What’s in Your Crawl Space?

Deep in the under-workings of your house is a dark hole, a twilight zone…the crawl space! What’s in your crawl space? Spiders, crickets, mold, mildew, dampness, and other creatures that you dare not think of? Home is a place where you want your family to be safe and protected from the contaminants of the world. But is your home making you sick? Your crawl space provides easy access to the inner-workings of your home and the substructures of your home. It contains plumbing, heat systems, electrical, air ducts, gas or oil lines.

Your home is one of your largest investments. Why not protect it? 

If you have time and are able, we encourage you to check out your crawl space. Knowing the signs of damage can go a long in protecting the investment you’ve made in your home. If you’d rather not go into the crawl space, call us at The Clean Air Co. for help. We offer a wide range of crawl space services. In the past, the thinking was that you should increase ventilation in your crawl space by using foundation vents. But newer research shows that if you have a moisture problem will only worsen your problem. You will have humid air from outside, combined with cool air in your crawl space creating condensation and causing your air ducts to work harder. This will increase your energy cost as well as create breathing hazards.

Are you doing enough for your foundation for an ideal crawl space? 

Knowing what to look for is half of the struggle when it comes in inspecting your foundation. If you dare, go into your crawl space, and take a look. Are the foundation walls damp? Do they have water stains? What about the floor, is it damp, muddy or wet? If it is, it could indicate a moisture problem.  Moisture causes harm to the structure of your home. Dampness can lead to deterioration and water damage to wood, as well as other problems. Can’t access the crawl space due to spider webs? Other pest? Termites thrive in damp, dark spaces and can wreak havoc on your foundation. Bugs like crickets and mud beetles can burrow causing other issues as well. If you think you have an infestation, we recommend that you call a pest control service. If you do not have one, we are happy to recommend one to you. Check the mechanical functions of your home. Most homes with crawl spaces house air ducts. Areas that need to be checked would be where air ducts branch off the main line. Look for disconnected lines, make sure flexible ducts are not crushed and causing restrictions to air flow, check to see if insulation is sagging, and look for condensation.

Mold and mildew can cause harm to you, and your family too! 

Potentially dangerous to the health of you and your family, mold and mildew often grow in the cool dark spaces of your crawl space. When you are looking for other issues in your home, be on the lookout for mold and mildew as well. Mold and mildew will be obvious, while fungi will not. Fungi can be white or black crystals adhering to wood surfaces and can indicate an early growth. The Clean Air Co. LLC. does mold abatement. But if you see something that you believe is mold or mildew, it is best to call a company to test it first.

I don’t see it. Will it hurt me? 

The air in your crawl space is recirculated throughout your home. If your crawl space is dark, damp, muddy, and infested with bugs, you are breathing that air. If mold and mildew are present, you are breathing it as well. If your crawl space is unsealed, the chances that your indoor air quality is contaminated are very high. Do you suffer from allergies? Asthma? Nothing else seems to be working? Try checking out your crawl space.

Vapor barrier insulation and crawl space encapsulation can protect you and your investment

Vapor Barrier and Crawl Space Encapsulation can have a positive long term effect on the overall ‘health’ of your crawl space. Don’t mistake thin plastic laid down as true vapor barrier, let us help you make educated decisions. Vapor Barrier is a 6 millimeter plastic custom fit to the size of your crawl space and is ideal in homes that need moisture protection. Crawl Space Encapsulation is a thick white polymer reinforced with polyester thread to prevent rips and tears. This material has anti-microbial added to its resins to enhance its natural ability to resist mold and mildew. It is customized onsite to the exact specifications of your crawl space. It covers all surfaces of your crawlspace, from walls, to floors, and support beams. If you think that you might be a good candidate for either of these products, or have questions about your crawl space please don’t hesitate to give us a call today. We pride ourselves in helping you make educated decisions about what is best for your home. Addressing crawl space issues now, will prevent future damage and protect what is probably the largest investment you have made. Learn more about the crawl space services we provide and the products we use. Remember, what you can’t see, CAN hurt you!