The Scary Truth About Damp Crawl Spaces
When was the last time you called for crawlspace repair or crawl space maintenance?
On that note, when was the last time you even checked your home’s crawlspace?
If you can’t remember, it’s high time you do so. While it’s easy to forget about your crawl space, it’s an important part of your home — especially for the health of your family and your home.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 50% of the air in the first floor of our homes comes from our crawlspace or basement. If your home doesn’t have a second floor, then that’s over 50% of all the air you breathe inside.
If you want to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy, it’s crucial to schedule an appointment with an experienced crawlspace repair company to ensure the air you breathe is clean and to keep your home free from moisture damage.
How Damp Crawl Spaces Can Endanger Your Health
Moisture, dampness, and leaks in your crawl space allow a host of issues to pose great danger to your health. These problems include the following:
High Humidity Indoors
Spring brings a lot of rain, and summers are hot and humid in Central Arkansas. These weather patterns further compound humidity in damp crawlspaces and basements. Because anything in your crawl space or basement will permeate through the living spaces of your home, the high humidity can cause a stuffy or muggy atmosphere in various parts of your house.
A Breeding Ground for Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew can grow in basically any moist environment. However, the damp, humid, and dark crawl spaces under your home are ideal conditions for mold and mildew to thrive.
Similarly to humid air, mildew and mold in your crawlspace can and will contaminate the rest of the house. Once it enters your general airflow, it will spread spores and musty odors, giving it the ability to trigger a variety of diseases and allergic reactions.
The type of mold that grows in your crawl space is important as well. Although all types of mold can be harmful to your health, black mold is especially hazardous. Long-term or continued exposure to black mold can lead to mold poisoning, respiratory symptoms, headaches, allergies, and more.
A Plethora of House Pests
Dark and wet spaces attract various household pests, such as:
- Termites
- Carpenter ants
- Rats
- Mice
- Spiders
- Dust mites
When these pests make a home in your crawl space or basement, their waste and food scraps will inevitably affect the air. This can lead to foul odors, as well as bacteria and viruses spreading through the ventilation and into your home.
For instance, rats and mice are carriers of hantaviruses, a family of aerosolized viruses that are shed through rodent urine, feces, and saliva. The lack of sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) rays in your crawlspace can also contribute to the growth and spread of the virus.
Termites and carpenter ants, on the other hand, can quietly compromise the foundation of your home while you’d least expect it.
Rotten Wood and Rusted Foundations
In addition to termites and carpenter ants burrowing through wooden beams, the moisture itself can damage the foundations. Although this is a slow process, prolonged exposure to moisture is very possible since many homeowners do not regularly check their crawl space for leaks.
Unchecked moisture not only leads to damp and rotten wood — it can also cause the metal parts of the foundation to rust, weaken, and deteriorate.
Unstable Foundation or Structural Damage
Over time, conditions such as rotten wood, rusted metal, and standing water can cause the following in your home:
- Uneven floors
- Weakened floor joists
- Cracks in concrete walls
- More moisture coming in
Altogether, these can cause your house foundation to shift or become unstable. The longer these problems are left unaddressed, the greater the structural damage they can cause. In the end, this can result in extremely expensive foundation repairs.
Waterproofing Solutions for Damp Crawl Spaces
Damp and wet crawl spaces are fairly simple to fix. There are several waterproofing options that can effectively remedy your moisture problems. All you need to do is call a trusted team of workers for the crawl space repair, and they’ll employ one or more of the following options to resolve the issue before it damages your health or home:
Crawlspace Encapsulation
Crawlspace encapsulation is one of the best and most effective options for homeowners dealing with damp crawl spaces.
This method generally involves adding a moisture or vapor barrier throughout the crawl space. Heavy-duty polyethylene, a highly durable type of plastic, is commonly used as a barrier to lock out moisture. This minimizes moisture build-up, which in turn reduces the risk of mold, humid air, rotten wood, pests, and other issues.
In some cases, simply installing a vapor barrier to encapsulate the crawl space is not enough. The contractor may also install a dehumidifier, a sump pump, or both for more effective and long-term waterproofing solutions.
Dehumidification
Installing a dehumidifier in your crawl space can bring down moisture content and humidity significantly. It’s generally best to aim for humidity levels at 50% or less. Although dehumidifiers work well on their own, using these devices with crawlspace encapsulation leads to the best overall impact.
Sump Pump Installation
A sump pump is used to move water from your crawlspace, sub-basement, or basement out of your home. These pumps are installed in sump pits, which collect water through your drains or natural water migration from the soil. The pump then pushes the water away from your crawlspace or basement so that it stays dry and moisture-free.
Get Your Crawlspace Into Shape Today
Failure to keep your crawlspace free from moisture and leaks can lead to significant health hazards. When it comes to protecting your health and home, don’t hesitate to call a team of experts like locally owned Foundation Pro to repair and waterproof your crawl space. Call 501-753-1009 today for a free crawlspace repair or crawlspace encapsulation estimate. Let Foundation Pro protect your home from mold, pests, and other health hazards.
