Does your home have a crawl space? If it does, you probably don’t think about it very much. There are advantages to having a crawl space foundation, such as how easy and accessible it is when you want to install and maintain utilities like wiring and pipes. Also, floors in homes with crawl spaces tend to be warmer.
But, crawl spaces also have some disadvantages, for example, the spaces are prone to moisture, which of course means that they are a great breeding ground for mold. They also offer less protection from harsh weather and it is of the utmost importance to have the exterior walls and floor of your crawl space insulated.
Kill The Source Of Moisture To Prevent Black Mold
As crawl spaces are prone to black mold it is very important to prevent moisture. All mold needs is moisture, humidity and something to grow on, like wood, and that is exactly what you will find in most crawl spaces.
Keep Your Crawl Space Dry
If you have experienced flooding it is imperative to get a water damage expert in to dry out your crawl space and to check whether mold has already started growing. If it has, get them to remove it before it spreads.
Your crawl space is located right above the earth which contains a lot of moisture and this may “lock” the moisture in. The moisture may be carried on the air up to the wood of the crawlspace, and that is a perfect breeding ground for black mold. Therefore, it is important to have your crawl space inspected regularity to make sure that there is no black mold growing down there.
Limit moisture by making sure that your crawl space is well ventilated. If you are not sure whether your crawl space has good enough ventilation ask a water damage restoration specialist to inspect it and if necessary install vents.
While you’re at it have them check for any leaks or dripping in your crawl space as you have plumbing pipes and HVAC ducts down there.
Make sure that your dryer vent does not open into your crawl space because that will also bring moisture into the crawl space.
Insulate the floor of your crawl space with plastic sheeting to prevent the moisture from coming up from the ground.
Found Mold? Don’t Wait!
If you find that you have black mold growing in your crawl space don’t wait to call in a mold removal expert to have it removed, it is a health hazard!
Need Help With Your Crawl Space?
If you believe that you have black mold in your crawl space call Water Damage Oakland and we’ll send a mold expert in to inspect it. It is always best to have a trained and experienced professional inspect your crawl space.
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