Stop Moisture in your Crawl Space and Protect your Home.
For years homes have been built with ventilated crawls spaces open to the heat & humidity of North Carolina weather with a simple, often unsecured, plastic sheet laid down as a vapor barrier. Modern construction techniques are demonstrating that these vented crawl spaces lead to a whole host of problems such as poor air quality inside the home, allergies and sensitivities to mold and mildew, rot and decay of key structural elements, increased habitat for insects and pests and decreased energy efficiency due to wet and ineffectual insulation.
Your crawl space is like a hidden room under your house and because most of us don’t go into our crawl space on a regular basis it can be hiding a number of moisture related problems.
Here are some signs that may indicate a moisture problem under your home if you have a vented crawl space:
Inside your home:
Buckling or uneven floors
Excessive allergies or mold sensitivities in family members
Musty smells and odors
Visible mold near vents and floors
HVAC straining to “keep up"
In the crawl space:
Standing water or puddles
Chalky white marks on foundation walls (called efflorescence)
Fallen or hanging insulation
Bugs & critters
Excessive water puddled against house after rains
If you see these signs, we can help. Triangle Crawl Space Solutions is committed to working together with homeowners to correct these crawl space problems through a variety of solutions designed to improve air quality, control damaging moisture, protect flooring and foundations and preserve a home's value. These include proper vapor barrier installation, dehumidifiers and mold remediation or a combination of these methods best suited for your specific home's needs.
VAPOR BARRIERS
The first step in controlling unwanted moisture beneath your home is installing a vapor barrier. Properly installed, a vapor barrier prevents moisture rich air from the ground and condensation along foundation walls from migrating to the floor joists, insulation, sub-flooring, and other areas. A new vapor barrier keeps moisture from the soil away from your sub-floor and insulation and help maintain lower humidity levels in your crawl space. We recommend a 12 mil thick vapor barrier that is fitted close to your foundation walls or secured to the foundation walls and piers , depending on moisture levels in your crawl space.
DEHUMIDIFIERS
The best way to control moisture under your home is with a dehumidifier. Once installed a crawl space dehumidifier automatically keeps the humidity levels at the desired range. Generally the ideal level is between 50-60% in order to effectively stop mold and prevent dry-rot. The size, moisture level and any existing vapor barrier will determine what size dehumidifier you need. We prefer to install Santa Fe Dehumidifiers. Santa Fe dehumidifiers are specifically designed for crawl space environments and come in several sizes for different crawl space applications. They are energy star rated, made in the USA and carry a six year warranty.
MOLD REMEDIATION
Molds are found most everywhere and grow quickly on common building materials, especially in the presence of moisture and humidity. While some molds may be harmless, others can cause medical symptoms, allergic reactions and can greatly impact air quality. In addition to human ailments, mold can cause dry rot and deterioration to floor joists, sub-flooring and other crucial areas of your home. Let our certified Anti Microbial Remediation Technicians evaluate your crawl space and determine how to effectively manage crawl space molds and mildews underneath your home.
