Why dirt Crawl Spaces are bad for your home

9/21/2021 (Permalink)

Damp Crawl Space.

Having a dirt crawl space below your home is essentially exposed earth which can lead to many problems such as mold and air quality issues. The exposed earth is naturally damp and can also retain moisture from groundwater seeps, leaks, and block walls which damp air can travel through. As damp soil dries below the house the water vapor moves upward onto exposed wood, which then creates mold. Now you have moldy environment below your home.  The air in your crawlspace can travel through your home one of two ways. The first is called the stack effect. As warm air rises in your home it needs to be replaced. Air from the crawlspace is drawn upward throughout the next level of our home to replace that air. The other way is through your duct work. Ducts are held together by screws and they are crimped which do not provide an air tight seal. This allows for air from your crawlspace to enter and travel through the rest of your home.

We have solutions for these problems when they occur. The first task we tackle is to stop the groundwater leakage. We do this by creating a slight ditch in your crawlspace and installing a sump pump at the low point with a drainage ditch. We install a sump pump liner to keep mud and other debris away from the sump pump to prevent clogging. The next step is addressing the mold, we will have our team come in inspect the crawlspace and the identify the areas which are affected and determine which method of cleaning for mold necessary. This can range from treating the area with an EPA registered disinfectant, Soda blasting, and or hepa vacuuming. Now, we create conditioned area by sealing the vents and installing a thick plastic linear ranging from 10 to 20 mil to prevent minor rips and tears. On top of that we install a dehumidifier to create permanent controlled environment below your home. If you find these problems within your crawl space, give SERVPRO of St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties a call today to have us come out and inspect your crawl space and see what can do for you.