Did you know, an unkept crawl space can create a multitude of problems for your home? While you may not be able to initially see the effects, crawl space issues such as mold or pest infestations can destroy the integrity of the base of your home. Your crawl space is a breeding ground for different vermin and mold spores. With the proper maintenance, however, you can rest assured that your crawl space and home will remain safe and healthy.
If you’re worried about upkeeping your crawl space, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of the top crawl space maintenance tips to keep your home happy and stable.
Here are a few tips to maintaining your crawlspace:
- Keep Moisture Under Control
- Insulate Your Space
- Keep Out Pests
- Install a Vapor Barrier
- Regularly Remove Debris
Keep Moisture Under Control
While moisture in your crawl space may seem harmless, it can do a ton of structural damage to the base of your home. Moisture can lead to mold growth which can damage your house, cause allergies, and make the air less healthy. Keeping moisture under control in your crawl space is a big step to protecting your environment.
You’ll want to ensure your gutters direct water away from your house and that your sidewalks are sloped so water can run away from your crawlspace. Curtain drain solutions can also help keep your crawl space dry. If you have a significant moisture problem, a sump pump can help suck water from your crawl space and send it out away from your home to keep your home from flooding.
Insulate Your Space
Another maintenance tip for your crawl space is to properly insulate your space. insulation can help control the temperature of your house, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There are many different kinds of insulation which work better for different situations.
Insulating your crawl space can help improve the indoor climate of your home year round. Remember to never block the vents in the foundation of your home as that would limit the airflow into your space. Our experts here at the Crawlspace Doctor can help you determine if you need insulation and what type you should use. We serve locations in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Indiana.
Visit Crawlspace Doctor to learn more about crawl space maintenance!
Keep Out Pests
Pests love to hang out in your crawl space and make their way into your living space or hurt the integrity of your home. Make sure that insects and mice can’t get into your crawl space as they can chew on insulation, wires, and wood. Reducing moisture will help keep them out, but be sure to seal up cracks in the walls that might give pests access.
However, as you work to keep pests out, you’ll want to make sure your crawl space is still well ventilated. Ventilation in the form of water vapor barriers can be excellent solutions for allowing crawl spaces to vent, while still keeping pests out.
Install a Vapor Barrier
Water vapor barriers are a great way to maintain the health of your crawl space. Installing a vapor barrier can help keep moisture out and in turn keep pests away. These devices must be properly sealed and used in conjunction with dehumidifying techniques. A crawl space professional can help you install a vapor barrier to maintain your crawlspace.
Regularly Remove Debris
If you’ve ever spent time in the crawl space of your home, you may have noticed extra or random spare pieces of building material. Sometimes, when people build or repair homes, they will leave unused material in the crawl space. Other times, if your crawl space is not properly sealed off, excess leaves, dirt or natural materials can make their way under your home. Unfortunately, debris can attract pests and make using your crawlspace more difficult.
There are a lot of ways to treat your crawl space and a lot of things you have to do to keep it in good condition, but reducing the moisture in your crawl space and regularly removing debris and pests can improve the air quality in your home. Let us treat your crawlspace, saving you the time and hassle.
Proper maintenance and upkeep is important to ensure your crawl space remains healthy. A well-functioning drainage system in your crawl space will help control humidity levels to reduce mold and wood rot growth, as well as preserve the quality of air that inevitably makes its way into your home.
Crawlspace Doctor provides a variety of services to help keep your crawl space in top condition. Are you in need of crawl space help in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, or Indiana? Contact Crawlspace Doctor today!