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Crawl Space Dehumidifier Installation

dehumidifier in encapsulated crawl space

If your crawl space is humid, your entire home will likely become humid as well. These conditions cause high energy bills, mold growth, and moisture damage. Fortunately, these problems can be prevented. 

At AFS, we provide effective solutions for these challenges. Our AquaStop™ crawl space air system is essential to our crawl space encapsulation process. It efficiently manages moisture and eliminates its negative impacts. 

As a trusted name in crawl space encapsulation, homeowners in our service area trust us to protect their homes. This page guides you through the advantages of crawl space dehumidifier installation, its role in enhancing your home, and the reasons why it is a wise investment. 

What is a Crawl Space Dehumidifier? 

A crawl space dehumidifier removes moisture from the air beneath your home. It’s a complete moisture control system that enhances indoor air quality, manages humidity, reduces musty odors, and inhibits mold growth. These units are more durable, water-resistant, and efficient than generic home dehumidifiers.

Our crawl space dehumidifiers extract up to 100 pints of moisture daily. This efficiency maintains a dry environment, reducing the risk of mold, structural damage, and pest infestations. 

Crawl space dehumidifier installation is essential to our broader strategy for maintaining a healthy crawl space. Combined with other crawl space tools, our advanced system ensures your crawl space and home remain dry. 

Signs You Need a Crawl Space Dehumidifier 

crawl space mold on wooden beam

Moisture in your crawl space leads to significant damage. Over time, it weakens wooden support beams or attracts pests. Watch for these signs: 

These signs indicate excessive crawl space moisture or drainage issues that may require dehumidifier installation. Early detection and expert intervention are crucial to prevent more significant problems.

Dehumidifier for Crawl Space: Is It Necessary?

man and woman on couch relaxing with arms folded behind head

Yes, a crawl space dehumidifier is vital for the health and safety of your home and family. 

Without one, uncontrolled humidity continues to deteriorate your home’s structure, indoor air quality, and comfort, leading to costly repairs. Crawl space dehumidifier installation mitigates existing damage and prevents future complications. 

While a DIY approach using a standard dehumidifier might seem practical, it is insufficient for managing the moisture levels beneath your home. Ordinary dehumidifiers lack the capacity and power needed for the extensive size and high humidity in most crawl spaces.

Standard dehumidifiers require frequent manual emptying, but our crawl space dehumidifier is self-draining. It can be conveniently connected directly to your home’s drainage system.

For optimal results, trust AFS’s professional crawl space dehumidification installation. Our solutions address current moisture problems and prevent future occurrences. 

What Are the Benefits of a Crawl Space Dehumidifier? 

Our crawl space dehumidifiers offer several benefits, including: 

  • Improved Indoor Air Quality: By managing humidity, our dehumidifier reduces musty odors, improving your home’s air quality. 
  • Enhanced Structural Integrity: Moisture leads to wood rot, corrosion, and foundation damage. Managing crawl space humidity enhances property value.
  • Energy Savings: This ENERGY STAR-rated dehumidifier is energy-efficient, lowering your energy bills
  • Fewer Pests: Damp crawl spaces attract pests like termites. Our dehumidifier creates an environment less appealing to these pests. 

To maximize these benefits, it’s crucial to use our specialized solutions and expert services. Our products are engineered for superior performance compared to retail alternatives. 

How We Install Crawl Space Dehumidifiers 

professional installing crawl space dehumidifier

We integrate crawl space dehumidifier installation into our comprehensive encapsulation system. Our process includes: 

As specialists in crawl space repair, we ensure optimal performance for maximum effectiveness. 

Why Our Crawl Space Dehumidifier is the Best Choice for Your Home 

Our unique crawl space air system is superior to standard options due to its: 

  • Energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR certification. 
  • High moisture removal capacity, extracting 100 pints per day. 
  • Automatic draining and quiet operation. 
  • Compact design with optional ducting. 
  • Extensive warranties and yearly maintenance plans

Choose AFS for Expert Crawl Space Dehumidifier Installation Near You!

crawl space expert measuring crawl space door opening

A damp, moldy crawl space affects your home’s indoor air quality and your family’s health. Let the experts at AFS enhance your living environment by installing a dehumidifier for your crawl space.

For over 20 years, homeowners throughout the Southeast have depended on us for crawl space repair and protection with tailor-made solutions. Contact us today to enhance your home’s safety. 

Crawl Space Dehumidifier FAQs

Some homeowners believe that a dehumidifier on its own can keep their crawl space dry. While this appliance is an important part of your waterproofing system, it cannot protect your foundation against water damage by itself. 

A Dehumidifier Cannot Remove Flood Water 

When large volumes of water suddenly rush into your crawl space due to heavy rainstorms or pipe leakage, they will remain there even if you have a dehumidifier. While this device can remove excess humidity from the air, it cannot remove water. 

Therefore, apart from installing a dehumidifier, you will also need to invest in other waterproofing solutions such as a sump pump and a drainage system. Only with these systems in place, you will be able to protect your crawl space against water damage. 

