Save Energy with Crawl Space Encapsulation
The crawl space is one of the largest opportunities to save energy in your home, and saving energy saves money. According to the Energy Information Administration, a statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, the average Washingtonian spends approximately $1,052 on residential energy costs every year. However, you could be saving up to 20% of that cost by reducing the amount of energy you lose through your crawl space.
Because crawl spaces are out of sight and out of mind, they are habitually overlooked. But there are many components to a crawl space that can significantly affect the energy consumption of your home. Take for instance HVAC ducting systems, which are largely found in the crawl space of many Washington homes. These duct sections are made from thin sheet metal and are held together merely by a couple of bolts. Once assembled, they can lose up to 30% of the energy flowing through them at the duct section joints. That means heaters must run longer and more frequently to compensate for the loss.
Some suggest insulating the ducting system, but that is a short-term solution that only fixes one problem. The real concern is that crawl spaces are vented. What’s more is they commonly have inadequate access doors, rotting sill plates and several other cracks and crevices; all of which invite outdoor conditions in. Expected consequences include cold floors, moldy foundation posts, increased heating bills and probable rodent infestation.
When conditions below your home are comparable to those outside, your home has to work much harder and consume more energy to keep them separate. The CleanSpace Crawl Space encapsulation system is the best solution to saving energy because it eliminates air leaks, isolates the home from the Earth below and conditions the crawl space like every other floor of the home.
The CleanSpace Crawl Space encapsulation system uses a 20 mils. thick crawl space lining comprised of high and low density polyethylene, two layers of polyester cord reinforcement and an antimicrobial agent called UltraFresh. Because the CleanSpace lining is highly durable and won’t tear, it is secured with fasteners directly to the foundation walls. The few feet between the fasteners are then sealed with caulking to create an impermeable barrier between the home and Earth below. To complete the system, crawl space vents are sealed with CleanSpace Vent Covers. The covers are made from completely inorganic materials and will never rust, rot or mold. They have foam insulation and gasket material to create an airtight seal. Lastly, any further air leaks are identified and sealed with a foam gun.
By eliminating air leaks and reducing moisture vapor, your home will become more efficient and more effective, saving you energy and money. It will also prevent future moisture related problems in your crawl space like mold, odors and wood rot.