Why Do Homes Have a Crawl Space?

 

In most houses, there is a crawl space underneath. Most people think that this area is simply an unfinished part of the home, but it's so much more than that. Crawl spaces are essential to keeping your home comfortable and energy-efficient year-round. However, most people don't know what it does or why they have one for the most part. Well, we've got you covered!

What is a Crawl Space

A crawl space is a low-ceilinged area beneath a house that's enclosed by floor joists and beams, called "underpinning." This makes the foundation waterproof from ground moisture. The insulation in the crawl space provides an extra layer of protection against exterior conditions. There are many reasons you might have one; for example, it serves as an additional storage area or to provide a way to access plumbing pipes for most people.

Easy Access to Equipment

Crawl spaces provide easy access for technicians to install equipment and ensure that it functions properly without having to go through walls or ceilings. Crawl spaces also protect these vital components from exterior elements like moisture and insects.

Storage Area

This area is also typically used as storage for extension cords, outdoor furniture, Christmas decorations, gardening tools, and more in the winter months. Your crawl space is big enough to provide extra storage space when you need it.

 

Further Weather Protection

Your crawl space provides necessary ventilation for the home and helps to regulate humidity levels. This area is also where any excess water from rain or snowmelt can drain through before reaching other parts of the house. Overall, it provides an excellent source of weather protection for your home.

For all these reasons and more, it's essential to keep your crawl space clean!

 

Contact Us Today For All Your Crawl Space Cleaning Needs

Cleaning and taking care of your home can be a challenge, and it is often best to bring in some professionals to help. Contact GreenPro Cleaning and Restoration to take care of your crawl space damage and cleaning needs.

What is Causing my Crawl Space to be Odorous?

Resolving Crawl Space Odor

If you own a home you know it seems there are always a few mysteries that need solving when working home maintenance as the years go by. For people who have crawl spaces, there can be more than a few mysteries that seem a bit evasive to fix because crawl spaces are not as readily accessible as basements. Because of this, problems can occur that seem to be a bit of a mystery that you need to solve over the years.

One of the bigger concerns arises when an odor arises out of a crawl space in a home. Because the area is smaller and more difficult to get to, the issue on how to resolve can be troublesome. There are a few things that can cause an odor in a crawl space. No matter what the problem is it should be dealt with quickly so that the problem does not worsen. The three primary concerns for a crawl space odor are:

Standing Water And Contaminants

If the crawl space area has a seeping water problem, whether it is because of cracked pipes, seeping water from underground or extensive rain, water can grow mildew and standing water often grows bacteria which can be very unhealthy. The fumes from this can permeate to the main portion of the house and should be taken care of so Mold does not begin to grow into the main portion of the house through floor boards and walls. This should be cleaned thoroughly and the water seepage location should be sealed off and repaired.

Propane Or Natural Gas

If there is a sulfur smell or chemical smell, this is a sign that your Natural Gas or Propane Gas has a leak in a piping system and this should be taken care of immediately. Natural gas is a hazard and can cause fire, explosion, toxic air and death. Because of this, if your home uses Propane or Natural Gas that is piped in through your crawl space area, you should open windows and doors to let fresh air into the home right away. Then you should contact a technician immediately and turn off your Propane or Natural gas source.

Wild Animals

One of the more common problems for property owners with a crawl space is an animal that gets trapped in the space. These animals can be alive or dead and can cause a bit of an odor problem either way. Animal feces and certain wild animals can cause an odor situation in the home. The first concern is getting the animal removed by a wildlife professional. Once this is done, it is advisable to get a cleaning company to come in and clean the area of any remaining odor causing problems. The area should be resealed properly to make sure no more animals enter the crawl space.

Having a crawl space with odors from animals or from water seepage can be difficult but rest assured that our professionals at Go Green Pro Cleaning can help you restore your crawl space back to a safe clean environment. For more information go to Go Green Pro Cleaners to learn more.

3 Reasons to Have Your Crawl Space Cleaned

When you did your spring cleaning earlier in the year, did you have the guts to venture into your crawl space? If not, you aren't alone. Although the crawl space is actually a very important area in your house, many homeowners often neglect it. If you think the crawl space is too dark, dirty, and scary to clean, here are three reasons you should consider changing your mind. 

To improve your home's air quality.

Did you know most of the air you breathe in on the first floor of your home actually comes from your crawl space? If your crawl space is infested with mold, rodents, and high moisture levels, your air quality – and health – could be suffering.

To save your home from structural damage.

Unless you have a professionally-installed vapor barrier in your crawl space, it probably has a very high moisture level. As you know, mold can grow anywhere moisture is present, which is why crawl spaces are such a common hiding spot for it. If you let this mold spread for too long, it could infect your support beams and weaken the structural integrity of your entire house.

To expand storage space.

Many homeowners use their crawl space as an extra storage room, but this is impossible to do if yours is already jam-packed. Things you don't use very often (such as Christmas decorations) can be stored here instead of taking up valuable space in your garage or closets.

Is your crawl space too dirty, small, or infested with mold or rodents for you to clean yourself? Call in the experts at GreenPro Cleaning &Restoration! We serve all of Nassau County and Suffolk County, and only use environmentally-friendly cleaning products. If you live on Long Island and need your crawl space cleaned, call us for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.