Taking Care of Your Crawl Space Can Save You Thousands. Here’s How.

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crawl space maintenance blog - image of an unfinished basement

Maintaining a clean and well-ventilated crawl space is important for the overall health and safety of a home. A crawl space is an area between the ground and the first floor of a house, and it is often used to access plumbing and electrical systems. Proper maintenance of this area can prevent the growth of mold and other harmful substances, reduce the risk of pest infestations, and improve air quality within the home. Additionally, maintaining a clean crawl space can extend the life of the home’s foundation and support structure. By regularly inspecting and maintaining the crawl space, homeowners can protect their investment and ensure the long-term health and safety of their homes. 

In this post, we’ll give you 5 ways that proper crawl space maintenance can protect your home from potential danger, improve the quality of life for you and your family, and actually save you a lot of money in the long term.

  1. Pest Prevention

    Crawl space maintenance can help to prevent pests from entering your home. Pests, such as rodents, insects, nuisance wildlife, and spiders, are often attracted to dark, damp, and cluttered crawl spaces, and regular maintenance can help to eliminate these conditions and prevent infestations.

  2. Better Air Quality

    Crawl space maintenance can help to improve the air quality in your home. A dirty, cluttered crawl space can harbor mold, mildew, and other allergens, which can be released into the air and cause health problems for you and your family.

    So how does your crawlspace impact the air quality in your home? One example is the “Stack effect,” wherein cold winter air enters the crawl space, warms, and rises through the house. This will result in the air from inside the crawl space being pulled through the living space of the house like a chimney. Some sources report as much as 40% of the air in a home originates in the crawl space.

    In the summer the air in the home and crawl space is cooler than the air outside and this can result in condensation or higher levels of humidity in the crawl space. This condition may lead to mold, mildew, or moisture problems that are attractive to wood-destroying insects and other pests. By maintaining your crawl space, you can help to improve the air quality in your home and make your home much less attractive to pests.

  3. Reduced Energy Costs

    Crawl space maintenance can help to reduce energy bills. A poorly-maintained crawl space can allow cold air to enter your home, which can cause your heating system to work harder and use more energy. By maintaining your crawl space, you can help to reduce drafts and improve the energy efficiency of your home.

  4. Prevent Foundation Damage

    Crawl space maintenance can help to prevent damage to your home’s foundation. A dirty, cluttered crawl space can cause moisture and drainage problems, which can lead to damage to your home’s foundation. By maintaining your crawl space, you can help to prevent this damage and protect the structural integrity of your home.

  5. Increase Home Value

    Crawl space maintenance can help to increase the value of your home. A well-maintained crawl space can be an attractive feature for potential buyers, as it can help to improve the energy efficiency and overall condition of your home. By maintaining your crawl space, you can help to increase the value of your home and make it more appealing to buyers.

How Crawl Space Maintenance Works 

Crawl space maintenance typically involves several key steps to ensure that the area is clean, well-ventilated, and free of any potential hazards. This may include:

  1. Inspecting the crawl space for signs of damage or problems, such as water leaks, mold growth, or pest infestations.
  2. Removing any debris or debris that has accumulated in the crawl space, including old insulation, garbage, rodent/wildlife urine and feces, and other materials.
  3. Installing a moisture barrier or other protective material to prevent water from entering the crawl space.
  4. Ventilating the crawl space to allow fresh air to circulate and prevent the buildup of moisture and mold.
  5. Installing crawl space insulation to regulate the temperature and reduce energy costs.
  6. Regularly checking the crawl space for any signs of new problems or issues that may need to be addressed.

Overall, the goal of crawl space maintenance is to keep the area clean, dry, and well-ventilated to prevent the growth of mold, pests, and other hazards that can damage the home’s foundation and structure. 

Protecting Your Crawlspace With Interstate Pest Management 

At Interstate, we offer a number of crawl space services designed to specifically address your crawl space issues, no matter how large or small. Our service offerings include: 

Need crawl space service now? Book an appointment with us here or contact us at (503)-832-4997 to schedule a crawl space inspection and start protecting your home and family today!