Has anyone ever seen these vents. Concrete slab foundation with these exterior wall vents all the way around spaced 10 feet apart or so. The lower level of this structure was a workshop with living space above. Vents were closed off from the inside except in the garage section to the right.
May have been installed because of excessively high moisture, an indoor air quality issue. I inspected a property with a detached garage that needed that type of ventilation because of excessive moisture migrating up through the slab. The slab should have a vapor barrier under it, but not always done for detached garages. Was the soil in the area a type that holds lots of moisture? Are there other issues directing moisture to the slab?
Residential SOG’s are not common in Minnesota.
It would help to better understand the situation is you told us where you are located.
Actually, we have quite a few here in the MN north, residential and commercial. Slab heat, 4 foot perimeter skirt of foam insulation, foam insulation under the slab. Works well with slab heat on well drained soils. Boiler heat is common here. Other heat sources include electric matts under the slab, in a sand base, used as storage heat.
Are you in a flood zone? Possible flood vents?
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This house was in a FEMA flood zone.
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Yes, I agree you have many SOG up north, prinarily due to the difficulty with having basements like the rest of the state. I have performed many inspections up your way, and many are exactly as you described.
IMO, the high water tables are a major influence. The in-slab heat is a necessity for it’s continued survival with annual freezing temps of -30f degrees and colder. What’s your actual ground frost depth… 5-6+ feet?
Ryan may have hit it. Homeowner might know.
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I’ve never heard of flood vents.
Learned something new today.
Thanks for posting.
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Thanks for p for sharing.
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Actually, frost in many locations is almost non-existent. Snow is an excellent insulator. Loggers wanting to establish a landing in winter have to snowmobile down an area to pack down the snow in order to freeze the ground. However, a low snow year, and frost can go deep. Winters are not as harsh as they were 40+ years ago. We don’t see -45 anymore, and even -30 is no longer an annual occurrence. Freezing ground can be harsh on improperly built foundations.
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I’ve never seen flood vents on a home in person. But I learned about them on this forum. Just one more reason it pays to be a part of this community!
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Bless the Lord, lol. I know I’m a bit south of you in MN, but I’m fine without the -30 to -40 temps!
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I’m with you on that. However, wildlife studies show it’s been one of several issues contributing to the moose population decline. Evidently increased parasite population on moose is due to warmer winters and higher parasite survival rates.
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Just for your information. I live in southern New Jersey on a barrier island and the entire island is in a flood zone so every house is either raised or the older ones all have flood vents. The type of vents we commonly see are called smart vents. Their website is is www.smartvent.com. They make a variety of vents for the home or the garage. They allow for the entry and exit of floodwaters. There are specific codes required when you build in a flood zone that are strictly enforced by AHJ. I have customers from out of state buying a shore vacation home and most of them ask “if it flood here”. My response is they shouldn’t ask “if” but should ask when and how often. We sometimes get flooding at high tides.
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Very common here in costal homes.