Something Rotten in Your Crawlspace? Here's What to Do

You don’t host parties in your crawlspace, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore what’s going on inside it. The “stack effect” causes nasty smells and mold spores from your crawlspace to rise into the air that you breathe upstairs—not only creating odors, but aggravating allergies and asthma. Wet conditions, mildew, and rotting pests also contribute to foul smells.

How should you combat odors? Here are several ideas:

• Install a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers cut down on humidity that causes wood rot and mold growth. Master Services offers SaniDry Sedona dehumidifiers, which provide automatic drainage, an automatic humidistat, and remove mold spores and dust mites. Our dehumidifiers alleviate asthma and allergy problems. They also reduce the risk of termites and other pests.
• Install airtight doors and vent covers. A sealed crawlspace keeps rain, humidity, and cold from impacting conditions in the crawlspace.
• Install an encapsulation system. An encapsulation system, like our CleanSpace Moisture Barrier, prevents water from having a disastrous impact on a crawlspace. An unencapsulated crawlspace is vulnerable to mold, mildew, rot, and animals. Rot destroys wooden joists and beams, creating structural problems that affect life upstairs. A bonus to our encapsulation system is that it provides extra storage space!
• Install a crawlspace sump pump system. A sump pump system prevents groundwater and plumbing leaks from creating nasty problems in the crawlspace. Our SmartSump sump pump features an alarm to notify homeowners of water issues if the sump pump happens to malfunction. This system pairs with our vapor and moisture barrier, making it an essential part of a comprehensive waterproofing system.

If you notice mold in your crawlspace or basement, consider Master Services for your mold remediation needs. Our team uses a soda-blasting technique to remove mold from every surface of your crawlspace. If you’re smelling something foul and can’t detect where it’s coming from, contact Master Services for a free, no-obligation estimate.