SAVE UP TO $3955 ON A NEW CARRIER SYSTEM     (click here for more about this special)                         Flair 2009 News Letter, Page 2 Chinese Drywall          About a year ago, I started reading articles regarding sulfur corrosion problems in air conditioning systems relating to drywall manufactured in China. The drywall emits sulfur dioxide gas causing corrosion in the solder joints of coils, as well as attacking the copper tubing and electrical connections in the house. The drywall in question was imported between 2004-2005 during the construction boom years and reconstruction required after the damage caused by Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina in 2005.          Sulfur gas odor smells like rotten eggs. It is the same smell you will notice in various locations when the sprinkler systems are on.          Knauf Plasterboard Tianjn, one manufacturer of Chinese drywall, said it stopped using a mine in late 2006 after odor complaints surfaced. Its investigation determined that one China mine used by Knauf contained iron disulfide, a natural occurring mineral. That would account for the smell.          The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received more than 2000 complaints, most of them from Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia.          The CPSC, EPA and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are studying potential health effects and long term implications of the corrosion. Most homes with the defective drywall were built between 2004 and 2008.          If your home has a well and you notice a sulfur or rotten egg smell when the sprinklers are on, make sure none of the sprinklers are spraying directly on your air conditioning unit. If they are, change the spray pattern or move them. If sulfur gases are present, the copper tubing will have a dark, burnt look and may be flaky and smutty to the touch.          Rinsing the coil down with fresh water on a regular basis (while the unit is off) can greatly reduce the damage caused by sulfur gases.           Manufacturer’s warranties do not cover sulfur corrosion. Spray Foam Keeping Army Tents Cool          The Iraq desert is very hot with temperatures reaching as high as 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Soldiers live in tents that can be air conditioned but even with the air conditioning running full load, temperatures inside the tents may only drop to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, because of the solar heat gain.          The U.S. Military recently began coating 900 air conditioned tents with spray-on insulating foam called Terra Strong. This specialized polyurethane foam is designed to reduce heat gain by solar rays and reduce the amount of cool air inside the tent that is leaking out.          The foam is a fast and flexible means or retrofitting the tents for higher energy efficiency.          I appreciate anything that can be done to help increase the comfort of our service personnel. Continue to Page 3 Return to Page 1
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