You may think if it’s hot out, your crawl space isn’t susceptible to moisture, but this is far from the truth. Humidity is usually the culprit when it comes to moisture problems in your crawl space and hot, humid days can just add to the problem. Today, we’re going to explain why this happens, what amount of humidity is normal and what you can do to control it.
Should There Be Humidity in Your Crawl Space?
You may be surprised to hear that the answer is yes. You want there to be a balance. If the humidity is too low, this can lead to issues with your crawl space and can even affect your well being. About 45%-55% is the ideal amount you want in your crawlspace. Any higher than this and you may be dealing with potential issues such as mold and wood rot.
Mold generally needs around 70% relative humidity in order to grow, but could still grow in lower relative humidity percentages as well.
What Causes High Humidity in Your Crawl Space?
Your crawl space is naturally a cool space because it is underground. When warm air comes in contact with the cool air of your crawl space, the relative humidity will increase.
What is relative Humidity?
You may be wondering what relative humidity is. Relative humidity is a measurement of the amount of water vapor found in the air, relative to how much water the air is able to fully sustain.
How Does Humidity Enter Your Crawl Space?
Humidity can enter your crawl space in 3 ways:
It can enter through vents:
If the outside air has high humidity, then that increases the amount of relative humidity once it enters your crawlspace. This is because cool air is not capable of holding the amount of moisture that is now in the crawlspace, so it condenses.
It can evaporate from the ground:
Moisture can also evaporate from the ground and through the foundation walls.
It can come from standing water:
Standing water in your crawlspace is no good and the perfect environment for mold to not just grow but thrive. Standing water indicates you have a leak or a drainage problem, which are both issues that need prompt attention.
What Can be Done?
If you have bulk water in your crawl space, this can be fixed by repairing or replacing drainage or plumbing equipment.
If your humidity issues are a result of evaporation from the ground or moist air coming through vents, we can waterproof your basement. One way of doing this is by encapsulating your crawl space.
What is Encapsulating Your Crawl Space?
With Encapsulation, heavy-duty polyethylene is used to line your crawlspace. The polyethylene acts as a barrier and seals the floors and walls to prevent moisture and pests from entering the crawlspace. In some cases, it may be recommended you use a dehumidifier to maintain low moisture levels.
High humidity in your crawlspace is something you want to avoid and there are things you can do to fix and prevent it. Your Crawlspace Guys is here for all your crawl space needs, whether you need a simple repair or a full replacement, we can do it. Give us a call today!
Recent Comments