Flooded Crawl Space: What to Do and Can You Still Use It?

Discovering you have a flooded crawl space, or not even knowing about it, is never a good thing. You can rest easy, though; it’s possible to repair a damaged crawl space and use it again after it floods.

What Causes a Flooded Crawl Space?

Flooding can happen for a number of reasons, from natural disasters to home maintenance issues. Here are the most common causes of a flooded crawl space:

Heavy Rainfall: High amounts of rain can overwhelm the drainage around your home, leading to standing water in the crawl space.
Poor Drainage: Bad drainage systems (like broken gutters) can cause water to pool around your crawl space instead of being directed away from it.
High Groundwater Levels: If the groundwater level rises above the foundation of the home, it can seep into the crawl space.
Leaky Pipes: Plumbing leaks within or near the crawl space can contribute to flooding.
Hydrostatic Pressure: This occurs when water in saturated soil creates pressure that pushes against the crawl space walls, potentially causing cracks through which water can enter.

What Happens if Water Gets in Your Crawl Space?

When a crawl space floods, it can trigger a host of problems, such as damaging a home’s structural integrity to inviting mold and pests. These are the most common issues:

Moldy crawl space with wet, falling insulation.

Flooding can cause any number of these issues to arise. Most of the time, these problem signs appear alongside each other, so if you see even just one, be sure to contact a professional to solve the problem quickly.

How to Fix Crawl Space Flooding

Person in protective gear removing wet crawl space insulation.

As soon as you spot water in your crawl space, you need to act quickly. Call a professional to inspect it and determine where the water got in.

Professionals will also remove water, wet insulation, and any other debris from the crawl space. After all this is done, your next step is to install crawl space encapsulation. Professionals can help with this process as well.

Install Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation is a method that seals your crawl space and protects your home from moisture. Here’s how it works to keep your crawl space dry:

Crew installing crawl space encapsulation.

Covering the Crawl Space: First, professionals cover the floors, walls, and sometimes the ceiling of the crawl space with a thick vapor barrier. This keeps water and moisture from getting in.
Installing a Drainage System: If groundwater tends to get into your crawl space, a drainage system and sump pump will keep it dry. This pump helps remove any water that gathers under the plastic barrier, keeping it away from your home’s foundation.
Adding a Dehumidifier: A dehumidifier keeps the air dry and prevents mold. It helps control the moisture level inside.
Insulating: Professionals also add insulation to the walls to help control the temperature and prevent condensation, which can lead to dampness.
Sealing Vents and Gaps: Finally, any vents or openings to the outside are sealed off. This prevents humid air and extra water from entering and helps keep your home’s temperature more stable.

By following these steps, crawl space encapsulation creates a dry and controlled space that reduces the risk of flooding and keeps your home safe from water damage.

Can You Use a Crawl Space After It Floods?

Alpha Foundations crewman installing a crawl space vapor barrier.

With all of that in mind, is it possible to take advantage of a crawl space after it floods? If you invest in repairs and preventative measures, yes. A professionally repaired crawl space can help restore your home’s overall health and economic value.

If you leave your crawl space without repairs, however, it will be dangerous to try and store anything in it. Don’t let that happen—contact Alpha Foundations today for expert crawl space repairs in Florida!

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Ted Dryce

Content Writer

Ted is an SEO Content Writer who has been with Groundworks since 2021. He’s covered home repair topics ranging from crawl space encapsulation to regional soil conditions. When he’s not working, Ted is performing improv comedy and working on his own creative projects.