When you’re walking around your home, how often do you pay attention to what you’re walking on or above? If your home has a crawl space, now is the time to start paying close attention. Typically, a crawl space is a hollow area directly underneath your home located between the first floor and the ground. They can be anywhere between 1 foot to 3 feet high, which is just enough room for someone to crawl through — hence the name “crawl” space.
Crawl spaces are more than just an empty dark space below your home, they can be fundamental to ensuring a solid foundation. They are also a convenient location to keep all of your home’s essentials that would otherwise be in a basement. These essentials are things like air conditioning, heater, insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing, and ductwork.
Some homes have solid concrete slabs that they are built upon, while others have crawl spaces. So what would be the benefit of having a crawl space?
Crawl Space Benefits
Well, the main benefit of a crawl space is having unrestricted access to all of the essential elements we mentioned previously: air conditioning, heater, insulation, electrical wiring, plumbing, and ductwork. You want quick access to these elements in case there is ever an issue with moisture, mold, air systems, insulation, etc. Being able to crawl under your home and quickly check on the issues at hand element having to break into a concrete slab.
In comparison, basements also give homeowners unrestricted access to all of these essential elements, with more room to function. However, basements come with a much larger price tag than a crawl space does.
Crawl spaces are preferred in homes that are located in coastal areas, sandy soil, damp environments, or have high rain. With this, keep in mind that proper ventilation of your crawl space is key to keeping your home dry and is the best way to fight off mold, protect your health, and hold up the structural integrity of any home.
Crawl Space Drawbacks
The contrary is true, that if a crawl space has not been taken care of properly, then they can withhold moisture and cause it to travel up through the ground into the floors of your home. So how do you know if your crawl space is being properly ventilated? Simple, you call the experts! (Do we do home inspections?)
A crawl space will normally become wet for three reasons: water seepage from drenched soil, a plumbing leak, or condensation. Cold surfaces like your ductwork is a perfect place for humidity to condense and drip on the floor of your crawl space. Once the water puddles on the floor, the moisture can cause mold, rot, pest attraction, and even energy loss.
Higher energy bills can be a result of moisture in your crawl space. The damp air in your crawl space will end up taking more energy to heat or cool, and the more energy you use the higher your energy bill will be.
Pest attraction can be a long-term result of excess moisture in your crawl space. Pests such as dust mites, termites, spiders, rats, snakes, and mice are attracted to damp, dark spaces. Once these pests get into your home, they can be tricky to get rid of.
It’s simple, mold loves moisture. Mold in your small crawl space will continue to grow and feed off of wood, cardboard, paper, moisture, dead insects, and more! Once you have mold in your crawl space, airborne spores will be released spanning everywhere into your home. Not only is mold not good for your home’s property value or integrity, but it’s also terrible for your health.
Parent Remodeling Is Here To Help
We always recommend getting a home inspection before you buy a home and have them looked at every year you own the home. If issues are found within your crawl space, there is no need to fret! All you have to do is call us at (860) 250-9631 for your free quote!
Here at Parent Remodeling, LLC we work towards providing the safest home for you and your family. While crawl spaces do have many benefits and allow you easy access to your home’s essential elements, there are also drawbacks. We are here to help. The structural integrity of your home and your family’s safety is of the utmost importance. Call us today and together, let’s make sure your home is moisture-free.
Call 860-250-9631 or Contact Us for a free estimate today.