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Written by John Simek, Cook and Zook Team
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 10:40 |
 Chinese Drywall can cause many problems for homeowners and should be getting your immediate attention! Not sure what Chinese Drywall is? Chinese Drywall refers to defective or tainted drywall imported from China from 2001 to 2007 which emits sulfur gasses which usually create a noxious odor and corrode copper and other metal surfaces, thereby damaging your air conditioner, electrical wiring, copper plumbing, appliances and electronics. Unfortunately, this material was used in construction practices between 2001 and 2008. Some homes built as early as 1997 have used Chinese Drywall as part of their construction. Virginia, in particular, has used this material in many of their new home constructions during this time period, which makes it essential to make sure your protected!
You're probably curious of the signs of Chinese Drywall... Does your home smell like rotten eggs or ammonia (sometimes a sweetish smell)? Is it more noticeable when entering your home and then seems to dissipate? The level of odor varies greatly in each home as does each person’s ability to detect the odor. One of the telltale signs is corrosion/pitting of the air conditioner evaporator coils (which are located inside the air handler). Many owners are first advised of a freon leak, and as the corrosion progresses, evaporator coils eventually need replacement. An examination of the coils typically (but not always) reveal a black sooty deposit, which may also appear on the freon line. Chinese drywall also corrodes electrical wiring. (Taken from: http://www.chinesedrywall.com/)
A couple signs that point to this material being used in your home are:
-Severe Headaches
-Upper respiratory illness (cough, congestion, and asthma)
-Insomnia
-Itchiness and rash
-Burning Eyes
-Rotten Egg Smell, to name a few.
It is vital to be aware of these issues. If you would like more information about treatment, facts, etc. Please refer to the following links below:
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