Crawl space humidity is easy to ignore—it’s not like you spend a lot of time hanging out down there.
But if you don’t address it, humidity in your crawl space can lead to water damage, mold, pests, and unhealthy air quality throughout your entire home.
Let’s take a look at how your crawl space impacts your home and why keeping humidity out is so important.
The Connection Between Your Crawlspace & Living Spaces
Your crawl space and your house are not separate entities. They’re connected, which means air can flow between them. In some houses, as much as 40-60% of the air inside comes in through the crawl space.
If your crawl space is damp and musty, it will contaminate the air that flows through it. That’s a problem, since most of the air inside your crawl space will eventually end up in the same rooms where your family lives and sleeps.
What Happens During the Summer?
Summer brings heat and humidity, which is a bad combination for your crawl space.
When warm, wet air enters a cooler crawl space, it naturally condenses on surfaces like floor joists, ductwork, and plumbing. That moisture creates the perfect conditions for:
- Woot rot
- Pest infestation
Over time, these issues can compromise your home’s structural integrity and trigger air quality issues for you and your family.
Why Crawl Space Vents Don’t Help
A vented crawl space used to be standard practice. Builders thought that vents would let fresh air circulate and keep the space dry. But this approach doesn’t really work, especially in humid climates like ours.
In the summer, crawl space vents pull in hot, humid air from outside. Instead of drying things out, that air increases the moisture level in the crawl space.
The better solution is to seal the crawl space completely, eliminating the source of humidity and moisture rather than trying to manage it once it’s already inside.
Crawl Space Encapsulation Is the Best Way to Keep Your Crawl Space Dry
The most effective way to protect your home from summer humidity is crawl space encapsulation. This process involves sealing your crawl space off from the outside and, if needed, installing a dehumidifier to create a clean, dry, and controlled space beneath your home.
Benefits include:
- Moisture Control – Stops water damage, mold growth, and wood rot.
- Healthier Air – Keeps mold, dust, and allergens out of your breathing air.
- Pest Prevention – Seals entry points for bugs and rodents.
- Lower Energy Bills – Keeps your house cooler and less humid, reducing the workload on your cooling system.
- Improved Comfort – Helps control temperature and humidity throughout your entire house.
At Total Home Performance, we take a whole-home approach to crawl space problems. Our team will find the root causes of moisture and air quality issues and recommend a permanent solution. We’re local, experienced, and here to protect your home!
Need crawl space help? Call 410-822-1390 to schedule a crawl space inspection today.
Stop crawl space humidity before it spreads to the rest of your home!
Schedule your crawl space inspection today.
410-822-1390