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.
Moisture in Your Crawl Space
Living in the south can bring high humidity. This humidity contributes to conditions suitable for mold 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 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 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 your local pest control company 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 have to work even harder. This can leave you with cold feet and a high energy bill.
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 similar to 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. Below are more benefits of a crawlspace enclosure.
- 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 professional 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.
What’s a crawlspace?
A crawlspace is a variation of a basement where you are able to 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 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 in conjunction with dehumidifiers and/or crawlspace encapsulation.
Do you have an issue with moisture in your crawlspace? Contact a crawlspace company who can come out and inspect your crawlspace, identify any areas of concern, and recommend the best treatment plan for your situation.
