Crawl Space Maintenance Tips From the Pros
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Crawl spaces are common in homes that can neither have a basement, nor a concrete slab base. If you are uncertain about whether or not you have a crawl space, simply look at your house from the outside.
If your home has a stairway leading to the door, is raised a couple of feet above the ground, and has a small door or window near the very base, under the door line, you have crawl space. You can access this part of the home through the door or window at the very base of the house. Once inside, use these maintenance tips to take better care of the space.
Moisture
The number one problem for homes that have a crawl space is moisture. Too much moisture and humidity in this part of the home will lead to fungus and mold which could also impact other parts of the home, specifically the walls and flooring. People often think that having more windows or vents in the crawl space will help keep it ventilated. On the contrary, it draws in more moisture and humidity from the environment and negatively impacts the crawl space.
This is something you definitely want to watch out for if you have wooden foundations and flooring or woodwork in the crawl space itself. Fungus and mold can eat away at wood and completely destroy it. In extreme cases, this can even cause the floor to collapse.
Condition
Once you are inside the crawl space you need to check the condition of everything in there. You will find a lot of plumbing, electrical systems, possibly the HVAC unit, gas connections, and all kinds of other things related to the infrastructure of the home. If you have never overhauled the crawl space then read this guide and learn about how to encapsulate the area. This is a comprehensive process that will help protect from all kinds of problems and ensure all the systems keep performing optimally. When done right, this will keep your crawl space healthy for decades.
Inhabitants
Another common issue for homeowners is pests that inhabit the crawl space. If the door to the crawl space is broken or if there isn't enough protection around the area, animals will get in there and make it their home. Crawl spaces can be home to all kinds of pests including insects, rodents, and even birds. To stop this from happening, inspect your crawl space and try to seal off any gaps you see. Even small gaps around piping and wiring are enough to let pests in. You can also use anti-pest control solutions to make the environment less favorable for pests, even if they do get in.
When securing your crawl space make sure you don't seal off the ventilation system. The aim is not to make the crawl space airtight, but to just make it so that moisture and pests stay out. Ideally, you should be inspecting the crawl space every six months. If you don’t know what to look for, hire a professional to manage the space for you. Early detection is the best way to save yourself thousands of dollars in repair costs and the hassle of having to fix the crawl space.