Humidity is one of the most insidious threats to your home’s structure, furniture, and even your health and well-being. High relative humidity can occur for a variety of reasons, both structural and cosmetic. Humidity can both cause and exacerbate structural deterioration.
Problems Associated with High Humidity
There are many ways you will know there is a problem with high humidity in your crawl space. Here are the most common things you will notice:
Mold
If you observe mold spreading across regions of your home that do not have any water outlets of any kind, this is very strong evidence that you have high levels of humidity in your home. High levels of humidity can cause mold to grow. Mold and mildew can be identified by the way in which it grows and spreads across surfaces such as wood, wallpaper, tiles, and even fabrics. You will be able to distinguish mold and mildew in this way. There are even some species of mold that thrive best inside of HVAC systems (which can spread the smells very quickly).
Musty Odors
When water finds its way into your crawl space, it begins to permeate certain surfaces, like wood and any other organic material. Once water has invaded your crawl space, it is now susceptible to high humidity. Over time, this extra moisture will create a musty odor. This unpleasant smell will quickly spread from your crawl space to the livable areas of your home. This creates a smelly environment where you can’t seem to find the source of the odor. If you can’t find the source, then it is very likely that the problem has to do with excess humidity in your crawl space.
Crawl Space Water
Standing water around your home or in your crawl space indicates that your foundation is suffering from moisture and humidity issues. They will cause dampness unless drained or otherwise removed. Standing water indicates structural issues or interior leaks. This suggests your home may have more problems. The location and amount of water can help you identify the source. If most of the water is in your walls and flooring, it’s likely seepage or a leaking pipe. If crawl space water is unevenly distributed, foundation difficulties may be to blame.
FAQs
We know that high humidity might not seem like the most serious problem in your home, but you should be worried if it stays that way for a long time. Humidity and dampness can damage your home in a lot of different ways. Some of these problems will last longer than others. Most of the time, high humidity for a long time causes wood to rot and mold to grow. Small animals like rodents and bugs like to live in dark, damp places, so your crawl space is the best place for them to live.
If mold grows in the crawl space of your home, it can cause a number of serious health problems. Mold is dangerous for people who already have trouble breathing, but it can also hurt people who are otherwise healthy. If someone in your house has severe allergies or asthma, you need to take care of any mold problems soon. Some molds can even cause asthma or allergies to get worse. If you do what you need to do to get rid of mold in your crawl space, your family will be less likely to experience these serious health problems.
The worst thing about crawl space water isn’t the water itself. Water in the crawl space can lead to bigger problems that can cost a lot to fix. Mold spores are drawn to water. They eat wood, but they can’t get to it without water. So a large pool of water that doesn’t move and soaks wood is the perfect place for mold to grow. Unwanted animals will be drawn to a safe, enclosed space with its own water source. Rats, snakes, and other animals like to live in crawl spaces that are damp.
Explore Solutions
We have many ways to make your home and crawl space more comfortable and stop too much water and humidity from getting in. Putting in a crawl space dehumidifier or thermal insulation makes it less likely that your crawl space will get too wet, and the moisture spread to the rest of the house.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is a system that can keep your crawl space dry. Since it’s designed to remove moisture that’s present in the air, your property is spared from encountering water damage all year round. However, you need to find the right dehumidifier that fits your crawl space and budget.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier is a type of crawl space encapsulation material that specifically protects your crawl space and other areas of your property from water and moisture.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Thermal Insulation
Although thermal insulation doesn’t directly protect your crawl space from flooding, it can keep the walls, and subsequently your foundation, from cracking.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Crawl Space Vent Covers
To prevent moisture buildup, you need to improve water-prone areas, like your crawl space, with several upgrades. One example would be equipping your crawl space with a vent cover.
Call Us for A Free Inspection
In our more than 35 years of experience, our team at Mount Valley Foundation Services has seen it all when it comes to crawl space problems, including the effects of high humidity. We are familiar with the challenges homeowners in Charleston, Columbia, and Savannah face because of the region’s humid climate, and we have the solutions to help combat them.
You can rest assured that we will complete your crawl space repair project with the utmost care, efficiency, and quality. We have earned various awards including the HomeAdvisor Elite Service Award. Thousands of South Carolina homeowners trust us, and you can too. Contact us today to schedule your free crawl space inspection and no-obligation repair estimates with one of our experts.
