Common Crawl Space Nightmares and How To Avoid Them

If you have a crawl space, you understand how important it is to take care of it and to inspect it regularly for issues.

After all, it is your direct barrier between your living spaces and the harsh outdoor environment! Your crawl spaceeffectively protects your home from the elements and nature, but only if it is supported and taken care of the way it should be.

Explore below the most common crawl space nightmares and how to address them quickly to avoid further issues down the road.

Mold in Crawl Spaces

Your crawl space has the vital role of helping control moisture in your home. Because of that, it is common for improperly insulated or ventilated crawl spaces to deal with mold issues. If moisture gets into your crawl space and cannot be effectively circulated out of it, it will linger and become stagnant.

Over time, this lingering moisture becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold to grow. The bad news is that mold grows quickly, which means you could be dealing with a large infestation underneath your floors in a matter of days and have no idea!

Having mold in your home is never good. It can be harmful to your health and it also can significantly impact the structural integrity of your home. Mold will lead to rot, which will eventually compromise the safety of your home.

The Fix

In order to stop a mold problem in its tracks, you have to track down the source of the moisture. A professional mold contractor can remove the infestation safely, and a professional insulation contractor can help track down why the moisture is entering your home in the first place.

For example, if your water problem is caused by a plumbing leak or an improperly graded yard, these repairs can take place right away to prevent a future mold infestation.

In addition, adding insulation or encapsulating your crawl space significantly reduces your risk of suffering from a mold infestation.

Rotting Floors

All homes have different considerations and things about them that make them unique. However, having rotting or sagging floors should never be ignored. Uneven planking or sagging spots often indicate something sinister going on underneath your flooring.

If moisture infiltrates your crawl space, it will eventually start to degrade your floor joists and the very structure of your home. Over time, your floorboards will start to sag with the moisture and lack of support, which will lead to soft spots and dangerous areas of your home.

The Fix

Your floors will continue to sag and will only get worse until you locate the source of the moisture and address structural repairs. This often requires a professional contractor to ensure your home repairs are being done to code to ensure the utmost safety of your newly restored home.

Pest Infestations

Your crawl space looks attractive to your neighborhood squirrels, mice, raccoons and even insects. It is quiet and dark and offers reliable safety from the elements, so pest infestations are a common problem for crawl spaces.

Unfortunately, your home cannot be a hotel for these pests without suffering in the process. The presence of pests can result in:

• A raised risk of electrical fires
• Structural degradation
• Stinky odors throughout the house
• Water leaks and plumbing problems

Dealing with a pest infestation quickly is essential to protecting your home as well as your indoor air quality.

The Fix

The key to keeping out pests for good is to find where they are coming in from! Mice and squirrels are very crafty and can sneak into your crawl space through the tiniest cracks or electrical holes. Consider hiring a professional pest removal company to help you track down exactly where they are getting in.

Once the entrance is located, the pests can be removed and the area in question can be fixed. Sealing up entry points is essential to stopping the problem for good. After that, your crawl space should be re-insulated to provide even more protection against future infestations.

Standing Water

Have you ever gone into your crawl space to check on a pipe or another part of your utility system, only to find standing water or puddles all over the floor? While crawl spaces are essential to help prevent lingering moisture issues, they can actually flood during heavy rain or if a pipe leaks or bursts.

If this water is not addressed right away, it will settle into your dark, damp crawl space and may not be discovered for weeks, months or even years. Over time, this standing water will turn into water vapor, which will result in mold, rot and other structural concerns.

The Fix

The first step is to remove the excess water with pumps or industrial vacuums. Once the space is dry, it is time to investigate why it happened in the first place. Fix any leaking pipes, address any grading issues on your property, and clean out your gutters to prevent overflow during heavy rain.

You should also consider installing a vapor barrier to keep the moisture and humidity levels down in your crawl space.

Why Maintaining your Crawl Space Matters

Your crawl space plays an important role in your home, so it is essential that you take care of it. While it may be an overlooked part of your home, you should get in the habit of inspecting it regularly for signs of moisture, mold, or pests.

If you discover an emerging problem, you will be able to address the issue right away to prevent serious structural damage to your home. Hiring a professional contractor like Master Attic is your solution to all of your crawl space woes.

Let our team handle all of your crawl space insulation and encapsulation needs. Call Master Attic today at (800) 285-4009 to learn more about our crawl space services.