How to Spot Crawl Space Problems for New Homeowners
Imagine that you have recently moved to a new house and are exploring every inch of it related to crawl space insulation. Everything is okay. Flash forward to some years in the future, and your home’s foundation is experiencing some major issues.
When a professional arrives to investigate, it turns out that your crawl area contains a concealed, significant problem that is the root of the situation. However, because of this crawl space inspection, you now have a better insight into the problems in your crawl space.
Find out whether you have crawl space issues after purchasing your new house as soon as possible. Doing so can prevent any major, expensive issues with your house in the future.
To help you understand what to look out for, we’ve compiled this article to help you understand. Here are the top 5 crawl space problems you should look out for, whether you’re a new homeowner or have been living in the same property for some time now.
Problem #1: Musty, damp smells in the home for crawl space insulation
The presence of a damp or musty odor coming from the ground is one of the most prominent indicators that your property has crawl space problems. If it has grown, you most likely have a mildew or mold buildup, so you can smell it while moving about.
This is a concern in and of itself since mold may harm your and your family’s health.
The CDC states mold can cause wheezing, itchy or red eyes and irritated skin. This can cause a severe response in those with asthma. Allergy sufferers may also react strongly to mold.
Given that there is a floor between you and the crawl space, it might not seem as though the crawl space impacts the air in your home. Yet, the reverse is, in reality, true. The air in your crawl space quickly enters your home because heat rises. Your crawl area is where 40% of the oxygen you breathe inside your house comes from. So, you must address the mold problem as soon as possible.
Also, mold or mildew development in your crawl area could indicate more serious problems. A leaking pipe or water seepage issue might be present.
Problem #2: Cold floors
You might have frigid flooring if your crawl space isn’t working properly. Have you recently been forced to put on slippers each time you get out of bed to keep warm, or have you been forced to walk around your house on tiptoes?
Your crawl space isn’t sufficiently insulated in this situation. Because heat rises naturally, it fills your whole house, leaving the crawl space—on the other side of your floors—cold. The stack effect refers to this exact situation.
This can result in uncomfortable situations and major problems like frozen pipes. A broken, frozen pipe might result in significant flooding that could harm your home’s walls, furniture, and foundation.
You should speak with a professional about crawl space remedies to prevent this from happening. They will assist you in properly insulating the crawl space.
A crawl space purpose is to heat the floors, not cool them.
Problem #3: Uneven floors
Your house may have uneven floors. This could be a major issue as it could indicate that there is a problem with your home’s foundation. Despite the fact that your home likely has a crawl space, a damaged crawl space can seriously impair the stability of your flooring.
You should get these uneven flooring looked at if you recently moved in. By doing so, you’ll be able to determine if you require crawl space repair or if you only have damaged flooring.
Problem #4: High energy costs
If your energy costs have lately increased despite having your heat set as high as it will go, your crawl space may be to blame. You won’t realize eskort atakoy how chilly your floors are in reality, especially if you have carpet.
Your crawl space’s chilly section is heated with an extra effort from your HVAC system. You are thereby paying far more than is necessary.
Thankfully, professionals have crawl space options, including redesigning your crawl space or properly insulating it. Even though the repair will cost money, it will still be far less expensive than paying for expensive winter energy costs. Plus, crawl space bostancı escort insulation has its own benefits.
Problem #5: Groundwater seepage
Groundwater seepage is an additional justification for crawl space repairs. This problem could lead to mold formation or harmed timber beams if you’ve detected this problem. Also, your house can sustain water damage.
Your wooden flooring or other wooden constructions might decay, bend, or warp.
What’s worse? Your crawl space has probably been flooded more than once if you’ve only recently become aware of groundwater seepage. Your house may already have sustained significant damage.
Moreover, mold growth may result from standing water in your crawl area. If you’re not careful, you might have to call in the professionals for mold removal, which can cost a lot, depending on who you call.
How much money can blown-in insulation save you?
Since it can fit into the teeny cracks and crevices in your attic where heat and cold air usually leak out, blown insulation is more airtight than batts and rolls. This is why it is so much more energy efficient than other options. Although it is hard to estimate your installation costs in this location, most customers find that the installation cost is recovered in the money they save on energy bills over the next two to four years.
Blown-in insulation is not one of the most cost-effective options on the market, but it certainly is one of the most reliable and permanent. This is why blown in insulation costs may be higher than other insulation options.
Can I install blown-in insulation myself in my home?
No, you can’t in almost all settings. This is because of the need for staff to operate the blower and feed the materials and the costly machinery and knowledge necessary to guarantee that the wool is evenly covered. A skilled team of blown in insulation contractors can install your blown insulation in a single day with little to no mess.
Why install blown-in insulation
Regardless of how the roof was built (as long as it is waterproof), blown insulation can be put in any attic space and insulate the living area below. As long as it is sufficiently far from the living area of the house, it could be installed successfully in small and unusually shaped rooms. In many cases, blown-in attic insulation is far more affordable than facing batts; fiberglass is also non-combustible and pest-resistant. Fiberglass insulation is resistant to moisture and mildew, unlike more conventional types of insulation, and does not create a good home for mice, birds, or insects.
It also has some noise-canceling properties, which may be advantageous if you live next to a busy road, an airport, neighbors who frequently have family gatherings, or if you frequently encounter storms. The opposite is also true; whether you have noisy pets, musicians in the family, or you like to stay up late watching action movies, you may do as you want to know that your neighbors won’t be bothered. This may also assist in lessening noise from room to room within your house.
If you’d like to know more about blown-in insulation or would like to have it installed in your own home, call Zavza Seal LLC today. You can contact them today to get a free estimate on their services, blown-in insulation included.
What is blown-in insulation?
Conventional insulation often comes as faced batts (foam-like boards) or unfaced rolls. Still, blown insulation is frequently a far better option if your insulation needs to be updated or you’re adding it to an older attic. Mineral fibers make up blown insulation, often known as loose-fill insulation. Nevertheless, cellulose or Styrofoam pellets are occasionally used.
Typically, non-toxic fiberglass mineral wool is used to create blown insulation. Most new homes utilize fiberglass insulation, the most prevalent type of insulation on the market.
How is blown-in insulation installed?
This insulation’s name refers to its use; it entails using your preferred loose material to cover an attic floor, fill stud or joist voids, or both. One member of a small team visiting your home uses a blower hose to spray the fluffy insulation across the floor and into cracks. At the same time, another person feeds the fiberglass mineral wool into a container that is either outside the house or under the attic.
They’ll keep applying fiberglass wool until the gaps are closed, or the attic floor is evenly covered with the material up to a specific thickness (depending on the R-Value needed). This insulation really can go anywhere. One standard method of using it is literally putting blown in insulation in walls.
Conclusion
Zavza Seal LLC has been in the contracting market for over 20 years. Their unmatched expertise makes them one of the most trustworthy names in household contracting jobs. Contact them today to get a free estimate on their services.
About the author: Amina Tahir has experience in writing for over 6 years. For the past year, she has been working for Zavzaseal https://zavzaseal.com. She knows the importance of having a stable, well-cared-for home. Thus, she writes in hopes that no homeowner faces any problem they have to face on their own.