vapor barrier<\/a> is a long-lasting and cost effective solution to the problem!<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” header_2_font_size=”36px” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Warning signs of humidity issues in your crawl space<\/h2>\n
Diagnosing humidity in your crawl space can be a bit of a challenge since most homeowners don\u2019t spend much time crawling around under their homes. Some of these symptoms will require a bit of spelunking, while others can be detected without even needing to leave your living room.<\/p>\n
If you notice any of these signs you likely have a humidity problem that needs to be addressed!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” header_2_font_size=”36px” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Wet walls in crawl space<\/h3>\n
Everyone knows crawl spaces are damp\u2026 right? Well, there is a difference between cool and slightly humid and \u201cthe walls are literally dripping.\u201d The former is usually fine, while the latter is a warning sign of problems to come!<\/p>\n
Painted surfaces in your crawl space are peeling<\/h3>\n
Under normal conditions painted surfaces in your crawl space should remain in good condition for many years. High humidity, however, can cause paint to begin to bubble and peel as materials swell or warp.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/mold-water-damage-prevention-vapor-barriers-columbia-greenville-sc.jpg” alt=”Humidity reading” title_text=”mold-water-damage-prevention-vapor-barriers-columbia-greenville-sc” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” width__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” header_2_font_size=”36px” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Condensation on HVAC vents<\/h3>\n
Your HVAC vents carry cool air to your home and their temperature differential rapidly causes humid air to condense. A small amount of condensation may not indicate a severe problem, but is definitely a warning sign to keep an eye out for.<\/p>\n
Rotting floorboards, wood or insulation in crawl spaces<\/h3>\n
Any sign of rotting wood or insulation is a huge red flag. This means that you\u2019ve had a humidity problem for some time and need to act fast before the problem results in structural damage.<\/p>\n
Mold growth<\/h3>\n
Mold and mildew need humidity to grow and thrive. If your crawl space is humid enough to grow mold, then you\u2019ve got excessive moisture that needs to be handled! This problem can rapidly turn into a real headache as mold remediation is expensive and time consuming.<\/p>\n
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Lots of bugs\/pest activity<\/h3>\n
Cockroaches, spiders, termites, and other creepy crawlies love damp conditions. If you look into your crawl space and the crawl space floor is rippling with motion – well – you\u2019ve probably got a moisture problem in addition to a bug problem!<\/p>\n
Sagging Floors<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019ve noticed that your floors are sagging – particularly more on the ground floor compared to your 2nd floor – then you may have a humidity problem brewing! We recommend taking a peek at your home\u2019s crawl space to see if you notice any other signs of humidity problems.<\/p>\n
Your home is always humid, even after running air conditioning<\/h3>\n
When running your AC makes your home more clammy than refreshing, you\u2019ve got an indoor humidity problem. This can be the result of a variety of causes, but one serious one to consider is excessive crawl space moisture making its way up into your living space.<\/p>\n
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Damp or musty smell in home that doesn\u2019t go away<\/h3>\n
Persistent musty smells without a clear cause should be investigated. Oftentimes these smells are caused by mold or mildew growth in your crawl space which has gone on undetected!<\/p>\n
Standing water in crawl space<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019ve never spent much time under a house you might be forgiven for thinking that standing water in a crawl space is normal. Well – we\u2019ve got news for you: it\u2019s not! Standing water leads to mold, water damage, and insect infestations, and is a clear sign that there is too much moisture in your crawl space.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” header_2_font_size=”36px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
How can humidity in my crawl space affect me?<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”89%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”1px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The ideal humidity for your crawl space is between 45 and 55%. Levels above this can damage your home and cause health problems.<\/p>\n
Foundation Issues<\/h3>\n
As shocking as it sounds, humidity problems in your crawl space can lead to a cracked foundation! It isn\u2019t the moisture in the air that\u2019s the problem, but instead is the water content in the soil around the foundation. In the winter, this water freezes, expanding in the process. This expansion can exert incredible pressure, shifting or cracking foundation pilings.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/get-a-second-opinion-image-2-scaled.jpg” alt=”Humidity reading” title_text=”get a second opinion image 2″ show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”1px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Structural Issues<\/h3>\n
When kept dry, your home\u2019s structural timbers can easily last a century, however this lifespan is vastly reduced in high humidity conditions. Rot can cause floors to sag and seriously weaken your home\u2019s floor joists.<\/p>\n
Comfort Issues<\/h3>\n
If your crawl space is humid there is a good chance your indoor air will be too! This can cause a wide variety of problems – including uncomfortable clammy or stuffy feeling air.<\/p>\n
Mold<\/h3>\n
Mold is one of those innocuous house problems that is legitimately scary. From minor concerns like hard-to-eliminate musty odors to the potentially severe health issues caused by mold spores, mold is a serious problem. Getting rid of mold is an expensive and time consuming task, so your best bet is to prevent it from forming in the first place!<\/p>\n
Pest Infestations<\/h3>\n
Bugs love humid crawl spaces – so much so that if you allow your crawl space humidity levels to stay high for too long you risk a severe insect infestation! Every sort of undesirable critter from cockroaches to termites is happier when your crawl space is moist – and eventually these infestations will spill over into your living space!<\/p>\n
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What can I do to prevent excess humidity in my crawl space?<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” custom_padding=”1px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
There are two primary ways of dealing with humidity in a crawl space. The first is by installing a vapor barrier, reducing the surface area that moisture can enter from, and allowing ventilation to take care of the rest. The second is by fully enclosing the crawl space and using a sump-pump and dehumidifier to remove moisture as it accumulates.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Vapor Barriers<\/h3>\n
This is our recommended method for handling crawl space problems. Vapor barriers effectively manage moisture in the vast majority of cases, are affordable, long lasting (20+ years), and have no mechanical parts to wear out or fail.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/home-vapor-barrier-installation-greenville-sc.jpg” alt=”Vapor Barrier installed in basement” title_text=”home-vapor-barrier-installation-greenville-sc” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”1px||1px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”22px” header_2_font_size=”36px” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Too Much Moisture? Act Fast!<\/h2>\n
If you suspect that your crawl space has a humidity problem the best time to act is now. Wood rot and mold can take hold quickly, leading to structural damage, reduced indoor air quality, and health problems.<\/p>\n
We provide free inspections where we assess your crawl space for signs of excessive humidity and make suggestions for remediation. Don\u2019t wait for the problem to get out of hand, let Dragon Vapor Barriers<\/a> protect your castle!<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Warning Signs of Crawl Space Humidity Problems Most folks don\u2019t spend much time thinking about their crawl space – something about \u201cout of sight, out of mind.\u201d But just because you\u2019re not thinking about it doesn\u2019t mean it isn\u2019t affecting your home and health. We\u2019ve put together the top 10 warning signs that your crawl […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2858"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2858"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3365,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2858\/revisions\/3365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dragoninsulation.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}