There
are three things that destroy materials in general,
and wood in particular: water, heat and ultra-violet
radiation. Of these, water is by far the most important.
 
A
dirt crawl space under a home is a very bad idea.
The earth has very high humidity in the soil. This
water vapor moves easily into the crawl space and
upwards into the house environment. A damp environment
is very unhealthy and destructive. Mold thrives and
reproduces by producing airborne spores by the millions,
and some molds are toxic. Insects and critters of
all kinds love damp environments and wet materials.
Rot and decay occur in damp environments causing
structural damage. The natural airflow in a house
is from bottom to top. This sucks the moist air and
everything in it up into the living areas of the
home. Mold spores, odors, humidity and critters create
a very unhealthy environment for people. Many people
are allergic to these things, and experience a host
of symptoms and don’t realize that their dirt
crawl space is affecting their health. Dirt crawl
spaces do not have to be wet or flooded to be extremely
unhealthy. Heating and cooling costs are higher in
a home with a vented dirt crawl space.
top
Problems & Damage
Critters
- Bugs, Rodents and MORE Bugs.
Dirt
crawl spaces are great places to live, thrive and
reproduce. If you're a bug. There is an even temperature,
moisture, damp wood and shelter. Spiders, beetles,
centipedes, termites, and all kinds of other insects
are found in dirt crawl spaces. Animals such as mice
(dead and alive) are commonly found in dirt crawl
spaces. In some cases. even rats, snakes and small
animals have been found.
top
Mold
Mold
spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere.
All they need to grow is organic material such as
wood, the right temperature range, and moisture.
Of these, the only one that can be controlled is
moisture.
Dirt
crawl spaces have high humidity levels necessary for
mold growth. Humidity levels necessary for mold growth.
Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in
dirt crawl spaces that have never flooded.
Mold
can grow on dirt, insulation, framing, and even under
your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic
materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing
millions of floating airborne spores, which some people
are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many
years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some
molds produce mycotoxins, such as the black mold Stachybotyrs.
Many articles can be found on the effects of mold,
and toxic mold.
Dr.
Harriet Burge, an expert in airborne diseases at the
Harvard School of Public Health says, "Mold in
houses is not a good thing. It could lead to asthma.
Houses with mold are damp, and have dust mites and
other things in them that can cause illness, especially
in children".
Don't
panic; there is a solution that will stop your crawl
space from being a hospitable environment for mold.
Mold will not grow when the humidity levels are reduced
below 40%.
top
Condensation
 Because
of the high humidity level in a dirt crawl space,
cool surfaces such as the earth at 55 degrees,
concrete and metal surfaces will swell with water
vapor condensing out of the air. This causes rot,
smells, and is a water source for critters.
top
Structural
Damage
Moisture
is the prime factor that causes structural damage.
Over time, rot and decay from a moist environment
damage wood framing and steel structural members.
top
 The
CleanSpace Liner
The
CleanSpace liner is used to isolate the home from
the earth completely and permanently. The liner is
a heavy 20 mil thick material similar to a pool liner.
It is manufactured in 7 layers - a blend of high
density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and
two layers of a polyester cord reinforcement. It
is Blue on one side and white on the other. The bright
white finished side really brightens a crawl space
with the available lighting and allows you to easily
see that your crawl space is free of mold, insects
and dirt.
The
CleanSpace liner is tough enough for you to crawl
on it and use your crawl space for storage. Servicemen
can crawl on it without worry of putting  holes
or tears in the liner. The liner completely stops
moisture penetration.
CleanSpace
is treated with antimicrobial finish that effectively
protects against mold and mildew growth on the liner
top
The
Solution
The
CleanSpace Crawl Space Encapsulation System completely
isolates your home from the earth. This dramatically
reduces the humidity level in the air, which will
reduce or in most cases eliminate mold growth, rot
and critters from your crawl space and make the whole
house healthier.
Contact
us for a free written estimate and evaluation of
your crawl space.
As heat rises,
the natural air movement in a home is upward.
Air escapes out of the upper levels, and is drawn
upward from the lower levels.
|
A
dirt crawl space under a home is a very bad idea.
The earth has a very high humidity in the soil. This
water vapor moves easily into the crawl space and
upwards into the house environment.
A
damp environment is very unhealthy and destructive.
Mold thrives and reproduces by producing airborne
spores by the millions, and some molds are toxic.
Insects
and critters of all kinds love damp environments
and wet materials. Rot and decay occur in damp environments
causing structural damage.
The
natural airflow in a house is from bottom to top.
This sucks the moist air and everything in it up
into the living areas of the house.
Mold
spores, odors, humidity and critters create a very
unhealthy environment for people. Many people are
allergic to these things, and experience a host of
symptoms and don't realize that their dirt crawl
space is affecting their health. Dirt crawl spaces
do not have to be wet or flooded to be extremely
unhealthy.
Heating
and cooling costs are higher in a home with a vented
dirt crawl space.
The
humidity level in many crawl spaces go from over
80% to under 35% after the CleanSpace System is installed.
Some homeowners say that the windows and doors upstairs
are opening better because the swollen wood has dried
out. Even buckling hardwood floors and carpets dry
out.
Now
there is a real solution to dirt crawl spaces
- The CleanSpace System -
developed by Basement Systems, the world leader in dry basement technology.
Contact
us for a free written estimate and evaluation of
your crawl space.
Hire
with Confidence and Security. Hire a Basement Systems
Dealer!
top
Drainage
Options
 Some
crawl spaces are wet and require a drainage system
underneath the CleanSpace liner. Your local CleanSpace
dealer will recommend a drainage system that is best
for your crawl space conditions.
A
Basement Systems SuperSump will be necessary in wet
crawl spaces to drain the water and pump it out.
The SuperSump has a reliable 1/3 hp cast iron pump
in a strong durable sump liner with holes in it to
accept water from the ground. It features an airtight
lid to keep the moisture and bugs out, and a WaterWatch
alarm system to let you know if there is ever a pump
or power problem before the crawl space floods.
The
SuperSump will be installed in a low spot in your
crawl space. As an option, a drainage swale or trench
system can be developed around the perimeter to drain
water to the Super Sump. An UltraSump battery back-up
pumping system is an option.
 
top
|
