Moisture reduction and mold and moisture damage preventative system and method in construction

Abstract

A moisture removal system and method employing air movers, dehumidifiers, heaters and attendant methods for reducing moisture in a construction project. The method and system include operating moisture removal equipment and testing moisture content levels sufficient to reduce the moisture content levels to a desired threshold to reduce the likelihood of mold growing or moisture damage in the construction after it is completed.

1 . A method comprising:
 measuring, with a moisture meter, a moisture content at a plurality of exposed wall studs during construction of a new building;   determining whether the measured moisture content meets a threshold moisture content level indicating that drying be performed in the building; and   drying, with at least one drying device, a space of the building that is substantially sealed with a vapor barrier in order to reduce the moisture content of at least some of the exposed wall studs, wherein the at least one drying device is entirely located within the building while drying the space.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises the building, and wherein the building is substantially sealed with the vapor barrier relative to outside of the building. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the space comprises one or more rooms of the building, and wherein the one or more rooms are substantially sealed with the vapor barrier relative to other rooms of the building. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drying device is entirely located within the space. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drying device is selected from a group consisting of a dehumidifier, a space heater, and an air moving device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring the moisture content comprises measuring the moisture content at multiple locations on at least one of the plurality of exposed wall studs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the multiple locations comprise both a high location of the at least one wall stud and a low location of the at least one wall stud. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the high location is near a ceiling or near a roof of the space. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the low location is near a floor of the space. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising drying, prior to said measuring, the space of the building in a first drying operation, wherein the moisture content is measured after the first drying operation is completed, and wherein said determining comprises determining whether a second drying operation is required in order to further reduce the moisture content of at least some of the exposed wall studs. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 means for measuring a moisture content at a plurality of locations within a newly constructed building, wherein the measured moisture content is compared with a threshold moisture content level to determine if a drying operation needs to be performed in the building;   means for substantially sealing a space of the building; and   means for drying the sealed space in order to reduce the moisture content, wherein the means for drying is entirely located within the building during the drying operation.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the space comprises the building, and wherein the building is substantially sealed relative to outside of the building. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the space comprises one or more rooms of the building, and wherein the one or more rooms are substantially sealed relative to other rooms of the building. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for drying is entirely located within the space. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for drying comprises means for drying, prior to said measuring, the space of the building in a first drying operation, and wherein the moisture content is measured after the first drying operation is completed. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining whether a second drying operation is required in order to further reduce the moisture content. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for measuring comprises means for measuring the moisture content at multiple locations of at least one exposed wall stud in the space. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the multiple locations comprise both a high location of the at least one wall stud and a low location of the at least one wall stud. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the high location is near a ceiling or near a roof of the space. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the low location is near a floor of the space.