Crawl spaces give homeowners simple access to the inside components of their homes, such as the piping and HVAC systems, to facilitate repairs. Crawl spaces are functional, but they are frequently vulnerable to water problems. Finding moisture in yours can be unsettling, especially if it doesn’t seem to be draining no matter what or seems to have been present for some time.
If mold grows, a moist crawl area can result in expensive water damage that affects every floor. This article may provide you with all the information you require, from potential causes of water in your crawl space to potential solutions.
What Does it Mean When a Crawl Space is Wet?
What does it actually mean when the crawl area in your home becomes damp? There is an easy solution. The crawl area is getting wet or damp, and the cause might be anything, from the air’s high humidity during the scorching summer causing condensation to a leaky water pipe running beneath the crawl area.
5 Sources of Water in the Crawl Space
The following are the five most common sources of water in the crawl space:
1. Cracks or Gaps in the Foundation
Age brings about a phenomenon known as “settling” in a home. All homes go through this process, but it can lead to foundation damage if left unchecked. The resistance of your foundation to water is diminished if it develops cracks or gaps.
The result could be water leaking into your basement or crawl area. It’s almost certain that you’ll have mildew and wood warping problems if water seeps into your crawl area. Mold poses a risk not just to the physical integrity of your house but also to your family’s health and safety.
The wood will absorb water if it is left to sit in water. Since wood expands when exposed to moisture, this can cause the floor to become uneven. In this regard, the worst-case situation is that water seepage via a damaged foundation will cause the wood to rot. To fix it would cost a lot of money.
2. Leaking Windows
Windows and vents are typically set into the walls of basements and crawl spaces. The window well is an area where surface water can enter through cracks and holes, especially after heavy rain. Assuming that occurs, you’ll have to deal with the results.
The good news is that if you are able to keep an eye on your crawl space, you can take action before the issue becomes severe. Maintaining the integrity of your window wells and vents is essential to their continued efficiency. For this reason, encapsulation is widely used in crawl spaces; it stops the issue from ever developing.
3. Poor Grading
The prevention of water damage to your house relies heavily on expert grading. You need to make sure that there is proper sloping around your home’s foundation and crawl space so that water doesn’t pool there or get inside.
4. Cracked Water or Sewer Pipes
A lot of water enters and leaves our homes every day. This is normally accomplished through the house’s plumbing system. Pipes from the city or a private well supply drinking water, while other pipes carry wastewater to treatment facilities.
Pipes carry water from the city’s supply to hot water heaters. Both the freshwater and sewage lines leading into the house have the potential to break or become clogged, allowing water to enter the building. When a water line breaks, it can let a lot of water into your home at once, and you might not even notice it.
Having this happen to a sewer pipe will cause more serious sanitation problems. Both sewage lines represent a significant risk to public health and safety due to the potential for water damage. A specialist is required not just to fix your lines but also to clean up and fix the damage. Getting a plumbing leak fixed right away is important to retain a healthy crawl space.
5. Clogged Drains
Another major issue that can arise in the event of heavy rainfall is a poorly functioning drainage system. You can avoid this problem by building a French drain or another drainage system. The drainage systems around your property may become clogged despite our best efforts.
This leads to a backup of water, which might be caused by inclement weather or a natural calamity. Using the path of least resistance, the backup may eventually find its way inside your house. The damage is comparable to that caused by flooding and can cost as much as several thousand dollars to fix.
Should I Be Worried About a Wet Crawl Space?
Moisture or water of any kind in your crawl area is cause for concern, so yes, you should be worried about that. Mold, musty odors, vermin, water damage, and structural damage are just some of the issues that can be precipitated by persistent dampness. These are all significant problems whose solutions may be prohibitively expensive. A dehumidifier or a vapor barrier are good ways to combat crawl space moisture but it’s important to say that crawl space inspections are the only way to find out where water or moisture is coming from.
Major Problems Caused By a Damp Crawl Space
Water collecting in the crawl space makes mold and rot plain to see. The effects of a wet or damp crawl area on your health and the rest of the house are not immediately apparent. Here are the major problems caused by a damp crawl space:
High Energy Bills
It is more expensive to heat and cool a house that has a dirty crawl space. This is because it takes more work to heat or cool humid air, and this extra work translates into higher monthly expenditures.
Dust Mites and Other Pests
It is very common for dust mites to populate homes with a damp crawl area because of the high humidity levels found there. Microscopic parasites called dust mites populate your home’s upholstered goods, carpeting, and mattresses.
Mold
Mud loves damp places. Mold thrives on cellulose-based foods, so it’s best to keep wood, paper, and cardboard out of your home. The unfortunate truth is that most crawl areas have enough moisture, as well as plenty of wood and other organic materials, on which mold can thrive. Wet insulation also encourages mold and mildew growth since its very hard to dry out once wet.
In addition to living organisms, mold also thrives on dead insects, which can be found in abundance in a crawl space. Insects and rodents can easily gain access to the home through vents in the crawl space. Mold thrives in damp, dark places, and vents provide just that.
But the worst part is that mold spores travel through the air and find their way upstairs. The presence of mold in a crawl space can negatively impact both your health and the value of your home. In today’s market, a home free of mold is a hot commodity.
Home foundation issues can be caused by a variety of situations, but each one has a cause and an answer. Without interfering with your everyday activities, Xpert Foundation Repair can diagnose, prevent, and resolve these problems. We also use cutting-edge products to do so. Indeed, we have been able to solve these issues because of our high-quality foundation repair products.
