As the part of your home that is tucked away and kept out of your sight, you probably don’t give your crawl space much thought. However, this seemingly minor area can cause a wide variety of complications that range from compromising your home’s structural integrity to impacting your family’s health.
Luckily, there is an easy solution to containing the moisture in your crawl space. A plastic vapor barrier is a simple tool that prevents moisture from creeping into the air of your home’s crawl space. Let’s take a look at the advantages of using a crawl space plastic barrier in your home.
Minimize dampness
The majority of crawl spaces are prone to problems with dampness. Water easily seeps through the dirt floor underneath a home, creating a large amount of moisture and humidity in the crawl space. As this amount increases, mold and mildew grow in the damp and dark environment. Not only are these unwanted fungi a threat to your home’s structure, but they create hazardous fumes that are dangerous for humans to breathe in.
A crawl space plastic barrier will essentially seal your crawl space, deterring moisture from rotting your home’s wood, rusting its metal, and damaging the drywall. By using a crawl space plastic vapor barrier to prevent mold growth, you’ll also keep the space free of hazardous fumes that endanger your family’s health.
Control your home’s temperature
A crawl space plastic barrier can even help you save on energy bills. Moisture increases the humidity levels in your home, which in turn make your home hotter or cooler than it would otherwise be. Although you don’t know it, you are likely running your air conditioner or furnace for longer periods of time to account for higher humidity levels. As crawl space vapor barrier materials are made to seal out moisture and reduce humidity, your home will have better temperature management and you will have lower energy costs.
Reduce electrical hazards
Everyone knows that water and electrical systems don’t mix well, but what many people may not have thought about is the potential for these two elements to meet in their basement. Many homes have their electrical components in an area near the crawl space, giving the moisture in that space the opportunity to cause electrical shorts, rusted wires, or fires. Even something as simple as a 10 mil vapor barrier in your crawl space can help ensure that your home’s electrical system is free from moisture.
Over 27 million homes in the U.S. contain crawl spaces and every one of these homeowners should be thinking about how that space can affect the rest of their home. Contact Crawl Space Ninja today to discover the crawl space encapsulation products that can make a difference in your home.