Zwaggle6 Ways to Keep Moisture Out of Your Crawlspace
A moist crawlspace can cause a lot of problems. For one thing, it can cause the humidity levels to rise in your home. Even worse, it can cause structural damage to your home, which can result in the need for pricey repairs. Additionally, it can attract insects and other pests and can cause mold and mildew to grow. Although you might not think that there is much that you can do to prevent moisture in your crawlspace, try these tips, and you’re sure to see a difference.
1. Keep the Opening Closed
If your home is like many, you might have an access to your crawlspace from underneath your home. If you are lucky, this opening might be quite easy to access. This is a good thing when you need to get underneath your home to perform random household repairs, but it’s important to make sure that you keep the opening closed. This might seem like a no-brainer, but some people leave the opening open so that they can get in easily or simply forget to close it. By keeping it properly, tightly covered, however, you can help keep the area safe from the elements — such as rain and snow — that can cause moisture problems.
2. Focus on Proper Drainage
Proper drainage around your home is very important if you want to avoid structural damage — such as issues with your home’s foundation — and if you want to keep your crawlspace dry. If you aren’t careful, all of the water that runs off of your roof could find its way around your home and in your crawlspace, so it’s important to focus on drainage. There are a few different ways that you can go about doing this. First of all, installing gutters can help you control the water that runs off of your roof. Additionally, you might find that you need to do some grading work on your property to help steer rainwater in the right direction, such as toward your ditch or your drainage system.
3. Install a Vapor Barrier
Another issue that can cause excess moisture in your crawlspace is when water evaporates from the soil that surrounds and is underneath your home. This can seem unavoidable, but if you install a vapor barrier in your crawlspace, you can help combat this.
4. Install a Dehumidifier
Just as you can use a dehumidifier in your home, you can also install one in your crawlspace. This is designed to help remove moisture from the air, which can help keep the area nice and dry.
5. Use a Sump Pump
If you are already dealing with water under your crawlspace and are wondering how to get rid of it, you can use a sump pump. This will help pump out any existing water; then, you can use a dehumidifier to help get rid of any existing humidity.
6. Repair Leaks
Keep an eye on the plumbing underneath your house. Even a minor leak can add a lot of moisture to your crawlspace. Plus, by taking care of plumbing leaks quickly, you can help avoid wasted water.
As you can see, you do not have to keep dealing with moisture in your crawlspace. If you follow these tips, you can help ensure that this area is kept nice and dry, as it should be.
