How to Prevent High Moisture Levels in Your Crawlspace

For the majority of homeowners, their crawlspace is an afterthought. Although it is usually overlooked, the truth is that your crawlspace has a significant impact on your home, especially when it comes to indoor air quality and humidity levels.

If you have a crawlspace under your home, that is where up to 50% of the first floor's air supply comes from. This stat becomes particularly troubling when you realize that high moisture levels are a common problem in crawlspaces; this can lead to negative effects on the health of your family and the structural stability of your home.

Among other problems, too much moisture in your crawlspace can cause:

• Mold and mildew growth.
• Pest problems.
• High humidity levels.
• Increased cooling costs.
• Structural damage to your hardwood floors and support beams.

So, what can you do to prevent high moisture levels in your crawlspace? Add ventilation? Install a dehumidifier?

No. Your crawl space has too much moisture for a reason, and eliminating the source of it is more effective than the band-aid approach of a dehumidifier or vent. The top sources of crawlspace moisture are pipe leaks, drainage problems, and groundwater evaporation.

• If you have a busted pipe in your crawl space, it could be leaking water all over the ground. This water will just sit there since it has no place to go, which will promote mold growth. Fix the broken pipe immediately to solve this problem.
• Common causes of drainage issues include your house being built on a slope and rainwater draining too close to the foundation of your home. If this is the case, you will notice large bodies of standing water in your crawl space. Your best bet would be to contact a professional contractor as soon as possible to explore your options.
• Evaporation of the water in the ground is a common cause of high humidity in crawlspaces. The most effective solution for this is to install a crawlspace vapor barrier. When properly installed, this thin sheet of high-density polyethylene keeps groundwater in the ground and out of your home.

Have years of high humidity led to structural damage in your crawl space? Whether it has caused mold growth, warped wood, or invited critters into your foundation, call on the services of GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration. As Long Island's most trusted crawl space cleaning company, we have the tools and experience needed to get the job done right. Call us today for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.