CRITTERS IN YOUR CRAWL SPACE
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ABANDOINED CRAWL SPACES If you let time go by without looking inside your home’s crawl space, maybe you will face severe issues below your home’s living space. Neglected crawl spaces tend to be dark and musty places where many critters make their way into your home. On the other hand, musty crawl spaces are ideal environments for rodents because they offer them safe and warm conditions for growth and reproduction. Plus, when these spaces are near food sources like unmonitored trash cans, other critters and wildlife become attracted to them. Also, gaps between the foundation and framing and vents often become entry points for pests.
The worst consequence of moisture issues in a crawl space results from pathogens produced by rodent droppings and urine. In this context, pest contamination usually leads to health conditions such as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory disease that humans can contract when they breathe infested air.
PREVENTING RODENTS FROM ENTERING YOUR CRAWL SPACE
Before taking reactive measures, preventing rodents and other critters from entering your crawl space is crucial. The first step to accomplish this task is cleaning it and sealing all entry points with foam insulation or caulk. Next, you must spread a plastic vapor barrier to reduce moisture and minimize favorable conditions for pest growth.
CLEANING After fixing moisture sources and cleaning your crawl space, encapsulating the crawl space with a plastic barrier will reduce moisture levels to a minimum. The success of this method depends on the plastic barrier thickness. It is because tick barriers hinder pests and wildlife from entering your home.
OHER MEASURES Likewise, you must clear outside areas by removing rocks and debris. In this way, you are removing all hiding places for rodents and other animals. Also, you must replace rotten wooden structures that attract termites and other living species. Avoid storing food to make it difficult for the rodents to hide in the surrounding areas outside the crawl space. Besides, because rodents have nocturnal habits, lighting your crawl space discourages them from entering your home.
Finally, waterproofing methods help improve indoor air quality and prevent pests from creating colonies inside your house. Similarly, crawl space waterproofing in Charlotte, NC, helps avoid mold issues and structural damage caused by moisture and invasive species animals.
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