Sep 23, 2024 | CrawlSpace
Your crawl space plays a key role in your home’s overall health and safety. If your crawl space is not properly taken care of, it can lead to a range of problems such as pest infestations, poor indoor air quality, damage to your foundation, and potential health hazards. In this blog, we breakdown how to care for your crawlspace with the help of DIY methods, encapsulation, and CrawlSpace Seal.
How To Care For Your Crawl Space
CrawlSpace Encapsulation
Encapsulating your crawl space is the process of sealing it to help prevent moisture from entering. This process involves installing a moisture barrier or vapor barrier on the floor and walls of your crawlspace, keeping moisture out of the space to help prevent fungi, wood rot, and other moisture-related problems. Likewise, crawlspace encapsulation can help seal pests out by eliminating the food and water sources available to them.
CrawlSpace Seal
CrawlSpace Seal is an innovative solution that is applied to wooden structures in space, such as floor joists and beams. CrawlSpace seal will not only help with moisture issues, but it can also deter pests, like termites, and prevent them from damaging your home’s wood. This service is environmentally friendly and can provide extra protection when paired with crawlspace encapsulation.
Tips For Keeping a Healthy CrawlSpace Tips:
- Check regularly for signs of moisture, including dampness and standing water. If you notice moisture buildup, address is as soon as possible to prevent moisture-related issues.
- Remove debris or clutter from your crawl space to help eliminate hiding spots for pests.
- Consider installing screens over vents or openings in your crawlspace to prevent pests from entering.
- Schedule regular inspections with your local pest control company near you to ensure the area is free of pests and other issues.
Following these tips to care for your crawl space can lead to a healthy home for you and your family!
Sep 9, 2024 | CrawlSpace
Crawl space encapsulation is the process of sealing your crawl space with a barrier to prevent moisture from entering. A crawl space professional will install a moisture or vapor barrier on the floor and walls of the space, allowing moisture to stay out to prevent fungi growth and other moisture–related problems. But when do you know it’s time to enclose your crawl space? We breakdown all you need to know about crawl space encapsulation, its benefits, and tips on keeping it healthy year-round.
FAQs About Crawl Space Encapsulation
When Should I Enclose My Crawl Space?
If you’re noticing persistent moisture issues, fungi growth, or a musty smell creeping into your home, it’s a clear sign that enclosing your crawl space could be the solution. Sealing it off can help protect your home from these issues.
What Are the Benefits to Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Besides preventing moisture-related issues, there are several other benefits that enclosing your crawl space will provide your home, including:
- Energy Savings: HVAC units often run longer to help maintain the temperature inside, using more electricity, and, in return, increasing your energy bills. A moisture barrier will act as a sealant and ease your HVAC system to make your home more energy efficient and save money!
- Structural Integrity: Home foundations are vital and excess moisture can lead to wood rot, comprising the structural integrity of your home. Moisture barriers help reduce the amount of moisture to avoid wood rot, protecting the overall structure.
- Better Air Quality: Fungi and mildew issues can arise if your crawlspace is in bad condition, creating a health risk to your family and pets. Once installed, a moisture barrier looks to reduce the moisture levels and prevent these moisture-related problems from forming, creating better air quality overall.
- Pest Control: Unsealed crawlspaces can be an open invitation for pests and wildlife critters to enter and search for a place to nest and find food sources. Pests like rodents and roaches can cause considerable damage and contaminate your home, bringing in health and safety concerns. Enclosing your crawlspace will eliminate entry points for pests into your home and serve as a good starting point for home pest control.
How Can I Keep a Healthy Crawl Space?
Once your crawl space encapsulation is installed, it’s still important to continue taking care of the space so you don’t run into any further problems in the future. Consider these tips:
- Continue checking for signs of moisture, including any dampness and standing water.
- Install screens over vents or openings in your crawl space to prevent pests from entering.
- Remove debris or clutter you see in the space to help eliminate pest harborage sites.
- Consider pairing your crawlspace encapsulation services with CrawlSpace Seal, an innovative solution that is applied to beams and floor joists to help prevent pests and moisture problems.
- Schedule regular inspections with a pest control company near you to ensure your crawl space is free of pests and other problems.
With the help of crawl space encapsulation, crawlspace seal services, and regular maintenance and inspections, you’ll see a healthier environment in your home!
Jan 17, 2023 | CrawlSpace
Once the winter hits North Carolina, the last thing you want to deal with is a cold home! With temperatures dropping, it’s important that your heating systems are ready, and your home is prepared to weather the cold. If not, you could be dealing with cold air and high energy bills. Crawl space enclosure in the winter provides a solution to both problems that many homeowners face.
North Carolina Crawl Space Enclosure Benefits
There are several benefits to enclosing your crawlspace. One that many look forward to is saving on their energy bill. The moisture in your crawlspace can affect the temperature inside the home, causing the HVAC unit or furnace to run longer to help keep your home warm, and in return uses more electricity. When you enclose your crawlspace, the moisture barrier acts as a sealant, which controls the moisture levels. This will ease the strain of your HVAC system to make your home more energy-efficient and save on energy bills.
Another great benefit of enclosing your crawlspace is preventing mold growth and odor. If left open, high moisture levels can cause unwanted growth, creating considerable damage to your home, posing a health risk to your family, and potentially causing an odor throughout your home.
