It’s time to talk about that place in your home that we try to avoid – the crawlspace. Since water can easily enter the home through the foundation into the crawlspace, it is important to make sure that your crawlspace is safeguarded from water damage and excess moisture. Here are 3 things you can do to keep water away from your home and flooding into your crawlspace:
A sump pump is the best investment you can make to help prevent your crawlspace from flooding. Sump pumps send excess water away from your home to a location where it will not be able to flood your home (i.e. municipal storm drains or dry wells). Sump pumps also eliminate moisture, and help keep your crawlspace dry, reducing the likelihood of mold growth. Sump pump failure is one of the most frequent causes of flooding in the crawlspace, so you have to make sure that it is properly maintained. There should also be a back-up system in place in case the sump pump fails. A backup sump pump that is powered by a generator or battery-operated will kick on if power goes out, or if the first sump pump fails, and will help to keep water out of your crawlspace.
Inspect your foundation regularly. Any cracks or damage to the foundation of your home can let water in. Areas where water can pool up near your home should also be addressed. Any time excess water is allowed to gather around the foundation of your home, it increases the risk of flooding. If the ground becomes oversaturated, that water will look for somewhere else to go – which consequently ends up being inside your home. If you notice any areas that have cracks, or are more prone to pooling water, get them addressed immediately.
Keep gutters and downspouts clean and clear. When gutters are clear from debris and downspouts are properly positioned away from your home, water from rain and storms will flow freely instead of pooling up against your foundation. Leaves, dirt, sticks, and debris all find their way into gutters, and if not cleared out can cause blockages that will make water backup and overflow. They should be inspected and cleared out at least twice a year to avoid any clogs. Downspouts should channel and direct water to flow at least 3 feet away from your home’s foundation. If your downspouts are not directing water far enough from away from your home, water will end up pooling around the foundation and could find its way into the crawlspace. Downspout extensions or troughs can be used to add length and keep water away from your home.
Get your crawlspace encapsulated. Since up to 50% of your household air flow can go through your crawlspace, it is so important to keep any and all moisture out as best as possible. While following the above advice will definitely help, the best possible solution to keeping moisture out for good is to encapsulate your crawlspace. Crawlspace encapsulation is a type of indoor moisture control that seals and maintains healthy humidity and moisture levels inside the crawlspace. With the use of a sealant and dehumidifier to regulate the moisture, crawlspace encapsulation can decrease the risk of mold, prevent soft floors, improve energy costs for heating and cooling your home, eliminate insect problems, and improve the overall living conditions of your home.
At Stretch Cleaning, we know that no one wants to go to the crawlspace, especially if there is water damage or excess moisture there. That is why we offer crawlspace encapsulation services to LBI and surrounding areas, to help keep water damage in your crawlspace at bay. Give us a call today.
It’s time to talk about that place in your home that we try to avoid – the crawlspace. Since water can easily enter the home through the foundation into the crawlspace, it is important to make sure that your crawlspace is safeguarded from water damage and excess moisture. Here are 3 things you can do to keep water away from your home and flooding into your crawlspace: