Encapsulating Your Crawlspace: How Does It Improve Air Quality?

According to the American Lung Association, people in the U.S. spend 90% of their time indoors. Unfortunately, indoor air quality (IAQ) can be worse than outdoor air, possibly being twice to five times more polluted.

Poor IAQ can harm everyone, but individuals with existing lung problems and other health conditions are especially at risk.

The good news is that there are several ways to combat the unwanted and unpleasant health effects of poor IAQ and improve your home’s air quality. One effective strategy is encapsulating your crawlspace.

But how exactly can crawlspace encapsulation improve air quality in your Virginia home? Join us at BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair as we share insights to answer that question in this guide.

Crawlspace Moisture Control

Encapsulating your crawlspace helps improve air quality by controlling moisture. As the U.S. EPA explains, moisture control is key to mold control.

Why Preventing Indoor Mold Matters

You don’t want molds or fungi growing in your home since not only do they look horrible, but exposure to them can lead to:

• Allergic reactions
• Asthma
• Irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin
• Other respiratory conditions

Some molds also produce mycotoxins, substances that can cause poisoning in humans and animals. According to WebMD, exposure to these microorganisms (e.g., digestion, skin contact, or inhalation) can lead to severe health problems affecting:

• Digestion
• The lungs
• The immune system

Molds and fungi can also lead to even more air quality problems due to the material degradation they can cause. For example, when these microorganisms digest organic materials like wood, the compromised material can produce dust particles if disturbed. The particles can then go airborne, lowering your Virginia home’s IAQ while increasing your household’s exposure and safety risk.

The Link Between Molds and Moisture in Crawlspaces

Molds need moisture to grow; even a tiny amount of condensation is enough to help them survive and thrive.

Due to their proximity to the ground, unencapsulated crawlspaces are often damp and humid, providing ideal living conditions for mold. Molds that grow in crawlspaces can release spores into the air, which is how they reproduce. The airborne spores can spread throughout your home through various ways, such as your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

BAY Crawlspace Encapsulation to the Rescue

When you partner with BAY for your crawlspace encapsulation, our team will install and tape a heavy vapor barrier liner covering 100% of the earth. The barrier is waterproof and prevents or minimizes moisture in the crawlspace. Maintaining a dry crawlspace is critical because if left to its own devices, moisture can damage wooden structures in your home, including floors.

Next, we will insulate and seal the walls with specialized vapor barrier foam boards. We will also wrap and tape the support piers to prevent moisture seepage.

We’ll then seal vents and crawlspace doors with covers. Sealing these areas helps minimize outdoor elements and weather, including humidity, from affecting indoor air.

Lastly, we’ll set up a dehumidifier to clean and dry the air in the crawlspace. The dehumidifier automatically runs as needed, helping maintain relative humidity at 65%.

Reduction of Dust Mite Allergens

According to the Indoor Air Quality Scientific Findings Resource Bank, high relative humidity in buildings can increase the number of dust mites in the air.

Dust mites are close relatives of spiders and ticks. Although they’re too small to see with the naked eye, they’re prevalent allergen sources.

So, moisture does not only lead to mold or fungal growth in crawlspaces, which is already bad enough. It can also attract dust mites, bringing even more health concerns.

People allergic to dust mites can experience symptoms similar to hay fever. In some cases, they may even exhibit asthma signs, such as difficulty breathing and wheezing.

Since crawlspace encapsulation can help control indoor humidity, it can also make your home less attractive to dust mites. The fewer dust mites in the air, the fewer allergens, and the better your IAQ can be.

Air Barrier

While many places in Virginia have seen significant outdoor air improvements, they still don’t have 100% clean air. So, it’s possible for polluted outdoor air to infiltrate your home via a crawlspace, such as through:

• Vents designed for ventilation
• Gaps in foundation walls
• Other openings

When polluted outdoor air penetrates crawlspaces, the pollutants they carry can also enter your home. The risk is much higher if the crawlspaces don’t have adequate insulation or sealing.

As explained above, crawlspace encapsulation involves sealing and installing vapor barriers from the ground to the vents and doors. By covering and protecting these areas, encapsulation minimizes outdoor air from penetrating the crawlspace and prevents dirty air from entering your living space.

Pest Control

A crawlspace is dark, relatively warm, and more humid than the surrounding environment. All these attributes make it a haven for various pests, including:

• Rodents like mice and rats
• Ground-dwellers, such as termites and millipedes
• Beetles
• Carpenter ants
• Cockroaches
• Spiders

Since crawlspaces aren’t places you hang out often, pest problems in these areas can spread and worsen before you even realize they’re there. For this reason, it’s imperative to take preventive measures to help stop pest problems in crawlspaces before they even start.

Preventing pests in crawlspaces can begin with a professional encapsulation service. Encapsulation helps mitigate moisture that attracts pests and acts as a seal, preventing them from entering the space.

Pests don’t belong in your home because many (such as rodents and termites) can cause property damage, and some can be health and safety risks. They can transmit or cause diseases through bites or by contaminating surfaces and air with their bodily fluids and fecal matter.

Ready to Reap the Benefits of Encapsulating Your Crawlspace?

Encapsulating your crawlspace can improve home air quality in many ways, from providing effective moisture control to helping keep pests out. So, as soon as possible, consider partnering with BAY, the leading provider of crawlspace and foundation repair services in the Coastal VA and NC region.

Our company has serviced 10,000+ homes and garnered over 2,500 5-star reviews from happy customers. We offer lifetime warranties on our products and services and provide a free, no-obligation inspection of your home and its concerns.

Reach out today to schedule your complimentary estimate and free, non-obligatory crawlspace and foundation analysis!