Finding standing water in your crawl space during an unusually rainy spring like the one we had this year might not be surprising, but it’s definitely a problem—especially if the water sticks around long after spring has turned into summer.
Moisture is one of the biggest threats to coastal homes and it needs to be dealt with right away. If you still have standing water, condensation, or excessive humidity in your crawl space, keep reading. We explain why it's there and, more importantly, what to do about it.
What Causes a Wet Crawl Space
The symptoms of moisture issues in your crawl space are pretty clear: humid air, a musty smell, mold that keeps returning, and of course, visible standing water. What’s less clear is how moisture is getting into your crawl space in the first place.
Moisture is sneaky and there are many ways it can worm its way into your crawl space. Heavy rain is one of the most common, but it’s not the only way water gets inside a crawl space.
- Heavy rain is one of the most obvious causes of a wet crawl space. When it rains, water can pool around and seep into your crawl space, especially if you don’t have a good drainage system in place.
- Crawl spaces are easily affected by high humidity. On humid days, any outside air that gets inside your crawl space through unsealed vents, cracks in the foundation, and other leaks will bring moisture with it.
- Minor plumbing leaks in your crawl space can easily go unnoticed, but any leak, no matter how small, can bring moisture into your crawl space.
- Neglected crawl spaces that have never been waterproofed or encapsulated are at the highest risk of moisture intrusion.
How to Get Water Out of Your Crawl Space
Moisture in your crawl space is not an isolated issue. It’s a problem for your entire home that can lead to a whole host of serious issues from mold and mildew growth to severe structural damage.
To avoid severe water damage, you need to take action right away. There are a few routes you can take, and the best solution will depend on how water is getting into your crawl space in the first place.
- Crawl Space Encapsulation - A comprehensive waterproofing solution that covers your crawl space with a thick vapor barrier and seals it off entirely from the outdoors.
- French Drains - Redirect water away from your home to stop it from pooling around and seeping into your crawl space.
- Sump Pumps - The ultimate protection against standing water, sump pumps activate automatically when standing water is present to prevent flooding.
- Dehumidifiers - Actively remove excess humidity from your crawl space to prevent condensation and moisture issues.
Save Thousands with Crawl Space Rebates
Total Home Performance can help you save up to $10,000 on the crawl space solutions your home needs with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) rebates. We are a participating contractor with the HPwES program and the only crawl space company in the area that can offer these rebates. We can also help you take advantage of federal tax incentives, including a tax credit worth up to $1,200 for crawl space encapsulation. Don’t pay more than you have to for crawl space repairs—call Total Home Performance and save!
Long-Lasting Solutions that Protect Your Whole Home
Total Home Performance doesn’t mess around when it comes to crawl spaces. Instead of pumping out the water and waiting for it to come back so we can do it again, we find the root cause of the problem and implement a permanent solution. With THP, you get long-lasting protection against water damage and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your entire home is protected.