FAQ
Crawl Space Moisture & Encapsulation
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How do I know if my crawl space needs encapsulated?
- You are beginning to notice the first level floors of your home may be becoming uneven, or have some sag.
- Your home is beginning to smell, a lot like “gym socks”.
- It smells like there is a dead animal in your home.
- You can notice standing water around the footing of my crawl space.
- The crawl space vents are always left open.
- 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.
- You have noticed increased pests coming through the crawl space vents.
- Your home has been tested for high levels of radon gas.
- The backfill around your crawl space has low points that collect and trap water.
- The crawl space footer is bending, has noticeable cracks, or has some other damage to it.
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Is it bad that my crawl space is wet?
Moisture in the crawl space under your home will eventually cause a lot of damage. This moisture will eventually weaken the wood of your floor joists and beams that bear much of the weight of your home. As these structures begin to rot, the overall structural integrity of your home will begin to weaken. The rotting wood also acts as an attractant to various pests, including termites, spiders, roaches, snakes, mice, and rats.
The moisture will also aid in the growth of dangerous mold and mildew. As this fungus grows, it will begin to release microscopic spores into the air. These spores over time will find their way into being inhaled into occupants of the home and can possibly make them very ill. Mold can have a very negative impact on your health and cause several different health concerns, ranging from asthma attacks, other respiratory problems, cold- and flu-like symptoms, headaches, fatigue, skin rashes, and eye irritation.
Did you know that as much as 50% of the air you are breathing in your home came from your crawl space? This is the reason that having mold growing in your crawl space can be so dangerous. If you are seeing mold in your crawl space, it may also be a sign that you are experiencing high humidity levels.
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What are some warning signs that I have a wet crawl space?
- The first floor of your home is experiencing sagging or uneven floors.
- The home is developing some nasty odors.
- You are noticing a lot of pest in your crawl space.
- There is water puddling up along the footing of your crawl space
- Home occupants are experiencing symptoms common to mold problems.
- You have noticed an increase in energy cost to heat and cool your home.
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Why is it important to encapsulate and seal a crawl space?
If you properly seal your crawl space you prevent excess moisture from entering the home. In return you will notice a decrease in pests, lower humidity, help maintain structural integrity of the home, and create a healthier living environment.
Since the conditioned air inside your home is no longer able to escape outside, you will not be putting any extra burden or your furnace or air conditioner. This helps provide maintain cooler air in the summer, and hotter air in the winter. This will result in an increase in energy efficiency and lower utility bills.
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What steps are involved in encapsulating a crawl space?
- Use spray foam to insulate the space and prevent conditioned air from escaping the crawl space.
- Install the proper vapor barrier to seal off the walls and earth.
- Ventilation may be added through duct work or a mechanical fan. Vents should be closed or sealed to minimize the transfer of conditioned air.
- 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.
- Finish sealing the walls and doors of the crawl space.
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Why did the builder of the home not seal and encapsulate the crawl space?
Local codes do not require a crawl space to be encapsulated. It is an extra cost to the builders, so the crawl spaces are usually left with dirt floors and out side vents.
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What is crawl space encapsulation?
Crawl Space encapsulation is the use of vapor barriers, floor liners, spray foam insulation,vents, crawl space doors, dehumidifiers, sump pumps, and drainage systems to seal off the crawl space from the outside and the earth to keep moisture where it belongs.
During this process it is also important to remove any decaying wood that is found. This will help the structure regain strength, prevent further damage, and deter pest.
In some cases it may be necessary to install a crawl space support stabilization system. This can help make un-level portion of the floor level and safe.
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My crawl space seems very humid
If the relative humidity levels inside the home rise above 70%it can become a breeding ground for mold. High humidity below your home along with moisture and organic material can lead to the development of dangerous mold. A dehumidifier may help, but if the crawl space is not sealed the dehumidifier will constantly run which can increase energy bills and cause the dehumidifier to become over worked and fail. For many instances the combination of crawl space encapsulation and a dehumidifier will be the best solution to battle high humidity.
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What are some warning signs of crawl space moisture?
- A house with a musty smell can be a sign that mold is present..
- There are signs of water pooling or puddling around the outside of the crawl space.
- Areas of the first floor seem to be uneven, sagging, or spongy.
- Visible damage can be seen on the wooden structures.
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What are the dangers of high humidity levels?
High humidity will contribute to mold growth and the decaying,rotting, and deterioration of wooden materials. The weakened wood structures will impair the structural integrity of a home and attract numerous pest. The idea of pest living and multiplying inside of your home can be a nightmare and very expensive.
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What are some warning signs of high humidity levels in my crawl space?
- The forming of condensation on crawl space access doors and vents.
- The first floor of the home has areas of the floor that seem un-level.
- 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.
- During a visual inspection mold can be seen growing in the crawl space.
- During a visual inspection wood rot or decay can be seen on the structure of the home.
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How can I prevent high humidity?
To prevent humidity crawl space encapsulation is recommended. This may include the combination of several products; including,dehumidifiers, vapor barriers, floor liners, sump pumps, drainage systems, vents and vent doors, spray foam insulation, and possible other products. Encapsulating using a combination of products will provide you with the best option of creating a safer and healthier home.
