Our busy lives keep us moving, so forgetting about a crawl space is easy, especially when everything seems to be in good working order.
Crawl space foundation problems should always be addressed. Your crawl space directly affects your home’s air quality, the structural integrity of your home, and its energy efficiency. All costly issues if neglected.
Common Culprits for Crawl Space Issues
Moisture Problems:
Crawl space moisture problems have severe consequences and should never be ignored. Ground seepage, plumbing leaks, flooding, and poor ventilation create unwanted moisture.
Condensation problems in crawl space occur when warm, humid air enters through vents or leaks and mixes with the cooler surfaces within the space, like floor joists, subflooring, and ductwork.
This sudden temperature change causes the warm air to condense into liquid droplets on these surfaces, resulting in a damp environment perfect for mold growth, wood rot, and pest infestations.
Overlooking these issues can compromise your home’s structural integrity and negatively impact air quality, leading to serious health issues.
Structural:
It is important to regularly inspect your foundation for visible signs of issues like cracks and settling. Wood rot and weakened supports should also be routinely inspected to ensure the integrity of your home.
Pests & Allergens:
Pest infestations can be found by looking for droppings and nests, which look like unusual structures made from leaves, twigs, paper, or mud. Look for gnaw marks on floor joists, other wood, pipes, and electrical wires.
Unusual smells, scratching or squeaking sounds, and seeing pests directly can all signal you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
Allergens like mold can be distinguished by various colors like black, green, white, gray, brown, and even orange or pink growth. They vary in texture from fuzzy, powdery, velvety, or slimy and grow in patches, spots, or large colonies.
Mildew is usually white, gray, or yellow. It is a flat, powdery texture and usually grows in small patches on surfaces. Mildew is considered a superficial mold that needs to be addressed but doesn’t have the deeper concerns of mold, which triggers more intense health issues.
Telltale Signs You Have Crawl Space Trouble
Signs of crawl space problems that you MIGHT notice upstairs impacting your entire home. These are common crawl space problems to look for:
- Musty odors in the house that won’t go away.
- Uneven sagging floors and wall cracks.
- A spike in allergies or breathing issues.
- Higher energy bills resulting from a poorly insulated crawl space.
If you notice any of these issues, they are warnings you have crawl space problems.
Encapsulation: More Than a Buzzword
Encapsulating your crawl space is like building a protective shield around the entire space. It is a multi-step process to control moisture, creating a healthier, more stable environment underneath your home.
Encapsulation begins with sealing your home’s envelope. A heavy-duty vapor barrier made of thick plastic sheeting is installed on the floors and walls of the crawl space. This moisture shield prevents ground moisture from entering your home.
Next, crawl space vents are sealed, stopping the uncontrolled flow of humid outside air from entering. This eliminates additional moisture, creating a more controlled environment in the crawl space.
Crawl space encapsulation problems occur when dehumidification is not correctly set up. A crawl space dehumidifier is installed so encapsulation doesn’t trap moisture.
The device processes the air in the crawl space, removing wet or humid air and replacing it with dry air. This reduces the risk of mold growth and wood rot for improved air quality in your home.
Upfront cost vs long-term benefits:
Encapsulation has many benefits like reduced moisture levels, prevention of condensation and mold growth, and the protection of the integrity of your home’s structure.
You also gain energy efficiency, reduce pest problems, and create a clean, healthier home environment. These are significant advantages that add overall value to your home.
The long-term benefits and added home value more than outweigh the initial cost of encapsulation.
When DIY Isn’t Enough
Simple fixes:
There are occasions when a DIY approach is ok, like small, clearly sourced leaks that are easy to fix, but most issues are better handled by a professional to ensure a permanent solution.
When to go Pro:
- If you discover extensive mold or rotting issues, you need the expertise of a professional for cleanup and repair to have peace of mind the job will be done correctly.
- Severe moisture and crawl space humidity problems require the knowledge and comprehensive solutions only a professional can offer to reduce unwanted moisture and humidity.
- If you aren’t sure of the root cause of your issues, it is better to contact a professional for a thorough examination.
Dry Otter is well-versed in crawl space issues and has the tools to determine the source of your problems. We offer permanent solutions to restore your crawl space to its optimum environment.
Encapsulation and dehumidification are comprehensive approaches to handling moisture issues in your crawl space. A healthy crawl space has many benefits like improved air quality in your home, better energy efficiency, and increased home value.
A DIY approach is sometimes okay, but often, the fixes end up being only cosmetic and don’t address the real source of the problem, leading to the recurrence of your issues.
Keeping your crawl space in good order is better handled by a professional who understands the specific problems related to crawl spaces and has the knowledge and tools to offer a permanent solution.
If you are worried about crawl space issues, schedule a free basement/crawl space evaluation with Dry Otter Waterproofing—effective, long-lasting solutions tailored to your unique property.
Preserve Your Home for Decades to Come
Moisture, mold, and foundation problems not only compromise your health and safety, but they can affect the integrity and longevity of your home.
Fortunately, Charlotte’s top-rated waterproofing, mold remediation, and foundation repair company, Dry Otter Waterproofing, is here to help you with all your foundation and crawl space needs.
Schedule your free crawl space/basement evaluation today!
