Many Seattle homeowners are unaware of the importance of regular crawl space maintenance, particularly when it comes to keeping your crawl space free of debris and contamination. Because of this, it’s possible that your home’s crawl space can allow dangerous germs and toxins into your home, and the area could contribute to diminished air efficiency flowing into the living space.
Whether your crawl space has a funky smell, you are concerned about air quality, or both, it’s vital that you give this part of your home the care and attention it deserves. Here is what you need to know about your Seattle crawl space and crawl space cleanout so that you can get the job done right.
What is a Crawl Space?
Not all homes have crawl spaces. If your Seattle home doesn’t have a solid cement foundation or a basement, it probably has a crawl space. This is the area between the ground and the underside of your home’s floor. Underneath, you’ll see electrical components, plumbing, gas hookups, and ventilation.
As long as a crawl space is well-maintained, it can help with your home’s air circulation. But a poorly-maintained crawl space can lead to problems with mold and fungus, pests, standing water, the structure, and poor energy efficiency.
Properly Cleaning Your Seattle Crawl Space
If you live in the Seattle area, crawl space cleanout is a tough and dirty job. True to its name, someone has to “crawl” under the home to do the work. In addition to maneuvering in place and wearing the right protective gear, some of the things involved in crawl space cleanout include:
- Standing water removal
- Pest removal
- Replacing damaged insulation
- Installing vapor barriers
- Sealing air leaks
Crawl space cleanout is generally a complex project, which is why many homeowners turn to a crawl space cleaning service provider like Crawl Pros for help.
Things to Avoid With Your Crawl Space Cleanout
Crawl spaces are tricky, and they need to work with the environment in the Pacific Northwest, or your efforts might do more harm than good. For example, it’s best to avoid spray foam in crawl spaces and instead opt for fiberglass insulation as it is more suitable for moist environments.
Finally, things like vents, vapor barriers, and draining systems in your crawl space can be useful. But they should be installed by trained professionals who know how to best apply these solutions.
Crawl Pros has served customers throughout Washington State since 2013. If you need a crawl space cleanout in Seattle, we’ll be happy to give you a free consultation. Contact us today for more information about our services and get a free crawl space cleaning estimate.