What Lies Below…… below the floorboards, that is
Chances are you have never been into your crawl space below your floor. Its gross, dark, damp, stinky, and has critters down there. Those very same problems are why you need to pay attention to this critically important area.
The problem...? In a single word: Moisture.
Crawl Space Moisture Problems Result In:
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Mold and mildew. Wood, moisture, air and dark spaces enable mold. Studies have shown that up to 40% of air in a crawl space is exchanged with the home above.
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Wood rot. Excess moisture in the wood support structures can result in structural failure, springy floors, and over all wood deterioration.
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Moist environments attract critters who then become meals for bigger critters. All of which leave droppings that mix with the air that is exchanged in the afore mentioned 40% rate with the rest of the home above.
The air exchange between the crawl space and the rest of the house can result in higher energy bills and discomfort in trying to keep the temperature regulated. This also can run greater wear and tear of the HVAC system as it tries to keep up.
Another problem. Radon. Radon is a radioactive gas coming from deep in the earth as uranium decays. This gas accumulates in the crawl space and is again exchanged into the rest of the house. Radon induced lung cancer kills 21,000 people in the US every year.
Radon is a radioactive gas coming from deep in the earth as uranium decays.
At some point you will want to sell your home. With these conditions unaddressed the home will take a large hit. Not only to cover for the cost of these repairs, but also for the uncertainty created with the unknowns in anticipating the plan and costs for fixing them. A smarter plan would be to address them now, to get the test of time demonstrably behind them and get the benefit of those repairs keeping you and your family healthy and safe now.
By calling Arizona Foundation Solutions we will brave the depths below for you and present you an engineered plan to get your crawl spaced tamed!
