The crawl space—that unseen area under your house— is a vital component of your home. The problem? The crawl space often goes unnoticed until problems arise (usually expensive problems).
Once winter arrives and temperatures drop, the crawl space foundation vents can become a thermal bridge and echo the freezing conditions outside.
Yes, this happens when the crawl space vents are left open and cold air comes in. The consequence is twofold: your crawl space becomes an icy chamber and the temperature inside your home is adversely impacted.
Worse still, for every degree drop in the external temperature, the crawl space follows suit and forces additional effort from your heating system to maintain a comfortable indoor climate.
Not ideal, right?
In this article, we’ll look at why a cold crawl space increases your utility bills and why Vanity Vents are the best way to seal your crawl space and reduce costs.
Why a Cold Crawl Space Will Hurt Your Finances
1. Temperature Transfer
When the external temperature drops, the crawl space follows suit; if the crawl space is not adequately insulated, it becomes a reservoir for cold air.
This chill infiltrates your home through various channels—including gaps in flooring and walls—leading to a constant battle for your heating system to preserve a relaxing indoor climate. In turn, your heating bills increase.
2. Heating System Overdrive
A cold crawl space forces your heating system to work harder and longer to counteract the persistent infiltration of cold air.
As a result, this extended operation not only consumes more energy but also accelerates wear and tear on your heating equipment—potentially leading to increased maintenance costs over the years.
3. Energy Inefficiency
In homes with open crawl space vents, the heating system’s efforts to battle the cold are often in vain.
That’s because the constant influx of chilly air counteracts the warmth generated, creating an inefficient cycle that translates directly into higher energy consumption and—consequently—raised utility bills.
4. Poor Air Circulation
Crawl spaces are designed to allow air circulation beneath the home. However, when left unsealed, this natural airflow can become a double-edged sword.
During colder winter months, the circulating air carries the chill into the crawl space and affects the overall temperature equilibrium of the home. During the hot summer months, your crawl space becomes a heating blanket and the hot air rises right into your home… it’s called the “stack effect”.
5. Bad Humidity Regulation
Some crawl spaces are prone to moisture buildup. The presence of moisture can exacerbate the cold, making the crawl space feel even chillier.
This moisture can also lead to issues such as mold and mildew growth, further compromising the structural integrity of the home and increasing repair bills in the long term.
You want to close your vent openings to keep the moisture out during certain times of the year (the cold part of the winter and the hottest part of the summer). The moisture that comes in thru your vent openings (when you don’t have crawl space vent covers on your home) with the rest of the air that blows thru the vent… that moisture is called “humidity”.
6. Negative Impact on Flooring
Cold crawl spaces can also have a direct impact on the temperature of flooring within the home. If the crawl space is not insulated, the flooring above it can become cold, leading to discomfort for occupants. And cold flooring often increases energy bills.
There is just no way around it… closing your foundation vents helps maintain a more consistent and comfortable indoor temperature.
Why Closing Your Crawl Space Vents is So Essential
1. Eliminating the Chill
Vanity Vents’ innovative solutions create a robust barrier against the infiltration of cold air into your crawl space.
By sealing off this chilly entry point, the Vent Covers and Insulation Blocks ensure that your crawl space remains notably warmer, alleviating the strain on your heating system.
2. Optimizing Heating Efficiency
With an expanding insulation block to seal your foundation vents, your crawl space is warmer and your heating system operates more efficiently. The warmth generated is retained within your home, reducing the need for constant heating and subsequently decreasing energy consumption.
As such, this optimization directly translates into lower utility bills.
3. Long-Term Savings
The minimal investment for easy-on, easy-off crawl space vent covers is a long-term fix and a strategic move toward long-term savings. Vanity Vents install in 3 seconds, no tools required.
By addressing the root cause of a cold crawl space, homeowners can enjoy sustained energy efficiency, reduced utility bills, and potentially avoid the financial burden of extensive heating system repairs down the line.
4. Enhancing Indoor Air Quality
A well-insulated crawl space with foundation vents that can be easily opened and closed as needed for different seasons doesn’t just contribute to temperature control; it also has a positive impact on indoor air quality. When crawl spaces are sealed and insulated certain times of the year, there’s a reduced risk of moisture infiltration, which minimizes the potential for mold and mildew growth.
This, in turn, leads to cleaner, healthier air circulating within your home. Improved indoor air quality not only enhances the comfort of living but can also contribute to long-term health benefits for you and your family.
5. Preserving Structural Integrity
Beyond the immediate benefits of energy efficiency, proper crawl space insulation plays a crucial role in preserving the structural integrity of your home.
By investing in a comprehensive solution like Vanity Vents’ Vent Covers and Insulation Blocks, homeowners can proactively take action to help protect their home’s foundation and structural components, potentially avoiding costly repairs and ensuring the longevity of their property.
The Vanity Vents Solution
Vanity Vents is a pillar of innovation in crawl space vent covers, foundation vents and replacing styrofoam vent inserts (non-recyclable) with 100%, military grade, up to 50-year life Insulation Blocks. At the heart of our transformative solution lies the Vent Covers and Insulation Blocks: A dynamic duo designed to strengthen your home against external temperature fluctuations during winter.
The Vanity Vents Combo Pack is engineered to provide an impenetrable defense against the intrusion of cold air into your crawl space—thereby ensuring that it remains notably warmer.
The installation of Vent Covers and Insulation Blocks is designed to be extremely user-friendly, making it accessible to homeowners with varying levels of DIY expertise. Likewise, the comprehensive instructions provided by Vanity Vents will guide users through the step-by-step process.
Once installed, homeowners can expect a substantial increase in the temperature within their crawl space—often reaching up to 15 degrees warmer than the external environment.
Now that can reduce your winter bills, right?
Final Thoughts
By unraveling the relationship between external temperature drops, crawl space conditions, and heating system efficiency—homeowners can make informed decisions to enhance their living spaces while saving on utility bills.
At Vanity Vents, we want to help you to pre-empt any problems with your crawl space as your home becomes colder in those dreaded winter months. Find out more today and browse through our most commonly asked questions.
Btw – Did you know that when it is 90 degrees outside in the summer it is about 90 degrees in your crawl space when you have your foundation vents open. It’s like your home is sitting on a heating pad… do you think your home is hotter or cooler? Do you think your air-conditioner is working overtime, costing you more? Consider closing your crawl space vents in the hottest months of the summer. 😊
