Moisture and Insulation – Crawlspaces are notorious for accumulating and holding moisture. Without proper maintenance a crawlspace can become a very humid place and cause a slew of structural and health problems. This is more than just bad air and some fungus. The structural damage to your home can be more than just wood destruction and standing water. As water from the ground evaporates into the crawlspace, it finds its way between the wooden joists of the floor. In addition, the water that accumulates in these floor joist will be soaked in by the insulation, over time the insulation will be negatively effected by the excessive moisture and water.
The Effects Of Moisture Within The Insulation
As moisture leaves the ground and rises, insulation is the perfect vector in which to absorb the humidity in the crawlspace. The insulation, which is meant to maintain the temperature of your home, can become seriously damaged through this process. Insulation containing high levels of moisture can become discolored and contaminated. The contamination is due to foreign substances growing in the moisture. Mold and bacteria thrive on the moisture held within insulation and can become a nightmare for homeowners. With mold expanding and thriving in a continuously moist environment, spores are released into the air. These fungi spores have negative health effects for all of the occupants living within the home.
Why Is It Important To Keep The Insulation Dry?
Beyond the growth of mold and bacteria under a crawlspace, excessive moisture can be a problem for homeowners as more than just a breeding ground for harmful organisms. The moisture trapped in insulation can damage the integrity of the crawlspace. For example, the growth of wood destroying fungi will slowly destroy the crawlspace of the home. Over time, this will effect several components of the home. In addition, utilities housed within the crawlspace have the potential to be damaged. When the insuation begins to collect water it will sink down, putting uneeded pressure on the utility equipment within the crawlspace. As the insulation drops from the ceiling of the crawlspace it loses its functionality and becomes a danger in the crawlspace.
Heavy insulation can hang on HVAC, Plumbing and other key utilities running beneath the home. This can lead to disruptions in your services, structural damage and even very costly repairs. Keeping your crawlspace arid and dry is necessary in protecting the home long-term.
How To Prevent Moisture From Accumulating Within Your Crawlspace?
Moisture in insulation can be difficult to monitor or prevent. Thus, it is important to properly maintain your crawlspace. The primary method of protection comes from a vapor barrier. The vapor barrier keeps the moisture in the ground from evaporating upwards and condensing in the insulation. Some homes may need additional protection, as humid air pours in from outside the home and not just through the ground. Poor ventilation can lead to high levels of humidity and moisture accumulating in the crawlspace. Dehumidifiers are the best way to combat these levels of intense humidity. Their job is to regulate and displace the wet air under a home. Therefore, keeping the insulation dry underneath your home is important because it plays a large impact on air quality within the home. This in turn, keeps the area under your home safe, secure and moisture free.
Interested in protecting your crawlspace? Call U.S. Crawlspace for a free inspection of your foundation! Let one of our professional inspectors protect what matters most, today! For more information visit our website at uscrawlspace.com or visit our Facebook page at U.S. Crawlspace.
