Crawlspaces are unbuilt areas beneath a house that provides a buffer between the house and the ground below. It also provides access to plumbing and wiring systems. While some crawlspaces extend only under a certain area of the home, most commonly they can be found under the entirety of the house.
Pier and Beam foundations always have a crawlspace underneath unlike homes that have slab on grade foundations or basement foundations. We have talked about crawlspaces before, about their benefits and problems as well as having a sump pump or a dehumidifier installed in there before, but to summarize really quickly: one of the main benefits that crawl spaces provide is that they elevate your home from the ground, which definitely helps with flooding risks. Also, as previously mentioned it provides easy (or at least easier) access to plumbing, gas hookups, electrical systems and ductwork, not to mention air circulation which helps improve the quality of air in your home.
One problem with crawlspaces however, is that sometimes homeowners do not pay enough attention to it, disregarding its due maintenance. This can lead to big problems that can be avoided. Pests and rodents will always feel attracted to your crawlspace and, if left unattended, they will literally live rent-free beneath your home. This of course, can led to spreading of diseases and damage to the wiring and plumbing, which in turn can lead to foundation issues.
Mold is also a big, lurking menace. It can compromise air quality and impact your family’s health as well as potentially damage the structural integrity of the foundation and therefore, your home.
These are some of the main reasons why periodical maintenance and cleaning to your crawlspace is essential to keep your home safe and your family healthy. Not to mention your wallet as repairing costs will take time and money.
Now cleaning a crawl space is not going to be a walk in the park. It will be challenging due to the nature of the space. That is why professional expertise is always suggested to fix the common problems that can be found in this essential area of your house.
It goes from the removal of mold, dirt and debris to dealing with pests and killing of its colonies. To keep the foundation safe and stop mold from growing back again it is essential to remove any standing water or sewage. You have to detect any leak to make sure it will not happen again and it is always a high priority to replace any old insulation elements. Installing dehumidifiers and sump pump are a great way to provide continuous maintenance to the crawl space and prevent damage to the crawlspace.
Maybe there is not much damage or clean up to do and you decide to do this task yourself make sure you have a headlight, gloves, a crawl suit and respirator as well as plastic wrap to remove debris. Now, you may be tempted to use spray foam to insulate the crawlspace, however the use of spray foam will only trap moisture between the foam and the wall, which will become an ideal environment for mold to grow and for wood to rot.
Much like spray foam, fiberglass insulation is not recommended, specially in moist environments as it will also absorb moisture quite rapidly. Instead of either spray foam and fiberglass, foam board or polystyrene are ideal for insulation.
One thing that you may consider is encapsulating the crawlspace. Now you might think that an open crawlspace is better because air flows freely inside it, however the opposite is true as the flow of air will contribute to high humidity and with high humidity comes thriving mold. Once the crawlspace has been encapsulated, remember that installing too many vents will also bring about high humidity. This could also allow critters and pests to make themselves at home as too many vents will create loopholes for them to move into the crawlspace.
We mentioned standing water before, and it is essential to double check for this. Look out for any leaks on your drainage system and remember that rain and groundwater can very easily enter your crawlspace. Whatever leak you find, fix it. Whatever standing water you find, drain it out immediately. A good drainage system will come a long way and you might even have to consider a sump pump to make things easier.
Remember you can call iFix regarding crawl space related problems at any time. If you need your foundation and/or crawlspace inspected or installation of any additional services to ensure that your crawlspace is in optimal conditions do not hesitate to call us, we will always make sure to offer you the very best possible solutions.
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