Crawl spaces can create significant problems for homeowners. Is your crawl space insulated and air sealed? Here are four problems that can be lurking in your crawl space, and how insulating and air sealing can help.
1. MOISTURE DAMAGE
Drainage and plumbing problems can create significant problems in a crawl space. Moisture damage in crawl spaces go unnoticed and lead to a host of other problems! Moisture is the number one enemy of a crawl space. Air sealing and insulating your crawl space as well as ensuring proper drainage around your home can help eliminate moisture and the problems associated with it.
2. POOR AIR QUALITY
Although not included in your home’s square footage, the crawl space impacts your home’s interior and has a direct impact on the air quality inside your home. Building science shows airflow in a home naturally goes up, from ground to sky. As your home naturally breathes, moist air flows up and into the living areas of the home through unsealed penetrations points between the crawl space and the first floor of your home (points such as air ducts, wiring holes, holes around plumbing, etc). Any air quality issues in a crawl space are guaranteed to impact your home’s living area.
Have a family member with allergies, asthma or other breathing concerns? Problems in the crawl space like mold and odors can have a direct impact on everyone, in particular family members with these concerns. Air sealing and insulating your crawl space will improve the air quality will help keep these pollutants out of your home, helping to keep your family healthy.
3. CRITTERS
Your crawl space may be providing free room and board to some pesky tenants… and you don’t even know it! Crawl spaces are ideal for pests for a variety of reasons:
- Damp environments create ideal living conditions for pests.
- Any heating ducts that are leaking into the crawl space provide warmth during cold months,
- Wet or damp wood framing provides an excellent food source for termites and other destructive insects.
Air sealing and insulating your crawl space will prevent access points to your crawl space, as well and eliminating these factors that attracted the pests in the first place.
4. LOST ENERGY DOLLARS
If the integrity of your home’s structure and indoor air quality aren’t enough to convince you to insulate and air seal your crawl space, consider what it’s costing you not to. An unfinished crawl space affects your monthly energy bills. An unsealed crawl space can lead to:
- Cold floors in the winter
- Uneven temperature between rooms
- High heating and cooling bills
Your crawl space is a huge opportunity to save energy (and money)! By air sealing and insulating your crawl space you can reduce drafts, eliminate cold floors, keep your home comfortable, and save money on your energy bill each month.
Upgrading your crawl space is an investment in your home, your family’s health and can save money on your energy bills. What are you waiting for? Contact us to schedule your free estimate!
