Found Mold In Your Crawlspace? 2 Ways You Can Deal With It

Posted on: 13 September 2017

If you had to go into your crawlspace to investigate something, such as your duct work, and noticed that there is mold growing, you need to take steps to get rid of it quick. This mold can get inside the duct work and when your HVAC system turns on mold spores will spread in your home. Fortunately, there are ways you can deal with the mold, two of which are listed below.

Encapsulate Your Crawlspace

One of the best ways you can stop mold from ever coming back is to encapsulate your crawlspace. To do this, you should hire a professional to ensure it is done correctly.

Crawlspace encapsulation, also known as sealing, will prevent moisture issues from developing in your crawlspace.

The contractor will first clean the mold and clean out the crawlspace, removing anything that they can. When everything is clean, a barrier material is placed over the walls, floors, and ceiling. This material is thick so nothing can penetrate through it. Once the barrier material is applied, the contractor will install a vapor barrier. They first start out by applying double-sided tape under the floor joints. The contractor then attaches the vapor barrier, which is generally made of plastic, along the entire foundation. They will press the vapor barrier down as they go. In many cases, the walls will be done first and then the flooring and ceiling.

When this is finished, the contractor will seal any windows, vents, or any type of opening.

Encapsulating your crawlspace also offers other benefits, such as keeping the indoor air healthy, and helping you save money on your energy bills.

Install Dehumidifier

You can also install dehumidifiers in the crawlspace as added protection against mold. This will keep the humidity at a good level. You cannot use a dehumidifier that you purchase at the store; instead a special dehumidifier must be used. This is because this type of dehumidifier will work well in an area like a crawl space.

You can find these dehumidifiers in a variety of sizes. They are also generally quiet so you will not hear them running from inside your home. You can purchase a dehumidifier that can be hung between the crawlspace and floor joists. There are also large capacity dehumidifiers if your crawlspace is very large.

If you do not want to go into your crawlspace to check the dehumidifiers to ensure the humidity is at the right level, you can purchase one that has a remote monitor. This will relay the information to something like a computer, laptop, tablet, or your smartphone.

Contact a business like Atlantic Heating and Cooling if you need help dealing with mold in a crawlspace.

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