Ensuring Regular Maintenance 

Installing waterproofing systems is not the only thing you can do for your home. Also, make sure that your yard is properly graded. When it rains, water should rush away from your home, not toward it. If your yard has a negative grade, you will need to regrade it as soon as possible. 

Furthermore, make sure you regularly maintain your gutters and downspouts. These pipes can easily get clogged by leaves and debris, so inspect them at least once a year and see that there are no blockages. In addition, check them for cracks and holes. Gutters and downspouts can get damaged by tree branches or hail, so make sure they are in good condition. If they malfunction, all the rainwater that has ended up on your roof will soak the ground around your foundation and enter your crawl space.

Even with encapsulation, it is impossible to keep out all the moisture, all the time. If you live in a humid area that is prone to frequent rainfalls, you should consider adding a dehumidifier to your waterproofing system. Besides this, there are several telltale signs that installing a dehumidifier should be on your list of priorities. 

Signs You Need a Dehumidifier 

Has your home started to smell musty? If so, the culprit may be high moisture levels in your foundation. Increased humidity levels trigger mold growth, which will turn your crawl space into a smelly mess. By drying out this space you can easily avoid this problem. Frequent asthma attacks can also be a sign that there are allergens and mold in your crawl space.  Some people develop allergic reactions or experience flu-like symptoms due to the contaminated air rising from the crawl space. 

You should also consider getting a dehumidifier if you notice damage to the structure of your home. Problems such as insect damage, wood rot, buckling hardwood floors, rust, sagging insulation, and swelling of doors and windows can alert you that there is excess moisture in your foundation. Keep in mind that you need to address these problems on time, otherwise you will end up with extensive repairs on your hands. 

Perks of Installing a Dehumidifier 

Even if you have not noticed mold or wood rot in your crawl space, it doesn’t mean that they are not there. After all, crawl spaces are dark places with a lot of columns and beams, so it is difficult to inspect every corner thoroughly. With a dehumidifier, you will not only ensure that these harmful fungi never show up in your crawl space, but you will also improve the air quality down there, which will automatically reflect on the air quality upstairs. 

Also, it is important to keep in mind that a simple appliance such as a dehumidifier can help you turn your musty crawl space into a pleasant area convenient for storing your belongings. A lot of homeowners use their crawl spaces as backup pantries or even tool sheds. However, if this space is humid, all of your possessions will get damaged or destroyed. On the other hand, with a dehumidifier, you will have all this extra space at your disposal. 

Have you ever noticed a white residue on your crawl space walls? That is efflorescence, and while it won’t harm your walls on its own, it is often a sign that there are moisture problems in your crawl space. 

Why Does Efflorescence Appear? 

White or grayish stains on your masonry walls can leave you confused and worried. Luckily, this crystalline deposit is efflorescence, and it shows up when water from the bricks begins to evaporate. On its way out it collects salts, and leaves them on the surface of the brick or concrete. These stains will not compromise your home’s structural integrity in any way, but they can be a sign of underlying foundation problems. Excess water can end up in the building materials in multiple ways. In some cases, there is excess water in the concrete mix itself, other times sprinklers, underground seepage, and roof runoffs can lead to efflorescence. 

Increased humidity levels in the crawl space can also cause efflorescence. When moisture-laden air enters the crawl space, it causes condensation to form on the masonry walls. Those moisture drops are then absorbed into the porous materials. 

How Can a Dehumidifier Help? 

Efflorescence is often a telltale sign that there are high moisture levels in your crawl space. To prevent those unsightly crystalline deposits from appearing on your walls you should take the necessary steps to keep your foundation as dry as possible. 

With a dehumidifier, you can remove excess moisture from the air. Therefore, apart from preventing mold and mildew growth as well as wood rot, you can prevent efflorescence from showing up. Of course, you will need a strong and efficient dehumidifier that is powerful enough to dry out your crawl space. To make sure you choose the best dehumidifier for your needs, contact your local contractor and see what your options are. 

AFS service area

Our Locations

Birmingham AL

130 Interstate Commerce Crt. Bldg. 100 & 200
Alabaster, AL 35007

Chattanooga TN

214 Industrial Park Dr.
Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379

Columbus GA

2701 Opelika Road
Phenix City, AL 36870

Dothan AL

1909 Montgomery Hwy, Suite 322,
Dothan, AL 36303

Florence AL

118 E Mobile St
Florence, AL 35630

Gulfport MS

1317 26th Ave, Ste 101
Gulfport, MS 39501

Huntsville AL

2415 Jordan Road
Huntsville, AL 35811

Knoxville TN

3028 E Governor John Sevier Highway
Knoxville, TN 37914

Louisville KY

1904 Watterson Trail, Suite 130
Louisville, KY 40299

Mobile AL / Biloxi MS

3131 Hamilton Blvd.
Theodore, AL 36582

Nashville TN

1519 Heil Quaker Blvd.
LaVergne, TN 37086

Pensacola FL

89 W. Hood Dr.
Pensacola, FL 32534