If your home sits on top of a crawl space, you might wonder how to best care for it. Homeowners benefit from sealing and adequately maintaining their crawl spaces. Protecting this part of your house from the elements goes a long way. Installing a crawl space dehumidifier can make a world of difference in a humid environment, offering numerous benefits.
Table of Contents:
- Understanding the Importance of Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
- FAQs about crawl space dehumidifier benefits
- Conclusion
Understanding the Importance of Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
A crawl space dehumidifier does what you would expect: it removes moisture from the air in your crawl space. Installing one might mean saving money on costly repairs in the future and protecting your health and your family’s health.
Preventing Mold and Mildew Growth
It’s a well-known fact that mold thrives in moist, warm environments. A humid crawl space is perfect for rapid mold growth, especially if you have experienced a leak. However, even the ambient moisture present in the air can be enough. Some regions, such as coastal regions and the South, naturally have more humidity in their outdoor environments.
Many people might not know how dangerous mold exposure can be to their health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued stark warnings about mold exposure because individuals can react severely to its presence.
Reducing Allergy Symptoms
If you suffer from allergies, you already know how frustrating it can be when symptoms flare. Dust mites are one of the worst culprits, thriving in warm, humid environments and worsening allergy symptoms. The air inside a crawl space is often connected to the rest of the air circulating throughout your home.
Running a dehumidifier lowers the overall humidity, discouraging dust mites and other pests. Keeping dust mites at bay goes a long way toward keeping your family healthy.
Protecting the Structure of Your Home
A crawl space often contains crucial components such as support beams, HVAC ductwork, insulation, and electrical wiring. What do all those components have in common? They don’t stand up very well to moisture. One of the many benefits of a crawl space dehumidifier is extending the life of your home’s vital structures.
Increased Energy Efficiency
While roofing technologies have come a long way, heat naturally rises and escapes through a home’s roof. Many homeowners with crawl spaces discover their floors are always cold, even with the thermostat cranked up. This is often caused by excess humidity seeping into their homes through the floor. If the humidity levels are extremely high, it might feel “clammy” inside.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Reduced HVAC Costs | When the humidity levels are balanced in your home, your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard. This takes the pressure off and allows it to run less. |
| Improved Insulation Effectiveness | Installing a vapor barrier and reducing moisture with dehumidifiers reduce moisture buildup, allowing insulation to do its job. This results in greater efficiency overall. |
| Preventing Appliance Strain | Appliances, like HVAC systems and humidifiers, won’t have to work overtime to create a balanced environment. |
Taking steps toward making other energy efficiency improvements, such as installing a tankless water heater, is another way to offset the cost of running your crawl space dehumidifier. Implementing a combination of tactics can make your home more energy-efficient.
Pest Control in Your Crawl Space
Many homeowners are surprised to discover how attractive a standard crawl space is to local critters. These unwanted guests might include snakes, rodents, spiders, ants, and termites. Once they find a way inside, many will permanently reside in this convenient location. This area is shielded from harsh weather conditions and potentially near a handy food source.
These critters are looking for one thing: a hospitable environment that’s warm, dark, and humid. Employing proper moisture control methods, such as crawl space encapsulation, can help make this space less appealing to pests. This is why it’s beneficial if your home’s structure incorporates proper energy efficiency measures.
FAQs about crawl space dehumidifier benefits
Is it Worth Putting a Dehumidifier in a Crawl Space?
This depends on whether you have a moisture problem or not. Look for musty odors, signs of condensation on insulation or ductwork, and water stains on walls or insulation. Other signs of excess moisture in your crawl space include sagging floors, warped floorboards above, and increased allergy symptoms within your home.
Will a Dehumidifier in Crawl Space Lower Humidity in the House?
A home typically shares air, so increased humidity in the crawl space will also affect the humidity in the living spaces above it. Installing a crawl space dehumidifier should reduce overall home humidity.
How Long Does It Take for a Dehumidifier to Dry Out a Crawl Space?
There’s no single answer for this, as many variables can affect this timeline. These variables include the starting humidity levels in the space, how large and deep the crawl space is, whether the unit runs constantly or on a timer, how often you run the unit, and the moisture level the dehumidifier is rated to remove. Crawl space dehumidifiers should not be confused with portable dehumidifiers. Portable units lack the power of their dedicated cousins.
Should I Close the Vents in Crawl Space with a Dehumidifier?
Building codes have traditionally called for vents in this space. However, newer methods call for completely sealing the area to reduce moisture issues. Moisture can come from the ground and fluctuating exterior humidity levels. A reputable company can make recommendations, like crawl space encapsulation, that make sense for your situation. They also often suggest installing a vapor barrier.
Conclusion
The area under the house sometimes gets overlooked when building a house or performing renovations. Investing in a quality crawl space dehumidifier protects the structural integrity of your home. You can expect other crawl space dehumidifier benefits like improved indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and less moisture removal costs down the road. Your family’s health matters. What steps are you taking to protect the crawlspace in your home?
