3 reasons why you should worry about water in your crawl space

A little water in your crawl space might seem ordinary, but in reality, it could be the culprit to mold and allergy issues in your home.

The negative effects of a wet crawl space 

Water in your crawl space gets in your home one of three ways:  a plumbing leak, water seepage from the surrounding soil (usually after heavy rain), or condensation.

Puddles of water in the crawl space aren’t good, but the water itself won’t ruin your home. It’s the water vapor (or moisture) that causes rot, mold, energy loss, and attract pests. And these problems don’t just stay in your crawl space. As much as 50% of the air on the first floor of your home comes from your crawl space.

3 major problems caused by a wet crawl space

1. Higher Energy Bills
   A home with a dirt crawl space costs more to heat and cool. Damp air takes more energy to heat or cool your home, which means higher energy bills.

2. Mold
   Mold loves moisture, and mold loves to eat dead organic materials, like wood, paper, and cardboard. The bad news is most crawl spaces have lots of moisture, as well as wood and other organic materials for mold to grow on.
   Vents also let in moisture, creating the ideal home for mold.
   What’s worse is mold releases airborne spores that eventually make their way upstairs. 

3. Dust Mites & Pests
   Dust mites thrive in humid environments, so they love homes with a dirt crawl space underneath. Dust mites are microscopic parasites that live in your bedding, carpet, and furniture. Dust mite droppings float in the air and can trigger allergies and asthma. Other pests, like termites, spiders, mice, rats, and snakes love damp, dirt crawl spaces too.

Keeping the crawl space dry

Adding a sump pump is the first line of defense in keeping water out of the crawl space. It’s necessary to install a sump system with a sturdy sump liner, an airtight lid, and a reliable pump. A high-quality sump pump system with a battery backup pump is the best way to avoid common sump pump problems.

The best solution for your crawl space water problem depends on your specific situation. If you are worried about water in your crawl space, contact us to schedule a free crawl space inspection from TerraFirma!