Mar 22, 2023 | CrawlSpace
Macon Pest Control: Moisture Barrier
During the spring and summer months, we all expect Macon’s weather to get extremely hot and humid. These temperatures can have a major effect on our home, creating unwanted moisture in our crawlspaces which can lead to excess water, mold, mildew, pests, and rust. A moisture barrier can be essential to avoiding these elements, as it’s utilized to block vapors and moisture in the soil from entering your crawlspace. Check out the benefits moisture barriers can have on your home below!
Energy Savings
Moisture can have a major impact on the temperatures inside your home. Your HVAC unit or furnace may be running longer to help maintain the temperature inside, using more electricity and, in turn, increasing your electricity bill. When a moisture barrier is installed, it acts as a sealant, controlling moisture levels and easing the strain on your HVAC system. This helps your home become more energy efficient and save money on your energy bills.
Prevents Mold
The ideal environment for mold and mildew growth is an area with high moisture levels. If your crawlspace contains these levels, mold and mildew may be in your air system, which can be detrimental to you and your family’s health. Once a moisture barrier is installed, it reduces the moisture levels, preventing mold and mildew from forming.
Controls Temperatures
Your crawlspace can affect the temperature of your home, making it too hot, cold, stuffy, or even too dry, depending on the weather. The moisture will absorb the warmth from your house or keep escaping, causing your HVAC or furnace to run too long. Once you install a moisture barrier, it will seal those spaces and keep moisture out of your crawlspace to help regulate the temperature inside your home.
Pest Control
Having an unsealed crawlspace is like an invitation to household pests and wildlife creatures! These pests will enter your crawlspace in search of food, water, and shelter, causing severe damage to your home and health in the process. If inside, rodents and other wildlife will chew through wood and electrical wires. While roaches and other insects utilize your crawlspace to gain access to your living areas, a moisture barrier will almost act as a shield, closing off your crawlspace and eliminating entry points for pests to get inside.
The last thing you want to deal with is hot temperatures inside your home during the Macon summers. If you are interested in moisture barriers or crawlspace enclosures, contact your local pest control company for an evaluation.
Feb 28, 2023 | CrawlSpace
Alabama Pest Control: Crawl Space Enclosure
The weather is chilly now, but soon it will begin to warm up and the humidity will return. Did you know that your crawl space can contribute to your home’s ever-changing temperatures? Stay comfortable in your home this spring by properly caring for your crawl space. Here are some tips that you can implement today to keep your crawl space in tip-top shape!
Crawlspace Care Tips
One of the best ways to prevent inconsistent temperatures, humidity, and pests in your home is by enclosing or encapsulating your crawlspace, thought there are some do it yourself preventative measures you can implement on your own:
- 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 like woodpiles stored near your home
- Replace loose mortar around foundations and weatherstripping around windows and doors
The crawlspace is a very attractive environment to all kinds of pests including ants, cockroaches, crickets, spiders, and rodents. It’s also an easier access point for termites to eat away at your home’s structure if it’s moist enough.
Investing in your crawlspace will help to eliminate moisture issues and improve the air quality for you and your family. If you suspect you have a pest infestation in your crawlspace, reach out to your local Cullman, Alabama pest control company to receive the best plan of action today!
Jan 25, 2023 | CrawlSpace
One of the best ways to increase efficiency, prevent moisture growth, and control pests in your crawl space is by completely enclosing it. This can eventually save you up to 18% on your utility bills! Northwest also offers an innovative sealant for your crawl space if you’re not ready to jump on a full encapsulation or if you want extra protection.
Crawl Space Enclosure
There are several benefits to enclosing your crawlspace. The one benefit many look forward to is saving on their energy bill. The moisture in your crawlspace can affect the moisture in your home. It can cause the HVAC unit or furnace to run longer when trying to keep your home warm, which means more electricity usage.
Another great benefit is the prevention of moisture build-up and odor. If left open, high moisture levels can cause moisture growth, posing a health risk to you and your family, and potentially causing an odor throughout your home.
CrawlSpace Seal
If you don’t want to get your crawl space encapsulated or you want extra protection, then this service is a great option for you.
CrawlSpace Seal helps to reduce moisture in the wood that’s located in your crawl space and supports a healthier living environment for your home. This alternative moisture sealant is a perfect complement to our other CrawlSpace Solutions to create additional home protection.
If you think your crawl space is in need of some attention, then give your local CrawlSpace Care company a call to schedule an inspection today!
Jun 9, 2022 | CrawlSpace
With the weather warming up, every homeowner should ensure their home’s temperature is consistent for comfortable living. Unfortunately, your crawlspace could be contributing to your home’s ever-changing temperature. Crawlspaces can be impacted by moisture and pests, making it essential to take care of these issues promptly.
