Crawl Space Mold New Palestine, IN

A recent visit to a home in New Palestine, Indiana found an extreme case of mold growth and wood rot in their crawlspace.  The homeowner was aware of "joist problems" when she bought the home 4 years ago, but was blindsided by the extent of repairs needed for the home.  The access was too tight for her home inspector to evaluate the crawlspace so no inspection was done until she called us out to assist her in getting her home ready to sell.  She was horrified over what she saw going on under her home.  The home had been completely remodeled when she bought the home.  Unfortunately, this is not the first home buyer that was unaware of the severity of problem in their crawlspace.  It is very important to thoroughly inspect the crawlspace before purchasing the home.  Give us a call at 317-893-7016 if you are looking for a professional crawlspace inspection.  We service all of central Indiana.

Crawl Space Indianapolis

Crawl spaces in indianapolis are not unlike those in the rest of the great Hoosier state.  Crawl spaces in general are a design flaw.  They have an exposed dirt floor that is open to the outside air via ventilation.  There are so many problems with this scenario.

For starters the exposed earth evaporates moisture into the air of the crawlspace.  A standard vapor barrier is installed in most crawl spaces to reduce this evaporation but does not manage to eliminate all the  moisture emitting from the dirt floor.

Most importantly, the vents (standard building codes) allow for outdoor unconditioned air to enter the crawlspace environment throwing off the balance of the conditioning occurring in the home.  Hot humid air in Indianapolis summers enter the crawlspace and cause the colder surfaces (air ducts, water pipes) to condensate.  In some cases, the entire floor structure is saturated in moisture from condensation. Vented crawlspaces also bring in cold air in the winter that leads to cold floors, frozen water pipes, and higher heating bills.

There is a remedy to vented crawl spaces in Indianapolis.  Proper drainage and encapsulation of the crawlspace can turn an unhealthy environment into a clean, dry, energy efficient, health crawlspace.  For more information or a free quote , give us a call at 1-317-893-7016.  Our Indianapolis Crawlspace Insulation Contractors can keep your home warm and dry.

How to Treat Smelly Crawl Space Odor

When there is a strong crawl space odor, it can spread throughout the home via the duct system.  Crawlspaces are typically a dirt floor that are vented to the unconditioned outdoor air.  This allows for multiple odor sources.  Vented crawl spaces are especially susceptible to moisture problems.  Moisture can lead to mold growth and other odor problems.

The first step in how to treat a smelly crawl space is to find out the source of the problem.  If the crawlspace is vented, it is recommended that an encapsulation or conditioning system be installed to remedy unwanted humid air from entering the crawlspace in the summer months.  If the crawlspace is wet or moist after heavy rains,  it is recommended that a interior or exterior drainage system is installed to facilitate the water out of the crawlspace.  An encapsulation system would be installed after the drainage problem is resolved.

Another source of odor is from the dirt floor in the crawlspace.  You might just be smelling the odor of soil after has become damp and that moisture starts to evaporate.  In this case, a vapor barrier would help stop some of the smell, but an encapsulation system would do a better job of containing the smell under the liner.

Sometimes an odor can come from dead animals or animal fecal matter.  In this scenario, an encapsulation system would also help to ensure animals do not enter the crawlspace because it would be sealed off from curious critters entering.

If mold already exists in the crawl, then professional mold remediation needs to take place prior or during the moisture control remedy.

In either case, if you are unsure of the source, or need help addressing the source, give us a call for a no-obligation estimate to help remedy the odor.  Our Office Phone is 317-893-7016.