Did you know that 40% of the air in your home comes up through your crawl space? With that in mind, your crawl space has a huge impact on the quality of life in the home and the health of the infrastructure of the home. In order to do all you can to maintain proper conditions below your home, your crawl space door is the first line of defense.
Since you likely don’t spend a lot of time in your crawl space, you may overlook the importance of a crawl space door. However, properly securing the entrance to your crawl space is incredibly important and an important part of crawl space remediation.
Here’s why you should hire a crawl space professional to handle your door replacement:
- Keep Out Pests
- Water Protection
- Weather Protection
- Save Money in the Long run
- Proper Crawl Space Access
- When to Replace Your Door
Keep Out Pests
Keeping pests out of your home is likely important to you and your family. When it comes to a crawl space door, one of the most obvious things a door does is keep things out. There are a variety of pests that would love to make a nice little home in your crawl space.
This can include raccoons, skunks, possums, mice, and more. Pests can create a big mess and become a huge mess to clean up after. Not only is this unsanitary, but crawl space pests can do major damage to the underside of your house. This is why you’ll want to hire a crawl space professional to handle your door installation properly the first time.
Water Protection
When it comes to your crawl space, moisture is a major disaster waiting to happen. Without a properly sealed and installed door, you may end up with a flowing stream in your crawl space after a heavy rain. This is a great way to bring humidity up to dangerous levels which threatens your quality of air as well as the wood underneath your home. With the help of a crawl space professional, you can ensure a solid door is installed correctly to act as a wall and keep this moisture out.
Weather Protection
Changing temperatures are just as much of a threat to your quality of life as the negative effects of rainwater in your crawl space. Without a properly sealed crawl space door, when winter comes, you will begin to feel the cold throughout the rest of your home. A crawl space door will insulate your crawl space and help to maintain a steady temperature in your home. With the help of a crawl space professional, your crawl space door solutions will keep things warm in your home when you need it.
Learn more about crawl space door replacements with the Crawlspace Doctor!
Save Money in the Long run
Steady temperatures mean your air conditioning and heating system doesn’t have to work as hard. With the help of a crawl space professional, your door replacement will help you save money on these utilities over time. Similarly, changing temperatures, moisture, and pests can all also lead to costly repairs without a properly sealed door. Save yourself the hassle and the money by employing a well-built crawl space door replacement.
Proper Crawl Space Access
While you may be tempted to simply seal your entire crawl space up, you need to be able to access the underside of your home. Plumbing, heating ducts, and possibly even your water heater will be located in your crawl space. Any repairs are going to necessitate access to the crawl space. A secure door acts much like it would if it were sealed up, while still allowing necessary access.
When to Replace Your Door
Simply installing a basic door on your own isn’t enough. A door that is in poor condition or poorly installed isn’t going to provide the benefits you need. Here are a few things to look out for that will let you know it’s time to look into a crawl space door replacement.
Cracks or Small Openings
Any open seams around your crawl space door are going to negate any benefits. Cool air in the winter and warm air in the summer will leak in. Water can seep through any small holes or seams. The best way to tell if your door is secure is to crawl inside when the sun’s out and close it. Can you see light coming through? If so, it’s time to find a crawl space door replacement.
No Locks
Simply closing isn’t going to create the seal you need. Also, it’s not going to protect your home from critters. Raccoons and such are able to open unlocked doors, and then you’ll have a real problem on your hands. Be sure your door is able to securely close.
Rotting Wood
Many crawl space doors are made out of plywood because it’s cheap and easy to cut to size. However, these doors don’t age well. A plywood door full of wood rot isn’t secure.
Evidence of Water
Even if your DIY door solutions seem secure, water has the tendency to find a way through. Do you see the remains of dried puddles just inside your crawl space door? This can be evidence of a door that needs a professional replacement.