An unsealed crawlspace is an open invitation to pests looking for shelter, food, and water. Once inside, these pests can cause damage and present a health risk to your home and family. After the crawlspace enclosure installation is complete, the moisture barrier can help eliminate entry points for these pests to infest, providing you with another avenue of pest control.
Consider calling a pest control company near you for a crawlspace enclosure inspection and quote to stay warm and pest-free in the winter!
Sep 14, 2022 | CrawlSpace
Every homeowner should ensure their home’s temperature is consistent for comfortable living. Unfortunately, your crawl space could contribute to your home’s ever-changing temperature. Crawl spaces can be impacted by moisture and pests, making it essential to fix these issues promptly. Read on to learn more about crawl space care for your home.
Moisture in Your Crawl Space
Living in the southeast can bring high humidity. This humidity contributes to conditions suitable for fungi growth and wood rot. Over time, these conditions can cause severe health issues for family members who suffer from asthma and allergies. If you notice excessive moisture in your crawl space and North Carolina home, it’s best to resolve it in a timely manner.
Pests in Your Crawl Space
After the warmer months leave, your crawl space might become a refuge for pests and wildlife. Some pests that might seek shelter and comfort in your crawl space include ants, crickets, spiders, mice, and cockroaches. Termites will also find it easier to eat away at our home’s structure if it is moist enough.
Crawl Space Care Tips
Enclosing or encapsulating your crawl space is one of the best methods for taking care of your crawl space, although there are some do-it-yourself crawl space care measures you can implement on your own to improve the health of your home’s crawl space.
- Eliminate moisture by repairing leaky faucets and clearing clogged drains
- Seal any exterior cracks or holes to keep pests from easily accessing your home
- Eliminate any additional food supplies and hiding places for pests and wildlife, such as woodpiles stored near your home
- Replace any loose mortar around foundations and weatherstripping around windows and doors.
If you suspect you have pest infestations or moisture problems in your crawlspace, reach out to a pest control company near you to schedule a free inspection and receive the best plan of action today!
Dec 8, 2021 | CrawlSpace
It’s bad enough having to deal with cold winter weather outside. It’s even worse when the cold temperatures start to creep into your home. While heating systems work hard enough in the winter to keep our homes warm and comfortable, additional cold air seeping into your home makes them work harder. This can leave you with cold feet and a high energy bill! Let’s review the benefits of crawlspace enclosure for your North Carolina home.
The Importance of CrawlSpace Enclosure in Your North Carolina Home
Up to 50% of household air flows in from your crawlspace. If your crawlspace isn’t enclosed, it lets your heated or cooled air out and allows outdoor air in. This will cause your heating and cooling system to work overtime to compensate for the fluctuation in temperatures, which may cause you to still feel cold floors and inconsistent temperatures throughout your home. Also, these units burning more energy leads you to increased utility bills.
Crawlspace enclosure is like adding a liner to your pool to avoid leaks. Water vapor enters your crawlspace from the ground and can even seep through cement. Increased moisture can cause a handful of problems in your crawlspace and your home. Moisture attracts pests, degrades indoor air quality, can cause mold and mildew growth, warped floors, and structural damage. Adding a moisture barrier and dehumidifier is a great way to help keep moisture out of your crawlspace. Check out our list of crawlspace enclosure benefits:
- Improved air quality in the home
- Keeps pests and wood-destroying insects out
- Creates more comfortable living conditions
- Eliminates moisture which decreases fungus and mold
- Increases energy efficiency
- More consistent temperatures
- Less wear and tear on heating and cooling systems
Do you have an issue with moisture in your crawlspace? Contact a pest control company near you who can come out and inspect your crawlspace, identify potential areas of concern, and recommend the best treatment plan for your situation.
Sep 28, 2021 | CrawlSpace
Crawlspaces are typically used for storage and easy access to plumbing. However, they can be a damp place that provides an ideal environment for mold, mildew, pests, and rust. Keeping your crawlspace dry is essential to improving the overall health of your home. Below are the essentials to crawlspace moisture barriers in your North Carolina home.
What’s a crawlspace?
A crawlspace is a variation of a basement where you can crawl around. The surface of a crawlspace is often just bare earth. They’re traditionally built for homes without a basement or for homes that aren’t built on a slab. Their purpose is to promote air circulation throughout the home and to allow easy access to plumbing, electrical, and other home maintenance needs
Where does crawlspace moisture come from?
Crawlspace moisture usually comes from one of three sources:
- Bulk water: Water can accumulate from plumbing leaks or blocked drains. The longer this water remains stagnant, the worse the moisture can get.
- Outdoor air coming through vents: The vents around crawlspaces provide ideal access for vapor from the outside air to come in, which increases your humidity levels.
- Moisture from the ground: Uncovered soil releases moisture into the air, which releases it into the crawlspace.
What are the benefits of crawlspace moisture control?
Controlling the moisture levels in your crawlspace provides you with several benefits. These benefits include:
- Avoiding negative health effects from mold and mildew
- Decreasing your heating and cooling bills
- Preventing insects
- Improving indoor air quality
What is a vapor barrier?
A crawlspace vapor barrier is a set of polyethylene sheets that are placed on the uncovered soil of your crawlspace to help prevent moisture from seeping through. This will help improve humidity levels in the crawlspace. Vapor barriers, also known as moisture barriers, are often used with dehumidifiers and/or crawlspace encapsulation.
Do you have an issue with moisture in your crawlspace? Contact a crawlspace company near you who can come out and inspect your crawlspace, identify any areas of concern, and recommend the best treatment plan for your situation.
