Moisture Control
Old and Brittle Poly Barrier
New Poly Moisture Barrier Installation
Houston, We Have a Problem…
Homes with a crawlspace can develop moisture issues for many different reasons.
Older homes will typically show increased moisture levels do to mature landscaping, additions of outer decks or rooms, old or new HVAC systems, aging moisture barriers or grade of the yard.
- Mature landscaping, ie. Shrubs, bushes ornamentals that grow to the point that they no longer allow foundation vents to function properly
- Room additions and decks can also block foundation vents and prevent them from functioning properly
- Old HVAC lines leaking cool air in the crawlspace
- New HVAC lines or systems with greater efficiencies can cause increased temperature changes between the crawlspace and the interior spaces
- Old moisture barriers that were installed at 85% coverage or are brittle due to age and non-effective at being a barrier for ground moisture and temperature
- Poorly graded yards where the home’s crawlspace is now below the exterior grade of the yard
Newer homes can also develop moisture issues.
Even though the home has been designed on paper with the correct number of foundation vents, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the crawlspace will function properly.
A homes proximity to the houses on each side of it can also play a factor in whether crawlspace foundation vents function properly.
Crawlspace structural lumber is not made of the same quality it was 20 years ago. Today’s fast grown, farm raised lumber does not have the growth rings that are tight like years ago. Today’s framing lumber has much more sap wood in it making it susceptible to moisture fluctuations, high moisture, fungal growth, insect activity and damage.
Wet, Stringy Insulation, Old Poly Barrier
Moisture Meters can be purchased at your local hardware store.
Moisture Treatments
- Sand can be added to the crawlspace to increase the grade and eliminate moisture intrusion.
- Sump pumps can be installed for excessive ground water.
- New moisture barriers can be installed at 100% coverage.
- Fungus treatments can be applied to the structural components in a crawlspace.
Take Control of Moisture
Take control of the moisture in your crawlspace with our Hybrid Controlled Encapsulation System! Our system will seal your crawlspace off and help it to breath. The heart of our Hybrid Controlled Encapsulation System is a dehumidifier that will sample the air for 3 minutes every hour and has the technology to calculate the need to decrease humidity. It knows when to work and when not to work. The moisture extracted from the air in the crawlspace is pumped outside of the crawlspace via a standalone condensation pump with electronic sensors.
Our Hybrid Controlled Encapsulation System maintains your crawlspace at an optimum relative humidity range for minimizing adverse health effects such as respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma. Crawlspace wood components are also kept healthy because they are now in an environment that will not support mildew and fungal growth. Our customers will also benefit from energy efficiency and cleaner, drier air on the interior of the home.
**As a warning, other types of encapsulations will attempt to turn crawlspaces into a foam sandwich. Covering foundation walls gives inspectors nothing in which to do a visual inspection concealing termite activity. Should you have termites, foundation wall coverings such a foam boards or spray foam will have to be removed at the owners expense before we can do a proper inspection or treatment. Foundation wall coverings make it impossible for us to warranty a home against termites. Furthermore, when selling a home with covered foundation walls, few companies will take on the liability of writing a Termite and Moisture Letter, NPMA33 report for the seller due to the inability to properly inspect the crawlspace.
