Due to the cold winters and humid summers, homes in Michigan may experience water damage below the surface. If your floors are sagging or you smell musty odors, you might need a crawl space repair to solve these issues. Here are some crawl space red flags Michigan home inspectors look for:
Moisture and Water Entry
Water accumulates in the crawl spaces due to melting snow, poor drainage, or plumbing leaks. When there’s excessive moisture in this part of your home, it damages the foundation, causing cracks or structural shifting. If the area isn’t well-ventilated, the humidity in summer creates condensation, also causing moisture issues. When inspecting for damage, inspectors look for standing water, rusted metal parts, or stains on walls to assess the condition of your crawl space. To prevent water damage to your home, professionals install a vapor barrier, which seals the ground and prevents moisture from rising into your space.
Mold and Mildew
When your crawl space is damp, it allows mold and mildew to grow and spread quickly. Due to excessive biological spores in this area, your home experiences musty and earthy odors that may worsen your allergies, or even cause sicknesses. During an inspection, experts check for mold and mildew in areas such as around plumbing, HVAC ducts, and rim joists. Too much mold within your home breaks down wood fibers, weakening floor joists and support beams. To manage this issue, schedule crawl space repair. Specialists install encapsulation systems to seal the area and prevent moisture from entering.
Wood Rot
Moisture in your crawl space causes floor joists, beams, and sill plates to rot and weaken your house’s support system. When wood decays, your floors may begin to bow, sag, or feel bouncy underfoot, which means the structures underneath cannot support the weight. An inspector checks soft, spongy, or crumbly wood in beams and joists to determine whether there’s rotting taking place. If you have these issues, hire a professional to replace decayed sections to prevent your foundation from shifting. Another way to manage wood rot is by installing a sump pump, which removes excess water that builds up in a crawl space.
Insulation Problems
During an inspection, professionals check your crawl space for failing or missing insulation, which creates cold spots that trap moisture. Another red flag is wet or compressed insulation, which allows mold to grow and reduces the air pockets that hold warmth. If the insulation has fallen off joists or walls, it leaves open spaces where cold air enters, forcing your HVAC to work harder. Using spray foam insulation, technicians create a seal that prevents moisture from entering the crawl space. These specialists also install a quality dehumidifier to control humidity and keep insulation dry throughout the hot and cold seasons.
Pest Invasion
If you have moisture problems in your crawl space, you may have insect, rodent, or pest infestations. To identify if your home is infested, inspectors look for nesting materials, droppings, chewed structures, and odors. Pests destroy the crawl space by eating wood, wiring, and insulation, creating fire hazards and weakening your house. They also build nests that block ventilation, trapping moisture and stale air that contributes to mold growth. To prevent pest invasion, experts seal entry points and encapsulate the area to keep it dry, which deters bugs.
Make an Appointment for Crawl Space Repair
When your crawl space is dry, the indoor air quality in your home improves, and you don’t have to deal with pest problems. During the repair process, a team of professionals inspects your crawl space for signs of wet soil, standing water, and biological growth to identify moisture issues. To waterproof your home, call a trusted company today to make an appointment for crawl space repair.