Open vs closed crawl space vents is an age-old debate among home performance experts.
Some believe that you should keep your vents open all the time to let fresh air in. Others think it’s better to open your vents in the winter and keep them shut during the humid summer months.
At Total Home Performance, we believe the answer is neither. We recommend sealing your crawl space completely with crawl space encapsulation instead of venting it. It’s a better solution that keeps moisture out so you don’t end up with mold or wood rot.
Benefits of a Vented Crawl Space (And Why They’re Debated)
Crawl space vents let outdoor air into your crawl space. Builders used to believe that this was a good thing because it would:
- Promote air circulation
- Dry out your crawl space
- Prevent moisture problems
These beliefs were so widely held that venting crawl spaces was required by most building codes for many years.
But, in reality, opening crawl space vents doesn’t achieve any of these benefits.
Open vents actually draw in humid air, especially in warm climates. That air can condense on cooler surfaces like your crawl space floor, pipes, and ductwork, leading to moisture problems like mold growth and wood rot.
Better Alternatives to Opening & Closing Crawl Space Vents
Opening and closing crawl space vents is not good for your house, your comfort, or your indoor air quality. It’s also annoying. You have to remember to open/close your vents, and you have to venture down into your crawl space to do it.
So, what should you do instead?
At Total Home Performance, we recommend crawl space encapsulation.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation fully seals your crawl space off from the surrounding environment. It includes sealing all vents and openings, installing a thick vapor barrier along the floor and walls, insulating, and installing a dehumidifier if necessary.
There are so many benefits to sealing your crawl space with encapsulation:
- Moisture Control - Crawl space encapsulation keeps humid air, rain, and moisture out, preventing mold, mildew, and other moisture problems.
- Energy Bill Savings - Crawl space encapsulation improves your home’s energy efficiency, which leads to lower energy bills.
- Better Comfort - Sealing your crawl space can solve problems like cold floors in the winter and high humidity in the summer.
- Better Indoor Air Quality - Unsealed crawl spaces let damp, moldy air into your house. Sealing stops these problems at the source, stopping musty smells and improving indoor air quality.
- Keeps Pests Out - Vents are an easy access point for all kinds of pests, like bugs and rodents. Encapsulation keeps them out!
Find the Best Solution for Your Home
We almost always recommend crawl space encapsulation for houses in Maryland and Delaware.
But at the end of the day, every home is different. Sometimes, the right solution for your specific situation will be slightly different than the typical recommendation.
At Total Home Performance, we provide custom solutions that are tailored to your home. We talk to you about the problems you’re dealing with in your house and what you’re trying to achieve with your improvement so we can recommend the most appropriate solution.
Save with Crawl Space Rebates!
Crawl space encapsulation is eligible for rebates and incentives that can significantly reduce the cost. BGE and Delmarva Power both offer huge rebates for insulation and air sealing, which is part of the encapsulation process.
Total Home Performance is a participating contractor with BGE and Delmarva Power rebate programs. We are the only crawl space expert in the area that can help you qualify for these rebates!