Mold and Mildew Growth in a Farnham, VA Crawl Space
Challenge
This homeowner in Farnham, Virginia, was worried about moisture in his crawl space. He told our Home Performance Advisor that he was noticing musty odors coming from his crawl space. Upon inspection, the advisor was able to confirm that there was mold and mildew growth on the floor joists. The advisor also noted that many of the fiberglass batts were damp and falling from the floor joists in large chunks. The entire dirt floor of the crawl space was exposed, allowing the earth’s moisture to rise into the crawl space and increase the relative humidity. The humidity was so high that many of the floor joists and wood structures had been rotting and becoming weaker over time. After reviewing findings with the homeowner and discussing their options to address the moisture concerns and mitigate mold growth, the homeowner chose to move forward with a crawl space encapsulation.
Solution
The first step was to remove the old insulation and any debris from the crawl space. An antimicrobial solution was applied to the affected floor joists, killing any microbial growth. Next, we addressed the weakened floor joists; two SmartJack support systems were installed. With the crawl space support installation complete, new insulation is installed in the crawl space. Our next focus was on installing the crawl space vapor barrier CleanSpace, which was placed over the dirt floor of the crawl space, wrapped around all piers, and fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. Then, a custom-made friction-fit door is fitted into the crawl space entrance. This friction-fit door will help to seal the entrance from outside air and moisture. Once the door is installed, the final step is to install an Aprilaire dehumidifier to help circulate dry air and remove any moisture collected from the crawl space. With these solutions in place, the homeowners will enjoy having a comfortable, dry crawl space and home!
If you have noticed musty odors in your home, the problem could be coming from your crawl space. Call The Drying Company today for a free crawl space inspection at 877-566-8622.
