Whether you have a full or partial basement, or no basement at all, your crawl space is integral to the integrity of your home. The health of your family and your home can be negatively affected by flooding in your crawl space or basement. Flooding in your crawl space can not only damage your home, but can also ruin the wood that supports the base of it.
There are many reasons why a crawl space can become moist. As a result, excess moisture can contribute to mold growth, rotting wood, and poor indoor air quality. An effective crawl space drainage system is necessary to help protect a residential property from water damage as every crawl space is susceptible to water intrusion.
Here are some of the best crawl space drainage system options:
- Properly Protect Your Home
- Vapor Barriers
- Crawl Space Encapsulation
- Sump Pump
Properly Protect Your Home
Create a controlled environment in your crawl space to prevent flooding in your home. Using a professional crawl space drainage system is an efficient way to remove excess water. With a variety of device installation options, these drainage systems can decrease the presence of water and moisture in the lower levels of your home, prevent flooding and further prevent health issues caused by mold growth.
Having mold in your home can compromise the foundation and lower your indoor air quality. By installing a proper drainage system, you can avoid having to deal with flooding in the future. Professional installations allow you to protect your home from the start, without worrying about costly, damaging issues or the foundation of your home.
Visit Crawlspace Doctor to learn more about how a crawl space sump pump can help you today!
Vapor Barriers
One of the first and most reliable crawl space drainage systems is a vapor barrier. Crawl space vapor barriers are durable membranes that prevent water vapor from entering the lower regions of your home. When combined with a waterproofing system, a vapor barrier will provide the ultimate moisture protection for crawl spaces, preventing both liquid water and water vapor from entering.
In most cases, these barriers are made of thick plastic materials that cover the soil to keep groundwater out. Even when you incorporate a water protection plan into your crawl space, moisture will still gather here. Whether due to runoff or leaking pipes, incorporating a drainage system such as a vapor barrier can further help to waterproof the lower regions of your home.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
As another form of drainage, crawl space encapsulation can seal foundation vents, insulate walls, and add a dehumidifier to your space. The most effective way to utilize a crawl space encapsulation method is to ensure the space is completely sealed. After encapsulating a crawl space, a dehumidifier can be installed to help regulate the moisture level. Encapsulating your crawl space is the perfect solution if you need to deal with rain or humid air.
The average cost for crawl space encapsulation is about $7,500, though prices can change depending on the size of your crawl space, the condition it is in, the materials you use, and the contractor you hire.
Sump Pump
A sump pump prevents water from entering the lower levels of your house when used as a waterproofing, drainage system in your crawl space. Made up of four components, an underground sump pump incorporates a collection system for collecting groundwater, a sump basin, a pump, and an outlet drain.
When installing a sump pump drainage system, a professional technician will first need to excavate the lowest part of your basement or crawlspace. After digging a 2′-3′ pit for the sump basin, a drainage trenching system will be created to transport water from the upper areas to the lower areas, where the basin is located.
In essence, you are creating French drains. Built at about six inches deep, 3 inch perforated pipes will be installed along these trenches. The pipes drain water from your crawl space by carrying excess moisture from the area to the sump basin. To discharge water, your discharge pipe is connected to your underground downspout drain, so your home is protected from water damage.
Contact the Crawlspace Doctor
Your crawl space is essentially the foundation of your entire home. If this environment is contaminated with mold and excess moisture, you’re going to begin to see those aspects negatively affect the health of your entire home.
As a large portion of the air you breathe in your home comes directly from your crawl space, if the air in the lower portion of your home is unhealthy, it will negatively impact the air in the living space as well.
A moisture and temperature controlled crawl space environment will reduce these negative effects on both the air quality and support structures of your home. Mitigating and removing water intrusion can help to benefit the health of your home and your family.
Crawlspace Doctor serves a variety of areas in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Indiana. We know what needs to be done to make sure your crawl space is an asset and not a liability.