Mold, Pests & Health Risks
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Can mold in my wet crawl space make me sick?
Wet crawl spaces promote mold growth. As these molds grow they release spores into the air which will eventually be inhaled by the home occupants.
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Why is mold growing in my crawl space?
Mold requires 3 things to grow; moisture, high humidity, and an organic source of food. All of which can be found in an un-sealed crawl space.
When moisture from heavy rains or large snow melts finds its way into an un-sealed crawl space, the combination of moisture, high humidity, and the surplus of organic material for mood will easily support mold growth.
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Is mold dangerous?
Yes mold can be extremely dangerous to both you and your pets. As the mold grows it will continue to release spores into the air. These microscopic spores will make their way through the air in the home and eventually be breathed in by you or your pet.
Mold has been found to cause many health problems; including, fatigue, asthma attacks, allergies, headaches, sinus infections, skin rashes, eye irritations, asthma attacks, coughing and sneezing, respiratory complications, and several other medical concerns.
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Why is it important to get rid of mold?
When mold is allow to grow under a home, it can cause a lot of damage to both the building structure and the home occupants. A home that has substantial mold can quickly lose real estate value and become a nightmare for the home owner . Mold produces a very poor indoor air quality and can swiftly produce symptoms to people within the residence.
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How can I remove mold?
The ideal way to get rid of mold is to remove the sources that it requires. The best approach to that is to seal the crawl space to prevent humidity and moisture from being able to get inside.
To do this properly you will want to encapsulate the crawl space. This includes using products like vapor barriers, drainage systems, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers to seal off the crawl space from the outside.
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What does mold look like?
Generally speaking mold is usually dark green or black. Most often it will be found on organic materials like wood; such as, floor joists, support beams, or any other organic material.
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Can my wet fiberglass insulation have mold on it?
Wet insulation can promote mold growth. Once it has collected dirt, dust, or the the paper backing has gotten wet it becomes a prime breeding ground for mold.
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Why am I getting pests in my crawl space?
Pests can find their way into small openings, vents, and gaps that are found in unsealed crawl spaces. Unsealed crawl spaces also allow moisture to enter the space. This moisture will aid in creating a damp, dark environment and promote the wood in the crawl space to begin to rot and decay. This environment attracts unwanted pests like termites, roaches, and mosquitoes.
This dark and wet space will also be an attractive den for many vermin who would love to raise their families in the comfort of your home. As they complete their life cycle in the home, they will leave behind food, waste, and decaying corpses.
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What are some warning signs that I have wet insulation?
- A musty smell can be found in the home, which is often caused by mold growth inside the fiberglass materials.
- Notice an increase in energy bills.
- It seems hard to regulate temperatures in the home. It either gets too hot or too cold.
- 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.
- Fiberglass insulation can be seen on the ground, indicating that it has fallen from the moisture’s added weight.
Structural Issues & Damage
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Why are the floors above my crawl space sagging?
If the first floor of your home seems un-level or has areas that seem to sag, it is probably being caused by a sagging floor joists. Joists often begin to sag when there is excess moisture under the home in the crawl space.
A crawl space under a home needs to be properly encapsulated to prevent problems that are often associated with excess moisture and humidity. When the excess water or humidity comes in contact with the wood it can cause floor joists to sag along with several other structural issues.
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What is causing my floor joists to sag?
Water finds its way into an un-sealed crawl space through the ground along the footer, through the walls, vents, and through access doors. As the water finds its way in, it will begin to damage the wooden structure of the home including the floor joists, and support beams.
If the water is present long enough the wood will begin to warp, rot, decay and eventually deteriorate. This process quickly weakens the structure of the home and attracts unwanted pests like termites, spiders, roaches, snakes, rats, mice, and even skunks and raccoons.
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What are some warning signs of crawl space moisture?
- A house with a musty smell can be a sign that mold is present..
- There are signs of water pooling or puddling around the outside of the crawl space.
- Areas of the first floor seem to be uneven, sagging, or spongy.
- Visible damage can be seen on the wooden structures.
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What are some warning signs that I have a backfill soil problem?
- Dips, low-lying areas, or sunken areas can be seen around the homes foundation.
- Water can be seen pooling or puddling along the foundation.
- If piers are present to support the the weight of the home they may begin to sink further into the earth.
- The first level floor of the home may begin to feel uneven or sturdy.
- 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.
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Could my gutters and downspouts be contributing to my wet crawl space?
Many homeowners overlook the fact that an overflowing gutter or poorly draining downspout may be the issue that is resulting to a wet crawl space. If these are not working as intended and letting water run down the outside of the wall it can accumulate along the footing. It will then only be a matter of time before that water begins to find its way into your crawl space.
Drainage, Insulation & Preventative Measures
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What should I do if my insulation is wet?
Using the right kind of insulation in your crawl space is very important. Fiberglass insulation holds water and allows air transfer. The goal is to have the crawl space properly sealed and insulated to prevent the loss of any conditioned air in the space.