Moisture in Your Crawlspace
Along with pests, the high humidity in the south can also contribute to conditions suitable for mold growth and wood rot. Over time, these conditions cause severe health issues for family members who suffer from asthma and allergies. If you notice the excess moisture in your crawlspace, it’s best to resolve it in a timely manner so those easily affected can breathe easier.
Pests in Your Crawlspace
The crawlspace environment is very attractive to all kinds of pests that can be bad for you and your home. During the cooler months, pests and wildlife will seek shelter and comfort in crawlspaces. Some pests that might find refuge in your crawlspace include ants, crickets, spiders, mice, and cockroaches. Termites will also find it easier to eat away at your home’s structure if it is moist enough.
Crawlspace Care Tips
One of the best ways to prevent inconsistent temperatures, humidity, and pests in your home is by enclosing or encapsulating your crawlspace, though there are do-it-yourself preventative measures you can implement on your own to improve your home’s crawlspace.
- Replace any loose mortar around foundations and weatherstripping around windows and doors.
- 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.
- Call a professional pest control company to provide you with a thorough home inspection and set you up with a comprehensive treatment and prevention plan.
Enclose Your Crawlspace
Investing in crawlspace encapsulation will help eliminate moisture issues and improve the air quality for you and your family.
If you suspect you have a pest infestation in your crawlspace, reach out to your local pest control company to schedule a free inspection to receive the best plan of action for prevention today!
Dec 27, 2021 | CrawlSpace
A moisture barrier is a plastic liner that covers the dirt in your crawlspace. These barriers are used to block vapors and moisture in the soil from entering your crawlspace. But is it necessary to install a moisture barrier under your home? While that decision remains a personal one for you as a homeowner, there are several benefits to moisture barriers.
Energy Savings
Moisture in your crawlspace can affect the temperature inside your home. As your HVAC unit or furnace runs longer to help maintain the temperature inside, it uses more electricity which, in turn, increases your electricity bill. This also puts additional strain on the HVAC unit, causing them to wear out faster and need costly repairs and/or replacement. A moisture barrier acts as a sealant, controlling the moisture levels and easing the strain of your HVAC system, making your home more energy efficient and saving you money on your energy bills.
Preventing Mold
High moisture levels in your crawlspace provide the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew in your air system can be detrimental to your and your family’s health. Mold can also cause significant damage to your home. Installing a moisture barrier greatly reduces these moisture levels, preventing mold and mildew from forming. Mold and mildew are often the cause of foul odors in your home, as well. A moisture barrier can also help eliminate these stale, musty odors from your home.
Controlling Temperatures
Moisture that gets into your crawlspace affects the temperature in your home. It can make your home too hot, too cold, too stuffy, or too dry depending on the weather, the season, and other factors. The moisture either absorbs the warmth from your house or keeps it from escaping. In turn, this causes your HVAC unit or furnace to run too long trying to maintain a steady temperature indoors. Installing a moisture barrier seals those spaces and keeps the moisture out of your crawlspace, helping to regulate the temperature inside.
Structural Integrity
Your home’s foundation is vital to its structure and soundness. Moisture in your crawlspace can lead to wood rot, especially on joists and beams. Rotting wood can lead to significant structural damage to your home which can, in turn, stick you with a huge repair bill. Moisture barrier installation reduces the amount of moisture in your crawlspace which helps prevent wood rot, protecting the structural integrity of your home.
Pest Control
Your unsealed crawlspace is an open invitation to pests and wildlife in search of shelter, food, and water. Once inside, these critters can cause significant damage to your home and your health. Rodents and other wildlife can chew through wood and electrical wires. Roaches and other insects can use the crawlspace to gain access to your home, posing potential health risks to you and your family. Installing a moisture barrier completely closes off your crawlspace, eliminating this entry point for pests into your home.
How do you know if you have a problem within your crawlspace? Some signs of crawlspace trouble include:
- Pooling water. If you have pooling water, a moisture barrier will be completely ineffective. If pooling water is already an issue, crawlspace enclosure or a sump pump will be necessary instead.
- Cold Floors. Cold floors are usually a result of moisture buildup in your crawlspace. Vapor barriers can help prevent this.
- Mold and Mildew. Mold has the potential to be toxic. Check routinely for leaks and water damage in your crawlspace and repair them immediately.
- Pests in the Home. Seeing an increase in pests in your home could indicate an issue in your crawlspace. They may be using this as a point of entry into your home. Vapor barriers can help mitigate this.
If you are interested in moisture barriers or crawlspace enclosure, contact a reputable company for more information.
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