Your crawl space is a key part of your home’s structural stability. Excessive moisture in your crawl space can cause numerous problems, such as high energy bills, sagging floors, and insulation damage.
But how do you fix moisture? This blog will help you identify what causes moisture in your crawl space and includes tips on how to eliminate moisture, a cost breakdown, and why hiring professionals is the most effective solution.
Is It Normal To Have Crawl Space Moisture?
Your home’s crawl space is a small area under the floor that is in close contact with the soil and acts as a buffer between your home and the ground. So, if the soil beneath your home is highly saturated, it’s natural to have some level of crawl space moisture. However, you shouldn’t ignore any moisture issues in the crawl space, as they can be detrimental to your home in the long run.
Causes Of Crawl Space Moisture
Some of the major causes of moisture in your crawl space are:
1. Sump Pump Issues
If you do not have a battery backup sump pump, it will fail when there is a power outage. Additionally, if your sump pump is clogged, it will not be able to pump out water effectively. An old, worn-out sump pump with a weak motor and electrical system may also fail. Any of these scenarios can lead to moisture issues in your crawl space, as your pump will not be able to drain out excess water from your crawl space.
2. Cracked Foundations
Even if you have a proper drainage system, water can find its way into your crawl space through cracks and holes in your home’s foundation. No matter how small these cracks are, they will let moisture seep into your crawl space over time.
3. Drainage Issues
If your crawl space floods after heavy rainfall or snowmelt, you may not have a sufficient drainage system. A faulty drainage system will not be able to direct water away from your home. Moreover, if the land around your home is not graded properly, excess water will seep into your crawl space due to improper water channeling.
Problems Caused By Damp Crawl Space
A damp crawl space can cause many problems, such as flooding, mold growth, musty odors, condensation, water damage, and bouncy, uneven floors. If you do not repair crawl space moisture issues promptly, these problems can potentially cost you hundreds of dollars.
Here is a list of possible problems caused by a moist crawl space.
1. Flooding
If you have a damp crawl space with inadequate drainage systems, it will flood after heavy rainfall. Without any functional drainage system, it will take a lot of time to dry on its own. Flooding may damage insulation or cause any wood to rot. After flooding, you may need to call in professional assistance to implement effective and efficient remediation.
2. Musty Smell
Musty smells originate from your crawl space due to factors like increased humidity levels, flooding, inadequate drainage systems, mold growth, pesky insects, and damp insulation. The earthy smell is not just confined to your damp crawl space but may linger and spread throughout your home, affecting your indoor air quality.
Moreover, a musty smell from mold may lead to allergies or breathing issues. While an air freshener could temporarily fix these smells, permanent water mitigation solutions are required to eradicate persistent smells.
3. Mold Growth
Mold spores thrive when they come in contact with water, so a dark and humid crawl space is an ideal place for mold to grow. If your crawl space is moist with no vapor barrier, these spores travel to your living room and contaminate your home’s air quality.
4. Condensation
If you have a damp crawl space with high humidity and insufficient ventilation, condensation will occur on the walls and other materials. You may assume that condensation is not a serious problem, but it can lead to rotting wood or mold eventually.
5. Sagging Floors
If you feel that your floors are sagging and uneven when walking around your home, it may be due to high moisture in your crawl space. Excess moisture causes wood rot and decay, causing your floors to sag.
How To Get Rid Of Moisture In Crawl Space?
It’s important to reduce moisture in your crawl space and keep it dry at all times. Moisture buildup leads to multiple issues, such as sagging floors, musty smells, pesky insects, and wood rot.
But how do you get rid of moisture in your crawl space? Here is a list of some effective solutions:
1. Interior Drainage and a Sump Pump Installation
To protect your crawl space, add a reliable sump pump to your interior drainage system. If you live in a flood-prone area and constantly face power outage issues, you should choose battery backup sump pumps to drain water out even without electricity and reduce the chances of moisture damage in your crawl space.
2. Crawl Space Encapsulation
If you are searching for a perfect solution to avoid moisture intrusion, invest in crawl space encapsulation. Encapsulating involves sealing your crawl space with a thick vapor barrier to provide a dry and hygienic space with healthier interior air quality. Additionally, you can enjoy many benefits with reliable crawl space encapsulation, ranging from reduced dampness to increased energy efficiency in your home.
3. Repair Foundation Cracks
If your crawl space has any cracks or holes in the foundation, they can become a source of water seeping into your crawl space. No matter how small the cracks are, you should immediately seal them. However, if you can’t find any cracks yourself, hire a trustworthy contractor to identify and repair foundation problems.
4. Crawl Space Dehumidification
Dehumidifiers filter air and eliminate unpleasant smells, so they are a great addition to controlling moisture in your crawl space. Energy-efficient dehumidifiers in your crawl space keep indoor air fresh and dry.
Cost To Fix Moisture In Crawl Space
Detecting moisture issues early can significantly reduce repair costs. Although it’s easy to ignore your home’s crawl space since it may not be of much use to you on a daily basis, you should invest in reliable inspection and repairs to avoid expensive repair costs in the future.
The cost of fixing moisture in your crawl space varies greatly due to factors such as the extent of damage, underlying causes of water intrusion, size of your crawl space, and type of repair work done.
Here is a list of typical cost ranges to fix moisture in your crawl space:
- Crawl space cleaning or mold removal: Starts from $500
- Crawl space repair or restoration: Starts from $2,500
- Fixing foundation leaks or cracks: Starts from $3,000
- Crawl space encapsulation: Starts from $1,500
- Insulation repair works: Starts from $1,500
- Pest control: Starts from $1,000
Contact American Eagle Professional Services Inc. for a free inspection and estimate today.
Conclusion
American Eagle Professional Services Inc. has been proudly delivering effective services to homeowners for a long time. Our highly skilled specialists have the perfect blend of experience and knowledge to tackle all your crawl space moisture problems. So call us at 1 (410) 263-9682 or visit 605 Main Street, Suite 204, Stevensville, MD 21666, and we will send a team of experts to your home for a free inspection and quote.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You may notice moisture problems in crawl space from various sources, such as the following:
- Failing sump pump
- Foundation cracks
- Groundwater seepage
- Condensation
- Soil moisture
To detect moisture issues early, you can start by visually inspecting your crawl space. Check for signs of moisture like black patches of mold, standing water, wood rot, and pest infestation. To check moisture content, use moisture meters and a hygrometer to test humidity in your crawl space for accurate measurements. For reliable and efficient inspection, you can contact our expert technicians.
Over time, moisture in the crawl space can lead to other problems like damaged or wet insulation, pest infestation, or wood rot and disrupt your home’s structural integrity. To fix moisture issues, consider adding a sump pump, vapor barrier, and dehumidifiers. It is important to have an effective drainage system that effectively directs water away from your home. For encapsulation and drainage services, get in touch with American Eagle Professional Services Inc.
Yes, moisture in your crawl space is bad because dampness is the source of other problems like wood damage, compromised structural integrity, musty smells, mold, and flooding.
