Only homes with raised foundations have crawl space beneath them. A presented foundation home with wood bypassing around the edge is supported by posts on concrete pillars.
Heating and air conditioning ductwork and wires and plumbing may be found in the crawl space. Depending on whether your crawl space is vented or unvented, the method you use to insulate it will differ. Cold air can enter through cracks in the boards from a poorly insulated crawl space.
You can recover the crawl space insulation installation cost by saving money on energy bills.
Crawl Space Insulation Installation
Most homeowners in Gastonia, NC, avoid the crawl space, and they are frequently unaware of the problems that may exist there. However, crawl spaces are a significant source of the issues in a home’s exterior walls, as air leakage often results in energy loss, uncomfortably cold floors, and other issues.
See how crawl space insulation installation by HydroHelp911 can save the homeowners of Gastonia, NC, from crawl space issues:
- Address Moisture Issues- If you have moisture or pools of water in your crawl space, you’ll need to clean it out before you can safely do the crawl space insulation installation. If you have standing water, you may need to install a sump pump in that case.
- Repair any cracks or other blemishes- After the water has been eliminated from your crawl space, you will need to complete any repairs that the area may require. Installation of insulation in a cracked or leaking crawl space will cause more damage to the insulation in the long term. The damper your insulation becomes, the more it will transform from a waterproofing measure to a breeding ground for molds and moisture.
- Repair the vents and doors- With the presence of sealed cracks and leaks in your crawl space, make sure there isn’t enough space between your doors or vents for water to enter. Crawl space professionals can reinstall your doors and cover-up vents with vent covers in the crawl space. By doing so, you’ll be closing off entry points for air, water, and pests that would inflict damage in your crawl space.
- Install additional waterproofing if needed- These measures, which range from internal drains to sump pumps, will allow you to maintain the overall value of your home. Dehumidifiers also are helpful if you have excess moisture.
- Install insulation- The crawl space insulation is installed next. Crawl space insulation comes in a variety of materials, with fiberglass being the most popular. However, this soft material is susceptible to water damage, mold growth, and pest infestation. Instead, opt for a waterproof and pest-resistant option like rigid panels offered.
- Encapsulate – Lastly, one of the simplest remedies to keep water out of your home is to seal off your crawl space completely. For the most holistic crawl space protection, it’s always a good idea to combine insulation and encapsulation projects.
Benefits of Crawl Space Insulation
Insulation in your home helps to lower your utility bills while also making your space more pleasurable to live in. Although you may not spend most of your free time in your crawl space, insulation can perform similar functions. As a result, any pipes in your crawl space may be less prone to leaking or cracking due to rapid weather changes.
The thickness of the crawl space Insulation depends on the type of insulation used.
There is no clear answer for insulation thickness.
- You’ll need a lot of fiberglass insulation for everyday use. For a current industry-standard level of insulation, as with walls and other places where you want to insulate with fiberglass, you want a foot or more depth. Many old houses in Gastonia, NC, have much less than that, so you should think about upgrading even if everything appears to be in good condition.
- When it comes to foam boards, it’s not so much a matter of thickness as it is of layers. If ever possible, you should install a double layer of insulation.
- Spray foam thickness varies greatly depending on what type of foam is used. However, for the most frequently used spray foams, a few inches of consistency should be enough.
Contact HydroHelp911 for crawl space insulation installation and other waterproofing services.
WHAT IS RIGID FOAM INSULATION?
Rigid foam insulation, unlike fiberglass insulation, does not absorb moisture, lose R-value, or promote mold growth. It will also not compress or fall out of place, providing you with long-lasting protection.
Rigid foam insulation is typically installed against the foundation wall in crawl spaces or basements. This ensures that the rooms above the crawl space are more comfortable and that no energy is wasted.
IS IT NECESSARY TO VENT A CRAWL SPACE?
No, please do not do so. Bringing humid air into a cold crawlspace in the summer or winter defeats the purpose of removing the moisture source. In the summer, a moisture-protected crawlspace will likely be relatively calm and less humid than outdoor air, allowing moisture to condense on the cold surfaces of wood and concrete.
After you’ve dealt with moisture and air quality issues, it’s best to keep it sealed up. Once the work is completed, keep an eye on the humidity levels; you may need to include a dehumidifier to keep the humidity down.
When purchasing a dehumidifier, ensure it can be used continuously with a drain hose and not be flushed manually. They can quickly fill up at least once a day, and if you don’t empty it regularly, it will stop working.
The volume of water produced by a dehumidifier is not large enough to entail its discharge into a drain, which is unlikely to exist in a crawlspace. You can configure it to drain directly into a small pit in the dirt beneath the membrane, where it will soak up into the ground.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO INSULATE THE CRAWL SPACE?
Crawl space insulation is essential for maintaining your home’s temperature, minimizing draughts, maintaining moisture where it belongs, and preventing pests from taking up your space. Ensure an effective and appropriate installation of crawl space insulation.
Not only this, but you should also make every effort to keep it fully functional and well-maintained for the installation’s life and replace it when it is needed, not when problems begin to pop up. Because a substantial percentage of the air in most homes emanates from or passes through the crawlspace, poor insulation has an immediate effect on the air quality of your home.
WHEN IS IT TIME TO REPLACE MY CRAWL SPACE INSULATION?
Insulation that is kept dry, undamaged, and away from light should last for about 20 years. However, when moisture accumulates due to poor installation or inadequate ventilation, damage occurs due to structural issues or pests, or light enters exposed panels, problems can arise.
You also need to replace your insulation to improve quality, such as if you have regular draughts, poor air quality in your home, or want to reduce your energy bill. Crawl space insulation is frequently insufficient in older homes, so you’ll want to install more than what’s currently there.
