Is It Time to Clean Up That Musty Crawl Space?

At the mention of your crawl space, you might get an instant shiver down your spine. The mere idea of venturing under your house into that narrow, damp, unfinished space crawling with bugs and spiders is enough to make you cringe. But did you know that that small, forgotten space can have a big impact on the rest of your home and its energy efficiency?

It’s true! There is a lot of humidity in the soil below your home which can cause your crawl space to become damp, leading to an unhealthy environment that harbors mold and creates an ideal home for pests. Unfortunately, these problems don’t stay contained to your crawl space; they can also affect your entire home. That moist, contaminated air flows up into your living areas leaving more than just a damp odor. Yuck!

Crawl Space insulated and encapsulated.

The solution to your problem is to create a conditioned crawl space that not only eliminates moisture but also insulates the enclosed area to create a clean, energy efficient, pest-free environment.

Father and baby son playing on the floor

Signs That It’s Time to Condition Your Crawl Space

How do you know if you need to condition your crawl space? If you notice any or all these signs, it’s time to have a professional check out the space beneath your home:

  • Cold floors, especially in winter
  • Musty or damp odors coming from below the floor
  • Visible mold or moisture collecting in your crawl space
  • Unusually high energy bills
  • A decrease in indoor air quality—more dust and pollutants in the air

Benefits of a Conditioned Crawl Space

Aside from making your crawl space less creepy, here are the biggest benefits you can expect from conditioning your crawl space:

Lower Energy Bills and Increased Energy Efficiency

Crawl space conditioning involves adding insulation and air sealing that prevents conditioned air from leaking through your home’s floor into the crawl space and exiting. This makes your home more energy efficient and saves you money on your energy bills.

Prevention of Moisture and Mold Growth

Conditioning closes off access to moisture by adding a vapor barrier, which eliminates mold and mildew and their musty odors.

A Protected Foundation

A clean and dry crawl space will protect your home’s foundation for many years to come.

Reduced Bugs and Pests

Conditioning closes off any vents to the outside of your home, preventing bugs, spiders, and other pests from moving in.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Conditioning creates a clean, dry space that will help prevent dust and pollutants from entering your home through the floor.

Additional Storage Space

With a conditioned crawl space you’ll have extra room for storage.

How to Condition Your Crawl Space

Transforming your dank crawl space into a conditioned area involves several steps. Our expert installation team will first examine your crawl space to determine the scope of work that needs to be done. Then we will:

  1. Lay down a polyethylene vapor retarder over your dirt floor to act as a vapor barrier to prevent moisture. This is often known as encapsulation.
  2. Apply spray foam to your crawl space walls to insulate and air seal your crawl space and help maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home.
  3. Install a dehumidifier to regulate the amount of moisture and humidity in your crawl space.

Conditioned Crawl Space Project

Conditioned crawl space.
Conditioned crawl space.
Inside a conditioned crawl space

We’re Here to Transform Your Crawl Space from Creepy to Conditioned

At All-Tech Insulation & Spray Foam, our expert insulation team is here to turn your home’s crawl space into an inviting, insulated area you can utilize and count on for maximum energy efficiency with our crawl space conditioning service. We’re here to answer all your crawl space questions and meet all your insulating needs. Since 2003, we’ve been working to create more energy efficient communities from middle Tennessee to southern Kentucky, one home and building at a time. Contact us today to get started with your free estimate.