Crawl spaces have been around for decades because of their convenience to homeowners. They provide easy access to the plumbing system compared to concrete or the conventional floor setups making drainage repair easy. Many homeowners have also used crawl spaces as storage facilities. However, crawl spaces are always prone to moisture that causes mold, termites arising from the topsoil, carpenter ants, vermin, invasion of animals, or foul odors. When you encounter such a problem, it is imperative to seek crawl space repair services to work on the root cause of the problem.

A modern technique to deal with crawl space problems is crawl space encapsulation. It adds a polyethylene barrier that covers up the crawl space, including its foundation walls, floors, and ceiling. However, the barrier should be heavy-duty, and you should choose the right one for your house to prevent any unwanted disasters and maintain your family’s health.

What to consider when choosing an encapsulation system for your crawl space

First and foremost, you need to know that there are various dangers to your crawl space, including mold, excess water, rodents, pests, and other animals. While your home’s crawl space is the natural source of fresh air to your house, any foul smell emanating from this point affects the quality of air in your house too. Therefore, by taking care of the odor’s root cause, you consequently improve your home’s air quality.

Waterproof encapsulation

A waterproof encapsulation prevents rainwater or any other running water from entering your crawl space. As you may already know, excess moisture is the breeding ground for mold; therefore, a waterproof encapsulation makes it unsuitable for mold growth and rodents.

Liner

When purchasing a liner to encapsulate your crawl space, ensure it has at least 20mil thickness and a 0.000 permeability to ensure that no water or foul gases/odors enter your home. Some people also add plastic sheets or large 12 ft trampoline or even more. A proper liner also eliminates the need for a dehumidifier since it stops water or moisture from entering your home.

A mold neutralizer

A mold neutralizer destroys mold, algae, and bacteria and prevents their future growth.

How is crawl space encapsulation beneficial?

It improves your home’s air quality.

When you encapsulate your crawl space, you improve the air circulation around your house, resulting in clean and healthier breathing air for your household. By eliminating the moisture, you also get rid of humid air in your home. Plus, it promotes healthier living conditions as no one wishes to get sick by spending time in their home.

Prevents structural damage

An unsealed crawl space attracts moisture, which leads to mold and mildew growth. It eats up the paint and materials used to build your house resulting in high maintenance costs. Encapsulating it means avoiding such damages.

Eliminates pest infestation

Pests such as termites require moisture to survive. Encapsulating your crawl space means avoiding pest infestation threats and damages.

Increased energy efficiency

With an encapsulated crawl space, you don’t have to incur high energy bills with your heating and cooling unit trying to deal with the damp air brought by a moist crawl space. Therefore, it contributes to energy efficiency.

the final words

When you encapsulate your home’s crawl space, you don’t have to worry about moisture accumulation, mold, rodents, termites, or even a foul smell interfering with your home’s comfort.