Many homeowners don’t think too much about their crawlspace until it causes a problem. Unfortunately, one of the most common crawl space issues is mold. Once mold gets into your crawl space, it can be hard to remove and can infiltrate the rest of your home. Here’s what you need to know about mold in your crawlspace so you can take care of any issues that do pop up.
Why Is There Mold in My Crawlspace?
Your crawl space sits right on top of the dirt. This dirt can contain quite a bit of moisture, especially after it rains or snows. And mold needs moisture to grow!
Add to that the fact that the wood beams supporting the crawlspace can be nourishment for the mold, and you have yourself the perfect storm. Unless you check your crawlspace often, it can be a great place for mold to grow unmolested.
How to Prevent Mold in Your Crawl Space
There are a few things you can do to prevent mold in your crawlspace.
- Install a plastic barrier. A plastic vapor barrier should cover the entire floor of the crawl space and go up at least a few inches on all walls. It should be held in place and checked regularly for pooling water.
- Make sure there aren’t any holes in the foundation where water could enter your crawl space.
- Ventilate your crawl space. We suggest AT LEAST 1 square foot of ventilation for every 150 feet of crawl space, though more ventilation can improve air flow and allow your crawlspace to dry out faster.
- Ensure that your gutters and/or downspouts drain at least 6 feet from your foundation. You can buy extenders to take the water away if you don’t have this much space.
- Check your insulation regularly. Make sure that it is secured against the subfloor, not just stuffed up there. And if it is sagging, you may already have a moisture problem in your crawlspace.
- Make sure that all dryer vents send air outside your home, not into the crawl space. After all, you don’t need more moist, hot air to help the mold along!
- Get a high quality sump pump and make sure it is working as it should. If necessary, get a backup battery so it can function even if the power goes out.
How to Get Rid of Mold in your Crawlspace
If you do end up with mold in your crawlspace, you’re likely to need professional crawl space mold remediation. It involves a lot of work in a tight space, with a high amount of attention to detail because of the little nooks and crannies involved. In order to make sure you get rid of all the mold effectively and treat all necessary areas so that it stays away, you will likely want professional expertise guiding the process.
Contact us at Core24 Services if you have mold or moisture problems in your crawl space. We’ll come out, assess the problem, then perform crawl space mold remediation as needed. We won’t leave until your house is mold-free and you won’t have to worry anymore.