April 16, 2020
How much time do you spend in your Brattleboro or Keene home’s crawl space? Probably not a lot—many homeowners we meet don’t even know they have a crawl space, or have no idea how to access it. Crawl spaces are like a wet basement’s weird cousin, and they’re one of the most ignored parts of a home.
But just because you’ve been pretending your crawl space doesn’t exist doesn’t mean that unhealthy conditions below your feet aren’t affecting the rest of your house. Crawl space encapsulation, along with basement insulation, can help improve indoor air quality and make your home healthier and safer for you and your family. Adding a vapor barrier is an essential part of most crawl space jobs we do—here’s why!
Why You Need Protection from Mold in Your Crawl Space
The most common issue with basements and crawl spaces throughout Southern Vermont and Southwestern New Hampshire is standing water and moisture. These conditions, if left untreated, can undermine the structural integrity of your home, and they are the leading cause of mold growth.
Mold can be a serious indoor health hazard, producing allergens and irritants that can increase asthma attacks and irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people, according to the EPA.
Keeping mold out of your home means preventing mold from growing in your crawl space. The best way to insulate a crawl space is with a vapor barrier to help lower moisture levels.
Crawl Space Moisture Barriers Help Protect Your Living Spaces
Vapor barriers (also known as moisture barriers) help turn your crawl space into a semi-conditioned and dry area of your house, and can have a number of benefits on your health as well as your home performance, including:
Reduces instances of mold growth and musty odors in your home
Keeps your indoor temperatures more consistent
Lowers your monthly energy costs
Protects pipes and ductwork from rusting and electric wires from water exposure
Indoor Air Quality Solutions for Your Home
With crawl space encapsulation and vapor barrier installation, you’ll avoid cold floors over your crawl space, get rid of indoor mold, and make your house safer and more comfortable to live in. Reach out to the home performance experts at Vermont Foam Insulation if you think you could benefit. We can schedule a free site visit to examine your home and determine exactly what crawl space repair services, from vapor barriers to crawl space spray foam insulation, will work for you.