Moisture is one of the biggest threats to your home. It can lead to rot, rust, and even mold growth, which is bad for your family’s health. But life along the Eastern Shore includes a lot of moisture, especially during the humid summer months. And one of the most common places for it to infiltrate your home is through your crawl space.
So, how do you keep moisture out of your crawl space? The answer is simple—you seal it off from the outside and make it a part of your building’s envelope. Crawl space sealing protects your crawl space from moisture in the air and ground, keeping it dry and mold-free.
The Problem with an Unsealed Crawl Space
Vented and unsealed crawl spaces are a problem because anything can get inside them. They’re vulnerable to moisture, pests, and the elements, all of which can wreak havoc on your home.
Moisture
If your crawl space is not properly sealed, moisture is getting in. It seeps up through the ground, comes in through cracks and crevices when it rains, and is carried in through vents and other openings by humid air. This is a huge problem. A wet crawl space can cause significant structural damage to your home, plus it leads to mold growth. Mold is bad for indoor air quality and can also eat away at building materials, causing further damage.
Pests
An unsealed crawl space is an easy access point for all kinds of pests. Insects, rodents, snakes—if it crawls around outside, it can find its way into an unsealed crawl space.
Energy Loss
Heated and air conditioning air can easily escape through an unsealed crawl space while outdoor air flows in. This causes comfort issues like cold floors in the winter and uneven temperatures throughout your house. It also throws your heating and AC systems into overdrive as they try to compensate. It’s hard on your systems and can wear them down, plus, it burns more fuel, driving up your energy bills.
The Solution: Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation is the most effective way to seal and protect your crawl space from the elements. It involves a combination of strategies and materials that create a protective barrier between your home and the moisture, pests, and air outside. Here's what it entails:
1. Inspection
Every crawl space is unique, so before crawl space encapsulation, we perform a thorough inspection. We’ll remove old insulation and check for issues like mold, pests, and standing water so they can be resolved.
2. Sealing & Insulating
It was once thought that crawl spaces should be vented to allow moisture to move out of the area. But vents let moisture in, too, making them problematic. We use spray foam to seal vents, holes, and gaps around ducts and plumbing that let in outside air. We also apply spray foam insulation to the walls for an airtight seal that insulates and prevents moisture from entering.
3. Vapor Barrier
We install a heavy-duty plastic vapor barrier that fully covers the floor and walls of the crawl space. This barrier prevents moisture from the ground from seeping into your home. It’s thick, durable, and designed to withstand wear and tear, keeping your crawl space dry year-round.
4. Dehumidification
For optimal results, a crawl space dehumidifier can be added to control humidity levels, which prevents condensation and mold growth.
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation has immediate and long-term benefits for your home and family:
- Better indoor air quality - Your crawl space significantly impacts the air quality inside your home. By sealing it, mold spores, dust, and allergens are prevented from circulating through your house.
- A more comfortable home - Say goodbye to cold floors and uneven temperatures. Sealing your crawl space keeps your home more comfortable all year round.
- Protection against structural damage - By keeping moisture out, you protect your home's foundation, floor joists, and other structural elements from rot and decay. This can save you thousands in repairs down the road.
- Energy bill savings - With a sealed crawl space, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a consistent indoor temperature. This reduces your energy usage and saves you money.
- Pest prevention - Sealing your crawl space creates a barrier against pests, making it much harder for insects, rodents, and other critters to invade your home.
Crawl Space Sealing & Encapsulation Services in Maryland & Delaware
Sealing your crawl space isn’t just about keeping it dry—it’s about protecting your home, improving your comfort, and saving money. Total Home Performance is the crawl space expert that homeowners on the Eastern Shore and throughout the Anne Arundel County area trust. We’re a locally owned and operated company that’s been fixing crawl spaces for over 15 years! Plus, we can help you save up to $10,000 on crawl space sealing and encapsulation with rebates and incentives from Delmarva Power and BGE.