Introduction:
There is a lot to know about an ideal home. However, maintaining a livable space is not an easy feat and often requires a detailed understanding of your home's HVAC system. Your home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system are vital in ensuring your family's comfort and safety indoors.
One crucial factor that affects your home's indoor air quality is humidity. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that the indoor humidity level be between 30 and 60 per cent. However, if the humidity level is too high, it can lead to mold and mildew growth, which can cause health problems for your family.
There are a few ways to lower the humidity level in your home, but one of the most effective methods is to ventilate your crawl space. A crawl space is an area beneath your home accessible through a small opening. It is typically used for storage or as a workspace for HVAC repairs. Learn more on how to lower the crawl space humidity levels below.
What is an Ideal Crawl Space Humidity Level:
The ideal crawl space humidity level is between 30 to 50%. However, considering the range that the EPA recommends for indoor humidity levels, a crawl space humidity level of 55% is still regarded as safe. However, this may vary depending on the climate you live in. This ideal humidity level will help prevent the growth of mold and mildew and wood rot and maintain the air to be fresh and free from any musty smell.
Why is it Mandatory to Maintain a Lower Humidity Level?
Once the air temperature level in your crawl space starts rising, the air can become humid. If this happens, it can lead to problems like wood rot, mold growth, and musty odors. These make your home less comfortable, but they can also be dangerous for your health.
mold spores can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and even trigger allergies. Meanwhile, high humidity levels can also lead to wood rot, which weakens the structural integrity of your home.
Aside from the health hazards, a humid crawl space can also lead to higher energy bills. When the air in your crawl space is moist, it becomes harder for your HVAC system to cool or heat your home effectively. This forces your system to work harder, using more energy and driving up your utility costs.
So, to develop a safeguard for your family's health and save money on your energy bills, it is essential to keep the humidity level in your crawl space at a safe level.
What are the Reasons that Lead your Crawl Space to be Humid?
Accumulation of Standing Water:
One of the most common reasons for a humid crawl space is the accumulation of standing water. This can be due to several factors, such as condensation from your HVAC system, leaks in your plumbing, or even rainwater that has made its way into your crawl space. You do not need the floating puddle in your living area, which creates a favorable environment for mold spores to grow.
Henceforth, if you notice any standing water in your crawl space, it is essential to address it as soon as possible. Standing water is a breeding ground for mold and other harmful bacteria, so removing it as quickly as possible is vital.
The Air Outside your House is More Humid than the Air Inside:
Another common cause of a humid crawl space is the difference in humidity levels between the air outside and inside your home. When the air outside is more humid than the air inside your home, it can cause moisture to build up in your crawl space. This is because warm air rises and cold air sinks, so the air inside your home cannot hold as much moisture as the air outside.
Now that you know the reasons why crawl space is humid, let's further know-how humidity can be lower down:
Crawl Space Encapsulation:
One of the best ways to crawl space repair to reduce humidity is to encapsulate it. Encapsulation involves sealing your crawl space from the outside world with a vapor barrier. This will help prevent moisture from entering your crawl space and avoid any existing water from escaping.
A vapor barrier is a thin layer of impermeable polyethylene sheeting placed on the floor and walls of your crawl space, which prevents moisture diffusion. To maintain the humidity level and to resist the poor air quality from entering the living area, it is crucial to have a well-installed vapor barrier. These barriers used in crawl space encapsulation are high tensile strength; they are even puncture-resistant and are 10-20 mil thick.
Crawl Space Dehumidifier:
Another way to lower the humidity level in your crawl space is to install a dehumidifier. This will help remove the excess moisture from the air and prevent any future moisture build-up. They are placed in the encapsulated crawl space, and they need to be vented to the outside. The dehumidifier will help keep the humidity level in your crawl space at a safe level and also help to prevent any mold or mildew from growing. In addition, they will constantly optimize the air circulation through their fans which helps in lowering the overall temperature and makes it difficult for mold to grow.
Sump Pump:
If you have a crawl space prone to flooding, then installing a sump pump can help reduce the humidity level. A sump pump is installed in the lowest part of your crawl space and will pump out any accumulated water. This will help keep your crawl space dry and free from any standing water.
Conclusion:
Getting an ideal humid climate in your home can be a challenge, but by following the tips in this guide, you will be well on your way to lowering crawl space humidity levels and improving your home's indoor air quality. This will reduce almost all your health risks related to a high humidity level in your home.
However, you need to contact a reliable professional foundation contractor who has mastery in structural repair, basement waterproofing, and other foundation repair services to get the work done flawlessly.
This is because a layman might not be aware of the technicalities involved in getting the job done efficiently, and as a result, your home's foundation might get damaged. So, what are you waiting for? Schedule a free consultation with us today so they can help you achieve the perfect humid level in your home.
Thank you for reading!
