How Does Water Vapor Get Into Your Crawl Space?

If your crawl space smells musty, yet it's never been flooded, you might be wondering: How? 

You aren't alone. The truth is that there's much more going on in your crawl space than just a bad smell. That smell is often indicative of microbial growth, or mold. That means there's enough humidity for it to grow. 

But how does moisture get down there? How do you best prevent it from damaging your home? 

We have the answers. 

There's probably puddles of water in your crawl space, even if you don't know it.

Due to the way homes are constructed, groundwater is very common in crawl spaces.

Whether the foundation is made of poured concrete or concrete blocks, concrete is porous and concrete bricks especially has gaps for water to get through. This means groundwater can enter under the footing, between the footing and the walls, right through block walls and through cracks in poured walls. After seeping in, the water then remains in puddles, slowly evaporating into the house.

This problem can be worsened by rain or heavy storms, of course. However, damage can be prevented with an encapsulation and full-perimeter interior waterproofing system. 

You might say: "I didn't see any puddles, just dirt. Is my crawl space still getting damaged by water vapor?"

Let's say there's no puddles in your crawl space, and the dirt seems relatively dry (AKA not muddy). 

Does this mean your crawl space is safe? Not necessarily.

Consider this: the earth can retain a lot of water, and you can never dry out the earth beneath your home entirely. 

An invisible stream of water vapor from the exposed dirt is constantly rising and getting into your home, building the humidity especially when it's warm and the air can retain more moisture. 

Venting your crawl space doesn't prevent moisture from building. In fact, it allows exterior moisture to get in.

Without a sealed encapsulation, the dirt is constantly releasing moisture into the air in your crawl space, into the wooden floor joists and structural beams. 

The safest solution to keep your crawl space dry and healthy starts with an encapsulation. 

Did you know over 40% of the air you breathe in the first floor of your home comes from your crawl space? 

To keep that air as clean, healthy and odorless as possible, your crawl space needs a way to stay dry in rain or shine. 

An encapsulation wraps a plastic liner around all seams, edges and pipe penetrations, ensuring that your home is permanently separated from the earth. 

If you'd like a high quality CleanSpace encapsulation with antimicrobial protection and a 25-year warranty against rips and tears, give us a call for a free estimate!