FAQ

Crawl Space Moisture & Encapsulation

How do I know if my crawl space needs encapsulated?
1. You are beginning to notice the first level floors of your home may be becoming uneven, or have some sag.
2. Your home is beginning to smell, a lot like “gym socks”.
3. It smells like there is a dead animal in your home.
4. You can notice standing water around the footing of my crawl space.
5. The crawl space vents are always left open.
6. When you are able to inspect your crawl space and see rotting wood, sagging floor joists, or there is fiberglass insulation that has begun to fall to the ground.
7. You have noticed increased pests coming through the crawl space vents.
8. Your home has been tested for high levels of radon gas.
9. The backfill around your crawl space has low points that collect and trap water.
10. The crawl space footer is bending, has noticeable cracks, or has some other damage to it.
Is it bad that my crawl space is wet?
What are some warning signs that I have a wet crawl space?
1. The first floor of your home is experiencing sagging or uneven floors.
2. The home is developing some nasty odors.
3. You are noticing a lot of pest in your crawl space.
4. There is water puddling up along the footing of your crawl space
5. Home occupants are experiencing symptoms common to mold problems.
6. You have noticed an increase in energy cost to heat and cool your home.
Why is it important to encapsulate and seal a crawl space?
What steps are involved in encapsulating a crawl space?
1. Use spray foam to insulate the space and prevent conditioned air from escaping the crawl space.
2. Install the proper vapor barrier to seal off the walls and earth.
3. Ventilation may be added through duct work or a mechanical fan. Vents should be closed or sealed to minimize the transfer of conditioned air.
4. Proper installation of sump pumps, drainage, or floor drains to insure that in the event of water entering the crawl space it can be properly controlled and removed.
5. Finish sealing the walls and doors of the crawl space.
Why did the builder of the home not seal and encapsulate the crawl space?
What is crawl space encapsulation?
My crawl space seems very humid
What are some warning signs of crawl space moisture?
1. A house with a musty smell can be a sign that mold is present..
2. There are signs of water pooling or puddling around the outside of the crawl space.
3. Areas of the first floor seem to be uneven, sagging, or spongy.
4. Visible damage can be seen on the wooden structures.
What are the dangers of high humidity levels?
What are some warning signs of high humidity levels in my crawl space?
1. The forming of condensation on crawl space access doors and vents.
2. The first floor of the home has areas of the floor that seem un-level.
3. The house has a strong musty odor, than many claim smells like old gym socks. This is usually a sure sign that mold is present.
4. During a visual inspection mold can be seen growing in the crawl space.
5. During a visual inspection wood rot or decay can be seen on the structure of the home.
How can I prevent high humidity?

Mold, Pests & Health Risks

Can mold in my wet crawl space make me sick?
Why is mold growing in my crawl space?
Is mold dangerous?
Why is it important to get rid of mold?
How can I remove mold?
What does mold look like?
Can my wet fiberglass insulation have mold on it?
Why am I getting pests in my crawl space?
What are some warning signs that I have wet insulation?
1. A musty smell can be found in the home, which is often caused by mold growth inside the fiberglass materials.
2. Notice an increase in energy bills.
3. It seems hard to regulate temperatures in the home. It either gets too hot or too cold.
4. Notice uneven floors on the first level of your home. This is often caused by wood that has become wet and is beginning to rot.
5. Fiberglass insulation can be seen on the ground, indicating that it has fallen from the moisture’s added weight.

Structural Issues & Damage

Why are the floors above my crawl space sagging?
What is causing my floor joists to sag?
What are some warning signs of crawl space moisture?
1. A house with a musty smell can be a sign that mold is present..
2. There are signs of water pooling or puddling around the outside of the crawl space.
3. Areas of the first floor seem to be uneven, sagging, or spongy.
4. Visible damage can be seen on the wooden structures.
What are some warning signs that I have a backfill soil problem?
1. Dips, low-lying areas, or sunken areas can be seen around the homes foundation.
2. Water can be seen pooling or puddling along the foundation.
3. If piers are present to support the the weight of the home they may begin to sink further into the earth.
4. The first level floor of the home may begin to feel uneven or sturdy.
5. Upon visual inspection of the crawl space water is found, damaged wood is found, or mold in present.
There may need to be more soil added to the back fill until the proper grading is reached.
Could my gutters and downspouts be contributing to my wet crawl space?

