If you have standing water or a consistently wet crawl space, it spells trouble and headaches for you both now and in the future.
Learn what you can do to dry up the crawl space and enjoy a safer, healthier home.
Causes of a Wet Crawl Space
There are a number of reasons for a wet crawl space. Some of them include:
- Heavy rains
- High humidity
- Sewer backup or clogged sewer lines
- Leaking pipes
- Poor air circulation and/or ventilation
- Poor drainage
- Broken sump pump
Wet Crawl Space Damage
The longer you wait to remedy the wet conditions in your crawl space, the higher the risk of expensive damage to your home.
Some of the damage to your home may include:
- Damage to electrical or plumbing fixtures found in the crawl space
- Damage to wood and structural components of your home located in the crawl space
- Foundation damage
- Wood rot
- Active, spreading mold
- Sagging interior floors
- Permeating, lingering musty or foul odors
- Pest and/or rodent infestation
Additionally, there are health concerns to consider:
- Illness, breathing issues or allergic reactions to mold and rodent droppings
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Cold-like, allergy symptoms such as sinus pain, watery eyes, and coughing/sneezing
Drying Up Water in a Crawl Space
The first thing to do is remove as much of the water as soon as possible. The most effective way to remove excess water from a crawl space is either by using a wet/dry vac or water extraction pump.
The next step is to dry the area. Letting the crawl space air dry is not an option because it takes too much time. Concrete pads, dirt floors and wooden support beams absorb and retain water quickly and stay moist for a long time.
After vacuuming up the water, running a dehumidifier or two will help remove the moisture and humidity from the crawl space. Drying the space completely as quickly as possible is very important to prevent mold and mildew.
Identifying and Correcting Wet Conditions
After cleaning and drying the crawl space, your next goal is to find and correct the issue causing the problem.
Whether it’s due to leaking pipes, a broken sump pump, or poor drainage, the problem needs to be repaired as soon as possible. If there are unidentified reasons or several causes for the excess water, you should contact a professional water clean-up service for assistance.
Conclusion
A flooded crawl space is nothing to ignore because the damage to your home and health are far too costly.
For assistance with crawl space clean-up, restoration, and repairs, call the professionals at RCS in Santa Rosa.
