Home Improvement: Crawl Space Functions
A crawl space is like a basement; however, it has vents to allow outside air. Some crawl spaces can be as high as a basement, whereas others can be as low as two feet tall, so you need to crawl on your stomach to access.
There are three major types of house foundations in the USA. Over half of the foundations are concrete slabs, around 30% are full or partial basements, and roughly 15% have crawl spaces.
Why do homes have crawl spaces?
The most concise answer is a crawl space creates a barrier between the flooring of your home and the ground beneath. It’s an alternative to a more standard basement. However, the two primary reasons residences have crawl spaces are – cost-effectiveness and convenience.
Crawl spaces are more economical to build than basements, given that it negates the need to move the dirt to level the slope for a concrete pad. You can quickly install water and sewer lines, gas hook-ups, HVAC systems, and piping on the convenience aspect. This arrangement allows for easier maintenance of utility systems and pipes.
Two Types of Crawl Spaces
- Ventilated – have several air vents generally found on top of the foundation wall. The air moves freely throughout the space; however, it does even more harm than good considering that the air is uncontrolled and unconditioned. Because whether the air is hot or cool, it could be packed with moisture. With all the cables and pipes, and other blockages, insulating a ventilated crawl space is possible but very tough.
- Conditioned – has insulated walls and a tight vapor barrier on the floor. The barrier is generally connected to the HVAC unit, and it does not need insulation between the floor joists. The vapor barrier maintains the temperature-controlled year-round and gets rid of moisture from getting in the crawl spaces.
The Drawbacks
- Humidity – excessive moisture threatens the stability of wood structures and components. Excessive humidity might cause the wood to rot and increase termite activity. You can learn more about addressing humidity problems by getting the service of trustworthy restoration companies.
- Fungus, mildew, and mold – if there’s a water concern combined with air circulating, it makes the place perfect for dangerous microbes to proliferate. Residents of the home, including pets, will be susceptible to health hazards such as allergens and respiratory issues brought about by mold and mildew.
- Pest infestations – bugs, rats, snakes, and some small animals are drawn to the heat and moisture of crawl spaces. Pest intrusion might negatively affect the air quality of your home as a result of their dander, fur, or droppings.
- Floods – if you live in a flood zone, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to deal with water problems in the crawl space eventually. Flood damage can weaken the structural integrity of your home, and contaminated water is a prospective source of plenty of water-borne illnesses. Floods shouldn’t be ignored; you need to call reliable restoration companies for water mitigation and repairs right away.
Conclusion
As long as your crawl space has been properly built and maintained well, all the downsides shouldn’t be your concern. Ensure no holes in the ground can be an access point for rats and other small animals. Any vents need to have a screen to avoid insects from getting in.
A crawl space makes accessibility easier to various systems in your house should something need to be fixed. Although a crawl space is not a livable area, some property owners might utilize it to store small items. A properly maintained crawl space can serve many purposes in your house.
