7 Benefits of Crawlspace Encapsulation

Up to 50% of the air you breathe in your home can flow up from your crawl space, so it’s vital to keep your crawl space as clean and dry as possible. Even vented crawl spaces can hold moisture and put your home at risk of water damage from mold, wood rot, pest infestation, and decreased energy efficiency. Moisture can cause a variety of unwanted problems, so it’s vital to keep excess moisture out of your home.

A typical crawl space has a dirt or cement floor with block walls and some ventilation to the outside. The thinking was that the condition of the crawlspace should be similar to the outdoor conditions, just like in your attic. Turns out, science has a different answer. The exchange of air from your attic to your living space is minimal, thanks to roof ventilation and attic insulation, a properly roofed home will have an upward draw. If you’re on a crawl space, this means you are drawing air up from the crawl space in to the living space, at a rate of up to 50%.

1. Breathe easier. Vented crawl spaces have a huge negative impact on indoor air quality.
2. Reduce the chances of costly floor repairs. Moisture rots wood and causes hardwood floors to buckle.
3. Enhance comfort. Floors won’t be cold in winter. House won’t be muggy in summer.
4. Lower energy bills. Crawl space encapsulation can reduce energy bills by up to 20%, according to Advanced Energy’s research.
5. Make your heating & cooling equipment and ducts last longer. An air handler and ducts in a vented crawl space will not last as long as equipment in a conditioned crawl space.
6. Eliminates insect infestation. Insects including termites need moisture to survive. Crawl space encapsulations eliminate the possibility of creating conditions that welcome pests such as termites. 
7. An encapsulated crawl space is an attractive selling feature. Potential buyers comparing two similar houses will find the one with an encapsulated crawl space more appealing.