The wet fiberglass insulation should be removed and disposed of properly to limit any additional damage to the wood and to minimize mold growth. In its place a closed cell spray foam should be used around the perimeter of the crawl space. The spray foam insulation does not absorb water, it protects the wood structures of your home, and is a great pest deterrent.
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Why should I insulate my crawl space?
Using spray foam in your crawl space can help warm cold floors, lower energy cost, and help increase the comfort of your home.
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I have fiberglass insulation in my crawl space that the builders put there so that must be the best?
When most home are built crawl spaces are insulated using fiberglass insulation. It is readily available to the builder at little cost and requires very little time to put in. Unfortunately this type of insulation is not suited for a damp crawl space. When fiberglass insulation comes into contact with water it becomes wet. It will then eventually begin to deteriorate. As it deteriorates it will begin to fall apart exposing the wood structures of the home. This exposes these area of the home to being possible water damaged.
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What is a footing drain?
A footing drain is installed around the home after the foundation has been constructed, prior too any soil being backfilled. Gravel will first be added around the outside of the foundation. Next the drainage pipe will be placed on top of the gravel around the perimeter of the home. More gravel is then placed on top of the drainage pipe to cover it and hold it in place. In some occasions the builder may add a certain type of fabric over the pipe to aid in filtering our sediment. Finally the area is completely backfilled with soil and graded as needed.
The drain serves as the main method to prevent outside water from getting into your home. Over time however this drainage may become clogged with tree roots, sediment, and other debris.
At some point this drain will fail to collect and move water away from the home and will need to be serviced. The drain is a crucial element when it comes to keeping your crawl space clean.
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What are some warning signs that I have a clogged footer drain?
- Water has begin to pool or collect along the footing in your crawl space.
- Areas of the homes first floor are un-even or seem to be “sinking”.
- The home is beginning to smell musty.
- Upon inspecting the crawl space you see standing water, wood rot, or notice the insulation has become damaged.
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If my footer drain is clogged, can that cause my crawl space to flood?
If the footer drain outside of the structure is not removing water and channeling it away, then the crawl space will eventually flood as the water level along the home rises. As this water finds its way in it will promote mold and mildew, and begin damaging the wooden supports of the structure. These are issues that want to be addressed immediately to minimize damages to the property. prevent health concerns, and minimize costly expenses.
After the problem with the drain has been resolved it is best practice to seal off the crawl space to prevent any further damage from moisture..
Again the best way to do this is encapsulating using various products as needed; including, drainage systems, dehumidifiers, sump pump, reflective thermal barriers, floor liners, vapor barriers, spray foam, and possibly stabilizers to support sagging joists. Using a combination of these products will help provide you with the best chance of having a dry, safe, and healthy crawl space.
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What is backfill soil?
The soil that is used to fill in 3-5 feet around your home’s foundation walls is known as backfill soil. If this area is not properly filled and graded it may result in low lying areas and dips that collect and hold water along your homes foundation.
Sooner or later as this moisture continues to work its way down to the foundation walls and to the footer, it will find its way into an un-sealed crawl space.
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How can I prevent efflorescence?
The best bet to prevent efflorescence from being found in your crawl space is to encapsulate.
The presence of efflorescence is a sign that outside water has found away into your home. The use of an interior waterproofing system is a good way to handle water that has found its way into your home, but the goal is that you want to prevent that moisture from coming in all together.
The best way to do this is with crawl space encapsulation. This includes using products like vapor barriers, drainage systems, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers.
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How can I clean efflorescence off of my walls?
Cleaning efflorescence off of walls in a crawl space is usually not a high concern since these areas of the home are not generally living spaces or finished..
In the event that the home owner does want to clean the walls there are chemical cleaners that contain muriatic acid that are usually used. Before these can be used however, it is essential that the moisture issue leading to the efflorescence has been resolved. Sand blasting is another option that is commonly used.
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What are downspout extensions?
Downspout extensions allow you to direct the water coming out of the downspout further away from the foundation preventing pooling and standing water from being able to build up along the footing.
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Should I clean my gutters?
Gutters should always be inspected and tested seasonally. They can easily become blocked by leaves, acorns, birds nest, pine cones and so on. Even gutters that have a guard on them should be checked. This will not only help protect your crawl space, but will also save you from having related problems with your siding and windows.
Efflorescence & Other Concerns
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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:
- Somewhere along the crawl space wall there must be water soluble salts found.
- 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.
- There must be a way for the salt solution to evaporate. This is what leaves the white, chalky substance behind.
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What are some warning signs that I have a backfill soil problem?
- Dips, low-lying areas, or sunken areas can be seen around the homes foundation.
- Water can be seen pooling or puddling along the foundation.
- If piers are present to support the the weight of the home they may begin to sink further into the earth.
- The first level floor of the home may begin to feel uneven or sturdy.
- 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.
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What are some warning signs that I have a clogged footer drain?
- Water has begin to pool or collect along the footing in your crawl space.
- Areas of the homes first floor are un-even or seem to be “sinking”.
- The home is beginning to smell musty.
- Upon inspecting the crawl space you see standing water, wood rot, or notice the insulation has become damaged.