4 Ways Moisture Impacts Your Crawlspace (And Wallet)

Introduction

Vented dirt crawlspaces are problematic, but common in homes across the southeastern United States. These crawlspaces attract moisture, creating ideal conditions for mold, rot, and structural issues. Homeowners contend with increased heating and cooling expenses, suffer from respiratory problems, and face disruptive—and exorbitant—repair costs. 

Master Services offers products and services to keep moisture out of the home—protecting against mold, rot, and pests.

What This Paper Explores

Moisture—it’s the terror of crawlspaces everywhere. This paper explores the ways that moisture impacts crawlspaces, finances, and physical health.

This paper also will present our waterproofing products and crawlspace repair solutions that effectively combat moisture.

Threat #1: Mold

Moisture settles on vulnerable areas, including wooden joists, beams, fiberglass insulation, and drywall. Without remediation, mold grows and spreads. If you’ve ever walked around an older home and smelled a musty odor, mold probably was the culprit.

Mold doesn’t just lurk in crawlspaces; it has a direct impact on people living in a home. Due to the “stack effect,” air moves from below-grade spaces into the upper levels of the house—creating a vacuum in the crawlspace. Warm air passes upward and escapes through cracks, windows, vents, and other openings. As it does, air from the crawlspace rushes to take its place.

As the air rises, it carries allergens, spores, dust, and harmful elements that infiltrate living areas. This causes asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems for residents.

Threat #2: Rot

With moisture and mold comes rot. Rot eats away at wooden joists, beams, and drywall. It leads to structural issues, like springy floors, stuck doors and windows, buckling hardwood floors, sagging upper levels, and other irregularities.

What’s the best option? Pay for new floors and costly foundation repairs, or fix the problems in the crawlspace before it’s too late?

To control rot is to control humidity, standing water, and temperature. Properly secured vents, an encapsulation system, a dehumidifier, a sump pump, and other crawlspace repair products are the best defense against rot.

Threat #3: Pests

When moisture and mold overtake a crawlspace, pests—rodents, insects, snakes, and more—are attracted to the area. Some make their way into the rest of the home; others die in the crawlspace and attract more critters. As these pests decay, they create disgusting odors that rise into the rest of the home.

Termites love moist crawlspaces, which usually offer an abundance of wet wood to chew. This means trouble for homeowners, who often don’t know that their home is being destroyed from the inside.

Dust mites are fond of crawlspaces, even though they dwell in upper levels. Dust mites absorb water from the air, so they thrive in higher humidity. A vented dirt crawlspace ensures higher humidity in upstairs areas, which is where mites live and create droppings. These droppings exacerbate symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers.

Threat #4: Energy Costs

Vented dirt crawlspaces are costly. They create damp air in the upper levels of the home, which requires more energy to heat. Damp air also puts more strain on an HVAC system, which homeowners run on a humid day.

Taking care of humidity problems in a crawlspace saves money. 15-25%, in fact, depending on how many stories a house has, if the crawlspace has ducts, and other factors. Energy loss is substantial for homes with vented dirt crawlspaces, and merely caulking around windows doesn't fix the problem.

Insulating damp earth and keeping the area airtight goes far in conserving energy and money. As of 2017, among the 26 million homes with dirt crawlspaces, it was estimated that with just a 15% energy savings, homeowners in the U.S. would save $7 billion each year.

The Master Services Solution

Master Services has waterproofed and repaired crawlspaces for years. We offer innovative products installed by seasoned professionals.

Our products are designed to keep crawlspaces dry and energy efficient.

Our CleanSpace® Crawl Space Vapor Barrier is installed on the walls and floors of crawlspaces, preventing water vapor and humidity from reaching vulnerable spots. The liner is mold and mildew resistant and has a 25-year warranty. This liner creates an inhospitable environment for pests and prevents summer heat and winter cold from invading.

Our SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifiers are efficient, low-maintenance systems that protect against humidity, mold, and odors. They come with a five-year warranty and are designed for heavy usage in below-grade spaces.

Our EverLast™ Crawl Space Door is composed of inorganic plastic and foams, meaning it’s not subject to rot and rust like wooden crawlspace doors. It creates an airtight seal between crawlspaces and outside air.

Our CleanSpace® Drainage Matting creates a channel beneath the crawlspace liner, directing water to the perimeter drain and sump pump system.

Our SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump combats groundwater. Equipped with a cast-iron Zoeller® sump pump, a reliable liner, a sump alarm, and an optional battery backup sump pump, this system keeps water from pooling and creating long-term damage.

Our TripleSafe™ Sump Pump System is our most reliable system, providing multiple levels of protection to give homeowners peace of mind. For normal functioning, the TripleSafe™ has a powerful, cast-iron Zoeller® ⅓ horsepower sump pump set at the lowest level. For heavy volumes of water or in case of primary pump failure, a second, more powerful Zoeller® ½ hp pump set a bit higher in the liner will take over. In the event of a power outage, the battery backup sump pump will pump 11,500 gallons or more if set at the highest level.

Our WaterGuard® drainage system works with the sump pump system to ferry water out of below-grade areas. The system is installed along the perimeter of the floor.

Conclusion

Moisture infiltrates unprotected crawlspaces, creating mold, mildew, and rot. These lead to structural problems, attract pests, and create allergy and respiratory issues for residents. Controlling the moisture and temperature in your crawlspace will ensure none of these become crises.

Master Services has been repairing and waterproofing crawlspaces for years. Our experienced professionals use the best techniques to install high-quality products in crawlspaces, protecting against moisture and its dangers. We guarantee our work and operate by the mottos “do it right the first time” and “put the customer first.”

If you are interested in learning more about our services, contact us for a free, no-obligation estimate.