Crawl spaces, though often overlooked, can significantly impact indoor air quality and overall health. If forgotten about, crawl spaces can become breeding grounds for various health hazards, contributing to respiratory issues and other health problems. Understanding the causes of crawl space sickness and quickly implementing effective solutions, such as crawl space encapsulation and vapor barriers, is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment.
What Causes Crawl Space Sickness?
Crawl space sickness is usually the result of increased humidity and moisture in your crawl space. This commonly occurs when there is a lack of proper drainage as moisture enters your crawl space through outside air, the ground, leaky pipes, or through the foundation. When left unchecked, these moisture issues can lead to a cascade of problems affecting both the crawl space and the living areas above it. One of the best solutions for this sickness is crawl space encapsulation. This process involves sealing your crawl space to prevent air infiltration and moisture accumulation.
8 Signs That Your Crawl Space Might be Making You Sick:
Identifying the signs of crawl space issues early can help reduce health risks and prevent extensive damage to your home. Here are eight common indicators that your crawl space might be contributing to health problems:
- Mold or moisture damage in the crawl space or living area
- Musty odors in the living area
- Condensation (“sweating”) on air conditioning ductwork or equipment
- Condensation on insulation, water pipes, or truss plates in the crawl space
- Buckled hardwood floors
- High humidity in the living area
- Insect infestations
- Rot in wooden framing members
Not only do these signs indicate potential health hazards, but they also serve as warnings of structural damage that can get worse quickly if not addressed early. Pay close attention to these warning signs and contact Crawl Pros for a free estimate.
The Crawl Pros Solution: Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl Pros’ most thorough solution to solving crawl space issues is to encapsulate your crawl space. Encapsulation involves sealing off the crawl space from external elements to create a controlled environment. This process is a game-changer for several reasons:
- Moisture Control: Encapsulation prevents outside air and ground moisture from entering the crawl space. This reduces the risk of mold growth, wood rot, and structural damage.
- Energy Efficiency: By maintaining a dry environment, encapsulation improves the efficiency of insulation and reduces the workload on heating and cooling systems. During the summer, it prevents hot, humid air from infiltrating living spaces, thus easing the strain on air conditioning. In winter, it keeps cold air out, reducing the need for heating.
- Cost Savings: Lower energy use means reduced utility bills, making encapsulation a cost-effective investment. So not only will you save money, but you will also feel safer and more comfortable in your home. It’s a win-win!
As a part of the encapsulation process, heavy-duty crawl space vapor barriers will be installed for many purposes. These purposes include:
- Preventing moisture from causing damage to your home
- Helping your house stay at a steady temperature and remain energy efficient
- Allowing many environmental disruptors to be managed and eliminated, including mold, mildew, wet insulation, soft floors, termites, and dry rot.
- Improving air quality
- Helping eliminate gases such as radon from leaking up from the crawl space
Vapor barriers can be installed to cover your entire floor, the walls, and any equipment you have in your crawl space. To ease any worry, Crawl Pros experts will help you figure out what is necessary and best for your space.
Essentially, crawl space encapsulation provides more comfortable living conditions and may even lower utility bills! It’s the best of both worlds. Crawl Pros are true experts in crawl space cleaning and encapsulation. They will guide you to the best encapsulation solution for your house. Call for a free estimate at (866)-673-9626 or fill out their free estimate form to get started.
For further information on crawl space encapsulation and vapor barriers, click here.
What Exactly is Making You Sick?
One of the main culprits of crawl space sickness is mold. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 30 percent to 50 percent of all structures have damp conditions that could encourage the growth and spread of biological pollutants like mold. This growth and spread is usually the result of increased humidity and moisture in the crawl space. Inadequate ventilation or a leak can contribute to these conditions. Also, once the mold begins to grow, it can spread to your furniture, walls, carpets, and other interior surfaces. If not removed, it can also destroy sheetrock and paint, and damage the structure of your home or business. Fortunately, Crawl Pros offers crawl space mold removal & remediation services. Schedule a free estimate today for an assessment of the health of your home with Crawl Pros.
Health Effects of Leaky Pipes
If not contained quickly, leaky pipes can also cause significant damage and health issues. The presence of water or raw sewage in a cellar, basement, or crawl space can be a serious health concern for the occupants of the home. According to the EPA, the most common pathogens in sewage are bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Unfortunately, these can cause intense and unpleasant illnesses like diarrhea and infections. Usually, you’ll bounce back within a few days or weeks with no lasting effects. But in serious cases, these pathogens can lead to long-term health problems or, in the worst scenarios, death. To avoid the risks associated with leaky pipes, speak to a Crawl Pros expert today.
Maintain A Clean & Safe Crawl Space With Crawl Pros
Fortunately, Crawl Pros specializes in services that ensure your crawl space is not making you sick. With a commitment to superior workmanship, affordable pricing, and environmentally friendly practices, Crawl Pros is always the right choice. Call Crawl Pros today for a free estimate at (866)-673-9626 or fill out our free estimate form to get started. Prioritize your health and safety today.