We often think about ways to keep our basement dry, but the crawl space is often overlooked. However, this area is just as important to maintain and keep free of moisture.
Many homeowners are plagued with high humidity in their crawl space. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew, resulting in a litany of complications. Your home will develop a nasty odor, which can be quite troublesome for some individuals. Allergies can strike, wreaking havoc to those who are sensitive to molds.
But there are more issues lurking underneath a home that hasn’t prepared for high humidity levels. You may start seeing an influx of insects and other pests. This is another expense you don’t need as a homeowner - extermination bills can mount quickly, giving you another headache you weren’t expecting.
Structural damage can also set in when humidity isn’t controlled in your crawl space. Imagine the costs of having to hire a professional to repair damage to your home’s structure. Thankfully, this can easily be remedied.
Today, we are going to look at ways you can prevent moisture build-up in the crawl space. This will ensure that both your home and your family are protected from the damaging effects of moisture and humidity.
Dehumidifiers
One of the best ways to ensure that your crawl space stays dry is to use dehumidifiers. The good ones are often more powerful than regular dehumidifiers, so it's important that you research each dehumidifier to make sure it is sufficient for use in your crawl space.
There are special crawl space dehumidifiers available that are designed to give you the results you need to keep this area of your home dry.
However, if you are simply trying to eliminate moisture in a bedroom, for example, you’ll want to look for options that are better suited for that specific use. There’s no need to spend the money in a more powerful unit when there are dehumidifiers made specifically for smaller areas in your home.
Fans
Fans are a great way to keep air circulating in your crawl space. This will help reduce moisture so that your crawl space stays nice and dry.
With that being said, you want to make sure that you invest in a powerful fan that is capable of sufficiently drying your crawl space. You want one that can move air through the entire area underneath your house. This requires a lot more force than a simple box fan.
If you have rooms that are often damp, you may find setting up multiple smaller fans throughout your home to be effective in reducing moisture.
Commercial Systems
Homes where water has already accumulated need more drastic measures. If you are faced with major moisture problems in your crawl space, you may want to consider a commercial system. These are capable of removing up to 15 gallons of water a day.
These units are designed to purge existing water build-up so that you can gradually rid your crawl space of its water. Many of these commercial systems are equipped with HEPA filters that work to eliminate your crawl space and home of mold spores.
This is crucial in the water removal process, as you don’t want these mold spores to infiltrate your home and cause illness among family members and pets. Bacteria and other micro particles are collected in the HEPA filter to prevent contamination.
If you are already fighting a damp house, you many also want to consider using moisture-absorbing bags throughout your home.
