So if your crawl space is musty, dirty, and contaminated with mold — so is your home. One of the major debates in the world of crawl spaces these days is how to make use of the vents. The traditional line of thinking is — the vents should be open in the summer and closed in the winter. But which approach is right for your home? You will see your crawl space vents along the outside of your home.
The size of your home will dictate how many of these vents exist. Perhaps they are surrounded by wells to avoid water flowing directly into them. The vents are meant to ventilate the crawl space in order to prevent mold growth. A vent on one side allows a breeze to enter your crawl space and carry the stagnant air out through another open vent on the opposite side. Many building codes call for ventilating the crawl space.
All modifications to a home should be verified with local codes to ensure the home remains in alignment with local stipulations. Some homeowners seal off crawl space vents year-round in order to stop termites in the summer, heat loss in the winter, and moisture buildup that can lead to mold growth; others open and close the crawlspace vents with the season.
Is there such a thing as a right or wrong answer here? The experts have differing opinions. Jesse Waltz, a foundation engineer, votes to seal off crawl space vents altogether.
An effective method to lower crawl space humidity, tested and perfected throughout the U. It is tough enough for service people to crawl on and safe enough for storage. Always consult your HVAC contractor to make sure crawlspace venting is adequate. Building codes generally require working vents in the crawlspace to allow outside air to circulate under the floor in the summer to prevent moisture buildup that, among mildew and mold, encourages wood rot.
In the winter, when the air is drier, the vents are closed to reduce the chance that the pipes in the crawlspace might freeze. So our answer is to open and close the vents in your crawlspace seasonally, instead of deciding to seal off crawl space vents altogether. As air rises in a home, it carries with it the air that was previously in the crawl space.
That includes moisture and mold spores, as well as anything else that may be airborne down there. As this air rises in the home, replacement air is drawn through the vents. A debate ensued, and because some builders are slow to change, many foundation vents continue to be installed.
Some building departments are also slow to change and still require foundation vents as part of their building code. Advanced Energy is a highly respected North Carolina think tank of building scientists and researchers who want to help you build homes that last longer and use less energy. In December , they released an exhaustive report about crawl space ventilation as it pertains to a variety of different climates across the country.
Researchers monitored two sets of new homes in different climates: a home modular housing development in hot, humid Baton Rouge, La. The houses used a variety of heating systems and ductwork configurations and different locations for their thermal barrier.
The report concluded that closed, unvented crawl spaces stay considerably drier than vented ones, regardless of the climates. On the other hand, some of the energy-use results were surprising. This photo was taken by an Acculevel project manager during a free estimate appointment. The center beam is decaying and molding. If you have allergies, asthma or other respiratory ailments, you are probably familiar with the health risks of mold. But even perfectly healthy people need to be concerned about breathing in mold spores and byproducts.
Studies have shown that mold in the household contributed to a number of respiratory disorders in children ages ; for infants, mold exposure for babies increases their risk for developing asthma significantly. Want more information about mold and the costs of remediation? We have a blog that breaks down this process for you. If you do, you should check your crawl space for problem areas.
But if you would prefer to have a professional evaluate your crawl space, you should find an experienced foundation company, and make an appointment. Have you made arrangements for home repairs before? This will help you compare the estimates accurately, and warn you away from any questionable business practices. Before you sign a contract for any service, we urge you to always verify the company is reputable, insured, and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
If you live in Indiana or the surrounding states , contact Acculevel. If you have noticed any problems and would like an evaluation, you can request a free estimate. An experienced project manager will examine the areas of concern and recommend the best course of action for you, to keep your home strong and healthy for years to come. The purpose of a sump pump, of course, is to expel any rainwater that seeps into your home.
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