Improving a Home’s Indoor Air Quality by Crawl Space Encapsulation
The crawl space has an integral role towards a home’s overall value as well as the living space above. Most homeowners don’t think twice about their crawl space unless they have to make repairs to plumbing, heating ducts or house wiring. While often thought of as no more than a storage area, it also has a tremendous impact on the overall indoor air quality of the entire home.
Looking for a way to improve your home’s insulation and lower your energy bills? Hawk Crawlspace & Foundation Repair has the perfect solution: crawl space encapsulation. Our experienced professionals will seal up your crawl space, creating an airtight barrier that will keep out pests, moisture, and drafts. You’ll enjoy a more comfortable home year-round, and you may even see a decrease in your energy costs! Give us a call today to learn more about our crawl space encapsulation services.
By default, the air quality of a crawl space is typically poor. Mold, mildew, radon gas and poor energy efficiency all create several problems. The air that circulates within it eventually makes its way up through the living space. Scientific studies show that up to 50% of living space air originates from the lowest level of the home. With homeowners more concerned about their home’s indoor air quality, the encapsulating of crawl spaces has become a popular solution for such problems.
Hawk Crawlspace & Foundation Repair offers crawl space encapsulation services to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their homes and fix any foundation issues. Our team is polite, professional, and knowledgeable, and we’re dedicated to providing our customers with quality services that exceed expectations. If you’re looking for a reliable crawl space encapsulation company, look no further than Hawk Crawlspace & Foundation Repair!
A damp crawl space creates a safe harbor for harmful molds, in addition to dust mites, termites and other bugs that can infest the home. The presence of excessive moisture will also create a serious problem with the probability for the wooden structure of a home to deteriorate. Crawl space vents pose a further problem. While believed to be a solution to moisture problems, they unfortunately make the problem worse. As it turns out, the vents allow cold air and moisture in, which rises into the living area and therefore decreases the heating efficiency of the entire home.
The experts at Hawk Crawlspace & Foundation Repair understand that a properly functioning crawl space is key to a healthy home. That’s why we offer encapsulation services to keep your crawl space moisture-free and protected from pests. Our team uses only the highest-quality materials and products to ensure your crawl space is properly sealed and insulated. Contact us today for a free estimate!
Another all-too-common problem associated with crawl spaces is radon gas. Though it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted, radon is a radioactive gas that can contribute to poor health, including cancer. Radon gas makes its way through the earth, into the crawl space and the home’s living space. According to the U.S.E.P.A., radon gas is the number one leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Ignoring these various conditions is not recommended for both long-term health and energy usage. Fully encapsulating a crawl space – by both sealing and insulating – is a fully efficient measure in addressing such problems. It makes sense to maintain and improve the lower level area in order to maximize healthy living conditions and home resale value.
While there are several systems for encapsulatiing, a zero perm liner system that also insulates and reflects heat provides the most benefits. With a proper floor and wall liner, the area will not only be well insulated, but will seal out moisture, bug infestation and radon gas. Other components to look for in a system include a radon gas-dispersing drain fabric, a radon gas ventilation pipe and a ceiling heat shield.
A complete system with all of the above components will allow any soil gases – including radon gas – that naturally occur under the liner system, to wick through the drain fabric and escape out through the ventilation pipe. While improved indoor air quality is the primary benefit of a sealed and insulated crawl space, the homeowner will also appreciate a bright, clean, and dry storage area; the ridding of musty smells; less energy usage; and tax credits. Contractors encapsulating crawl spaces will have more to offer to their clients when they can assure the peace of mind with improved indoor air quality.
