Now that the weather is heating up, it’s time for inspection and spring cleaning of your crawlspace.
Read on to understand why it’s important to keep the crawlspace clean, and spring-cleaning maintenance tips for you to check off.
Maintaining Structural Integrity
Maintaining structural integrity of your home is critical. Keeping structural components like support beams located in the crawlspace dry, free from mold and damage from the elements keeps your foundation strong.
Protection of Utility Lines, Connections and Hook Ups
Much of the access to real-time lifelines of your home are located in the crawl space.
It’s time to check on the plumbing, gas hook ups, electrical and HVAC ducts or ventilation systems.
If mold is growing in the crawlspace, it can negatively affect the overall air quality in your home. This can spell disaster for anyone suffering from breathing or lung issues.
Common Crawlspace Problems
With extra rain and springtime humidity, conditions are perfect for fungus and mold to take root, grow and spread quickly.
After months have gone by without checking the crawlspace, trash and yard debris blow into and accumulate there. It’s important to remove all the trash because it can interfere with the function of mechanicals stored below.
Trash and debris also appeals to pests and rodents looking for nesting materials.
Speaking of rodents and pests, they like to live in crawlspaces to protect themselves from predators and provide extra shelter from the elements.
It’s important to remove nests and dry up wet standing water where insects can breed and reproduce.
Spring Crawlspace Checklist
Trash and Debris Removal. To include loose trash, broken pipes, disturbed or loose insulation, dead animals, and nests.
Cleaning. Removal and cleaning of mold and fungus growing on support beams, HVAC ducts and from any other visible location.
Drying. Using a wet dry vac or fan, vacuum up or air-dry standing pools of water.
Ventilation. Check to make sure crawlspace is getting enough ventilation for proper airflow which keeps the space dry and protects mechanicals and insulation from mold.
Repairs. Check for and repair leaking pipes, cracks, and holes.
Replace. Replace missing or damaged insulation.
This is also an opportunity to replace a missing or damaged vapor barrier, which helps prevent damage from moisture and humidity.
Professional Crawlspace Services
While an inspection and DIY cleaning may be enough for you to handle yourself this spring, there may be too much damage or required repairs that a professional can better handle.
Crawlspaces are typically small and difficult to navigate. If you suffer from health or physical limitations, it may be extremely challenging for you to address everything needed to keep your space clean and well maintained.
A professional crawlspace cleaning service has special equipment to find sewer/water leaks, measure moisture levels, clean pest, and rodent urine/droppings, completely dry/ventilate the area and address vapor barrier and dampness concerns.
Conclusion
This spring, make it a point to clean and restore your crawlspace for improved efficiency of your mechanicals and for top level HVAC air quality with mold-free, clean air circulation.
In Sonoma County, schedule an inspection with the crawlspace cleaning experts at RCS. After our thorough inspection and clean out, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from a safe and clean crawlspace and home all season long.
