4 Tips for Maintaining Your Crawlspace
It’s no surprise that the crawlspaces in your house are left neglected. There’s a saying that goes, out of sight, out of mind. The crawlspace in your home is often not a point of worry until something starts going wrong. At that point, it is irreparable.
Things that can cause problems in your crawlspace can be avoided. There are some simple tricks that you can use to maintain your crawlspace.
1. Keeping Moisture Out
The first step in having a clean and safe crawlspace is moisture control. The earth that surrounds your home contains moisture. However, that moisture should evaporate back into the air. If that doesn’t happen, that moisture will instead become water droplets that you can see.
The problem here is when these droplets collect near wood. It causes mildew and mold to grow. But, if this is not corrected early, it can compromise the structure of your house.
Moisture control begins at the outside of the house. For example, using gutters to direct water away from the foundation of your home.
2. Inspecting and Cleaning the Interior of Your Crawl Space
Once you’ve fixed all sources of moisture, you should then check the crawling space itself. If you have dirt floors that are exposed, you should consider sealing them with a moisture retardant. Dirt floors can get bug-infested and leads to humidity issues.
Cleaning your crawlspace often helps keep away moisture and keeps it dry. But, if your crawlspace is already infected with molds, you may have to call in professional cleaners to eliminate the molds.
Also, if you have a pool of water in your crawlspace, you will need to do a perimeter drain to get rid of it.
3. Ventilating and Blocking Out Rodents
After deep cleaning your crawlspace, the next step is keeping it clean. One way to do this is to block all entryways so that rodents can’t enter. Ensure that you check all seams and cracks. Even though a small space may seem tiny, once a mouse can go through, it’s harmful.
Although you have to ensure that you block the small spaces, your crawlspace should have adequate ventilation. Laminated water vapor barriers are great for allowing crawl space to vent while keeping insects out.
4. Adding Insulation to Your Crawlspace
After you install the vapor barrier, you can move to the next step, adding insulations. The most popular and common insulation for crawlspaces is Fiberglass batts.
You can also use this insulation between floor joists. Even though Fiberglass batts are efficient, it’s advised that you pair them with spray foam insulation. A small amount of spray foam can fill all the cracks in your crawlspace.
Spray foam also works well against moisture damage. It also protects against mold and regulates the temperature in the crawlspace.
During cold and warm times, cracks in your crawlspace can cost you a lot in bills.
Conclusion Contact Crawlspace Depot to tackle your toughest cleaning jobs, such as cleaning your crawlspace. Our trained technicians deliver prompt, professional service. Ask Mr. Crawlspace any question you have that you want answers for.
