Attic & Crawl Space Ventilation Solutions

The Importance of Attic & Crawl Space Ventilation Solutions

The crawl space is the area under a house between the ground and the underside of the first floor. If your crawl space isn’t well-ventilated, it can lead to many costly problems. Let’s discuss the basics of a vented crawl space, what you need to know, and the issues that can come from poor ventilation.

The Importance of Attic & Crawl Space Ventilation Solutions

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Attic & Crawl Space Ventilation

The impact of water in a crawl space doesn’t just stop beneath your house, however; it can actually cause issues throughout the home, even all the way up to the attic. Through a phenomenon known as the “stack effect,” the air from your crawl space moves up through the house and escapes through the vents in your attic. In fact, 40% of the air we breathe on the first floor of our homes comes from our crawl spaces. And when the crawl space is flooded, the air that travels up through your house is overly humid, forcing attic vents to manage more moisture than they were designed to manage. This, in turn, leads to excess moisture in your attic as well as your crawl space, prompting the development of mold, mildew, and other water-related issues above and below your living space.

Crawl Space Problems Developed Over Time

Engineers developed ventilation in crawl spaces under houses and buildings to prevent the accumulation of moisture. Before this innovation, structures built for shelter had a much shorter life span. Moisture in your crawl space can lead to serious troubles, such as:

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are terrible for your home. Mold is notoriously difficult to eliminate and leads to expensive and time-consuming problems. With minimal light and ventilation, mold issues will only worsen without prevention or restoration.

RottingPests

Animals are always looking for water, and your dark, enclosed crawl space is a cozy, safe place for them to nest. Animals that infiltrate your crawl space can cause structural damage or carry harmful bacteria or diseases.

Rotting

Water causes wood rot to some structural elements beneath your house, and basement foundations do not respond well to prolonged exposure to moist air. Beams, floor joists, posts, flooring, and sills will break down and require replacement before areas of your home begin to collapse.