Things to Avoid While Cleaning Your Crawl Space
Having to look into your crawl area is one of the scariest things you could possibly do. This cramped nook in the back of your residence is the only one we tend to ignore until we have no choice but to utilize it.
Despite this, you can’t overlook it forever. At some point, you’ll have to clean out your crawl space.
In order to ensure your safety while cleaning your crawl space, we’ve put together this short guide to show you what to do or not.
What is crawl space?
It’s worth noting that not every home has a crawl area. They’re usually seen in houses that don’t have an underground or a firm cement foundation.
Access to such subterranean spaces is often discovered on the exterior of your house, near the foundation. Because of the tiny size of these openings, the term “crawl” is included in the title.
When you go inside, you will discover a lot of different things, such as gas connections, plumbing, airflow, electronic systems, and electrical elements. Your crawl area makes these key house components accessible in event they require to be fixed or replaced.
As long as they’re well-maintained, they can also aid with air circulation in your house. The issue is that most homeowners do not consider crawl space maintenance until something happens wrong.
When it comes to clearing your crawl area, there are a few things you should avoid
Spray Foam Should Not Be Used to Insulate The Crawl Room.
Foam insulating may help you keep your home warm, but it’s not going to help you in the crawl area. Spray foam insulator may retain moisture within the insulation and also the surface it’s connected to since it’s designed to be a wet environment.
Mold and wood rot may grow in the base if the moisture seeps into the structure. The architectural stability of your base might be jeopardized by one of these factors.
Don’t utilize fiberglass insulation.
Fiberglass insulation isn’t made to withstand wet conditions. If you put it in your crawl area, it will quickly absorb moisture and turn into the ideal breeding ground for mold.
Polystyrene insulator or foam panel may be used instead. Encapsulating or sealing your crawl area may help minimize the quantity of wetness it accumulates and provide you with greater environmental control.
Not to use too many air vents.
It seems to reason that the more outlets you install, the more humidity you can let out. Wrong!
An excess of vents might actually serve to increase humidity levels. Mold thrives in a damp atmosphere, so this might do more damage than benefit.
In addition, you’re creating additional places for rodents and other insects to enter your home. Having a location to hide from the outdoors and predators makes your crawl area an attractive spot to call house.
For crawl space openings, adhere to the requirement of one outlet every ten feet and 3 feet from each corner. If you haven’t already done so, contact your local utility provider. Certified energy subsidies might be available via them.
Don’t use a vapor barrier
The structure that holds your home’s surface is made up of wooden beams. Placing vapor barriers may help prevent these timber supports from water damage, according to some.
Because of this, moisture from your underground area may seep beneath the vapor shields and the floor beams during the warm months. Mold and wood rot might develop as a result of this.
Don’t neglect the drainage mechanism.
Due to rain and flowing water, water naturally collects in crawl spaces. That does not, however, imply that you should leave it alone. Remove any standing water as soon as possible.
A solid drainage mechanism will aid in the management of water in your basement space. Look for one that dehumidifies and has a suitable sump pump.
Final thoughts
If anything, our post will demonstrate how clearing your crawl area is a difficult task. If you don’t want to perform it by yourself, don’t be afraid to hire crawl space cleaning Lynnwood to do it for you.
The cost of crawl area cleaning if you do it yourself versus hiring an expert may be fewer than you guess!
