Crawl Space Encapsulation

Do You Smell a Musty Odor in Your Home?

Have you ever found yourself asking, “What is that smell” when you enter your home? Is it a musty, wet odor? Have you noticed extra moisture in and around your home’s foundation or crawl space?

Chances are that if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then you have unwanted moisture in your home’s crawl space. If this issue is not addressed and resolved, you could be exposing your family to respiratory and health issues along with putting your home at risk for structural and foundation problems.

There are many symptoms of moisture being present in your crawl space:

• Mold or moisture damage
• Musty odors in the living areas
• Condensation on air conditioning ductwork or equipment
• Condensation on insulation, water pipes
• Buckled hardwood floors
• High humidity in the living area
• Insect infestations
• Rot in wooden framing

In most cases, the problems show up during the spring and summer due to the increase in humidity.

Dry Crawl Spaces

Just because the most prevalent time for issues to arise is in the humid spring and summer, does not mean that the problems are not there year-round. Most of us think that when we have a moisture problem, then we must have a heating or air problem. This is not true, as the problem is poor ventilation in your home’s crawl space.

There are many benefits to sealing your crawl space. In fact, in North Carolina, it is part of the code for new construction that crawl space encapsulation is mandated. Crawl space encapsulation completely seals the area from the outside. According to the North Carolina Building Code, new construction needs to meet these guidelines:

• A termite inspection gap of 3 inches is required by the code.
• Closed crawl spaces need a method to dry them, such as a dehumidifier.
  • The code recommends that the air be conditioned either by pumping in air from the living area or installing a conditioner.
• Closed crawl spaces need to be protected from water entering the crawl space through the dirt floor or ground (encapsulation).
• Full coverage with ground vapor retarders for all wall vented crawl spaces is required. Wall vented crawl spaces shall be protected from water entry by the evaporation of water from the ground surface.
• The floor of the crawl space should be graded so that it drains to one or more low spots.
  • Install a drain to daylight or a sump pump at each low spot.
  • Crawl space drains shall be kept separate from roof gutter drain systems and foundation perimeter drains.
  • Combining encapsulation with a drainage system will help protect the area from humid air and water.

By sealing your crawl space, you can benefit from:

• Preventing infestations from bugs, rodents, and other pests
• Reduced allergens and other causes of breathing problems and asthma-related symptoms
• Minimize mold and mildew growth
• Lowered heating and cooling bills

This problem can be solved by calling Tar Heel Foundation Solutions. It was long believed that the best way to vent your home was with outside air, but it has been proven that it causes more problems.

Recent studies now show that when the humid air comes into play with your vent system, it creates a bigger moisture problem.

Contractors are turning to a new method of waterproofing for your crawl space. It is a system that uses no outside vents, has a water drainage system and a ground vapor barrier or crawlspace encapsulation North Carolina and South Carolina homes need that has improved moisture control while being energy efficient.

 Give Tar Heel Foundation Solutions a call today to set up an appointment for a free consultation for your Crawl Space.