A damp crawl space can be a recipe for a disaster. Pests are drawn to moist and dark places, so a humid crawl space makes for an ideal habitat. Also, mold thrives in such places, which can be a huge problem since it can lead to respiratory issues for anyone in your home.
Another problem is that wood rots in damp conditions. Since there are a lot of wooden beams in your crawl space that hold your floor and house together, moisture can compromise the structural stability of your home and lead to damage.
If your crawl space has been flooded, taking immediate action to remove the water and dry it out is imperative to prevent further damage. Otherwise, the moisture and humidity levels will continue to soar within your home and other issues will begin to arise. So, what should you do when you have a flooded crawl space?
Crawl Space Water Removal
Standing water in the crawl space can be a result of leaky pipes, heavy rain, broken water heaters, or something else entirely. If you don’t have a sump pump, removing excess water can be a problem. Instead of putting your well-being at risk, let professionals at AFS take care of this task. When the crawl space is free of excess water, our friendly experts can install a dehumidifier. This appliance will quickly remove moisture from the air, making sure that your crawl space stays completely dry after the water is removed.
After these solutions are in place, our experienced professionals will make sure that everything else is in order. They will look for signs of mold growth and rot, determine the level of damage and provide the necessary repairs.
Common Causes of Flooded Crawl Spaces
The best strategy in dealing with crawl space flooding is to be preventative. Here are some of the most common causes of floods.
Inadequate Drainage
If every time it rains in Chattanooga, TN, and a ton of water ends up in your crawl space, your drainage is likely not effective. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and clog-free and check whether your yard has a negative grade. If rainwater runoff rushes toward your home, you will need to call landscaping professionals to regrade your yard to a positive slope.
Faulty Sump Pump
Your sump pump has a float switch that activates when the water levels reach a certain limit, thus triggering the device to start pumping the overflow water away from your home. If the float switch isn’t working and you notice water pooling in your crawl space, you might need a replacement. Have our experts come for an inspection, where they can then suggest superior sump pump solutions for your home.
Leaky Pipes
Older pipes can rust and deteriorate, causing leaks and standing water. Having a plumber come out for routine maintenance can help avert these issues.
Sewage Backup
If your sewage lines are clogged, the water will back up and flood your crawl space. This is a huge health hazard since this water contains bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that can cause various infections.
Crawl Space Flooding Solutions
Just as with crawl space water removal, repairing and protecting this area is not a DIY project. The crawl space is both delicate and dangerous, and there is no one-size-fits-all fix. Luckily, local crawl space repair and encapsulation professionals like our team at AFS can install various waterproofing solutions to ensure your crawl space is protected against water damage.
Interior Drainage System
This channel of pipes specifically designed for crawl spaces is placed in the dirt floor to collect leaking water and groundwater from your crawl space. It features a clog-free design so you won’t have to worry about blocked drains. This system will keep your crawl space safe from water damage by directing any groundwater seepage to a sump pump.
Sump Pump
A crawl space sump pump is a great solution if you live in an area prone to flooding issues. A sump pump will easily pump out large volumes of water, so you won’t have to worry about standing water in your crawl space. If you are worried about blackouts, a battery backup will ensure that the pump is working even when there is a power outage.
Vent Covers
In the past, it was believed that crawl space vents kept crawl spaces dry and protected them against mold growth by letting fresh air in. However, since then it was established that vents caused more damage than good. They let moisture-laden air into a dry space, making it damp. Nowadays, vents are being closed off by durable, watertight vent covers to ensure the dryness of the crawl space. These vents can keep the air and water out, as well as make it more difficult for pests to enter your crawl space.
Encapsulation with a Vapor Barrier
Encapsulation will turn your dusty and dirty crawl space into a nice, dry, and clean area you can use for storage. Your local crawl space repair experts can install a plastic 20-mil vapor barrier on the walls and floor so moisture cannot get in.
Drainage Matting
A simple yet effective way to ensure your crawl space stays dry and prolong your vapor barrier liner’s lifespan is drainage matting. After a flood, water can become trapped under the liner. However, because of the matting’s raised dimples, it will be able to pass underneath your crawl space liner and move toward the drain.
Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier can keep the moisture levels in your crawl space under control, eliminating allergy triggers such as mold and dust mites. It can improve air quality, prevent rot, and even lower your energy consumption.
Get Reliable Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation from Local Experts
If you want to permanently protect your crawl space from flooding and water intrusion by investing in high-quality solutions, contact AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists and schedule a free inspection and quote.
