System and method for preventing moisture migration

Abstract

A system and a method are described for maintaining a first pressure of a first portion of a building below a second pressure of a second portion of the building to prevent moisture from migrating from the first portion to the second portion. The system may include a pressure measuring system, an exhaust air mover, and a microcontroller. The pressure measuring system, e.g., a differential pressure sensor, may be selectively operable to calculate a pressure difference value between the second pressure and the first pressure. The exhaust air mover, e.g., a fan assembly, may be adjustable for selectively varying exhaust of air from the first portion to an exterior of the building. The microcontroller may be in communication with the pressure measuring system and the exhaust air mover to instruct the exhaust air mover to increase or decrease the exhaust of air to maintain the pressure difference at a positive setpoint.

1 . A method for preventing migration of moisture from a first portion of a building to a second portion of a building comprising: 
 calculating a pressure difference between the second pressure of the second portion and the first pressure of the first portion;    comparing the pressure difference to a positive setpoint; and    exhausting air from the first portion to an exterior when the pressure difference is below the positive setpoint to maintain the pressure difference at the positive setpoint to prevent moisture from migrating from the first portion to the second portion.    
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , including further providing an exhaust air mover, wherein exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior includes instructing the exhaust air mover to exhaust air from the first portion to the exterior.  
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior includes instructing the exhaust air mover to refrain from exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior when the pressure difference is above the positive setpoint.  
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust air mover is further defined as a fan assembly having a conduit extending between the first portion and the exterior and a fan disposed in the conduit, wherein exhausting air from the first portion includes activating the fan to move air through the conduit from the first portion to the exterior.  
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the fan assembly includes a baffle moveably positioned in the conduit, wherein exhausting air includes adjusting a position of the baffle in the conduit to selectively restrict flow of air exhausted through the conduit by the fan.  
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust air mover includes a control device connected to a power source, wherein instructing the exhaust air mover includes instructing the control device to selectively vary an amount of electricity supplied to the exhaust air mover from the power source.  
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , including further providing a microcontroller in communication with the exhaust air mover, wherein determining the pressure difference includes comparing the first pressure and the second pressure to calculate a pressure difference value corresponding to the pressure difference.  
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the microcontroller includes a memory and the memory stores a positive setpoint value corresponding to the positive setpoint, wherein exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior includes instructing the exhaust air mover to exhaust air from the first portion to the exterior when the pressure difference value is below the positive setpoint value and instructing the exhaust air mover to refrain from exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior when the pressure difference value is above the positive setpoint value.  
   
   
       9 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , including further providing a warning device in communication with the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller includes a memory and the memory stores a time limit value corresponding to a predetermined time period and further including activating the warning device when the pressure difference remains above or below the positive setpoint for a period of time exceeding the time limit value.  
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the microcontroller includes a memory and further including storing a log of a plurality of pressure difference values to the memory.  
   
   
       11 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the positive setpoint is a pressure range including an upper boundary and a lower boundary, wherein exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior includes instructing the exhaust air mover to exhaust air from the first portion to the exterior when the pressure difference is below the lower boundary and instructing the exhaust air mover to refrain from exhausting air from the first portion to the exterior when the pressure difference is above the upper boundary.  
   
   
       12 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , including maintaining an interior pressure difference between a third pressure of a third portion of the building and the second pressure of the second portion of the building in an equilibrium pressure range.  
   
   
       13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12 , including further providing an interior air mover, wherein maintaining the second pressure and the third pressure at the equilibrium pressure range includes instructing the interior air mover to selectively vary a rate of exhaust of air between the second portion and the third portion.  
   
   
       14 . A system for maintaining a first pressure of a first portion of a building below a second pressure of a second portion of the building, said system comprising: 
 a pressure measuring system in fluid communication with the first portion of the building and the second portion of the building being selectively operable to calculate a pressure difference value between the second pressure and the first pressure;    an exhaust air mover for disposition between the first portion of the building and an exterior of the building, said exhaust air mover being adjustable for selectively varying exhaust of air from the first portion to the exterior; and    a microcontroller in communication with said pressure measuring system and said exhaust air mover;    said microcontroller having a memory with said memory storing a positive setpoint value and storing a pressure maintenance program code to compare the pressure difference value to the positive setpoint value and to instruct said exhaust air mover to increase the exhaust of air when the pressure difference value is below said positive setpoint value or decrease the exhaust of air when the pressure difference value is above said positive setpoint value.    
   
   
       15 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said positive setpoint value is a value range including an upper boundary value and a lower boundary value, wherein said memory stores said upper boundary value, said lower boundary value, and said pressure maintenance program code to instruct said exhaust air mover to increase the exhaust of air when the pressure difference value is below said lower boundary value or to decrease the exhaust of air when the pressure difference value is above said upper boundary value.  
   
   
       16 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said exhaust air mover is further defined as a fan assembly including a conduit for extension between the first portion and the exterior and a fan disposed in said conduit for moving air through said conduit from the first portion to the exterior.  
   
   
       17 . The system as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said fan assembly includes a baffle moveably positioned in said conduit for selectively restricting air flow of the exhaust air exhausted through the conduit by said fan.  
   
   
       18 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said exhaust air mover includes a control device in communication with said microcontroller for connection to a power source to selectively vary an amount of electricity supplied to the exhaust air mover from the power source.  
   
   
       19 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said memory of said microcontroller stores a time limit value and further including a warning device in communication with said microcontroller for generating a warning when the pressure difference value remains above or below said positive setpoint value for a period of time exceeding said time limit value.  
   
   
       20 . The system as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said warning device is further defined as an audible alarm generator.  
   
   
       21 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , further including an electrical switch connected to said exhaust air mover for connection to a power source and for disposition on a door disposed in an opening between the first and second portions to allow electricity to flow from the power source to said exhaust air mover when the door is in an open position.  
   
   
       22 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , further including an interior pressure measuring system for fluid communication with the second portion and a third portion of the building to calculate an interior pressure difference between the second and third portions.  
   
   
       23 . The system as set forth in  claim 22 , further including an interior air mover for disposition between the second portion and the third portion, said interior air mover being adjustable for selectively varying a rate of exhaust of air between the second portion and the third portion.  
   
   
       24 . The system as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein said memory of said microcontroller stores an equilibrium pressure range value and stores a pressure equilibrium program code to instruct said interior air mover to selectively vary a direction and a rate of air flow between the second portion and the third portion.  
   
   
       25 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said pressure measuring system is further defined as a differential pressure sensor.  
   
   
       26 . The system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said pressure difference measuring device is further defined as a second pressure sensor and a first pressure sensor.