Is your crawl space damp?
Does it have a stale, musty/moldy odor?
Are there water stains or even wet spots on the walls or floor joists?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then there’s a good chance that your home needs additional drainage in the crawl space. And if your home has wet or damp crawl space conditions, you need to take action sooner rather than later to repair your crawl space.
Water can do a lot of damage to crawl spaces. It can cause the insulation in your loft to become damp and possibly develop mold. And it’s unsightly, too!
Why does your crawl space get wet? The most common reasons are:
- Your crawl space has a sump pump, but it’s not working properly.
- The soil or gravel that your crawl space is dug into slopes downward towards your home rather than away from it.
- Your crawl space smells bad as it was not properly graded to allow water (rain or snow) to drain away from home.
Why is grading important?
If water drains toward your home instead of down and away, then it’s likely that water will seep into your crawl space. You need to make sure that the grading slopes away from the foundation, not toward the foundation. If you don’t, water can collect around your home base and create a damp environment in which mold or rot can develop.
In fact, many insurance companies have specific rules and regulations about crawl space drain service, which you should review with your insurance agent.
Finally, it’s a great idea to install a sump pump in some crawl spaces. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain or snow, then water may build up around the foundation. That can cause problems if it starts to seep into your crawl space.
What drainage system are you looking for?
You can install a drainage system yourself or hire a professional to do it. You might be able to use concrete, gravel, plastic pipe, perforated pipe, PVC drain tile, or vented drainage tile.
The type of system you need depends on the kind of soil around your home and how much water is collected around the foundation after heavy rainfall.
You’ll also need to make sure you protect any electrical wiring or plumbing with plastic barrier matting before digging around your crawl space and be careful not to damage any wood joists when you’re laying the drainage system.
If your home does have damp crawl space conditions that require a more complex drainage system, then it’s a good idea to have a professional foundation repair from Knoxville do it.
You need to protect the insulation in your crawl space from dampness and pests, so remember to check those areas as well before sealing your crawl space vents shut.
Benefits of drainage system
- Improve air quality in crawl space
- Keep insulation dry, which helps protect it from damage and degradation.
- Prevent mold and mildew
- Prevent pests such as termites, rodents, and spiders from getting into your home.
- Keep crawl space vents clear and open for air circulation.
- Save on energy costs by keeping the area around your home dry, which will also help to lower the humidity levels within your home.
Choosing a drainage system
- Soil type
- Depth of the soil around the home’s foundation
- Other factors that affect how much water drains away from the crawl space after heavy rainfall, such as the slope of land surrounding your home and the amount of vegetation in the surrounding area
- Existing drainage system
- If your existing drainage system is damaged or isn’t working as effectively as it should be, then you’ll need to fix that before installing a new one.
After taking all of these factors into account and talking to a few contractors about the type of drainage system they would recommend installing for your home, you’ll be able to choose which type of system would be most effective for your crawl space.
How to fix damp crawl space?
- You can use a dehumidifier or air conditioner if your crawl space is closed in to reduce the humidity.
- Make sure that all of your doors and windows are properly sealed to keep the air in your home as dry as possible.
- Add extra insulation if it’s possible to do so safely, and you want to maintain a dry, warm environment in your crawl space.
- If your crawl space has a sump pump, then make sure it is working properly so that any excess water is drained away rapidly. You may need to replace or repair the pump if there are any problems with it.
- Cover any cracks or holes where pests can enter with caulk or expanding foam.
Conclusion
Most crawl spaces have one or more of these problems, which are made worse by the pressures of modern building codes. Today, crawl spaces repaired are typically finished with carpeting, vinyl flooring, or ceramic tile that can’t be exposed to ground moisture. Any kind of water in a crawl space is bad news, so drainage must be dealt with effectively.
Contact a drainage system installer from Knoxville about the best kind of drainage system for your crawl space.
