Dreading Going Into Your Crawl Space?

Do you go into, or even near, your crawl space to get out seasonal items? Are you dreading going near the crawl space because you don’t like the smell and you are afraid of the creepy-crawly critters that seem to always be hiding there? You are not alone. Crawl spaces are notorious for having musty smells and being a haven for pests, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Even if you don’t use your crawl space at all, if your home has a crawl space, you should think about crawl space encapsulation.

If your crawl space smells musty, and it is a refuge for pests, there is a good chance you have a moisture and mold problem. If you rarely or never go into the crawl space, you might not see the need to do anything about this, but that would be a mistake. There is a very good reason to take care of your crawl space problem. The air in your crawl space circulates through your home, so if there is mold in your crawl space, you are likely breathing unhealthy air.

The reason that the mold spores from your crawl space can make their way into the other parts of your home is due to something called the “stack effect." The stack effect is the name given to the process by which air flows through your house. Hot air leaves your home by rising up and exiting through your attic and upper levels. When the hot air leaves your home, a vacuum is created, which pulls new air upwards through the basement, crawl space, and lower levels.
Because of this air movement, up to 40% of the air you breathe, inside the livable areas of your home, could come from the crawl space. This could be a real problem if the air in your crawl space is filled with allergens such as mold spores, dust mite droppings, and pest excrement. In the past, the thought was that ventilating a crawl space would stop this problem. But there are many issues with ventilation. What has been found through more research is that ventilation is not the best option, encapsulation is.

Crawl space encapsulation is the method of making your crawl space protected from excessive outside moisture and pests which involves adding a high-quality vapor barrier, wall insulation, and a drainage system. When done correctly, encapsulation can make a significant difference in the air quality throughout the house. Unfortunately, if it is done incorrectly, it may make matters worse. If the wrong vapor barrier is used, or it is installed incorrectly, there is a potential for more moisture to get trapped in your crawl space. Trapped moisture can lead to an increase in mold related problems.

Crawl space encapsulation has many benefits. It eliminates excessive moisture which creates better air quality. The lack of moisture also helps reduce the chance of moisture damaging structural components of your home, like the floor joists. Pests are drawn to moisture rich areas, so with drier air in your crawl space there will be less critters.  Lastly, after crawl space encapsulation many homeowners have seen up to a 20% reduction in energy costs. Having a reputable crawl space encapsulation company, like us, inspect your home and explain your options is a very good decision.