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What should I do about condesation and water in my twin wall PC??

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Posey, Jan 11, 2009.

  1. Jan 11, 2009 #1
    Posey

    Posey New Member

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    Well the few pieces of the few twin wall polycarbonate pieces, that I left on the greenhouse during the hurricane, got torn off and scattered to the winds. LOL. They didn't seem damaged and I checked the top sealer aluminum tape and fixed/replaced that as necessary but apparently they either had water in them or still aren't right. The bottom edges have the regular white protective drainage/insect barrier tape on them. Well heck, I'm still getting lotsa condesation and some water build up in some of them.:confused: Next thing you know, I'll have ugly green stuff growing in there. That will drive me sorta nuts, you know. LOL. What can/should I do? I have to take the entire thing apart to fix it properly but I'm thinking we might get an unpredicatable cold period yet and I don't want to do that until Spring and I'm sorta kinda busy doing other stuff right now. Sooo, for this greenhouse glazing problem, I'm thinking for right now, I should like drill holes in the lower edges of the effected channels and cover the new holes with the permeable/insect barrier tape stuff but can/should I also put some type of fungicide stuff, with a syringe or something, in those channels? Drill holes? Treat with fungicide/physan? So many decisions in such a short day. LOL. FYI, the entire mess is now, as of a couple days ago, FINALLY securely and completely covered with a solar pool cover so no more water shoud get in the tops of the panels anymore. Like happy dancin here!!! Wooohoooo!!!

    The first picture shows typical condesation in the effected panels.
    The second picture shows actual water build up in a lower portion of a roof corner. YUCK, I'm already getting funkie stuff in there. YUCK!!! The pictured corner is in a part of the roof that wasn't torn off and I thought was OK, I might add. Apparently that panel is outa its track in the roof peak thing. Well heck, I don't have like 8 foot long arms or something and have to take the greenhouse apart to reach all the way over the roof piece thingies so it will have to be fixed/resealed when I take the greenhouse apart when I know its gonna be warm for a bit, but for now what do you think I outa do????????????

    Its cold today too. I had to put the heater back out and the back-ass working thermostat thingie (that gets warmer/turns things on when its turned to the colder settings :rolleyes:) and my remote sensors are still are screwed up. Sigh. Anyway, I'm gonna be good and be a indoor house ceramic floor installing girl today but TOMORROW, well, its supposed to be warmer and you never know. :evil: I just might go out and fix me a greenhouse if you people tell me how it might be done. :) Anybody up for that?
    1hurricanestuff09 002.JPG 1hurricanestuff09.JPG
     
  2. Jan 11, 2009 #2
    Candace

    Candace Kept Woman Supporting Member

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    Don't drill holes in it. Is there any way you can remove the taping from the affected sections and let it dry out? It really looks like the channels need draining. I've used physan on the walls to remove algae, but I wouldn't recommend putting any product inside the channels. You'd be putting more moisture in it and making it worse.
     
  3. Jan 11, 2009 #3
    Posey

    Posey New Member

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    Hmm. Thanks Candace. The ones that have actual water build-up in there I can probably do that tomorrow. I dunno/don't think that is an option for all the ones with condensation until I take it apart. Why can't i just punch some better bigger holes in the bottom drainage tape on the ones with condensation? And if, they are still in place and not getting good air circulation on the bottom, am I gonna just kinda invite mold and stuff to go up there? Sorry for the stupid questions. This greenhouse stuff is pretty new to me.
     
  4. Jan 11, 2009 #4
    Candace

    Candace Kept Woman Supporting Member

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    Putting holes in the drainage tape would be fine, I thought you meant punching holes in the polycarb itself.
     
  5. Jan 11, 2009 #5
    T&J San Antonio

    T&J San Antonio New Member

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    My suggestion is to do whatever you need to do to get the water out of the channels. Either pull off the bottom tape or as you say poke larger holes in it to allow the water to drain. Eventually, you will get a full day of sunshine and warm temps. If the moisture has away to get out, it will evaporate. Just be sure to close up the channels before Spring. Do not drill any holes. that will only give you more troubles to deal with later. If you do start to see Algea build up, find a syringe and mix up a little bleach/water and inject from the top but seal the holes with some silicone clear caulk if you think they are big enough to allow insect penitration.
     
  6. Jan 11, 2009 #6
    vmijct

    vmijct Clif

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    If you're getting condensation then the seal around the panes isn't tight. Letting water out means letting air in. Once you drill a hole it will never be the same and will encourage heat conduction. I think you'll have to rupture that seal at a low point without breaking the polycarb so the water can drain out. Do this during a period of dry weather so it will be good and dry inside the pane and out. Put a fan on it if necessary to help speed evaporation. Then seal the pane before more moisture can get in if this is possible. Algae can't live without moisture. I'm not sure if this is the best time of year to do this. It's very wet here in VA now. Never had this problem before. Good luck.