A Damp Crawl Space Isn’t Normal

Crawl spaces are a part of the house that often becomes neglected. The saying “out of sight, out of mind” definitely applies to this. When problems develop down below, they usually go unnoticed until they become bigger issues for the living space above.

Keeping the crawl space of your home dry and free from moisture is very important for many reasons. A wet crawl space can lead to many health and safety issues in your home. Mold growth, rotted floor joists and pests or vermin invading your home are just a few.

Why is Your Crawl Space Wet?

• Standing Water – Having standing water in your crawl space will most likely mean there is a drainage problem or a plumbing leak. Either way, it needs to be fixed immediately. Having an indoor pool is nice but not when it is in your crawl space.
• Soil – A large source of moisture in your crawl space comes from uncovered soil. Moisture can evaporate from the soil under your home and into the air of your crawl space causing an increase in humidity.
• Foundation Walls – Moisture can also come from the ground outside the house and permeate through the foundation walls.
• Crawl Space Vents – Believe it or not, the original idea behind vents in the walls was to dry out the crawl space. Outside are coming into the crawl space actually does the opposite. It brings in water vapor and actually raises the relative humidity.

Ways to Dry Out Your Crawl Space

Better Drainage

Check the grading around your foundation to make sure water is moving away from your home when it rains. It is also a good idea to check the gutters and drainage pipes to make sure they’re not feeding water into your crawl space.

Encapsulation

The best way to eliminate moisture from entering your crawl space is to have it fully encapsulated. Crawl space sealing seals off the floor, support columns, walls, gaps and holes in the foundation. It is a great way to save money and make your home’s environment safer and cleaner. According to the US Energy Star program, sealing a crawl space can help save up to 20 percent on energy bills.

Use a Dehumidifier

Install an energy-efficient crawl space dehumidifier. A dehumidifier helps maintain an ideal relative humidity. It will remove moisture from air coming in and blow out drier air into the crawl space.

If your crawl space has wet or damp insulation, mold or growth on ducts or joists, gaps around the duct work, wiring holes or plumbing holes then you should consider having it sealed. Bradley Mechanical can help make your home a safer, cleaner environment for you and your family. Sealing and insulating the crawl space can also prevent cold floors and reduce drafts from below. We are Richmond’s crawl space experts and have been protecting homes from moisture problems for over 50 years. Give us a call today at (804) 748-6728 to schedule an appointment.