A Wet Crawl Space Isn’t Normal

Unlike your living room and kitchen, crawl spaces are likely not an area of your home you frequent often. With crawl spaces “out of sight, out of mind,” it’s an area that easily becomes neglected. Unfortunately, when problems develop in crawl spaces, they usually go unnoticed until the problem grows so large it impacts other areas of a home.

Keeping your home's crawl space dry and free from moisture is important for many reasons. A wet crawl space can lead to health and safety issues, putting you and your family at risk. . From mold growth to rotted floor joists to pests or vermin invading your home —crawl space maintenance plays a significant role in keeping your home safe.

Why is Your Crawl Space Wet?

Crawl spaces, by nature, are underground, dark and hidden, making it easier for moisture to accumulate. It’s also not a space most homeowners frequent; meaning problems could arise without you noticing for a significant amount of time. There are several ways this can happen:

• Standing Water – Having standing water in your crawl space most likely means there is a drainage problem or plumbing leak. Both issues require urgent repairs.
• Soil – A significant source of moisture in your crawl space comes from uncovered soil. Moisture can evaporate from the soil under your home and into the air of your crawl space, causing an increase in humidity.
• Foundation Walls – Moisture can also come from the ground outside the house and permeate through the foundation walls. Older homes are more often at risk for this issue. Still, it can impact all homes – especially after a long and snowy winter or a particularly rainy spring.
• Crawl Space Vents – Believe it or not, the original idea behind vents in the walls was to dry out the crawl space. However, it tends to do the opposite. Water vapor can enter through these vents, raising humidity levels.

Wet Crawl Space Prevention & Repair

Our Bradley Mechanical team is trained in wet crawl space repair and maintenance. A wet or damp crawlspace can occur naturally, so the best way to prevent issues is by making some small changes, such as:

Creating Better Drainage

Check the grading around your foundation to ensure water moves away from your home when it rains. If you find your gutters or drainage pipes tend to drain out near or build up near the base of your home, it could be the root cause of your wet crawl space. By keeping a close eye on these areas, you can help avoid problems in the future.

Investing in Encapsulation

The best way to eliminate moisture from entering your crawl space is to have it fully encapsulated. Crawl space sealing seals off the floor, support columns, walls, gaps and holes in the foundation. It’s a great way to save money and make your home’s environment safer and cleaner. According to the US Energy Star program, sealing a crawl space can help save up to 20% on energy bills. Sealing and insulating the crawl space can also reduce the chances of drafts from below and cold floors.

Using a Dehumidifier

At your local hardware and supplies store, you can find energy-efficient dehumidifiers. Like their name, they do the opposite of a humidifier by removing excess moisture. By placing one of these in your crawl space, you can better maintain an ideal relative humidity. It will remove moisture from the air coming in and blow out drier air into the crawl space. Make sure to check and empty the dehumidifier regularly for optimal results.

When it comes to wet crawl space repair, it’s important to seek out trusted and reliable technicians. At Bradley Mechanical, our team of plumbing experts understands the many ways in which a crawl space can become damp or problematic. With a thorough inspection, our technicians can determine the cause of the moisture and how to fix it.

If you’re experiencing a wet crawl space or damp insulation, mold growth on ducts or joists, gaps around the ductwork, wiring holes or plumbing holes, you should consider having it sealed. This process is more than just a band-aid solution – it protects every area of your home from moisture build-up and mold growth. Not only does this make your home a better place to live, it extends the lifespan of your home and overall investments.

Bradley Mechanical has helped its community create safer, cleaner home environments for over 50 years. To ensure you and your family live in a healthy and safe home, give us a call today.