If you have a crawl space underneath your house you will know how it can be somewhat of a headache to maintain. Not only are they dark, hard to get into, and sometimes smelly, the crawl space may be filled with rodents, spiders, and snakes.
Crawl spaces are used instead of basements as the costs are lower to construct. Although they are initially more cost-effective, they could be the cause of thousands of dollars in damage if they’re not maintained properly. These spaces are built to be no taller than four feet off the ground and would include utilities like drainage pipes for plumbing, water pipes for taps or gas, and electrical lines to service the various areas of the house.
To find out what is lurking around in your crawl space, you can contact a professional to do an inspection and report any findings that may need your attention. You may visit baycrawlspace.com and other websites for more information. There are many ways to ensure your crawl space stays in tip-top shape, like having your crawl space encapsulated.
Read more for some common problems you may find with your crawl space and some remedies to help you get them sorted out.
1. Get Rid Of Molds
If your house has a damp musty smell to it, you may have molds. When water creeps into your crawl space, it may cause wood to rot and molds that could be damaging in a few ways.
Mold could be harmful to anyone living in the house. If air passes through the crawl space, it may get mixed with the air that enters and flows through the house. This means the mold growing underneath your house may cause health issues for you and your loved ones.
Wet conditions are the best place for molds to grow. There could be many different reasons for your crawl space to be damped which may include a clogged sewage line, broken or leaking water pipes, or groundwater seeping through.
For leaking or bursting water pipes or sewerage lines, you should contact a plumber to assist you. For repairing the damage of the foundation and insulation or damp proofing options, you might have to call in the help of professionals who specialize in crawl spaces.
Getting rid of molds is not an easy task as the space will have to be cleaned with a special formulation made to remove molds. You would then have to soak the area in another formulation to ensure all the mold is killed off. After cleaning and soaking, the area will have to be thoroughly scraped or scrubbed clean so no trace of the mold is left behind. When the whole process is finished, extra special care needs to be taken to dispose of the moldy materials so the risk of it returning is minimized.
Luckily, experts are specializing in mold removal and prevention. If you have a serious problem with mold or would rather leave the removal in the hands of the experts, contact a reputable one in your area.
2. Solve Your Drainage Problems
You must remember to do regular checks around the house to see how gutters, downpipes, and vents around the crawl space are clean and clear of blockages.
Blockages by leaves, grass, shrubs, or even dead animals like rodents may affect how effectively the water will drain from your house and the crawl space beneath it. Clearing blockages regularly prevents the buildup of water.
Additionally, you could have a French drain installed to collect all the runoff from the downpipes around the house. This would slope the crawl space to make the water drain quicker. The French drain will direct the water away from the foundation of the house to a dry well or another runoff ensuring that there is no water build-up.
You could also install or use a water pump to drain any pools of standing water. If you constantly have issues with water pooling in your crawl space, you might want to consider installing a permanent pump system to assist with draining the water. These pump systems may be somewhat expensive but will save you from greater expenses caused by the standing water.
Calling a professional to assist you with encapsulating your crawl space could also save you from future water problems. This process involves the installation of moisture barriers, insulation, drainage systems, and dehumidifiers. Encapsulation may not only help with moisture but may also assist with insect damage.
3. Exterminate Insects, Rodents, And Other Pests
Having infestations of pests could potentially damage your home’s structure and could be the cause of health issues for you and your family.
If you have problems with insects or rodents, you may have to invest in pest control to ensure that they stay at bay. Pest control can become quite costly, so you might want to try taking care of a few things yourself before calling experts.
Regularly inspect the crawl space for any sign of insects, rodents, or pests to ensure you don’t have a breeding ground for these filthy creatures. Make these inspections a regular part of your routine and include a quick check at least once a month.
Look for holes and vents that aren’t sealed and make sure they are closed up to prevent any animals from entering the crawl space. Remove dead animals, nests, hives, and fill burrows to ensure they don’t have access to food. Other options to assist you with scaring animals away may include chemically treated insulation or wood to stop insect infestations.
Conclusion
Regular inspection and maintenance of your crawl space may save you loads in the long run, so make it part of your routine every few months or so. Prioritize and don’t delay repairs to your crawl space. Delaying the repair may just cause more damage to occur and would be more costly for you to fix.
Don’t hesitate to contact professionals for advice, quotes, and repairs if you need to. They will be able to assist you and your family to have a problem-free crawl space in no time.