CAuses of crawl space issues
HUMID CLIMATES
The zone across the Southeast United States is considered subtropical, meaning we have highly humid, hot summers and mild winters. In communities like Pensacola, Destin and Mobile, winters are typcially cold for short periods of time, but that doesn’t eliminate the humidity.
The average annual humidity in Pensacola is 74%, well above the threshold for mold growth which is 60% indoor relative humidity. Because of our extreme climate, safeguaring our homes against moisture is important. For homes with a crawl space, issues begin there.
The reason the crawl space is so vulnerable is that humidity, by nature, seeks cool space, making the crawl space of a home – where the temperature is typically 10 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature outside – vulnerable to moisture.
Moisture in the crawl can lead to mold, pests and damp, decaying wood. And that moist, unhealthy air moves to the inside of your home when negative pressure is created through engaging the AC. Nearly 50% of the air we breathe inside our homes comes from the crawl space, making your family exposed to poor indoor air quality, mold, and a damp, clammy indoor environment.
If crawl space issues are plaguing your home, Southern Climate Solutions will evaluate your space, take photos of any issues we see, and discuss a game plan to create a safe healthy crawl space and home. With over 20-years in the business of moisture control, our solutions have saved structures and provided healthy indoor air quality for 1000’s of homeowners . And our evaluations are always free of charge!
We would be happy to discuss your issues and schedule your free evaluation. Fill out the form and we will be in touch soon!
How Humidity Enters Your Home
Homes built on crawl spaces are vented for air circulation. Unfortunately, in highly humid climates the humidity that enters a cool crawl space gets trapped. When the AC in your home is engaged, this creates a wicking effect, drawing the moisture from the crawl space into the home. With building codes calling for tighter homes, it creates an even bigger hazard for new construction when dealing with crawl space and indoor moisture. Regarding older homes and historical homes, we see the same moisture issues. These homes were built to breathe. However, when HVAC was introduced, along with newer windows and other necessary improvements, the homes no longer function as intended, and moisture seeps into the home via the same wicking effect. This is often the cause of cupping wood floors.
Negative pressure is created when the AC is engaged. This causes the damp, unhealthy air trapped in the crawl space to enter a home through the floors. This effect creates hazardous conditions inside your home, including mold, allergens and musty odors.
How Crawl Space Humidity Affects Your Home
The hazards created by high indoor humidity coming from the crawl space include:
- Mold
- Moisture Damaged Wood & Rot
- Termites & Pests
- Musty Odors
- Cupping Wood Floors
- Peeling Paint & Wallpaper
- Unhealthy Indoor Air Quality
- Chronic Health Issues
- High Energy Costs
- Cold, Clammy Feel
Mold and peeling paint are the result of excess moisture in your home. Not all molds are visible. Some of the more toxic molds are clear. If a musty odor is present, there are active mold spores in your home.
CREATE A HEALTHY HOME WITH THE REGIONS TOP MOISTURE CONTROL EXPERTS
SOLUTIONS TO CREATE A HEALTHY CRAWL AND HOME
Our team at Southern Climate Solutions, where our sole focus is moisture control, has been creating healthy crawl spaces and homes for over two decades. The solution is to create a controlled environment in your crawl. This includes removing the debris and insulation from the crawl space that impedes encapsulation followed by a full encapsulation of the space using a vapor barrier on the ground and around the perimeter wall of the crawl. We’ll seal off the vents and install a commercial grade dehumidifier to remove anywhere from 70-120 pints of water per day from your crawl space and home. Our team will also fabricate an aluminum door for crawl space access – a rust-free solution. Our efficient, hard-working team can typically install a moisture control solution in 1 day. And, we can typically get our customers on the installation schedule in under three weeks.
Our poly virgin ground barrier is both rugged and inspection friendly and comes with a lifetime warranty. In all the years our team has been encapsulating, we have never had to replace a barrier due to wear and tear! And home inspectors and pest companies love our product as it is clear and gives then an easy view of your structure.
Our dehumidifiers are all commercial grade, energy-efficient units that are covered by some of the best warranties in the market today.
We always offer free evaluations and quotes for homeowners in our area.
Southern Climate Solutions serves the Greater Gulf Coast, including Pensacola, Destin, 30A, Mobile and communities nearby.
I recently purchased a house in Navy Point and this summer the wood floors started cupping and buckling. I had several plumbers and appliance repair folks checking for leaks and there were none. I called Southern Climate Solutions and the owner, Mike Murphy, clearly explained the root cause of the moisture issue. He and his team did their “mitigation magic” and 6 weeks later, I saw a total transformation in my floors. I had an estimate of about $1200 to repair the floor initially, but now only a couple of boards will need to be replaced. The house is much more comfortable and I am even saving on electric costs. I couldn’t be happier with the results!
We reached out to Southern Climate Solutions to help us with our crawlspace, that was so wet and humid that it was causing our original 1960’s hardwood flooring to buckle repeatedly. From the very first call Mike was professional, responsive and thoroughly answered all of my (many) questions, explaining how he could fix our problem permanently. Within days his team installed a full water barrier and dehumidifier, which I’m happy to say has solved the problem completely, just like he said it would. His team has continued to monitor the dehumidification progress and kept me informed every step of the way. I’m so grateful we found Mike and his team and would highly recommend Southern Climate Solutions for anyone who has a crawlspace.
MORE CAUSES OF CRAWL SPACE ISSUES
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