Crawl Space Encapsulation Prevents a Host of Problems

Homeowners dealing with a damp crawl space in older homes can easily remedy the problem with one simple project: encapsulation. Most older homes feature venting, a practice that was once thought to be ideal for countering humidity problems. Today, however, we know vented spaces do little to combat humidity. Rather, they actually cause moisture problems.

Building Science Research proves vented crawl spaces in humid climates lead to a number of problems.

Moisture and Mold

Animal Problems

Damaged Insulation

Difficulty Heating Rooms Over Crawl Space

Musty Air

These problems eventually extend to the home's living areas, allowing entry to small animals, mold and musty odors.

How to Encapsulate the Crawl Space

New home building projects in humid areas (and this includes snow - the north country is quite humid) generally encapsulate any crawl space. Existing homes can also benefit from encapsulation.

Here's what R Factor will do to bring your crawl space up to code and save you heating costs.

Install a vapor barrier covering the ground and leaving no exposed areas

Install a drainage system as needed to route and remove standing water

Tightly seal the vapor barrier

Seal all vents shut

Select the most appropriate method for conditioning the space using ductwork, dehumidifier or exhaust fan.

How Does Encapsulation Help?

Advanced Energy has conducted research that shows encapsulation is the best method for moisture control in humid climates. With a closed vent, the space stayed dry and humidity levels stayed low, most often below 60 percent relative humidity. When the space featured a closed vent and a vapor barrier, relative humidity was even lower, or 50 percent. On the other hand, a vented space maintained a relative humidity level consistently above 80 percent.

R Factor specializes in crawl space encapsulation. Call us today at 315-783-6978 to find out how easy it is to improve your home's comfort and air quality.