Crawl space health invariably impacts the condition of your home. When it’s exposed and moisture-filled, you will feel the effects. Floors can get cold, heating costs may go up, critters may invade your home, and indoor air can get musty. You can avoid these and other unpleasant issues by waterproofing your crawl space.
Once you do that, you will reap many benefits, including:
1) Keeping the home dry
Water and crawl space moisture can make this place perpetually damp. With time, moisture and water will seep into your home and make life unbearable for you and your loved ones. Cold floors and walls are telltale signs that moisture is entering your home. By waterproofing and sealing the crawl space, you will be able to enjoy the comforts of a modern home without worrying about damp surfaces.
2) Reducing heating costs
Whatever happens in the crawl space doesn’t stay in the crawl space. Moisture-laden air from the outside will cause temperatures to drop. And this will force you to turn on your HVAC system and leave it running for long just to create favorable internal conditions. Prolonged heating and cooling translates into a higher energy bill. Waterproofing the crawl space ensures your home remains energy-efficient and at the same minimizes the need for excessive heating and cooling.
3) Discourage critter infestations
Like it or not, your wet or damp crawl space will attract pests and insects, especially rats and termites. Both are destructive. Give them space and they will turn your crawl space upside down, gnawing on wooden structures and weakening them. Sealing makes it difficult for critters to get into your crawl space, and it creates a less attractive environment for them.
4) Eliminating the need for constant repairs
Water, pests, and crawling insects can all gang up and damage your crawl space. Wooden beams and joists will be badly hit as they’re organic. Walls can also crack and your floors can start to sag. The cost of repairing damaged sections and cleaning them up might run into thousands of dollars. Why wait till the crawl space falls apart when you can waterproof it and forestall all the above problems?
5) Boosting the value of your home
Besides giving your DC crawl space a facelift, waterproofing also increases the value of your home, making it attractive to prospects who’d otherwise shun a house with a crawl space. You can put your home up for sale anytime and attract buyers who wouldn’t hesitate to pay top dollar.
6) Keeping the home smelling fresh
A damp crawl space can foster mold and mildew growth as well as wood rot, which can produce terrible odors. Since a sizable portion of air comes from the crawl space, you can be sure the awful smells will get into your home. Add to that the smells from damp carpets or walls. You won’t enjoy the indoors and no amount of air freshener can muzzle the smells.
7) Preventing foundation wall damage
Crawl space moisture is also can impact your foundation walls. Bowing or cracks are sure signs water has seeped through and caused damage. Applying epoxy injection won’t solve the problem. And replacing or fixing damaged sections isn’t going to be cheap either. It’s better for you to stop moisture before it causes damage that will cost you dearly.
8) Preserving the integrity of your home
An open crawl space that lets in water puts the structural integrity of your home on the line. Water can cause soil settlement and foundation cracks, both of which can render the supporting or underlying
structure ineffective. Waterproofing the crawl space ensures it remains in good condition for a long time.
9) Enhancing energy efficiency
When the crawl space is sealed and moisture locked out, you won’t need to use your HVAC unit on some days. The internal temperatures can remain pretty consistent throughout the day. And even if you’re going to use your unit, it won’t be for many hours.
Are you thinking of waterproofing your crawl space? Get in touch with us to discuss your waterproofing options or to request a free crawl space estimate today.
