Ever wonder why your floors are bouncy, your home has a pungent smell of mold, or you hear something go bump in the night? All these things could be signs that you have a nasty crawl space below your feet. Here, we’ll explain what causes crawl space issues and how you can work against these root causes using Dry Pro Foundation and Crawlspace Specialists’ permanent crawl space encapsulation solutions.
Explore Causes
Common Causes of Crawl Space Damage
When it comes to your crawl space, the primary cause for issues is the outside elements finding their way in. Wet weather, known all too well in Charlotte, Hickory, and surrounding areas, can be the primary culprit for a nasty crawl space. Learn more about the sources of common crawl space problems and how they affect your daily life.
Open Crawl Space Vents or Doors
In the 20th century, it was widely believed that installing openings for airflow in the crawl space was the standard for a healthy home. This couldn’t have been further from the truth, as these openings don’t just let in air—they let in water, pests, and exterior temperatures, too. Once your crawl space is infiltrated by each of these things, it’s left to maturate into mold, nasty smells, pest nesting, rotting floor joists, and more. If you suspect mold and standing water in your crawl space, you can inspect it by opening the door, and using a flashlight to look inside. Don’t go in there by yourself—call our professionals who are equipped with the proper safety equipment.
The Stack Effect
Did you know that the crawl space is responsible for almost half of the air you breathe? It’s due to a natural process called the stack effect. It’s common knowledge that warm air rises and cold air sinks. That’s what the stack effect is—but inside of your home. Warm, musty, mold-filled air from the crawl space seeps through your floor, rises through your home, and exits through your roof. You’re left with poor air quality that can flare up your allergies or asthma.
Over Spanned Floor Joists
When your crawl space is left vulnerable to outside elements and standing water takes hold, your home’s structure will be in jeopardy. Moisture and mold can affect your crawl space support beams and floor joists, causing them to over span and weaken. That’s why some parts of your floor might feel bouncy or soft. Sometimes, the wood becomes so weak that crawl space inspectors can puncture it with a pencil.
When Your Crawl Space Suffers, So Do You. Get A Free Inspection with Dry Pro Today!
The crawl space isn’t an out-of-sight, out-of-mind area of the home. When your crawl space is dealing with nasty smells, mold, and pests, the rest of your home will, too. At Dry Pro, we’re the region’s experts in sniffing out crawl space issues and stopping them at the source with crawl space encapsulation.
We won’t stress you out with an inspection fee. Our trained professionals will inspect your home for free, let you know what’s going on, and provide you with a transparent, no-obligation quote for repairs. For over 20 years, we’ve been your partner in crawl space encapsulation and repair, and want to make the process stress-free with flexible financing and long-term, nationally backed warranties.
Getting started with Dry Pro is straightforward, and only takes 5 minutes to set up your free inspection appointment. Contact us today!
