Common Crawl Space Tips & Mistakes

Tips:

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  Even an encapsulated, sealed crawl space can experience excess moisture levels in the air that can lead to mold growth. A high capacity, energy-efficient, self-draining crawl space dehumidifier improves air quality inside the crawl space as well as above in the home’s living areas.  

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  Encapsulating your crawl space can save you money in the long run. HVAC, like the furnace and air conditioning ductwork, are often located in the crawl space. In the summer when temperatures are hot, if the crawl space isn’t encapsulated, the ducts are also hot. This means your air conditioner has to work harder to cool your living space when air is moving through hot ducts. The same is true in the winter when warm air runs through cold ducts to reach the desired temperature. By stabilizing your crawl space temperature with encapsulation and proper insulation, you will not only reduce your energy usage but also decrease the rate of wear and tear on your HVAC system

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  Building codes used to recommend a vented crawl space; we now know crawl space vents do more harm than good. As humid untreated air enters the crawl space it gets trapped beneath the floors causing mold and mildew to grow. Mold spores and high humidity can travel up through the home causing increased allergies and asthma. It’s a good idea to seal crawl space vents from the outside air with durable, airtight vent covers, even if encapsulation isn’t in your immediate future.  

Mistakes:  

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  Not installing a backup crawl space sump pump in an area of your home that is infrequently visited can result in excess water flooding the space in the event of a power outage or device malfunction. A backup sump pump allows ultimate peace of mind.  

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  Homeowners may think waterproofing a crawl space is good enough. This, however, is a mistake. Although waterproofing and encapsulation go hand in hand, a waterproofing drainage system is just one aspect of the encapsulation process. Without sealing the walls and floor from moisture and water vapor, your home’s indoor air quality and mold and mildew growth problems are very likely to persist.  

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  Attempting to DIY your crawl space encapsulation project, although completely understandable, can actually cause more harm than good. Unfortunately, many of the high-quality products we use at AFS are not available at big box stores, and ensuring materials are installed properly is key. For example, if a plastic liner is installed on the floor, but not sealed, condensation will occur and mold will find yet another location to grow. Additionally, if the crawl space isn’t sealed properly, any work that is done can be destroyed by pests like ants, termites, or rodents who can easily get inside.

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  Believing all crawl space insulation is the same is a common mistake homeowners make. Spray foam, fiberglass insulation, and ridged closed-cell wall insulation are actually very different. Fiberglass insulation becomes useless when wet, spray foam traps moisture and mold under it, allowing the problem to fester, while ridged closed-cell wallboard offers reflective properties resulting in an outstanding R-value per inch.