7 SIGNS YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR CRAWL SPACE CLEANED

Most homeowners don’t spend a lot of time inspecting the underside of their homes. But did you know that on top of affecting your house’s temperature, crawl space problems could significantly impact your utility bills and the quality of the air that you breathe?

Since crawl spaces can develop a variety of problems, it is recommended that you visually inspect it at least two times per year. This allows you to catch any problems that there may be, and to call a crawl space cleaning professional if needed. To help you know when you should get a decontamination, here are the main crawl space issues that you should be keeping an eye out for.

1. You Notice Moisture Accumulation

Did you know that vented crawl spaces are more likely to accumulate moisture, compared to unvented crawl spaces? Whether you have one or the other, just know that if you notice that there is moisture in your crawl space, something is definitely not right.

Indeed, moisture can quickly turn into mold, developing a putrid smell that can contaminate your air. But it doesn’t end there : moisture can also cause issues with your insulation, which can affect your monthly utility bills, and destroy your wooden beams.

Finally, we’re assuming you’re not a big fan of mosquitos. Well, if you have standing water in your crawl space, you may have to buy some insect repellent because you’ll be prone to having a mosquito infestation in your house.

In such a case, the best thing to do is to call a crawl space cleaning professional to protect your space from these little buzzing nuisances, and to keep your air fresh.

2. You Had Recent Plumbing Problems

Have you dealt with a broken pipe or a water leak in your house lately? It could also have affected your crawl space. Whenever you are dealing with a plumbing issue, the next best thing to do is to have your crawl space inspected by a professional.

They will be able to help you repair your insulation in order to prevent your pipes from freezing during the winter, and to avoid high utility bills.

3. The Air Is Very Humid Indoors

If you feel that the air in your home is more humid than usual, you should also check your crawl space. This could be a major sign that moisture is accumulating down there, which can also cause damage indoors. In fact, water is very resistant to temperature changes, so having high levels of humidity indoors makes it harder to heat or cool your house. Again, this can impact your utility bills. Humid air is also more prone to trapping dust and other pollutants, which can affect your lung health and cause allergies. So if you suffer from asthma, you should definitely check your crawl space for any moisture accumulation.

4. There Is a Rodent Infestation

Houses usually emanate all sorts of smells and warmth, which can attract different kinds of rodents. From raccoons, to squirrels or even rats, your crawl space can become the perfect nesting space for a variety of rodents. Make sure to inspect it often enough to see if you notice any feces, chewed objects or other signs of a rodent infestation.

5. You Notice Unusual Smells

If you do find any of these signs, you should call not only an exterminator but also a professional crawl space cleaner. Half of the air that you breathe in your house comes from your crawl space, so it’s important to get it professionally cleaned to get rid of any diseases or bacteria that may hurt your family. Mold and mildew have very specific, funky and even rotten smells that can indicate that something is not right in your home. If you notice an unusual smell in your house, we recommend that you check your crawl space for any leaks or standing water. If such is the case, the faster you take care of it, the faster the smell and any potential damages will go away.

6. You See Dirt and Debris

Signs of decay, such as debris and rotting or damaged materials, can be a warning sign that your crawl space needs to be cleaned by a professional. In fact, if you let dust and grime accumulate for too long, it could destroy your insulation before its normal expiration date. So make sure to call a crawl space cleaning professional if you notice that your crawl space is dirtier than it should be.

7. The Temperature Is Not The Same Around the House

If you feel like some rooms in your house are warmer or colder than others, it could mean that you have insulation problems, such as air leaks in your attic, walls or even floors. By calling an insulation expert, you’ll be able to get those leaks properly sealed, with products that are adapted to your needs.

What Are the Benefits of Cleaning Your Crawl Space

Getting your crawl space professionally cleaned has many advantages. Here are the main ones.

Enjoy Better Air Quality Indoors

By eliminating bacteria, dust and other kinds of pollutants that can rise from your crawl space into your house, getting your crawl space cleaned can help you enjoy a better indoor air quality.

