Why is your crawlspace important to your health?

Many homeowners don’t realize how important their dirty crawlspace is to the health and energy efficiency of their home. We only think of our crawlspaces a couple of times a year when the musty, moldy smell returns. We like to pretend that the crawlspace doesn’t have any effect on our home as long as we don’t open the hatch. The crawlspace is actually one of the most important areas of our homes. The health of a home begins in the crawlspace.

The natural airflow in the home has a chimney effect. Outside air is drawn into the lowest levels of the home and rises, like the air within a chimney, throughout the upper levels of the house. The reality is that air in the living areas of your home comes from your dirt crawlspace. Studies have shown that up to 60% of the air that you breathe in the first floor of your home comes from the crawlspace or basement. This is why your crawlspace is so important to your health.

Have you noticed:

• Damp, musty smells
• High indoor humidity in the summer
• Creaking floors
• Bugs and rodents
• Cold floors in the winter
• Increased respiratory problems and even asthma
• Standing water after a heavy rain

The air in a humid crawlspace is full of mold, fungi, dust mites and other allergens. Breathing in this air can cause asthma and other respiratory problems. In some cases, the contaminated air can poison us with very dangerous toxins that can sometimes cause death. It is very important to correct this potentially hazardous situation before problems occur. Basement Authorities has the widest range of permanent solutions to rectify the problems that lead to these unhealthy conditions.

What causes the conditions for mold and allergens to grow?

Dirt Floor

There are many factors that contribute to a damp, humid crawlspace. The biggest factor is simply the uncovered Earth floor. The Earth under your home has a lot of moisture in it. This dirt never really dries out. Moisture is constantly wicking its way through the soil to the surface. It then evaporates into the cool air in the crawl, and helps create the conditions that support the unhealthy home environment. The cold air in the crawl really magnifies the humidity problem. When we talk of humidity in a crawlspace, we are really discussing the relative humidity. Humidity is relative to the temperature of the air in a space. Cold air doesn’t hold as much moisture as warm air, so it takes less moisture to have high relative humidity in a cool space. This is evident by the condensation hanging from the ceilings of humid crawls.

Standing Water

Most homes that have dirt crawlspaces have no waterproofing systems installed to prevent ground water infiltration. It is very common to see standing water in a dirt crawl after a heavy rainstorm. There is typically no drainage system or sump pumps. The rain water simply soaks into the ground and pools on the dirt floor. In the heaviest of rains, the crawl can completely flood. This pool of water usually sits stagnant for long periods of time. It slowly evaporates into the air in the crawl and then rises through the rest of the house.

Foundation Walls

Foundation walls also contribute to the moisture within a crawl. Foundation wall leaks can add significant amounts of water to a crawlspace environment. They often result in pools of water on the dirt floor. Even if the walls don’t leak, most of them are so porous that water vapor easily passes through the wall. This water vapor evaporates into the crawlspace air and raises humidity levels. Sometimes the walls get so bad that the water vapor condensates on the walls. The walls sweat with beads of water.

 

 

 

Vents and Air infiltration

Having a dirt crawlspace with vents under your home is like having all of your windows and doors open to the outside. The air is allowed to freely enter and create the same air conditions inside the crawl as outside the crawl. During the hot humid months of the year, the humid air outside the house rushes into the crawl and cools down. This is why crawlspaces become even more humid in the summer than at other times of the year. All of that hot, humid air quickly cools down in the crawl and the moisture begins to condensate. This once again raises the relative humidity levels.

Even crawlspaces without vents can have higher humidity levels during the summer. This is because the crawlspace is a vacuum that pulls in outside air. As the air rises in a house, the rising air creates a vacuum and new outside air is drawn into the crawl. It is almost impossible to seal off a crawlspace from outside air infiltration. This means that in the summer time, the crawlspace pulls hot humid air into the crawl even without vents.

Damage

Mold and fungi need two main things to grow. The first is humidity levels above 50-55%, and the second is an organic food source. The wood framing under the first floor is a perfect food for mold. Mold and moisture rot the wood and create soft and creaky floors. It can cause the wood to sag and crack. In some cases, the wood structure and the floor need to be replaced. The mold and fungi spores will not only attack the first floor. They can rise with the air and begin damaging organic materials throughout the rest of the house.

The moisture in a damp crawl can also damage any house mechanicals that are installed in the crawlspace. Furnaces, water heaters, ductwork, and electrical supplies can be damaged by the moisture and condensation in a crawlspace. The metal components quickly begin to rust. This greatly reduces the lifespan of the mechanical systems.

Pests

Insects, rodents, spiders and other pests thrive in cool, damp places. A damp crawlspace is the perfect environment for these pests to thrive. Damp crawlspaces have lots of rotting organic material for pests to feed. A crawlspace is usually undisturbed, providing a safe haven for pests that are looking for a home. Many pests actually nest in the dirt in a crawlspace. These pests can damage the wood in the house and contribute to the unhealthy air that flows through the home.

 

 

 

 

Energy Efficiency

An unsealed, non-insulated, and drafty crawlspace leads to higher energy costs throughout the year. Open vents can create huge drafts within a house. The vents are like leaving the windows in the house open to the outside air. This cold air blows through the house robbing you of the money you just spent to condition your inside air. These vents also bring in humid air in the summer. It is harder to cool humid air than dry air. It costs you more money to cool your home in the summer because of the humidity rising from your crawlspace.

In many cases, up to 20% of a home's energy is lost through the basement and crawlspace foundation walls. The concrete walls are large cool masses of concrete that draw in warm conditioned air. Closing the vents and insulating the walls can greatly increase the energy efficiency in your home and save you money. In time properly insulating your crawlspace will pay for itself.

 

 

 

The Solution

The Healthy Home Crawlspace Solution is the answer to all of these crawlspace problems. It is a comprehensive solution that addresses all of the issues that an open dirt crawlspace provides. The Healthy Home Crawlspace Solution encapsulates the dirt floor and the foundation walls. It isolates the crawlspace from the moisture that is present in the walls and the floor. The encapsulation also isolates the insects and spiders from the living areas of the home. The foundation walls get insulated to increase the energy efficiency within a crawlspace, and the vents are also permanently closed. This will stop the drafts and isolate the outside air from the inside air.

Dramatic effects will be noticed inside your home once the Healthy Home Crawlspace System has been installed. You will immediately begin feeling the health benefits and seeing the reduction in energy costs. It is without question the best crawlspace solution on the market.