The Drying Company serving Carson, VA

This homeowner in Carson, Virginia called us at The Drying Company to discuss moisture issues within their crawl space. A Home Performance Advisor was sent out to investigate and draw up some possible solutions.

Upon inspection, we noticed that many of the fiberglass insulation batts residing in the floor joists were damp and sagging. Moisture entering through the foundation walls and rising from the dirt flooring is being absorbed by the fiberglass and is causing it to pull apart and fall to the floor in chunks, exposing the subfloor and floor joists. The exposed areas were covered with mold and mildew growth. This can occur on organic materials when the relative humidity is at least 60% with warm temperatures.

We noticed that there was a flimsy 6-mil vapor barrier underneath the fallen fiberglass and other debris. It was ripped in many places, exposing the dirt floor, and allowing the earth’s moisture to rise into the crawl space and raise the relative humidity. This ineffective liner has the durability of a trash bag and will continue to tear when service people crawl on top of it.

The next things we inspected were the foundation walls and open vents lining them. The open vents were allowing outside air and moisture to freely enter the crawl space and become trapped, affecting the environment and relative humidity. Small critters and creatures can also enter the crawl space through these vents. Efflorescence was also visible on the foundation walls. This occurs when moisture seeps through the porous cinderblock walls, bringing along with it the salts and sediments to the surface, leaving behind a powdery, chalky substance.

With the homeowner concerned about all these moisture problems, we drew up a proposal to solve these issues and bring the crawl space into the conditioned area of the home. If the homeowner agrees to our proposals, we would first focus on removing the existing vapor barrier and debris from the crawl space. Then we would remove the fiberglass insulation batts from the floor joists so we could address the mold and mildew growth.

Once the fiberglass batts are all removed, we would apply an antimicrobial called Shockwave to eliminate the mold growth from the wooden floor joists and subfloor. The mold can also grow back if the relative humidity and environment are not controlled.

We would then focus our attention on the crawl space floor. A 20-mil heavy-duty CleanSpace vapor barrier would be used to cover the dirt floor and protect the crawl space from the earth’s moisture. It would get wrapped around all piers and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. All seems would be sealed with a special vinyl tape.

Once the CleanSpace vapor barrier is installed, we would move on to the foundation walls, where we suggested blocking all open vents with precisely cut foam board pieces and seal them with can foam. Then we would spray over them with a closed-cell spray foam, which at 1½ inches thick, acts as an air barrier vapor retarder. A two-inch viewing strip is left at the top of the walls for termite inspectors.

The last thing we suggest adding is a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier, which will help us regulate the relative humidity and better control the environment in the crawl space. The dehumidifier circulates dry air around the crawl space while sucking moisture out of the space.

If the homeowner moves forward with our proposal, they will get the benefits of having a healthier environment underneath their home and lower energy costs. If you or someone you know has any similar issues, then please call us at The Drying Company. We will help you and your home keep the outside, outside!

We met this homeowner at the Spring Home and Garden Show in Richmond. They invited us to their Carson, VA home to help them address some concerns in their attic. They had a radiant barrier installed on the rafters and little insulation on the ceiling. They were experiencing some discomfort in their home and had some rooms that were too hot and too cold. The homeowners were looking for a solution to make their home more comfortable.

We also found that there were cavities on either side of the chimney. These cavities created an “air super-highway” allowing conditioned air to rush up toward the top of the house into the unconditioned attic.

To make the home more comfortable, we recommended installing a new blanket of cellulose insulation at an R-49 on the attic floor and filling the cavities on either side of the chimney. Cellulose is 85% recycled material, such as newspaper, and 15% new material. Because it is made of fine particles, the material allows for less air space than fiberglass alternatives, offering a higher R-value per inch. Properly insulating the attic reduces the transfer of heat or cold in the attic to the ceiling and into the rooms below. This transfer of heat is what results in the discomfort the homeowners are experiencing. We installed a dam around the attic access to prevent insulation from falling out when it was opened. Finally, we suggested insulating the scuttle access. Without insulation, the access is a large hole that allows the conditioned air to escape and hot and cold air to radiate down into the living space. If the homeowners choose to proceed with the project, they will be more comfortable in their home, experience fewer drafts, and see lower energy bills.