Aug 14, 2020 | CrawlSpace
There are over 27 million homes in the United States with crawlspaces. These crawlspaces are typically used for storage and easy access to plumbing but can also harbor water and mold. They are dirty, damp places that provide an ideal environment for mold, mildew, pests, and rust. Keeping your crawlspace dry is essential to improving the overall health of your home. Here are the essentials to crawlspace moisture barriers.
What is a crawlspace?
A crawlspace is a variation of a basement where you can crawl around. The surface of a crawlspace is often just bare earth. They are traditionally built for homes without a basement or for homes that aren’t built on a slab. The primary purpose of crawlspaces was to promote air circulation throughout the home and to allow easy access to plumbing, electrical, and other home maintenance needs. The crawlspace can also be used for extra storage.
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 problem can get.
- Outdoor air coming through vents. The vents around a crawlspace provide the perfect access for vapor from the outside air to come in, thus increasing your humidity levels.
- Moisture from the ground. Uncovered soil releases moisture into the air, thus releasing it into the crawlspace.
What are the benefits of crawlspace moisture control?
Controlling the moisture levels in your crawlspace provides you with several benefits, helping to improve both your health and the health of your home. The benefits include:
- Avoiding negative health effects from mold and mildew
- Increasing your home’s resale value
- Decreasing the risk of mold, mildew, wood rot, and floor failure
- Decreasing your heating and cooling bills
- Preventing insects and dust mites
- Eliminating odors
- Improving indoor air quality
What should crawlspace moisture levels be?
Crawlspace moisture should be kept at an appropriate level to help prevent adverse effects on your home and your health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping the relative humidity in your home between 30% and 50%.
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 prevent moisture from seeping through. This helps improve the relative 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 still have questions about crawlspace moisture barriers? 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.
Oct 4, 2019 | CrawlSpace
It’s October! Time for all things pumpkin, fall decorations, and staying in to enjoy your home. A potential drawback: the South, unfortunately, does not have instant cooler weather. With temperatures teetering between 85 and 90 degrees, your home might be battling moisture issues and pest invasions in your crawlspace throughout the month. Let’s look at what problems could arise and how investing in crawlspace solutions could help!
Pests
Excessive moisture and warm weather work together to create the perfect environment for pests. In addition, your home’s crawlspace is the ideal entry point for pests to enter and invade your home. (Think termites, cockroaches, ants, earwigs, and millipedes)
Mold Growth/Wood Rot
Along with pests, the high humidity also contributes to conditions suitable for mold growth and wood rot. This can cause severe health issues for members of your home that suffer from asthma and allergies.
Investing in the sealing of your home’s crawlspace won’t just help with cutting down on moisture issues; it can also improve the air quality of your home for you and your family. Acting as a natural pest control barrier, you can get back to enjoying those fall nights indoors and not worrying about what could be taking over your crawlspace.
Interested in crawlspace solutions for your home? Call your local crawlspace care provider to schedule an inspection for your home.
Oct 8, 2018 | CrawlSpace
If you’re like most of us you don’t spend too much time inspecting your crawlspace. But did you know that moisture that makes its way into your crawlspace can cause significant problems not only for your home but for your health, as well? Dampness in your crawlspace is a common problem in homes without a proper moisture barrier system. Without a proper barrier, your crawlspace carries humid air that condenses and settles on the pipes, walls, and even the subflooring. This moisture provides the ideal environment for mold, mildew, and pests. A moisture barrier prevents this moisture from evaporating and seeping into the air beneath your home. Moisture barriers are composed of either foil or plastic material that helps prevent moisture from penetrating your crawlspace air.
So why should you have a moisture barrier installed in your crawlspace? Check out these 7 benefits of moisture barrier installation.
1. TEMPERATURE CONTROL
The 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.
2. ENERGY CONSERVATION
As we mentioned above, the 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.
3. MOLD AND ODOR PREVENTION
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 house.
4. PIPE PROTECTION
Your crawlspace is home to a number of pipes that supply both water and power to your home. When moisture infiltrates your crawlspace, it can cause rotting inside and around these pipes, leading them to burst or break. Moisture barrier installation helps keep your pipes dryer, which increases their lifespan and decreases costly repairs.
5. ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
As we mentioned above, many of the pipes in your crawlspace house electricity that runs to your home. Moisture and electricity don’t mix! Moisture in and around these pipes can lead to electrical shorts, rusted wires, and even fire. Installing a moisture barrier eliminates the moisture that can infiltrate these pipes, keeping your home safer from electrical hazards.
6. STRUCTURAL PROTECTION
The foundation of your home 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.
7. PEST CONTROL
Your unsealed crawlspace is an open invitation to pests and wildlife in search of shelter, food, and water. Once inside, these pests 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.
Dec 8, 2017 | Community News, CrawlSpace
When it comes to increasing your home’s energy efficiency, preventing dangerous mold, and stopping pests from taking over your crawl space and working their way into the rest of your home, you can’t go wrong with investing in a Complete CrawlSpace encapsulation. And while we here at Northwest Exterminating would love to take care of your crawl space, we know that just like visiting the doctor, you can’t go wrong with a second opinion. Here are the top 5 moisture barrier providers in the Metro Atlanta area and surrounding cities.
- All Exterminating Georgia: All Exterminating Georgia was founded in 1989. They service locally and all over Georgia. Their motto is “Bringing back customer service one appointment at a time.”
- Southeastern Crawlspaces: Southeastern Crawlspaces is “Atlanta & North Georgia’s Crawlspace Encapsulation Experts.” They have been servicing Atlanta homes since 2007.
- AquaGuard Foundation Solutions: With locations in Atlanta, Marietta and Athens, AquaGuard provides foundation repair, basement waterproofing, and concrete leveling throughout the Metro Atlanta area.
- Trotter Company: Trotter has been a trusted provider since 1929! They specialize in correcting drainage, basement waterproofing, crawl space waterproofing, foundation piering and wall reinforcement. What makes them unique is their 85 years of experience of making foundation repairs in Georgia red clay.
- Harris Waterproofing: Harris is the leading vapor barrier installation company in Metro Atlanta and surrounding areas. Family owned and operated, Harris Waterproofing has been around since 1989. They provide complete waterproofing solutions, both inside and outside your home.
When looking for a crawl space contractor, weigh your options, ask as many questions as needed, and request to see photos of previous work.
We also found these resources for you regarding crawlspace enclosure and moisture barriers.
