A Cellar Comes Up For Air

[Jay Markanich]

Sometimes when things are done improperly the result can lead to other problems. 

When, for example, a stone foundation is improperly repaired it gets wet.  If it gets too wet it can collapse.  When it collapses small gaps become huge holes.  Huge holes that didn't used to be there cause other things to move or separate.  Air moves more freely and rapidly and can enter the house where it isn't supposed to.  Such was the case in the recent stone-founded historic house.

This very pretty picture shows lots of things.  It is a thermal image of a floor register, seen as the white spot lower left.  The register is blowing warm air onto the wall and window sill.  You can virtually see the air move upward and onto the window.  It is orange and yellow.

There is competition going on.  This window is right over the spot where the stone foundation wall partially collapsed.  A gap has obviously opened up, unseen from above or below, and air is moving freely inside.  That purple stripe is 31 degrees F.  The gap there is blowing its air upward also.  Can you see how it, too, is making its way up the wall and is restrained by the warm air?  Or is the warm air restrained by the cool air?

So, is cool the absence of heat or is heat the absence of cool?

There is a desk is just to the right of this image.  I bet somebody's footsies have been real cold!

My recommendation:  One thing really can lead to another.  When repairs are needed, it is best not to let them go.  It is also best not to try to do them if you don't know what you are doing.  Hire a professional!  Small problems can lead to larger ones that can themselves lead to chronic ones, like you see here.  How long has the battle between heat and cool been going on in this room?