How to Clean Your Crawl Space
Everyone has different living preferences; some people are neat freaks, and others don’t mind a bit of clutter. But there’s one area of your home that must be clean but that often gets forgotten – the crawl space.
Most homeowners don’t give this space beneath their main living area a second thought, but it can make or break the home’s overall living conditions. In this article, we’ll explore the best methods to clean your crawl space, and how the experts at JES can help when the mess is too much.
How Crawl Spaces Get Dirty
Crawl spaces naturally deteriorate over time due to moisture, organic debris, pests, and structural wear. Without proper ventilation or waterproofing, humidity can build up, leading to wood rot, mold growth, and foul odors. Dirt floors and open vents invite insects, rodents, and decaying material, while water intrusion can damage insulation and weaken support beams.
Over the years, these issues compound, creating unhealthy air conditions and potential structural risks that require professional crawl space cleanup and repair. Here are some common red flags you may notice while attempting crawl space cleanup:
- Persistent moisture or standing water
- Mold and mildew growth on surfaces
- Musty or damp odors rising into the home
- Sagging or damaged insulation
- Rotting wood or weakened floor joists
- Torn or missing vapor barrier
- Pest nests or droppings
- Accumulated dirt, debris, or old construction materials
Crawl Space Cleanup Guide
Every home is different, but crawl space experts generally take the following steps to address crawl space problems through cleaning and installing repair solutions:
Remove Old Insulation and Liners
Fiberglass has become the standard for insulating homes, but it doesn’t belong in a crawl space. Rodents use this soft insulation as a nesting place. Plus, it acts like a sponge when it gets wet and exposes your floor joists to water. Wood rot then results as the damp insulation rubs against the wood. Older liners or barriers that lack proper thickness and water resistance also can be a haven for mold, so these items need to be removed as well.
Take Out Debris and Other Organic Materials
Sometimes, builders leave extra materials like wood behind, and other trash can even blow in through open vents. These items will decompose and smell after long-term exposure to moisture, and your vapor barrier can be damaged by debris and sharp objects. These are all things professionals will take great care to remove and properly dispose of.
Regrade Dirt Floor
Especially with water intrusion and pest activity, the dirt floor of the crawl space is often rough terrain. Water can easily pool in sunken spots and sit there. Professional cleaners will regrade or smooth out the dirt floor, which helps create a flat surface for further installations. These include drainage matting and a vapor barrier.
Apply Mold Treatment
If there is mold in your crawl space, it won’t do any good to simply cover it up. Even if other solutions remove moisture from the area, it will only grow back stronger. It’s important to have the mold treated and removed. If you purchase this service, mold remediation professionals will spray the affected areas in your crawl space before installing anything else.
Crawl Space Encapsulation: A Permanent Solution
Cleaning out the crawl space is only the first step in securing your home from the ground up. If water and humidity can still find its way inside, it’s only a matter of time until you’ll need to declutter again. Encapsulating your crawl space, or creating an airtight seal around the perimeter, is the best way to ensure lasting protection from the elements. Here’s what an encapsulation system consists of:
- Interior drainage
- Drainage matting
- Sump pump
- Support posts
- Vent covers or blocks
- Insulation board
- Vapor barrier
- Dehumidifier
While your crawl space may not need everything listed here, all these solutions work together to give your crawl space the complete protection it deserves so it will stay clean, dry, and healthy.
Contact the Pros at JES For Lasting Crawl Space Protection
You never know what could be lurking in the crawl space underneath your house. Instead of risking your health and safety, leave the dirty work to trained professionals. Crawl space experts like JES have the right tools and experience needed to safely and properly inspect, clean, repair, and encapsulate your crawl space.
As industry leaders, we have been doing that for 30 years, and we have seen it all when it comes to problem crawl spaces that need some TLC. If you’d like to learn more about how your home’s crawl space can benefit from professional repairs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. We’re just a click or call away, and so is a healthier home.
Crawl Space Cleaning
FAQs
Absolutely. A clean crawl space translates to a healthier home.
Once your crawl space has been cleaned and encapsulated, you can take advantage of the following benefits:
- Better air quality
- Fewer health issues
- Lower electric bills
- Better energy efficiency
Cleaning your crawl space is not like other chores that require frequent attention.
When a crawl space expert cleans and encapsulates your crawl space, it’s a one-time deal. Other than annual maintenance check-ups, you won’t have to worry about it again.
There is no set time range on professional crawl space cleaning. How long it takes for crews to clean your crawl space and then repair or encapsulate it varies.
It depends on the condition of the space, whether it has water intrusion or other damage, if mold needs to be addressed, if exterminators need to first remove pests, as well as other variables.
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