Hello World! Welcome Friends! A crawl space is easy to ignore. It’s hidden underneath the house, and it’s not a place that anyone particularly wants to visit. However, a crawl space needs cleaning and maintenance just like any other part of the home. If you neglect your crawl space, you may be creating opportunities for rodents, insects, bacteria, and mold to move in and thrive. If you’re going to clean your crawl space, the following do’s and don’ts can help you do the job thoroughly and safely.
1. DO Take Care of Pest Control Issues
The first step in crawl space cleaning is to check for signs of infestation. Mice and rats, termites, and roaches are the most common invaders, but a neglected crawl space can be an inviting home to all kinds of creatures, even large ones like snakes, possums, and raccoons. Signs of infestation include the sight or smell of animal droppings, holes dug into the dirt, shredded insulation, and small piles of dust or dirt. If you have insects, you may be able to treat the crawl space with an insecticide. If you have larger animals, though, you may need to set traps or call a wildlife removal company.
2. DO Check for Moisture
Moisture is a problem in a crawl space because it allows mold to grow, and it can also cause wood to decay. Bacteria also thrives in a dark and damp environment. Before cleaning your crawl space, examine the space carefully for moldy areas or standing water. If you see puddles, then you probably have a drainage problem that you need to deal with by directing gutter spouts away from the crawlspace and installing a sump pump, if necessary. Other strategies for combating excess moisture in a crawl space include running a dehumidifier and sealing out moisture with a vapor barrier.
3. DON’T Use Spray Foam or Fiberglass Insulation
A crawl space needs to be well insulated in order to maintain energy efficiency and protect the air quality inside the home. Insulation material not only keeps heat from escaping through the floor, but it also filters the air that passes from the crawl space into the house. However, certain types of insulation do not work well in a crawl space. Both spray foam and fiberglass insulation tend to absorb and trap moisture against the foundation, allowing mold and mildew to flourish. Experts recommend first sealing the foundation walls and floors against moisture and then installing foam board insulation.
4. DON’T Ignore Crawl Space Vents
A crawl space needs a vent approximately every ten feet to increase the flow of air and release moisture to the outside. Checking each vent is an important part of cleaning the area. You want to make sure that the screens are intact because they keep large insects and rodents from entering the crawl space. Also, you may want to close the vents by blocking them with a foam plug in the winter when the air is drier and moisture is less of a problem. Some homeowners install extra vents thinking to improve air circulation, but additional vents tend to bring in too much moisture. Be sure to consult with a crawl space repair company if you have any concerns regarding your vents. Whether it be sealing, replacing, or adding vents, a professional can help ensure your crawl space is properly ventilated. Not only will this help keep mold and mildew at bay, but it can also improve energy efficiency in your home.
Cleaning and sanitizing a crawl space is not an easy job, and most homeowners leave it to professionals, who have the tools and expertise to do the work quickly and well. Whether you tackle the job yourself or call an expert, a clean crawl space will protect your foundation and improve the air you breathe.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Best Tips for Beautifying Your Garden
Air Conditioning Repair Contractors – Elkhart IN HVAC Repair
Advertising Your HVAC Business
5 Ways to Handle Waste Products
How to Make your Whole House Have Filtered Water
Burglary Prevention: Answering 10 Questions About Sash Jammers
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
Thanks for sharing the information about the right approach 4 dos and don’t of cleaning your crawl space, I think your post is very helpful for lot of people.