Considering that the crawl space comes in contact with the ground, it cannot escape from being exposed to moisture from the rain, snow, soil, and so on. Add in leaky pipes or humid air to the equation and the crawl space becomes a rather large petri dish of mold and fungus. As much damage as it causes to the structure of the house, the presence of mold and mildew can also affect the health of the residents, especially if they have respiratory conditions. Crawl space encapsulation can avoid this hazardous living condition for you.
Contact us to get a FREE quote!
Contact Information
Sealed Crawl Space
Crawl Space Mold Removal,
Crawl Space Sealing, and More!
Protecting The Air That We Breathe!
If you’re not sure about what a sealed crawl space is, here is a quick answer. It is the enclosed space between what essentially plays as the floor of your house and the ground. Often described as the creepiest and the dampest place in the house, the crawl space is vital to the integrity and well-being of the house despite the bad name. Compared to building a basement, getting a crawl space is cheaper but if the space is not taken care of properly, it will siphon off your funds quicker than you think.
By sealing and encapsulating the crawl space, you ensure that the space stays airtight, clean, and dry. Consequently, you reap many benefits and your house will thank you for this particular investment.
How to Seal the Crawl Space?
The process of creating a sealed and encapsulated crawl space is nothing complicated. The right expert can help you in completing this procedure without any errors. Before beginning the crawl space encapsulation, the first step is a home inspection. If the space is deemed free of pests, hazards, or faulty wiring.
Usual first step is to have fans at foundation vents sucking air out so as we clean the mold off the beams all bad air gets pulled out of the crawl space to outside air. We remove or fix the insulation above head depending on if you choose to keep the insulation up. Then mold cleaning. Then picking up dirt floor so it is smooth for longevity of the plastic. Then 26 mil of thick bright white plastic down and up walls. We then air seal and insulate all foundation vents, crawl space doors and any porch entrances. We attach the IntelliHushfan with a measured pull from the HVAC pulling air out ONLY WHEN NEEDED. And if requested install LED Lighting for a bright friendly sealed crawl space along with a UV Light in the AC that kills 99.99% of all germs, viruses, molds, bacteria and allergens making your home air hospital grade sanitized.
Pros and Cons of Sealed Crawl Spaces
Expert home inspectors essentially break down a crawl space inspection into three parts. The first one is an entry, followed by a superficial evaluation and then a complete assessment. In these three parts, the expert will be able to inform you about the various changes you should make to the crawl space under your house.
Prevents Pests from Entering
No matter where you reside, pests are going to bother you and securing your house with a sealed crawl space can help in fighting them off. The airtight space does not promote the growth of pests, provided you take the necessary steps to prevent infestation in the first place. Hiring an exterminator regularly only because you failed to seal the crawl space can be a huge loss to you.
Cut Down The Moisture Content
Add Storage Space
This might sound like an absurd suggestion because why would you store things in a dank and dark place like the crawl space. But here’s the catch, once your crawl space is sealed and encapsulated, it is no longer going to be dirty. The encapsulated crawl space is an airtight and sanitary storage space that can be used like any other storage space and would be a shame if wasted.
More Energy-Efficient Household
If you don’t protect the ductwork and plumbing in the crawl space by sealing and encapsulating it, weather-bound damage will occur to them. During winters, the space fills up with cold air, making the pipes cold as well and more energy is required to keep the furnace and water heater at the same temperature. On the other hand, during summers, humid air gets trapped in the space, giving rise to condensation on the pipes. Subsequently, the added moisture leads to the growth of mold and fungus in the crawl space.
HVAC Upgrade
Following the encapsulation of a building’s crawl space, the airflow in it is never as free and easy as it once was. So if you notice that the house is not as warm or cool as it used to be, you might need to update the HVAC system to be more efficient with the sealed crawl space in place.
Finding the Expert
As much as sealing and encapsulating the crawl space is beneficial, if not done in the right way, it can lead to more loss. Damage to the building structure is a given if the procedure is not done correctly without the guidance of an expert. So seeking out a service that specializes in crawl space sealing and encapsulation might take time and often weigh heavily on your wallet.
Hassle of Maintenance
While you were ignoring the condition of your crawl space before, you cannot do that after getting the space sealed and encapsulated. It requires attention and regular inspection like any other part of your house and this can weigh on your time and energy. However, in the long run, this is worth the effort you pitch in.
Do’s and Don'ts
- Water damage is a serious threat to the sealed and vented crawl space so make sure that the drainage system of the house is in perfect condition.
- Try to avoid sealing and encapsulating the crawl space of the house on your own without professional help.
- Conduct thorough research before availing the services of a crawl space inspector. Cross-checking and getting second opinions from various professionals can give you extra piece of mind.
Unlike the kitchen or the bathroom in the house, people often overlook the maintenance of the crawl space. There is no point in investing in the best heating and drainage systems without the crawl space being taken care of. With a sealed and encapsulated crawl space, you can enjoy a house with regulated temperature, clean air, strong long lasting floor system and a strong foundation.
In addition, the energy efficiency of the household increases 18% – 22% while reducing your utility bills. If you are looking to preserve the integrity and quality of your house, start with sealing and encapsulation of the crawlspace before working on the interiors. Sealed Solution can make sure that your crawl space has all this and more within a quick session.