Frequently Asked Questions

Standing Water in Crawl Space – Causes and Removal

Standing water causes wet, musty, and moldy conditions in a crawl space. A flooded crawl space is constantly releasing water vapors into the air and increasing the overall humidity.

The worst problem with flooding in a crawl space is when the standing water is on top of the vapor barrier. The vapor barrier prevents the water from draining, which essentially traps the water in the crawl space, constantly releasing moisture into the air.

Oftentimes, most people are not aware that their crawl space floods. It’s not until a professional inspector identifies the signs of flooding or if someone inspects the crawl space immediately after a heavy rain that people discover there is standing water in the crawl space.

Top 10 Causes of Standing Water in a Crawl Space:

• Heavy or prolonged rains
• Snow melting
• Wet or “marsh-like” property
• A shallow, clay-soil layer
• The crawl space is “below grade,” meaning the crawl space is lower than the outside ground
• The outside ground is not graded away from the home
• The gutter downspouts discharge right next to the house
• A depression in the soil near the house collects water
• A concrete patio slopes towards the house… common with swimming pools
• Plumbing leaks

The goal of any homeowner with standing water in the crawl space should be to prevent future flooding instances. Standing water can cause significant issues if left unresolved.

How to Prevent Flooding and Remove Water in a Crawl Space:

Install a French drain along the perimeter of the crawl space with sump pumps

Install sand in low-lying areas… not effective in stopping flooding in a whole crawl space

Install gutters with downspout extensions

Install ‘door-wells’ around crawl space access doors

Fix plumbing leaks

We don’t recommend a single ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to fixing the issues. A well-thought-out plan by a trained professional will get the best results. The whole issue, including how it was caused, how severe the problem is, and the conditions of the property, should determine the best path forward.

The Main Causes of Crawl Space Moisture and Mold:

• Moisture from the damp earth
• Moisture from standing water
• Moisture from outside humidity.

In order to prevent mold growth, you must eliminate the sources of moisture. Science has shown that 95% of molds cannot thrive in a dry climate. For this reason, we recommend working to reduce the crawl space humidity to 65% or less. Without moisture, mold cannot continue to grow and release harmful irritants.

Eliminate the moisture from standing water with a French drain and sump pumps OR sand in special circumstances. If the crawl space floods, your home is at risk for mold growth.

Eliminate the moisture from the damp earth with a vapor barrier or crawl space encapsulation. Moisture from the damp earth must be covered with vapor barrier to control moisture.

Eliminate the moisture from outside humidity with a crawl space encapsulation which includes a vapor barrier, sealed vents, wrapped piers, insulated walls, and a crawl space dehumidifier. With our Encapsulation, we 100% guarantee that your moisture levels will stay below 65% humidity, year around.

Crawl space mold and fungus grows as a result of moisture in the crawl space and can cause health issues in the home. A wet crawl space is caused by a combination of issues leading to mold in the crawl space which will contaminate the air and infiltrate inside the home. Up to 50% of the air in a home can come from the crawl space due to the “Stack Effect”.

Crawl Space Mold Causing Health Issues 

Mold and mildew in the crawl space are known to cause respiratory health problems like coughing, wheezing, or lung disease. People with allergies or immunity weaknesses may have more severe reactions. If you’ve noticed people in your home experience sinus issues, headaches, or feeling achy, you might have crawl space mold.

If you suspect the presence of mold in your home’s crawl space, talk to our experts about removing mold from your crawl space. We service homeowners throughout the entire North Carolina area and have the experience to tackle projects of any size.

But how much does it cost? Is it expensive? What are the processes that you would require to fix these problems?

 With the help of our expert team of professionals, we have prepared a guide to help you understand what impacts the cost of crawl space repair.

We have broken down the main factors that influence the overall repair costs:

SQUARE FOOTAGE

The size of the work space is the biggest determining factor for most crawl space repair projects. The higher the square footage is, the more the repairs will cost. This is because the square footage directly influences how much time and materials will be required to perform most repairs

DIFFICULTY OF CRAWL SPACE

Not all crawl spaces are equally easy to work in. If there is only 16” clearance from the ground to the floor joists, it can be quite difficult to move quickly. Since this slowed work pace directly impacts the labor cost, you can expect to pay more for a difficult crawl space than an easy one.

SCOPE OF WORK

Every home is different, as well as every homeowner’s preferences. Some crawl space repairs require extensive work to eliminate problems, while some are quick and easy.

Example #1 – A 1,000-square-foot crawl space with minimal moisture issues and a poor vapor barrier might only require a 6-mil vapor barrier. This simple repair could cost as low as $1200.

Example #2 – a 1,200 square foot crawl space, normal conditions, with high wood moisture content and some mold growth might justify a mold and fungal treatment as well as full 20-Mil  Encapsulation. This extensive project could cost around $7,500, including the crawl space cleaning, the dehumidifier, sealed foundation vents, wall insulation, electrical connections, and everything else involved.

Example #3 – a 1,800 square foot crawl space with 170 rotten floor joists, 29 sections of beam, regular flooding, and extensive fungal growth could cost upwards of $20,000 for the structural repairs, water management solution, mold treatment, and crawl space moisture control.

Assessing the Cost of Your Crawl Space Repair

As you can now see, the cost of crawl space repair varies depending on the size of the crawl space, the difficulty of the work conditions, and the actual scope of work.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. For a precise cost of crawl space repair for your home, contact us today, and we will send in one of our experts to inspect your property. Our expert inspection is free and we will only recommend options that address the problems that are important to you. 

It is generally recommended to use a dehumidifier in an encapsulated crawl space to maintain proper humidity levels and prevent excess moisture from accumulating. A dehumidifier can help to remove excess moisture from the air and keep humidity levels within a safe range. In many cases, a 30% to 50% relative humidity level is required to prevent the growth of mold and other types of moisture-related damage, but this will depend on your own crawl space. an answer to this item.

Every homeowner’s insurance policy is different. Depending on the specific terms of your policy and the circumstances of the damage, if any, it is possible that homeowners insurance may cover crawl space encapsulation. In general, homeowners insurance policies cover damages to a home that are caused by events that are beyond the homeowner’s control. So, the insurance policy would cover the cost of encapsulating the crawl space if it falls within those parameters.

With proper installation and maintenance, crawl space encapsulation can last for many years, often for the life of the home or, at least, for the duration of ownership. Periodic inspections are important for noticing signs of wear or damage.

Whether the crawl space encapsulation is worth the cost will depend on your home, its specific circumstances and your priorities. Crawl space encapsulation improves energy efficiency and air quality, plus it adds to the home’s value. But the cost of the project, often without immediate apparent benefits, might make the project not worthwhile for some homeowners.