Did you know that there could be unseen toxins in your home, making your family sick? Mold and mildew are common problems in any home, but you can often see that there is an issue and take steps to correct it.
Unfortunately, when mold and mildew are present in crawl spaces, they can go undetected for months or even years, making you sick the entire time.
A crawl space is a space under your home where you might otherwise have a basement. It’s usually between one and three feet tall, as the name implies — you have to crawl to get into it. If there are problems with your home’s water, electrical, heating systems, you can often access them through the crawl space.
The good news is that you can take steps to prevent mold and mildew in your crawl spaces, and these solutions don’t break the bank!
Here’s what you need to know.
Signs You Have Mold in Your Crawl Space
How do you know that there are mold problems under your home? Many times it goes undetected because you don’t see that area regularly.
However, there are telltale signs that there’s a problem. Musty smells are the first giveaway. Mold gives off an unpleasant odor, and even if you can’t see it, you can smell it. Don’t ignore musty smells — investigate and take action. You might also have allergy symptoms all the time, no matter the season.
Removing mold yourself can be frustrating, and hiring a professional is invasive and expensive. The best option is to take steps to “prevent” mold in your crawl space.
How Can You Prevent Crawl Space Mold?
In the 1980s, the prevailing wisdom was that crawl spaces should be vented year-round to prevent mold growth. However, this wasn’t as effective as everyone expected and led to significant increases in heating and cooling costs. The hot or cold air under the home would seep in.
Today, some people are now saying the opposite — that you should completely encapsulate your crawl space. However, that doesn’t allow for any airflow, and you lose the access to your home systems that you need. Not to mention, encapsulation is tens of thousands of dollars!
The best option is between the two extremes. Allow your crawl space to breathe during mild months, but cover the vents during the heat of summer and cold of winter.
Attractive Vent Covers From Vanity Vents
If you are like many homeowners, you have barely-functional styrofoam crawl space vent covers or even stone crawlspace vent covers. They’re dirty and unattractive. That’s where Vanity Vents come in.
You can install them in just a few seconds and remove them during mild weather to allow your crawl space to ventilate. Vanity Vents are attractive and protect your home from hot and cold air during extreme weather. They also help keep rain and moisture out of your crawl space, preventing mold and mildew. You do not want styrofoam crawl space vent covers but if you already have them then you can cover them up with Vanity Vents.
If you’re interested in learning more about our vent solutions, look at our products or contact us today!
The cost of Vanity Vents is under $200 for most homes and it’s a cost-effective fix to your humidity/moisture crawl space problems. Not to mention… Vanity Vents create instant curb appeal… it’s like putting jewelry on your home!
For more information: Visit VanityVents.com, email [email protected] or call us we’ll be happy to help… 503-548-7444
Note: This article is not meant to provide professional advice. Your circumstances may vary so do your homework to make the best choice possible for your home. Thank you.