Drainage, Insulation & Preventative Measures

What should I do if my insulation is wet?
Why should I insulate my crawl space?
I have fiberglass insulation in my crawl space that the builders put there so that must be the best?
What is a footing drain?
What are some warning signs that I have a clogged footer drain?
1. Water has begin to pool or collect along the footing in your crawl space.
2. Areas of the homes first floor are un-even or seem to be “sinking”.
3. The home is beginning to smell musty.
4. Upon inspecting the crawl space you see standing water, wood rot, or notice the insulation has become damaged.
If my footer drain is clogged, can that cause my crawl space to flood?
What is backfill soil?
How can I prevent efflorescence?
How can I clean efflorescence off of my walls?
What are downspout extensions?
Should I clean my gutters?

Efflorescence & Other Concerns

I have a white, flaky, somewhat chalky-type substance on the walls of my crawl space. Is that mold?
This usually is efflorescence.

Concrete is a porous material. When water is built up inside it or behind it, it will cause the concrete to get wet. This moisture will then evaporate inside the crawl space and leave behind white crystal formations.

These three conditions will be present for efflorescence to form:
1. Somewhere along the crawl space wall there must be water soluble salts found.
2. There will also need to be enough moisture found along the walls to turn these salts into a soluble solution that can be absorbed by the concrete.
3. There must be a way for the salt solution to evaporate. This is what leaves the white, chalky substance behind.
What are some warning signs that I have a backfill soil problem?
1. Dips, low-lying areas, or sunken areas can be seen around the homes foundation.
2. Water can be seen pooling or puddling along the foundation.
3. If piers are present to support the the weight of the home they may begin to sink further into the earth.
4. The first level floor of the home may begin to feel uneven or sturdy.
5. Upon visual inspection of the crawl space water is found, damaged wood is found, or mold in present.
There may need to be more soil added to the back fill until the proper grading is reached.
What are some warning signs that I have a clogged footer drain?
1. Water has begin to pool or collect along the footing in your crawl space.
2. Areas of the homes first floor are un-even or seem to be “sinking”.
3. The home is beginning to smell musty.
4. Upon inspecting the crawl space you see standing water, wood rot, or notice the insulation has become damaged.

FAQ

Crawl Space Moisture & Encapsulation

How do I know if my crawl space needs encapsulated?

Is it bad that my crawl space is wet?

What are some warning signs that I have a wet crawl space?

Why is it important to encapsulate and seal a crawl space?

What steps are involved in encapsulating a crawl space?

Why did the builder of the home not seal and encapsulate the crawl space?

What is crawl space encapsulation?

My crawl space seems very humid

What are some warning signs of crawl space moisture?

What are the dangers of high humidity levels?

What are some warning signs of high humidity levels in my crawl space?

How can I prevent high humidity?

Mold, Pests & Health Risks

Can mold in my wet crawl space make me sick?

Why is mold growing in my crawl space?

Is mold dangerous?

Why is it important to get rid of mold?

How can I remove mold?

What does mold look like?

Can my wet fiberglass insulation have mold on it?

Why am I getting pests in my crawl space?

What are some warning signs that I have wet insulation?

Structural Issues & Damage

Why are the floors above my crawl space sagging?

What is causing my floor joists to sag?

What are some warning signs of crawl space moisture?

What are some warning signs that I have a backfill soil problem?

Could my gutters and downspouts be contributing to my wet crawl space?

Drainage, Insulation & Preventative Measures

What should I do if my insulation is wet?

Why should I insulate my crawl space?

I have fiberglass insulation in my crawl space that the builders put there so that must be the best?

What is a footing drain?

What are some warning signs that I have a clogged footer drain?

If my footer drain is clogged, can that cause my crawl space to flood?

What is backfill soil?

How can I prevent efflorescence?

How can I clean efflorescence off of my walls?

What are downspout extensions?

Should I clean my gutters?

Efflorescence & Other Concerns

I have a white, flaky, somewhat chalky-type substance on the walls of my crawl space. Is that mold?

What are some warning signs that I have a backfill soil problem?

What are some warning signs that I have a clogged footer drain?