Unconditioned crawlspaces are gross. They are notorious for dampness and mold growth, which can end up in your family's lungs.

 

It’s estimated that 70% of the air in your home, the areas where you’re living above the crawlspace, is coming from the crawlspace itself. This is due to the stack effect where a naturally ventilated crawlspace draws air in from the outside and then drives it up into the conditioned space of the home.

 

Before central air conditioning was the standard in homes, the crawlspace and living space of a house were closer in their temperatures and humidity levels. However, with the use of central heat and air, the difference in temperature and humidity levels between these two areas are vastly different, resulting in condensation (kind of like a cold soda can outside on a hot, humid summer day). That's why the wood framing and insulation in your crawlspace are probably pretty damp right now. 

 

In most naturally ventilated crawlspaces you will find an elevated moisture content level in framing members, some mold growth on the framing members themselves, and a strong potential for mold growth on the paper backing of the insulation placed between the joist and the sub-floor. 

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When we encapsulate your home, we turn a ventilated crawlspace into air-conditioned space (like the rest of your home) by blocking out the outside air, insulating the foundation walls, removing the insulation under the sub-floor and installing a dehumidifier to keep the air nice and dry. This creates an environment that is truly healthy because it effectively regulates humidity, temperature, and air-flow so you and your family can breathe easy. 

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A conditioned crawlspace is also easier on your budget. One study showed that crawlspace encapsulation resulted in a 16% reduction in energy bills over an 11-month evaluation period. The reason is simple: by stabilizing the temperature in your crawlspace, you decrease the work your HVAC system has to do to heat or cool the air coming from under your floors.