Crawl Space Humidity 

Crawl space humidity is a huge issue for many homes in Florida, leading to various problems like structural deterioration and mold growth. Controlling humidity levels below your home helps to create a healthy and secure living environment for your loved ones. 

Alpha Foundations, with over 20 years of knowledge and experience, aids homeowners in Florida to effectively manage crawl space humidity. Our team of experts conducts thorough inspections to identify the sources of humidity and provides leading crawl space encapsulation to address these problems. 

This page will guide you through the causes and issues related to crawl space humidity and how professional help provides a permanent fix. 

What Is Crawl Space Humidity? 

Crawl space humidity refers to the excessive moisture present in the crawl space area of your home, located between the ground and the first floor. This zone is prone to moisture due to its proximity to the soil. Humidity levels exceeding 60% can cause various issues, such as: 

• High energy bills
• Wet insulation
• Sagging floors
• Rotting wood in the crawl space 
• Mold growth 
• Musty odors in your home 

These problems can affect the structural soundness of your home and pose serious health risks to its inhabitants. It’s essential to keep crawl space humidity under control to prevent these issues and maintain a healthy living environment. 

What Causes Crawl Space Humidity? 

Several factors contribute to high humidity levels in crawl spaces: 

• Moist Soil: The bare earth floors typical in crawl spaces absorb water and release moisture into the air, acting like a natural humidifier. 
• Open Vents: Florida’s humid air can enter through open vents and then condense on cooler surfaces. This is a major cause of high humidity in many homes across our state. 
• Inadequate Insulation: Crawl spaces are often cooler than the rest of the house, causing condensation. Poor insulation and waterproofing can permit moisture ingress, creating an ideal environment for mold and wood rot. 
• Faulty or Missing Vapor Barrier: A missing or damaged vapor barrier allows outdoor moisture to permeate the crawl space. 
• Ineffective Drainage: Internal leaks in your crawl space can lead to standing water, adding more moisture to the air as the water evaporates. 

Addressing these issues promptly and effectively is vital for maintaining the structural integrity of your home and the health of its occupants. 

Can You Fix Crawl Space Humidity? 

Yes, it’s possible to resolve crawl space humidity, but it requires a comprehensive and lasting approach. While DIY methods might provide temporary relief, they are not long-term solutions.  

Standard dehumidifiers, for example, are inadequate at controlling the air in large crawl spaces. Additionally, many dehumidifiers have to be emptied by hand, making it inconvenient (and potentially unsafe) to crawl below your home just to empty the water. 

Alpha Foundations offers custom-designed, thorough crawl space encapsulation systems to permanently solve humidity and moisture issues. Our solutions target moisture at its source, ensuring a dry and healthy living environment. 

How Alpha Foundations Addresses Crawl Space Humidity 

Our approach to managing crawl space humidity includes a multi-step process. Here’s what it looks like when you work with us: 

• Perform a detailed inspection to identify specific problems and their sources. 
• Seal crawl space vents and update access doors to block outdoor air and water. 
• Install an interior drainage system and a sump pump to remove water. 
• Place drainage matting on the floor to direct water to the drainage system. 
• Apply thermal insulation panels to the walls for temperature control. 
• Encapsulate the floor and walls with a vapor barrier. 
• Install a dehumidifier to manage humidity. 
• Add IntelliJack™ crawl space support posts for extra protection. 
• Provide optional maintenance checks for lasting protection. 

Alpha Foundations offers a specialized range of products designed to tackle crawl space humidity and moisture issues. With our proven process and top-tier products, we ensure your crawl space remains dry. 

Tackling Crawl Space Humidity with Alpha Foundations 

Addressing excessive humidity in your crawl space is crucial, and here’s why: 

• Preserve Structural Integrity: Moisture causes wood deterioration, impacting floors and beams. Timely management of crawl space humidity with Alpha Foundations helps prevent wood decay, floor sagging, and other structural issues. 
• Protect Health: Elevated humidity levels, above 60%, encourage mold growth, which can damage wood structures and lead to health concerns. Keeping your crawl space dry with Alpha Foundations’ solutions helps prevent mold, safeguarding your family’s health. 
• Deter Pests: Damp environments in crawl spaces attract termites, carpenter ants, and rodents. Alpha Foundations’ effective encapsulation and dehumidification methods create an inhospitable environment for these pests. 
• Reduce Allergens: Lowering mold spores and dust mites can help alleviate respiratory conditions like asthma. 
• Improve Air Quality: Eliminate musty odors and impure air from seeping into your living areas. 
• Save on Energy Costs: A drier crawl space reduces strain on your HVAC system. Alpha Foundations’ efficient insulation and humidity control lead to decreased energy use and lower utility bills. 
• Enhance Property Value: Maintaining your crawl space with Alpha Foundations’ services protects and could even increase the overall value of your property. 

Don’t wait to address these issues, as they can lead to significant health risks and property damage. Depend on Alpha Foundations and our specialized solutions for a comprehensive approach to these problems. 

Choose Alpha Foundations for Reliable Crawl Space Humidity Control 

Crawl space humidity can jeopardize your home’s structural stability and your family’s health. It’s always best to address these issues early to avoid severe damage.  

Homeowners throughout Florida trust us for accurate and thorough resolution of their crawl space humidity challenges. We deliver enduring solutions, not just temporary fixes. Contact us today for a free inspection! 

Resources

Why Crawl Space Moisture Is Worse in the Summer

Florida's summer humidity will affect your crawl space and may cause damage. Learn how to protect your crawl space from moisture.

Why Close Crawl Space Vents: They do More Harm Than Good

As the temperatures begin to rise with and summer on the way, you might think that ventilating your crawl space will help with airflow and control temperatures under your house. This is a bad idea for several reasons. Open crawl space vents create the “stack effect.” Air in the crawl space is drawn up through […]

Should I Buy an Energy-Efficient Crawl Space Dehumidifier?

Living in Florida guarantees one thing: lots of humidity. If you live in a home with a crawl space, high humidity can be disasters for your home. Dehumidifiers are one of the best ways to keep the space dry and free of mold. Here, we’ll show you the difference between standard dehumidifiers and energy-efficient crawl […]