterday. We are going to do an inspection on a Foreclosure that has no furnace. Yes it is winter here! The home has been closed up for about 3-6 months. It has been winterized and it is going to be dewinterized this week. The deal is that another inspector he spoke too said that with no furnace the drywall will get moisture in it during winter and freeze, crack and then in spring and summer it will mold! HUH! I have not ever heard of this.. People winterized the cabin and homes around here all the time and many times shut off the furnace if they are not going to be there.. Anyone ever heard of this!! Just want to make sure that there is not some obscure thing out there!!!

[Bob Elliott]

Hi Rob
Winter is dryer than summer.
First I ever heard that one.I have three inspections on hold right now while I wait for Banks to de winterize.
The biggest issue is that they never winterize properly and there will be leaks once water is turned back on.
Some may occur in the walls and not be seen at first which will therefore cause mold.

[Jim Keilson]

Rob, I have never heard of that nor ever seen that issue occur.

[Rob Manley]

Ya, I just told the guy that I had never heard of it either, but then you start to question whether you have not heard of something legitimate. I was dumbfounded!!! and yes Bob, I already explained to him that winter is a dry month and that is why people use humidifiers to add moisture and mold in drywall or walls signifies a different concern!! Thanks guys, just though I may be going senile..!

[Bob Elliott]

You might be going senile.
I would get that checked out.

[Bert de Haan]

Winter is dryer than summer but only if you consider absolute humidity.  The relative humidity can be very high in the winter.  If the house is heated, the relative humidity goes way down inside the house.  If the house isn't heated, the high relative humidity is going to put moisture into the drywall; no doubt about it.  Will it freeze and crack?  I doubt it.  In order for it to freeze and crack the drywall would have to be saturated with water.   It may take on enough moisture to make it sag between joists or trusses on the ceiling though.  This reply may be a bit late to do you any good; I didn't see the question until just now.

[Bob Elliott]

I see lots of separation between wall and wood trim though.
Had some bad ghosting of studs the other day to.

[Rob Manley]

The issue is that the buyer is now concerned, since the other inspector told him his walls are going to mold, that once he puts in a furnace mold will start growing on the drywall. The only way I know this too happen is if they throw way to much humidity in the air and close up the house with lack of ventilation. I could see high humidity and extremely cold walls possible causing condensation on the cold drywall, but this would have to be much higher humidity. Relative humidity is typically low in winter.. I spoke to the gentlemen doing the dewinterization to see if he has ever seen condensation form on the walls when heating the home. He is using gas heaters to warm the interior and fresh air intake to fire them. He has not seen moisture on the walls. So Bert, if moisture gets into the walls because of no furnace, is it likely to mold then when a furnace is installed or will it likely dry out! I believe it is a matter of controlling the humidity levels. I know I am going to moisture check the drywall with my meter and document that!

[Rob Manley]

Inspection is today, I will let you know what I find!

[Dominic Maricic]

Sounds good, let us know how it goes.

[Bert de Haan]

Turning on the furnace should dry the walls out rather quickly.