Save Money by Lowering Your Utility Bills

Having your crawl space cleaned will ensure that your insulation is working properly and that your HVAC system is functioning efficiently. In turn, this will allow you to even out the temperature throughout the house, and significantly lower your utility bills.

Maintain Your HVAC System

Since your indoor air quality will be much better, your heaters or air conditioner will have to work less hard to maintain your house at a comfortable temperature. Having a clean crawl space can then also help you avoid any mechanical issues with the moving parts of your HVAC system since they will be working smoothly.

Help Your Insulation Last Longer

Usually, fiberglass insulation can last for decades, if it’s maintained properly. Unfortunately, it can easily get damaged by mold, rodents and humidity, shortening its lifespan. Eventually, it can become harder to regulate your house’s temperature, and you can notice a change in your utility bills. By having your crawl space cleaned, and your insulation repaired, you can avoid all of these things.

Decontaminate Your Home From Rodents and Diseases

At Master Attic, we are experts in rodent infestation decontamination. We can help you protect your home from any airborne diseases and bacteria that rodents may have left behind in your crawl space. We can also seal any potential entry points to your house, to avoid new rodents from entering.

Although many people enjoy taking care of their home and working on their crawl space themselves, it’s important to consider the many safety and health risks that can come with it, such as exposing yourself to viruses and diseases like Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis and Salmonella.

This is why it is preferable to hire a specialized professional, who will have the necessary experience and equipment to work in tight spaces and handle damaged insulation.

Here’s What Happens When You Get Your Crawl Space Cleaned

At Master Attic, we are experts in attic insulation, attic cleaning, and rodent proofing. Our world-class services in the New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania areas include a free inspection of your home, to find any potential leaks, rodents, or insulation damage. If our inspection results in a recommendation to clean your crawl space, here’s what you can expect.

Cleaning and Decontamination

At first, we clean all the dust, grime, and debris that we can find. This allows us to work on a cleaner slate. Then we proceed to decontaminate the space with products that are safe for the environment, for your pets and even for your kids. This allows us to eliminate any mold, bacteria, and other health-threatening diseases, as well as any unusual smells that you might have noticed around your house.

Insulation

With our expertise, we can help you :

• Determine if you should replace your current insulation with a new one, or you should simply reinforce it.
• Reseal your house, so you can achieve a comfortable temperature year-round.
• Protect your indoor air quality during the removal of damaged insulation, by taking the proper safety measures.
• Decide if you should vent your crawl space or encapsulate it, and properly seal it and insulate it depending on what you decide.

Moisture Control

After we repair and replace your insulation, we install a vapor barrier to avoid any potential water damage or moisture accumulation. This can even be installed over your subfloor’s insulation and on dirt floors, to protect your home from any moisture that could enter through the ground.

Duct repair and unclogging

We also offer duct maintenance, if your home happens to have ducts in your crawl space, delivering conditioned air throughout the house. We can repair, insulate or unclog them, to help you avoid any increases in your utility bills, and any contaminants in your air.

Rodent Control

Through professional-grade sealing and insulation, we can protect your house from rodents, to prevent them from causing any damage to your house’s structure, and your family’s health. If needed, we can also provide infestation-removing services, to safely eliminate any rodents that may be nesting in your crawl space.

On top of our crawl space services, we can also take care of any issues that you may have in your attic or in your walls, including rodent control. Having your attic cleaned can not only help your HVAC system function more efficiently, which can help you save money in the long run, but also prevent any potential fire hazards.

In Conclusion

By having your crawl space and your attic professionally cleaned, you are protecting your family from any health or fire hazards. And doing so sooner rather than later can also help you save a lot of money over time, in inevitable damages and lower utility bills. Since it’s only a matter of time before issues arise in your crawl space if you don’t maintain it properly, by getting our expert help, you can also save yourself a lot of time, stress and energy in future repairs.

The Master Attic team has been providing first-class crawl space and attic cleaning services for more than ten years in the New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania areas. We strive for excellence when it comes to service and work ethic, so our contracts include a one-year warranty to ensure your peace of mind. To learn more about our services, feel free to call us or schedule a free consultation on our website.

Do you need to get your crawl space cleaned? Call us, our experts will be happy to help.