Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you must. All crawl areas should be thoroughly sealed and protected from both airborne and ground moisture.

There are no wall vents in a closed or "sealed" crawl space, so air cannot enter from outside your home.

These vents allow outside air to circulate under the floor in summer to prevent the moisture buildup that encourages mildew and rot. In winter, when the air is drier, the vents are closed to reduce the chance that the pipes in the crawl space might freeze.

The vapor in the crawl space can destroy the timber framing and flooring of your home. Moisture is kept out of the crawl area by encapsulating it. Furthermore, encapsulation aids in the prevention of harmful pests such as termites. These pests can wreak havoc on your home's structure.

It could take eight to ten hours to dry the moist crawl space. Moisture is more easily absorbed by warm, flowing air. Place a low-heat source inside the crawl space, such as a light bulb, and one or more electric fans where they can blow air across damp surfaces to speed up the drying process.

Encapsulating the crawl area is the best approach to do this. It entails covering the crawl area floor and walls with a 20-mil polyethylene plastic vapor barrier. They'll overlap the seams by 12 inches and use double-sided tape to attach the barrier. 

Your crawl space vents should always be closed and sealed off from the outside elements. ... First and foremost, open vents allow moisture to enter your crawl space. This creates the perfect environment for mold growth and mildew.

Automatic vents are well-known for failing to function properly and having a short lifespan. As a result, examining them once a year is strongly advised. Manual crawl space vents allow a homeowner to open and close them as the seasons change and the temperature rises and falls.

Crawl spaces are preferable over basements in earthquake-prone or flood-prone areas because they give a more stable foundation. Because of their compact form, they are significantly more effective at holding the entire house together than a basement or cellar. As a result, crawl spaces are most commonly seen in wet and marshy environments.

Since crawl spaces work by letting outside air to circulate beneath the house, cost and accessibility are the two most important factors in deciding whether or not to install one.

At 60% RH, mold begins to grow. Coupled with warm temperatures and organic material, mold now has the perfect environment to thrive in the crawl space.