Crawl Space Care Installation in Charlotte, NC
Moisture control is a home maintenance technique that’s essential to maintaining the structural integrity of your house, especially during the hot summer months and in southern, more humid states. Unfortunately, moisture intrusion can cause more damage than you may think. In addition to water damage, it can lead to rotting wood, rusted metal pipes, mold issues and pest infestation. That’s why a Crawl Space Care system can help with overall moisture-control needs. We want to help you protect your home and all the valuable belongings within its walls – so give us a call for a routine inspection to see how we can help!
How Does Moisture Enter Your Crawl Space?
Ideally, your home’s crawl space will be bone dry, no matter the weather or the time of year. Unfortunately, water can find its way in through one of three different routes:
- Plumbing – How old is your home and its pipes? If you haven’t inspected your home’s plumbing in years, there could be slow leaks you’re not aware of. These leaks can worsen over time, sending more water into your crawl space and foundation.
- Soil Evaporation – After it rains, the water in the soil has to go somewhere. If your crawl space is on bare dirt, water will evaporate from the earth and create a humid environment underneath your home.
- Condensation – This moisture is harder to control because most homes don’t have any climate control systems in their crawl space. So, if there’s a temperature difference between the interior and exterior, condensation can collect and create moisture.
Risks of Crawl Space Moisture
Some water underneath your house may not sound like a big deal, but it is. Sure, a little water that dries up quickly won’t do much damage, but moisture control is an ongoing issue, so you have to be proactive about spotting and preventing more water from getting in. Here are the top risks of crawl space moisture:
- Wood and Foundation Damage – Wood rots and erodes as it gets wet. Even treated wood can wear down over time, leading to a weaker structure. Your home’s foundation can also slowly erode from moisture, leading to settling and cracking. Foundation issues are expensive to repair, so you have to be extra careful.
- Health Problems – Water breeds mold and most homes in the United States do harbor at least limited mold growth. If your house develops black mold, it can lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
- Pest Infestations – Pests need three things to thrive: food, water, and shelter. If your crawl space is damp, it checks off two of those three boxes, so pests are likely to come knocking.
- Energy Inefficiencies – Water causes insulation to be far less effective. So, a damp crawl space can cause your HVAC system to work harder to achieve the same results as a dry crawl space.
How to Fix Moisture in a Crawl Space?
Fortunately, there are many ways to eliminate moisture from your crawl space, including:
- Drainage – When it rains, does water collect near or underneath the crawl space? If so, you can install a drainage pipe to keep rainwater flowing away from your home.
- Moisture Barriers – Typically, a moisture barrier is a sheet of plastic over the ground and/or columns of the crawl space. Installing this plastic ensures that water can’t seep into the wood or the dirt.
- Encapsulation System – Instead of placing plastic sheets everywhere, an encapsulation system seals and insulates your crawl space so nothing can get in, including water or pests.
- Dehumidification – Since high humidity can lead to excess moisture, a dehumidifier can help reduce the problem.
- Vent Covers – Automatic vent covers open and close your crawl space vents as the weather changes. This system helps dehumidify your foundation naturally.
Waterproofing – Finally, adding a waterproof barrier to your crawl space surfaces can prevent moisture from seeping in.
Free Moisture Inspection
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How to Identify a Moisture Problem
Crawl Space Care is comprised of many moisture-control solutions, so the first step is to determine if you need help with moisture control.
- Is there bare dirt under the house?
- Does it get very hot or humid during warm months?
- Does the space have a bad odor?
- Do you see mold?
- Are there any open pipes with rust on them?
- Do you or have you had an insect infestation?
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Our Moisture Inspection Process
If your answer to any of the previous questions is “yes,” then schedule an appointment for a routine inspection. One of Carolina Pest Management’s trained professionals will visit your home and provide a moisture control recommendation.
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Moisture Control Treatment: Crawl Space Care
If it has been determined that you and your home would benefit from the installation of Crawl Space Care, then you can expect following improvements as well as others in your home: better air quality, greater energy efficiency, and fewer pests. The Crawl Space Care system protects your home from mold and mildew growth and protects your substructure from decay.
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Crawl Space Care Maintenance
Since Crawl Space Care consists of multiple elements, maintenance may vary. Some of the main components of Crawl Space Care include: a dehumidifier, supply air inducer, wall liner, floor liner, sealing tape and a temperature/humidity monitor. While the electric dehumidifier may need an occasional checkup, the rest of the Crawl Space Care components shouldn’t require much maintenance. Ask your Carolina Pest Management technician what they recommend your maintenance routine should be for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions: Crawl Space Care
What is Crawl Space Care?
Crawl Space Care is designed to control moisture levels within a home by using a variety of products installed in the crawl space. Vapor liners are installed on both the ground and the walls with the seams tightly taped.
Does Crawl Space Care work with foundation vents?
No. If a home has foundation vents, these will be sealed prior to installing the vapor liners.
What are the benefits of Crawl Space Care?
Crawl Space Care stops the entry of moisture from the outside air, the ground, and a home’s foundation. Less moisture will reduce pest infestations, stop mold growth, reduce musty smells, and prevent wood damage.
Charlotte Crawl Space Care Installation Technicians
Every crawl space has different features that make it vulnerable to excess moisture and water damage in different ways. Our technicians have extensive experience evaluating crawl spaces of different sizes and constructions to identify the major areas where water can penetrate your home. Depending on your crawl Space’s vulnerabilities, our technicians will recommend various protective components such as a dehumidifier, wall or floor liners, and humidity monitors. Once we’ve designed a custom solution that fits your home, we’ll provide professional installation that ensures your crawl space is protected from moisture buildup that could damage your house.
