Keep moisture out of your home with encapsulation
When water vapor and excess moisture find their way into your home, it can cause a whole slew of problems. Not only is your home structurally affected by moisture, but the health of your family is also at risk.
Encapsulating areas of your home that are prone to moisture, like your crawl space, is highly recommended. Most times, it’s our home’s crawl space that is most susceptible to moisture because the interior of our crawl space is concrete. Concrete is a porous material that allows moisture from the ground to move through it and into your home. Encapsulation is a technique used to seal out moisture and prevent any and all problems associated with it getting in.
The encapsulation process involves applying a heavy-duty polyethylene barrier to the floors, walls, and many times, the ceiling of your crawl space. The barrier is most effective when it covers your crawl space completely and when sealing tape is used to connect the barrier pieces throughout the entire area. Think of the encapsulation barrier like the lining added to a swimming pool to prevent leaks. Once the crawl space is sealed, it’s important that the air is conditioned to maintain a healthy humidity level. A dehumidifier typically does the job!
How to know whether encapsulating your crawl space is necessary
Most homeowners consider encapsulating their crawl space when they see signs of:
If you’re seeing these signs, don’t think it’s too late to encapsulate. As a part of the Killingsworth crawl space encapsulation process, we take care of any mold removal or cleaning that may need to be done before we encapsulate. While it seems like a lot of trouble to go through, the benefits of encapsulating your crawl space will be well worth it in the end.
Safety, health, and home benefits of crawl space encapsulation
As a homeowner, you strive to maintain a home that is both safe and healthy for you and your family. So when water vapor or excess moisture get in and cause problems with indoor air quality, pests, and mold–it’s serious.
The safety, health, and home benefits of crawl space encapsulation include:
Better overall air quality
When you encapsulate your crawl space, air from underneath your home can no longer infect the living areas of your home. Rooms where your family spends a good amount of time like the T.V. room, kitchen, and dining room, typically sit on the first floor–right above the crawl space. Nothing ruins family time like outside dust and allergen particles. Most homeowners who decided to encapsulate their crawl space see a decrease in allergy flare-ups, and a better overall quality of air.Improve your home’s indoor air quality further by introducing a few of these detoxing houseplants to your home.
Fewer Pests
Encapsulation blocks the entryways pests use to get into your crawl space and then your home. Vents and cracks in your foundation provide bugs and pests with an opportunity to get cozy in your crawl space. Eventually, the pests in your crawl space will find a crack or crevice in your floorboards and make their way up into your home. One of the most valuable benefits of crawl space encapsulation is keeping termites out.
More Comfortable Living Conditions
During the hot summer months, a home with an un-encapsulated crawl space might feel damp and clammy–not ideal living conditions. Encapsulating your crawl space will fix the humidity levels below your home and make for more comfortable living conditions.
No Mold
Because encapsulation reduces the moisture levels in your crawl space, there is less opportunity for mold, fungi, and mildew growth. About 40%-60% of the air that enters our homes comes from the crawl space beneath. When mold, fungi, and mildew grow in our crawl spaces, we breath their spores in which is never good for our health.
Greater energy efficiency
When the air underneath your home is hot and humid (or freezing cold in the winter months), your HVAC system will work harder to cool your home (or heat it). By encapsulating your crawl space and sealing ductwork, you’ll likely see a decrease in your utility bill.
Encapsulating your crawl space is a small price to pay for a safe and healthy home. Whether you’re choosing to encapsulate yourself or you’re hiring a company to do it, be sure the process is done right. Other often worse problems can arise if your crawl space isn’t encapsulated and sealed correctly.At Killingsworth, we believe in protecting your home from the inside out. From crawl spaces to attics, and every wall and floor in between, our service specialists are ready to check and fix your indoor home issues to keep your house running properly.
Request a free quote on any of your indoor home restoration needs, including mold and water restoration and crawl space encapsulation today.
