Learning to Communicate with Your Cleaning Service

Posted on: 10 June 2015

Does your house feel damp? Does it smell like mold and mildew? If so, you've probably searched high and low to find the problem. If you're like most people, however, you probably forgot about one vital part of your home: your crawlspace. If you've searched in vain for the source of your troubles, you might want to roll up your sleeves and take a good look at your crawlspace. If you notice any of the following crawlspace issues, you should hire a professional crawlspace cleaning company that specializes in creating moisture-proof environments. 

Wet or Inadequate Insulation

It is estimated that a whopping 30 percent of the air on the first floor of your home comes from your basement or crawlspace. If your crawlspace is wet or damp, you are guaranteed to notice a strange smell on the first floor. One of the most common causes of a musty crawlspace is damp and wet insulation. If your insulation appears wet or is falling apart and hanging down everywhere, you have a problem. Not only does the insulation need to be replaced, you need to find out how moisture got into your crawlspace in the first place. 

Lack of Vapor Barrier

Inspect your crawlspace for a vapor barrier. If yours has one, you should be able to clearly see what appears to be plastic or vinyl sheeting covering the floor and walls of your crawl space. You should also be able to see that the insulation on the underside of your floor joists is protected and held in place by plastic. If your crawlspace has a dirt floor, it is not moisture proof nor does it have an adequate vapor barrier.  

Humidity and Musty Odors

If your crawl space feels humid or if you notice that the musty, mildew smell is stronger in your crawlspace, you likely have moisture problems that are not easily noticeable. Issues, such as small cracks in your foundation or a leaking seal on a window can cause water and moisture problems in your crawlspace. 

In order to stay strong and healthy, your home needs a clean, moisture-proof crawlspace. If yours has any of the above symptoms, hire a crawlspace cleaning company to clean out from under your home and search for possible causes of your humidity issue. If you hire a company that also specializes in vapor proofing, they can totally transform your crawlspace into the space it was always meant to be.