Crawl Spaces: Humidity Levels and Mold
Crawl Spaces are notorious for being damp and moldy
as well as a popular hideout for all kinds of insects
and critters. A damp crawlspace environment can be both
unhealthy to the homeowner as well as destructive to the
home.
Dirt crawl spaces have the high humidity levels
necessary for mold growth. It is not uncommon to see 50%
to 90% humidity levels in dirt crawl spaces that have
never been flooded. Mold thrives and reproduces in these
high humidity levels by producing airborne spores by the
millions. Mold can grow on any organic material such as
wood, insulation, dirt, and carpet.
We know that warm air rises. As heat rises, the natural
air movement in a home is upward. Air escapes out of the
upper levels, and is drawn upward from the lower levels.
Mold spores, odors, and humidity coming from the
crawlspace create an uncomfortable environment for
people. The natural airflow sucks the moist air and
everything in it up from the crawl space and into the
living areas of the home. Many people are allergic to
these things, and experience a host of symptoms while
not realizing that their dirt crawl space is affecting
their health.
Reducing the humidity level in you crawl space can also
reduce the spreading of mold spores under your house.
Mold needs only three things to thrive; an organic
material, the right temperature range and moisture.
Controlling the amount of moisture is the one thing a
homeowner can do to battle the potentially damaging
affects of mold. Depriving mold of moisture will stop it
from growing but will not actually kill the mold.
Existing mold will still remain. Reports however have
shown that mold will remain dormant as long as humidity
levels are reduced below 40%.
For information on mold from the National Association of
Home Builders (NAHB) go to
www.moldtips.com
Crawl Spaces: Heating and Cooling
The heating and cooling costs are higher in a home
with a vented dirt crawl space. During the summer, vents
let warm humid air in and make the house harder to air
condition as all this moisture needs to be wrung out of
the air by the HVAC units.
In the winter the vents let in cold air, which causes
very cold, uncomfortable floors upstairs and higher
heating costs.
The CleanSpace Advantage
Basement Systems, Inc. of Connecticut has designed
the perfect solution for crawl spaces. The CleanSpace
system was designed to isolate the home from the earth
completely and permanently. It is installed along the
crawl space floor and up the walls sealing
(encapsulating) the crawl space. For many years people
have been using 6-mil plastic to seal up crawl spaces in
an attempt to resolve the many problems associated with
the vented, unprotected crawl spaces. Unfortunately
6-mil plastic is very flimsy, difficult to attach to
walls and does not provide an adequate solution.
The CleanSpace liner is a heavy 20 mil thick material
similar to a pool liner. It is a manufactured 7 layer
blend of high and low density polyethylene and two
layers of polyester cord reinforcement. The CleanSpace
liner is tough enough for you to crawl on and allows you
to use your crawl space as a storage area. CleanSpace is
also coated with an anti-microbial agent to resist mold
and bacteria growth.
Some of the advantages that can be achieved by
installing CleanSpace are:
-
Reduction in Mold Levels
-
Reduction in Utility Bills
-
Warmer Floors in the Winter
-
Reduced Swelling and Cracking of
Wood Floors and Trim
-
Reduced smells from the Crawl
Space
-
Reduced insect infestation
-
Turning a nasty crawlspace into a
useful storage area
