August 26, 2022
You probably don’t spend a lot of time hanging out down there, but your crawl space is one of the most important areas in your home. Ignoring your crawl space can lead to a wide range of problems that affect your entire home.
Keep reading to learn more about the importance of crawl space maintenance, and what happens when you don’t take care of your crawl space.
Crawl Space Smells
Have you noticed a bad smell in your home but aren’t sure where it’s coming from? Chances are, your crawl space is to blame. Crawl spaces are prime locations for pests and mold, both of which can create nasty odors. If your crawl space isn’t sealed properly, those smells will rise up and into your home. If you’re looking for crawl space odor removal, a crawl space encapsulation service can stop pests and mold from coming back.
Indoor Allergies
Did you know your crawl space can make you sick? A lot of the air in your home comes in through the crawl space, and if your crawl space is full of allergens like mold and pests, they will get inside your home and negatively impact your indoor air quality. Allergens can make your family feel sick, and they can also make respiratory conditions like asthma worse.
As the temperature outside becomes hotter, or colder, compared to the inside of a house, the air inside will rise faster - this is called stack effect. The stronger stack effect the more air is being drawn into your home from outside. Keeping your crawl space air tight, clean and dry is one of the best ways to protect your indoor air quality and is a top benefit of crawl space encapsulation.
Poor Comfort and High Energy Bills
An uninsulated and unsealed crawl space can be a big source of energy waste, leading to uncomfortable and inconsistent temperatures throughout your home. To make up for the lost energy, your HVAC system will have to work harder to heat and cool your home, driving up your energy bills. Crawl space improvements will put a stop to energy waste and help you save money.
Pest and Water Damage
Neglected crawl spaces can attract two things: moisture and pests. Both are bad news for your home and can lead to long term issues.
Moisture in a building almost always results in rot and mold growth, which is terrible for the health of a the occupants and the durability of the building. When left unchecked, mold can easily spread from your crawl space into your first-floor living spaces, via stack effect.
Pests like ants and rodents love to nest inside moist, unsealed crawl spaces. These critters will burrow inside building materials, destroy building materials, and infiltrate your living spaces causing potential allergies.
Crawl space encapsulation separates your crawl space from the surrounding earth to keep pests and moisture out.
Protect Your Home with Crawl Space Encapsulation
Vermont Foam Insulation is the leading crawl space company in southern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire. We help homeowners solve their home comfort and health problems from the ground up with professional crawl space encapsulation and insulation services. From crawl space drainage and vapor barrier installation to crawl space insulation and sealing, we offer a full range of services and will help you find the best solution for your home.
If you have questions about crawl space encapsulation pros and cons, or if you’re looking for a crawl space encapsulation cost estimate, reach out to our team today. We are here to help with all of your basement and crawl space waterproofing needs!