Did you know that almost 50% of the air you breathe inside your house is possibly from the crawl space? The stack effect is the phenomenon behind it. This means that the next time you experience high humidity inside the house, it may not be a broken HVAC system but moisture from the crawl space. The stack effect may cause the quality of air inside to deteriorate, and the best way to prevent this from happening is through crawl space encapsulation. If your crawl space is not protected from high humidity, the condensation from the humidity will create a conducive environment for mold and creepy crawlies like dust mites. Both of these are health hazards, let alone the damage they do to your home. Dust mites thrive in high humidity and are a known cause of many indoor asthma attacks. Even if you were to survive these negative effects, terrible air quality makes a house unlivable.

The main causes of moisture intrusion from your crawl space include freestanding water from leaking drainage, evaporating groundwater, and moisture-rich air coming through crawl space ventilation. While freestanding water issues can be solved by fixing the causes, evaporating groundwater and moisture from vents may present a bigger challenge. Luckily, Crawl space encapsulation targets and addresses these issues. It involves the addition of a durable polyethylene moisture barrier in the entire crawl space from the foundation walls, floors, and even its ceiling. Sometimes a crawlspace dehumidifier may be added to improve the air circulation situation in the space. Please note that a dehumidifier alone will not solve the problem as it is just working on the symptoms, and you will have the same problem if moisture increases.

Crawl space encapsulation prevents air from the crawl space from flowing into the house. Its benefits include reducing the dangers of mold and mildew to your air quality, increasing insulation, and reducing heating and cooling costs. So, if you are experiencing high interior humidity and your HVAC system is not the problem, consider having a crawl space encapsulation.
Have more questions about crawl space encapsulation or thinking of getting one installed? Don’t hesitate to contact us at Barrier Waterproofing Systems for assistance.