How Your Crawl Space Affects Your Whole Home Health

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Your crawl space might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of energy efficiency and whole-home health, but you may be surprised to learn that it has a large impact on both. Not only does a crawl space often house ductwork, plumbing, and HVAC equipment, but a significant portion of the air in your living spaces can originate from the area beneath your home as well.

At Responsible House, we understand the importance of taking care of your crawl space and how it relates to maintaining a healthy home in Waynesboro, Charlottesville, and surrounding areas. Using a building science approach to our work, our team can identify issues in your crawl space and find reliable solutions with long-term results with our crawl space repair services. 

The Risks of an Unprotected Crawl Space

There are many problems that can arise from your home’s crawl space; from poor indoor air quality and pests to expensive heating and cooling costs. We have a crawl space under only a part of our home that was added on in the 60s. Before we used spray foam under the subfloor in our crawl space, moisture would build up in and migrate into the room wherever it rained. This is common in crawl spaces. If you have the joy of exploring crawl spaces after a heavy rain, you will discover the same. 

Once we upgraded our insulation we knocked that moisture problem out. Also, in the winter on cold days, it was common for us to feel breezes coming in, especially around our radiators. After we spray-foamed, we no longer felt that breeze coming through the floor. This room is now more comfortable and has better indoor air quality as a result.

The Stack Effect

In the winter time when we’re heating our houses, that warm air rises and leaves out through holes in your house, typically in the top plane of your home. These holes are everywhere – around your light fixtures, around ductwork, plumbing chases, near chimneys and fireplaces. There can even be holes in your home’s framing and cracks in the drywall. 

As this air leaves, it is replaced down low by whatever air is available, typically from a crawl space or basement. During the winter when your home is warmer than the air outside, warm air will try to escape through your home—especially a poorly insulated attic with significant air leaks. This creates a vacuum, known as the stack or chimney effect, that pulls cool air from your crawl space into your living spaces. In the summer, the opposite occurs and cool, conditioned air from your home will sink down into your crawl space. 

This phenomenon will not only cause unnecessary wear and tear for your HVAC system, but it can have a significant impact on your indoor air quality as well. When the air in your home is replaced with stagnant air from your crawl space, pollutants will come with it.

Moisture & Mold Growth

Mold thrives in damp environments, which is a common occurrence in a crawl space that’s left exposed to the elements. Once mold starts growing in your home it can be difficult to remove, but air sealing can prevent it from occurring in the first place. Unfortunately though, moisture doesn’t even need to lead to mold growth to cause harm to your home. 

As moisture accumulates in your crawl space, it can cause wood rot and severe structural damage, which puts your family at risk. Excess moisture also attracts pests, like insects and mice, and an unsealed crawl space allows for easy access into your living spaces. Every fiberglass insulation removal we have done in a crawl space has had evidence of rodents.

High Energy Bills

An unsealed crawl space allows the outside air to easily infiltrate your home, which can increase your heating and cooling costs all year round. In the winter, cold air will enter your home via your crawl space and make your home harder to keep warm. This causes your HVAC system to work harder than it needs to in order to compensate and can even shorten its lifespan. 

Throughout the summer, warm, humid air is welcomed into your home, which leads to higher condensation and humidity levels, and more work for your home’s air conditioner. 

The Solution: Spray Foam Insulation 

The best way to keep your home protected from crawl space issues is to install spray foam insulation underneath the floorboards. Spray foam insulation works to both air seal and insulate and will cut off the musty air found in your crawl space from the rest of your home. This solution also offers several other whole-home benefits, including:

During a free consultation, the Responsible House team can help you determine the best plan of action for your crawl space so you can maximize your benefits. 

Crawl Space Encapsulation

Another way to keep your home protected from the many issues that can originate from your crawl space is to seal it off from the outside elements with encapsulation. This service essentially closes off your crawl space from air leaks, uneven outdoor temperatures, and moisture intrusion to include it in your home’s thermal envelope. 

At Responsible House, we have a tried and true method for crawl space encapsulation that’s backed by building science to help make your home healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient.

  1. Inspection
  2. Air sealing & insulation
  3. Vapor barrier installation
  4. Dehumidifier installation

For nearly 30 years, Responsible House has been helping families throughout Central Virginia find the most effective solutions to their home health, comfort, and efficiency problems. With years of experience in general contracting and a core understanding of the science behind a building, our team is fully equipped to help make your home a Responsible House. Crawl space encapsulation even qualifies for tax credits up to 30% of the cost of insulation and air sealing, up to $1,200, which can help make this crucial home upgrade more affordable.

Schedule crawl space services today. Call 540-942-2061 or contact us online to get started.

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Responsible House worked tirelessly to bring back to life my family’s 100-year old farmhouse with a major energy retrofit and extensive structural restoration. I cannot say enough good things about this local, family owned business. They meticulously pursued perfection at… Read more “We are immensely grateful”

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William came to study the problem. He was incredibly thorough weighing in all possible causes and solutions to my Attic blues. He then put together a plan and executed it to perfection. If you do not go to Responsible house… Read more “Attic Blues”

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They caulked all the places on the interior of my log home where I was losing heat. I am saving 20% on my heating bill now. The team also fixed minor issues with the house which they found during the… Read more “Very Happy With The Work”

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The experience I had from Responsible House installing my new insulation it was quick and effortless. Their team came in and within two days I was able to return to a much warmer house. My air-conditioning would run almost constantly… Read more “Quick And Effortless”

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The upstairs level of our home used to get extremely hot in the summertime, using a lot of wasted electricity to try to cool things down. Responsible house was able to insulate our home which ended up zeroing out our… Read more “Extremely Hot Upstairs Insulation Google Review”

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The most amazing contractors I have ever worked with – William saved us! You will not find anyone as professional and competent – not only in the valley but honestly anywhere. I have had so many bad experiences – Responsible… Read more “Dahlia N./Houzz.com Review”

Our project consisted of a kitchen/bath/bedroom remodel – a roughly 5 month project. William and his team were the consummate professionals throughout–skilled, knowledgeable, straightforward and direct. They provided advice and recommendations when needed and dealt promptly with any problems that… Read more “Kay B./Houzz.com Review”

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