When you’re buying or building a home, there are a mountain of things to consider, some with major impact, some with very minor. And while some of your questions can be answered based on personal preference or a casual poll of friends, some are best left to the experts. The last category is where questions about crawl spaces fall. Allow our experts at LiveGreen to drop some handy knowledge on you, with some help from industry experts.
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First of all, not all homes in our area are built on crawl spaces, though they are handy features to have. Homes built on concrete slabs have no need for our encapsulation services, but the majority of Triangle homes do have crawl space foundations. These functional spaces are convenient for locating ductwork for HVAC systems, plumbing and electrical lines. However, according to the non-profit North Carolina Advanced Energy Corporation (or Advanced Energy), crawlspaces “also cause a major problem.” Advanced Energy points out that for decades crawl spaces have been maintained incorrectly, and that “wall-vented crawl spaces can actually be the cause of moisture buildup and other complications in households, especially in the Southeast.”
In their very helpful article, `Taking the Vents out of Vented Crawl Spaces’, the energy consultants at Advance Energy point out that In the past, conventional wisdom held that crawl spaces should be ventilated to allow outside air to flow through the area. But in fact, research shows that vented crawl spaces can actually cause moisture buildup under your home, which leads to other costly complications in our area.
New industry research and developments show that allowing outside air to circulate under your home does not dry out the crawl space, because for much of the year, the outside air here in the Southeast contains more water vapor, so actually contributes more moisture to your crawl space.
So what’s the solution? Industry experts now recommend sealing your crawl space, installing moisture and vapor barrier that protects from mold, mildew, pests, dangerous Radon gas and other irritants that can be harmful to your home, and the people living in it. Additionally, Advanced Energy reports that research “has also found that insulating crawl spaces can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 18 percent. Furthermore, closed crawl spaces create warmer floors during the winter and minimize damage to hardwood.”
But sealing your crawl space is not a job for amateurs- to correctly protect your home, you should turn to experts familiar with the latest research and industry developments. That is why LiveGreen Inc is one of the area’s top providers of crawl space encapsulation services. Contact our team today to get a free estimate on services, or schedule an in-home consultation so we can evaluate the crawl space under your home and inspect it for any moisture and the problems that can cause, or for dangerous Radon gas issues. If there is an issue, our experienced team can intervene, repair or mediate any issues, and seal the crawl space to prevent future problems. Contact LiveGreen today, and trust us to help protect your home and family!
Ready To Get Started?
Contact Us Today to Schedule Your Energy Assessment and Free Quote.