CRAWL SPACE MOISTURE CONTROL –
Problems & Damage |
BUGS AND RODENTS
Dirt crawl spaces are great places to live, thrive and reproduce if you are a bug. There is an even-temperature, moisture, damp wood and shelter. Spiders, beetles, centipedes, termites, and all kinds of other insects are found in dirt crawl spaces. Animals such as mice (dead or alive) are commonly found in dirt crawl spaces. In some cases, even rats, snakes and small animals have been found. |
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CONDENSATION
Because of the high humidity level, in a dirt crawl space, cool surfaces such as the earth at 55 degrees, concrete and metal surfaces will sweat with water vapor condensing out of the air. This causes rot, smells, and is a water source for critters. This problem (condensation) is worse in the summer. Hot humid air is added through the crawl space vents. |
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MOLD
Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range, and moisture.
Dirt crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in dirt crawl spaces that have never flooded.
Mold can grow on dirt, insulation, framing and even under your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing millions of floating airborne spores, which some people are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some molds produce mycotoxins, such as the black mold Stachybotrys. Many articles can be found on the effects of mold, and toxic mold.
Dr. Harriet Burge, an expert in airborne diseases at the Harvard School of Public Health says, "Mold in houses is not a good thing, it could lead to asthma. Houses with mold are damp, and have dust mites and other things in them that can cause illness, especially in children."
Don't panic; there is a solution that will stop your crawl space from being a hospitable environment for mold. Mold will not grow when the humidity levels are reduced below 40%. |
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RADON GAS
Radon gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the ground in most areas of North America. The EPA has identified radon gas exposure with increased risk of lung cancer. Dirt crawl spaces allow radon gas to enter the home easily. |
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
Moisture is the prime factor that causes structural damage. Over time, rot and decay from a moist environment damage wood framing and steel structural members. Walls made of block or stone often let moisture into a crawl space. That's why it's important for a solution to include the walls as well as the floor. |
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