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4 Signs Your Crawlspace Needs Waterproofing
It's easy to see water when it is in your basement but not when it's in your crawlspace. Crawlspaces are notoriously difficult to get to and most homeowners never look in this space. This water can lay there for years until it begins to affect your floor joists and the integrity of your foundation. Fortunately, there are often signs your crawlspace needs waterproofing, you just need to know what signs to look for. Here are a few.
1. High Levels of Humidity in Your Home
Does the air in your home feel damp? Do you have difficulty getting your towels to dry following your baths or showers? Do you have to run a dehumidifier to remove the moisture out of the air? If you answer yes to more than one of these questions and you do not live in a high humid area, moisture is coming from somewhere.
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in your air. Unfortunately, water in your crawlspace could be causing the high humidity in your home. If the humidity is not addressed, you may see an increase in mold and mildew.
High levels of humidity make the air in your home feel warmer and heavier. Humidity can also make it difficult to breathe. This is especially important if anyone in your home suffers from asthma.
2. Soft Spots in Your Flooring
When you have soft spots in your flooring, you can feel your flooring bow or slightly give when you walk across it. Your flooring may also make noises. These soft spots are usually caused by damage to your floor joists, girders, and posts underneath your home.
Water underneath your home can cause a huge build-up of mold and mildew, which in turn, can damage the wood these structures are made from. Your damaged joists will begin to sag, which will keep them from providing the required support for your flooring. This will cause your floors to sink, sag, and eventually give way.
3. Musty or Damp Smells Throughout Your Home
Does your home have a musty or damp smell you cannot seem to find the source of? Do you notice these smells more following rains? Does the odor return no matter what type of air fresheners you use? The smell may not be coming from your home but can actually be seeping up through your floors from your crawlspace below.
This is usually an indicator that your crawlspace is damp. The dampness is caused by mold and bacteria which can lead to these odors.
4. Animal Signs and Smells
If your crawlspace is not adequately sealed and waterproofed, it will attract various types of animals over time. Mice, snakes, frogs, and others can make their home under your house. A sign of these may be unusual scratching noises underneath your home or in your walls. You may also experience an increase in the appearance of rodents in your home.
While your first reaction may be to call an exterminator to deal with these problems, you have to also look for the source of where they are coming from. The moisture under your home could be providing the perfect breeding ground.
Your crawlspace is the lowest point of your home and is susceptible to all types of water damage. If not addressed the build-up of mold and bacteria can destroy the foundation of your home. Waterproofing your crawlspace is an easy way to avoid this damage and it may not be as expensive as you think. Call for waterproofing services from a company like Central Penn Waterproofing. You will be on your way to having a safer environment underneath and throughout your home.