A wet crawl space is more than an inconvenience — it can be a health risk and hazard to your home.
A wet crawl space encourages mold, which can cause a number of health issues, and can lead to wood rot, damaged insulation and many other problems. If your crawl space is flooded, you’ll want to dry it out as soon as possible — and then take steps to protect it from future problems.
Short-Term Moisture Removal
The most immediate and important step you can take is to pump any standing water out of the crawl space. Make sure the pump hose releases the water far enough away from the house and at a level that will ensure the water doesn’t eventually flow back in. While the pump is doing its work, remove any wet material in the crawl space — including insulation, storage boxes, and any debris.
A pump will still leave a lot of moisture when it’s gotten rid of standing water. Appropriately setting up fans, dehumidifiers and heaters can finish the drying process. Then you’ll want to take some initial steps to keep the crawl space dry: seal obvious cracks and holes with expandable foam, for instance.
Long-Term Moisture Removal From Your Crawl Space
Once the immediate situation has been resolved, it’s time to start thinking about long-term solutions to keep your crawl space dry.
Crawl Space Encapsulation: At Crawlspace Care, we recommend crawl space encapsulation as the best, most permanent solution to your recurring moisture issues. This holistic approach to crawl space protection seals the entire space, using vapor barriers, expandable foam, crawl space insulation and specially designed dehumidifiers. This approach will keep out moisture and pests, improving your home’s air quality and improving the efficiency of your heating and air conditioning by maintaining consistent humidity levels in the crawl space.
Landscaping: It’s important to ensure that your home’s landscaping is appropriately graded so that water flows around and away from the crawl space.
Drainage: Keeping gutters and drain lines clear of debris and clogs will ensure appropriate drainage away from your home.
Get Started
If you are tired of dealing with moisture and crawl space flooding, schedule your free inspection and estimate with Crawlspace Care here.