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Chinese Drywall Problems

 Chinese drywall problems include:

• Extensive, difficult to repair property damage.
• Reports of chronic adverse health effects.
• Catastrophic personal financial impact.  

Chinese drywall problems are several fold and often severe.
 

What are the Chinese drywall problems?

Chinese drywall, also known as Chinese sheet rock or toxic drywall, is emitting gases that cause a variety of issues.  The government has established and verified a link between Chinese drywall and significant corrosion within a home. This tainted drywall emits a sulfur gas that combines with humidity in the air and creates a highly corrosive indoor air environment. As a result, just about anything metal is at risk. Many owners have reported that the most significant Chinese drywall problem is the failure of sensitive electronics. TVs, DVD players, radios, and computers are all failing at rates that are dramatically higher than the average failure rate. For example, one owners reports that her TV failed after less than a year.

Refrigerators, ovens, and air conditionings are also very affected. One of the areas that is typically inspected in a visual Chinese drywall inspection is the air conditioning. This is another huge problem of Chinese drywall. Air conditionings and appliances are very expensive. In addition, several of the areas where these problems have been most significant are known for hot summers. An air conditioning and refrigerator that is consistently failing in a hot and humid climate makes it very uncomfortable to live in the home.

Reports indicate that this gas is also affecting door knobs, faucets, mirrors, cabinet hardware, and door hinges. Every metal item in the home is corroding, but these are small Chinese drywall problems.

Does insurance cover Chinese drywall problems?

None of the problems of Chinese drywall are covered by the insurance carried by most home owners. These insurance companies rely on two specific clauses. Gradual decay and corrosion in a typical home would not be covered as they are classified by insurance companies as normal wear and tear. In a home that is affected by tainted drywall, the insurance companies also rely on a clause that excludes damages resulting from material defects or pollution. The liability string associated with Chinese drywall is convoluted and has yet to be settled.

The corrosive environment also attacks the copper wiring used as wiring in a home. Before this problem drywall was hung, an electrician ran copper wire to each and every room. This wiring allows switches, outlets, and lights to work. The increased corrosion on the wiring increases the resistance to electrical current. In turn, the increased resistance to electrical current can cause increased levels of heat during use. As a result, one of the most significant Chinese drywall problems related to property damage is the increased risk of electrical fire. Some insurance companies, in fact, have begun to drop or not renew insurance on homes that they suspect to have Chinese drywall because of this increased risk.

Electrical fires are a significant Chinese drywall problem for another reason, as well. House fires are one of the most dangerous situations that can occur in a home, resulting in many deaths nationwide each year.

In addition to house fires, several other Chinese drywall problems exist. The same gases that cause the corrosion can also cause adverse health effects. The sulfur gas emitted combines with latent humidity to create hydrogen sulfide. This gas has been identified by the government as hazardous to human health. The government has not studied the effect of long term exposure to hydrogen sulfide, but has established that adults should not be exposed to this gas at levels that exceed 10 parts per million (ppm) for more than 10 minutes.

Many owners report that one of the first noticeable Chinese drywall problem is a smell of “rotten eggs.” This smell is first detectable by the human nose at a concentration of 40 parts per billion. While this concentration is significantly lower than the level set by the government, the duration of exposure is significantly longer. In addition, the government does not have any recommendations for a safe exposure limit for children.

Another Chinese drywall problem is carbon disulfide. The exposure limits set by the government for carbon disulfide is 1 ppm, just 10% of the acceptable short term exposure limit for hydrogen sulfide. Similarly, the long term effects of carbon disulfide is not known. The short term exposure limits for carbon disulfide are based on how the gas affects the central nervous, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems.