Crawl Space FAQs in MD

To get rid of existing mold in your crawl space, applying fungicide and replacement of moldy structures may be required. However, for a definitive solution, one must keep Relative Humidity levels under control. Lowering RH levels under 60% in a crawl space makes it unsustainable for mold to live, causing it to dry and die. This also prevents new occurrences of mold colonies, as long as humidity is kept at safe levels.

Water infiltration in crawl spaces can happen due to a multitude of reasons, among which are evaporation through dirt floor, influx of humid external air through vents, condensation in ducts and pipes and leaks in plumbing. In every case, water in crawl space is bad news and should be addressed properly.

Maryland Mold and Waterproofing can adequately seal your basement against every source of humidity, turning your home into a safer and healthier living space.

Mold occurs when Relative Humidity levels are too high. In crawl spaces, this happens when water finds its way in through evaporation, humid air currents and condensation. Properly encapsulation and continuous dehumidification are enough to uproot the causes of mold in a crawl space.

If your floors are making strange noises or sagging, chances are they have become weak due to excessive humidity coming from the crawl space. In such case, we strongly recommend you to call Maryland Mold and Waterproofing to address the sources of moisture coming from below, and then fix or replace the compromised structures.

Sources of bad smell coming from crawl spaces include mold, bacteria and even feces left behind by critters that find their way into the foundation. In order to permanently rid your crawl space from these pests, you should keep it dry. Maryland Mold and Waterproofing provide excellent crawl space encapsulation services, along with installation of powerful dehumidifiers, to add an extra layer of protection against humidity, year-round.

All species of mold release spores in the air, which flow up from the crawl space into your family’s living grounds. These spores, when breathed, can cause mild to severe allergies. Additionally, a few mold species, such as black mold, release dangerous mycotoxins, which can cause very serious illnesses and should be dealt with immediately.

Vented crawl spaces allow external air in. During winter, that is undesirable, because you want to keep heated air in and cold air out of your home. This can be accomplished by sealing the vents. This way, your heating systems will require less energy to keep temperatures at comfortable levels.

If your crawl space has unsealed vents, cold air flows in and moves upwards, making your floors cold and your living spaces uncomfortable and harder to heat.

Even if your crawl space is already insulated, the technique employed may not have been ideal. Fiberglass batts or lining does not adequately seal the floor, because air can still pass through. Additionally, batts can become soaked with moisture and end up moldy or collapse due to the water weight.

The encapsulation techniques employed by the specialists at Maryland Mold and Waterproofing are on par with recommendations by modern building science.

Choice of material for insulation is paramount. Fiberglass, for example, would constitute a terrible choice.

That’s why, at Maryland Mold and Waterproofing, we use rigid foam board or closed-cell spray foam, both of which are impervious to moisture and mold. 

Having your crawl space encapsulated puts a physical barrier between it and the outside, making it much harder for critters to get in. Additionally, encapsulation keeps your crawl space dry, which makes it impossible for mold to survive down there.

Crawl space vents, once thought to help with keeping crawl spaces dry, are now known to make things much worse. Vents allow humid air from outside in, which is a major source of moisture.

Sealing these vents, encapsulating the crawl space and running a good dehumidifier are excellent measures to prevent hazards caused by humidity in the foundation.

Crawl space encapsulation helps with keeping radon gas out as a physical barrier, but significant volumes of radon would require a proper radon mitigation system.

If your home has been tested for high concentrations of radon gas, both encapsulation and a radon mitigation system should be placed. These measures, when combined, are much more effective than one or the other alone.