CleanSpace: A Green Solution for your WA Crawl Space

Crawl space vents are the cause of a housing epidemic that spreads across Anacortes, Bakersfield, Everett, Mount Vernon, and Oak Harbor, and across the rest of Washington. Since their first installation, crawl space vents have become infamous for allowing crawl spaces to become rotting, moldy, and energy-inefficient spaces and are often seen as a necessary evil in the home. However, they need not be a drain in your home.  Basement System's international network of professional crawl space waterproofers has a long-lasting and environmentally sensible solution that will save you maintenance and money for many years to come.

A Washington Crawl Space's Worst Enemies: Rot and Decay

At the core of the problems plaguing traditional crawl space construction in Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Sedro Woolley, and other parts of WA is the crawl space vents. Vented crawl spaces operate under an assumption that they will create a crosswind in the space, casing air to circulate through and naturally work to keep the space free of rot and humidity. However, due to the natural upwards movement of air in a home, crawl space air does not run horizontally through from one vent to the other- it runs upwards  This makes a lot of sense.  If the vents worked the way they were designed to, then crawl spaces wouldn't be well known as the rotting, humid places they are, right?

In addition, cold winter air can also circulate through a home in Granite Falls, Freeland, Friday Harbor, Olga, Stanwood, Sudden Valley, and Sumas through these crawl space vents. The cold air pulled in will affect everything in the space, including water heaters, hot water pipes, furnaces, and heating ducts. These utilities will be forced to work harder to maintain normal status quo, and the added cool air affects the floorboards above, making an uncomfortable surface to walk on. The end result is more money spent during the cold months.

During the humidity and heat of a summer in Camano Island, Decatur Island, Hamilton, Lakewood, Lynden, Point Roberts, and many other areas of WA, the problem is even worse. Instead of drying the space, the air that flows into the crawl space adds an enormous amount of humidity to the air. As this humid air enters the space, its temperature drops to about 50 degrees, and its relative humidity rises. This leads to condensation throughout the crawl space, including on wood, support beams, metal, and floorboards. As this condensation builds and saturates the area, it will lead to rot, mold, and higher risk of infestations of termites, beetles, rodents, ants, and other pests. And as this humid air enters the home, it creates a drain on air conditioners in the space, as humid air is much more difficult to condition than dry air.

Crawl space rot in Washington will quickly lead to sagging floors, a compromised structure, foul odors, and mold allergens in the home. If the crawl space is allowed to decay to the point where the materials need to be replaced, the homeowner will be forced to find a contractor that's willing to repair it. And finding a good contractor who's willing to enter a disgusting, unhealthy, and narrow space like a rotting crawl space to rip out the rotting boards and replace them with new ones is no small task. The result is expensive, wasteful, and clearly not the best option available.

Environmentally Friendly Crawl Spaces in Washington

With the current building practices, we now know that crawl spaces with vents in WA will become rotting, moldy places that offer a continual drain on your utility bills. However, this does not need to be the case in your home. By sealing off your crawl space vents in Birch Bay, Gold Bar, Concrete, Friday Harbor, and Whidbey, you can ensure a drier, longer-lasting, and more energy-efficient space.

Encapsulating the crawlspace in Washington with airtight crawl space doors and vent covers and lining the walls with a tough, durable crawl space vapor barrier is the answer. The moisture barrier will keep outside air and humidity out of the crawl space while also providing a passive barrier that will help keep out rodents, insects, and other unwanted pests.

The CleanSpace crawl space vapor barrier provided by Rainy Day Basement Systems of Big Lake, Darrington, Everson, Greenbank, and Shaw Island, and the surrounding areas on California includes a 20-mil polyethylene liner that's able to block moisture from entering the crawl space with a 25-year warranty that ensures a dependable long life for the product. The liner has been designed with a white visible facing that's best for taking advantage of available lighting, and it's durable enough for the homeowner and servicemen to use without ripping or tearing the liner. An UltraFresh antimicrobial additive used when designing CleanSpace helps to keep the liner free of mold, and once installed, the CleanSpace encapsulation system even makes the crawl space a usable storage area!

To make the most out of your crawl space encapsulation in WA, be sure to include an energy-efficient dehumidifier. This will help remove any moisture and humidity present in the air, wood, or other materials while protecting from any possible future humidity as well.

To help with your crawl space dehumidification in Blaine, Coupeville, Granite Falls, Lyman, Roche Harbor, and the surrounding areas in WA provides the SaniDry crawl space dehumidifier. This amazing machine combines the twin forces of Energy Star-rated dehumidification with the power of eight home models sold at hardware stores. This crawl space and basement dehumidifier includes a special air filter that will remove particles as small as 2 microns- small enough to remove pollen, mold spores, and dust mite waste from the air. With a convenient self-draining design, it requires very little upkeep or maintenance.

If you'd like to learn more about installing a green crawl space encapsulation in Washington, call Rainy Day Basement Systems of Alrington, Nooksack, and the surrounding areas today. We can encapsulate your crawl space quickly and effectively- usually in less than a day. The end result will save you money, make your home more comfortable, add storage space, and help you avoid expensive repairs in the future. For a free estimate on a crawl space vapor barrier installation in the areas of Acme, Birch Bay, Clearlake, Custer, Freeland, Marblemount, Sultan,Waldron, and Whidbey, call or contact us today!