This is one case where ignorance is not bliss. If you have not looked under your home for a while, go check it immediately after reading this. In fact, maybe you should stop and check it now. Why? Because a flooded crawlspace can damage your home and needs to be remediated quickly.
Did you check it? Do you have water down there? Okay, keep reading…
The Puget Sound area and rain go together like Valentine’s Day and chocolates, you really can’t have one without the other. And while we all enjoy splashing through the spongy green outdoors, our homes have the thankless job of providing us with a warm dry refuge. Some houses are located in poor drainage areas while others have failing foundation or gutter drains (often both). Natural springs and rising water tables abound! Due to all these factors, you can find water in your crawlspace.
Can you imagine wearing wet shoes and socks all day? For several months?! Our homes don’t like it either. Standing water in crawlspaces can cause wood framing and support posts to rot. Mold and mildew can start creeping over every surface, impacting the quality of the air you breath. Water levels can reach a point where heating ducts rust or fill up with water, causing your furnace to raise a white flag of surrender. All this can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in repairs if left unchecked.
There’s a Solution For Flooded Crawlspaces
The good news for soggy homes is American Crawlspace is equipped to handle flooded crawlspaces. Temporary sump pumps are first installed to get standing water out. The old vapor barrier is then removed and a permanent drainage system is installed. This system is typically a combination of drain lines and a sump pump placed in a basin designed to collect and remove water as it enters the crawl. Insulation and duct work is also repaired or replaced as needed. Mold and mildew can be killed during this process and a majority of the staining removed. Finally a new vapor barrier is installed to keep damp soil from causing any more moisture issues.
Now that your home is curling it’s proverbial toes in pleasure from being dry, remember to check your crawlspace at least annually. If you use American Crawlspace for pest control, we will keep an eye on it for you. For those of you who are unable to (or just don’t want to!) take that first peek into your crawlspace, give us a call or click here and one of our inspectors will do it for you free of charge.