3 Ways Weather Can Affect Your Crawlspace

Because many crawlspaces are not nearly as well protected, waterproofed, and insulated as the homes they sit underneath, weather can greatly affect their condition. Unfortunately, if a crawlspace is negatively affected by weather, it can then transfer those negative effects to the rest of your home.

Here are three of the ways that weather can negatively impact the condition of a crawlspace.

High Humidity

It’s easy for humidity to get trapped in your crawlspace if it lacks a proper source of ventilation. The warm air that’s holding all of that moisture rises toward your home, where it can start to permeate up through your floors and walls. This excess moisture can rot wood and drywall and cause black mold growth that can threaten your home’s structural integrity.

Rain

If rain ends up entering your crawlspace and pooling there, it can create some of the problems mentioned above, similar to high humidity. However, persistent puddles of water can lead to an additional problem that no homeowner or landlord wants: pests. Rodents and insects are drawn to damp places, and a wet crawlspace can provide these pests with the perfect hiding place.

Cold

Did you know that the cold air that enters your unfinished crawlspace will inevitably enter your home and make your home colder? This phenomenon, known as the “stack effect,” occurs whether you’ve insulated the floor above your crawlspace or not.

Here is how the stack effect works in a home:

• Warm air rises. In a home, warm air rises through the home’s attic (or whatever constitutes the top level of the home). That air can be pushed out through a number of sources: open or unsealed windows, small gaps, vents, etc.
• As the warm air rises out of your home, air from below (cooler air) moves in to take its place from your home’s lower levels, including the crawlspace.

Cold air and humidity aren’t the only things that can enter your home from the crawlspace. The air that rises up can also bring bad smells, dust mite feces, and mold spores with it. For this reason, it’s important to keep your crawlspace clean and free of excess moisture.

Why Do Crawl Spaces Have Moisture Problems?

Crawl spaces aren't very high on most homeowner's priority lists, but they can lead to some serious consequences if neglected.

One of the most prevalent problems in crawl spaces is high moisture levels, and the subsequent issues they can cause. Keep reading to learn why excess moisture is a bad thing, and what you can do to prevent it in your crawl space.

Why is moisture in my crawl space a bad thing?

Excess moisture means high humidity, which is never something you want in your home. Here are just a couple problems that can result from high humidity levels in your crawl space.

• Mold growth. High humidity is almost always associated with mold growth. Mold can not only compromise the structural integrity of your home, it can cause health complications if it is not removed in a timely manner.
• Indoor air pollution. Did you know that half of the air you breathe on the first floor of your home comes from your crawl space? If yours is infected with mold, your air quality – and health – could be suffering.
• Pest problems. Many creepy crawlies are drawn to dark, humid climates. An insect infestation isn't just gross, certain bugs (termites) can cause damage to your home.

What causes crawl space moisture problems, and how do I prevent them?

Moisture in your crawl space can come from a variety of sources, but the most common is groundwater evaporation. This is especially true in areas where the water table is barely below ground level. In these regions, the ground can evaporate more than 12 gallons of water per day – you don't want that to get trapped inside your crawl space.

So, how can you as a homeowner minimize groundwater evaporation and keep your crawl space moisture levels in check? The most effective solution is investing in a vapor barrier. When properly installed, these thin polyethylene sheets keep water in the ground and out of your home.

GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration is Long Island's premier crawl space cleaning company. If you are experiencing mold, structural damage, or pest problems in your home's crawl space, look no further than us for help. Call for a free quote at (631) 940-8100.