Is Your Crawl Space Built to Today’s Standards?
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MOST CRAWL SPACES ARE CLOSER TO THE STANDARDS OF THE 1950S. IN THIS CONTEXT, ACCORDING TO OLD PRACTICES, VENTED CRAWL SPACES WERE MORE EFFECTIVE TO PROTECT HOMES FROM MOISTURE. NOW, THE DEBATE AROUND THIS ISSUE REMAINS IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES. BUT NEW PRACTICES HAVE PROVEN THAT IN HUMID WEATHER, VENTED CRAWL SPACES INCREASE THE LEVEL OF MOISTURE.
NOWADAYS, WHEN YOU CONDITION A CRAWL SPACE, IT PERFORMS BETTER. INSULATION AND ENCAPSULATION ARE EXCELLENT TREATMENTS THAT IMPROVE CRAWLSPACES IN TERMS OF SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
OUTDATED CRAWL SPACES Outdated crawl spaces are breeding grounds to mold, mildew, and critters that grow in damp and dark spaces. Likewise, crawl space vents allow the increase of radon gas contamination levels inside homes. A conditioned space blocks the free airflow, and it can be cool during summers and warm in the winter. Then, the air is kept inside to maintain stable temperatures indoors.
VENTS
On the other hand, closed vents do not prevent cool air from leaking through the vent. This situation implies that the air from outside cools heating ducts and overload the furnace or HVAC. During simmers, hot air enters the crawlspaces, even if vents are closed. Next, this hot air cools and produces moisture and sweat or condensation inside ducts.
WHEN CRAWL SPACES HAVE 1950S-ERA STANDARDS, THEY ARE PRONE TO DEVELOP MOLD. IN THE PAST, DEVELOPERS AND REAL ESTATE COMPANIES WERE NOT AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE
1950s-era standards
THAT VENTED CRAWL SPACES PRODUCE. MOISTURE ISSUES ARE UNAVOIDABLE EVEN IF A VENTED CRAWL SPACE HAS A THIN LAYER OF PLASTIC ON THE GROUND.
Modern standards require that crawl spaces must make homes cleaner, healthier, and more energyefficient. Experts confirm that homeowners should encapsulate their crawl spaces instead of covering them with plastic. Updating your crawl space protect the health of you and your family because indoor air quality improves, and it saves up to 25 percent of energy bills.
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