Crawl Space Repair Kansas City

Crawl Space Ventilation in Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa

How Crawl Space Vents Affect Crawl Space Humidity... And Why

Grated Crawl Space Vents outside a home in Kansas City, MO

Crawl Space ventilation is the answer that contractors have historically given to the issue of crawl space humidity in homes.

Generally, this involves installing vented openings in a cross-sectional area equal to 1/150 of the floor area served.

These crawl space vents are usually fitted with a covering -- usually a wooden/metal grating, or a mesh covering.

The covering is installed to prevent infestations from rodents and animals, but they cannot prevent insects such as termites and carpenter ants.

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crawl space ventilation and air movement in a building

Crawl space ventilation moves outside air through the house. This affects utility bills and, when that air holds mold spores, your health.

The Theory Behind Vented Crawl Spaces

Crawl space ventilation was meant to keep a constant supply of fresh air circulating throughout the crawl space environment.

It was thought that this would help to purge the space of the heavy, damp air in the house that settles in the lower levels.

Additionally, some contractors claim that damp, humid air is heavier than dry air, causing all the moisture in the home to sink down into the crawl space.

This belief had become so widespread that crawl space vents were actually written into the International Building Code!

In recent years, however, these codes are quickly changing to reflect improvements in the industry and scientific study.

Foundation Recovery Systems, has been drying out basements and crawl spaces since 1992, and they've seen time and again that this just isn't the way it works.

For a free dry crawl space quote, call or e-mail us today!

What Crawl Space Humidity Research Says

Consider these crawl space humidity facts:

  • Isaac Newton discovered in 1717 that wet air is actually lighter than dry air! It makes a lot of sense - if damp air was heavier, what would clouds be made of? And why would crawl space vents, which are at ground level, ever bring dry air into your home?
  • If it's rainy, humid, foggy, or snowing outside, you're bringing wet air into your home.
  • Advanced Energy reports that crawl space ventilation brings wet air into your home [PDF] when it's wet outside. Water that is pooling around your vents, will also flow into the space.
  • Crawl space moisture helps mold, rot, and mildew grow. This means serious damage for your crawl space!

Here's a little more science: Hot air rises, leaving your house through the roof and upper levels. This creates a vacuum below that is filled by air from your crawl space, basement, and from outside. Air in your crawl space eventually enters the rest of your home!

Consider These Two Scenarios:

Winter Air - Frigid air fills your crawlspace, making the floor above cold. It cools your hot water pipes, your water heater, your furnace, and your heating ducts. Your utilities work harder and cost you more to run, and your home is drafty and uncomfortable.

Summer Air - Hot, humid air enters the crawl space, where the earth cools it naturally. According to Builder Magazine [PDF], this humidity will lead to condensation on your pipes, wood, and cool surfaces, leading to mold and rot. Damp air rises upward into your home. Wet air is harder to cool than dry air, and you spend more on utilities. Meanwhile, your crawl space insulation gets wet, loses its insulative value, grows mold, and drips to the floor. Moist, rotting wood is a perfect place for termites, ants, rodents, and other creatures to move in!

crawl space insulation dripping off the floor joists

When crawl space insulation is saturated with water, it drips off onto the floor.

Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space ventilation does not work. If your crawl space is rotting and moldy, then you already know this.

To protect your crawl space, follow these steps:

  1. Eliminate any flooding with a crawl space sump pump system
  2. Seal your crawl space vents and doors with airtight covers.
  3. Line your crawl space walls and floors (even if they are concrete) with a thick, durable plastic liner
  4. Install a self-draining, strong dehumidifier in the crawl space.

This keeps everything you don't want in your crawl space outside- including moisture, cold air, termites, and ants.

Your crawl space will be dry and usable as storage space, and as an added benefit, a crawl space liner will even serve as a passive radon mitigation system!

Foundation Recovery Systems would like to help you create a dry, healthier crawl space. If you'd like a free, on-site consultation, call or e-mail us today!

We service Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa, including Kansas City, Independence, Columbia, St. Joseph, Bolivar, Rolla, Kirksville, Trenton, Chillicothe, Mexico, Jefferson City, Hannibal MO; Mt. Ayr, Centerville, Leon, IA and many nearby areas.

More information about Crawl Space Vapor Barriers

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Missouri, Kansas, Illinois & Iowa Service Area

Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing in Missouri, Illinois & Iowa. See Full Service Area

Greater Kansas City Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair:
Cities in Wyandotte County, KS
Kansas City

Cities in Andrew County, MO
Amazonia
Bolckow
Cosby
Fillmore
Helena
Rea
Rosendale
Savannah

Cities in Audrain County, MO
Benton City
Farber
Laddonia
Martinsburg
Mexico
Rush Hill
Thompson
Vandalia

Cities in Bates County, MO
Adrian
Amoret
Amsterdam
Butler
Drexel
Foster
Rich Hill

Cities in Benton County, MO
Cole Camp
Ionia
Lincoln

Cities in Boone County, MO
Ashland
Centralia
Columbia
Hallsville
Harrisburg
Hartsburg
Rocheport
Sturgeon

Cities in Buchanan County, MO
Agency
De Kalb
Easton
Faucett
Rushville
Saint Joseph

Cities in Caldwell County, MO
Braymer
Breckenridge
Cowgill
Hamilton
Kidder
Kingston
Polo

Cities in Callaway County, MO
Auxvasse
Fulton
Holts Summit
Kingdom City
Mokane
New Bloomfield
Portland
Steedman
Tebbetts
Williamsburg

Cities in Carroll County, MO
Bogard
Bosworth
Carrollton
De Witt
Hale
Norborne
Tina

Cities in Cass County, MO
Archie
Belton
Cleveland
Freeman
Garden City
Harrisonville
Peculiar
Pleasant Hill
Raymore

Cities in Chariton County, MO
Brunswick
Dalton
Keytesville
Mendon
Rothville
Salisbury
Sumner
Triplett

Cities in Clay County, MO
Excelsior Springs
Holt
Kansas City
Kearney
Liberty
Smithville
Gladstone

Cities in Clinton County, MO
Cameron
Gower
Lathrop
Plattsburg
Trimble
Turney

Cities in Cole County, MO
Centertown
Jefferson City
Lohman
Russellville
Saint Thomas

Cities in Cooper County, MO
Blackwater
Boonville
Bunceton
Otterville
Pilot Grove
Prairie Home
Wooldridge

Cities in Daviess County, MO
Altamont
Coffey
Gallatin
Jameson
Jamesport
Lock Springs
Pattonsburg
Winston

Cities in Dekalb County, MO
Amity
Clarksdale
Maysville
Osborn
Stewartsville
Union Star
Weatherby

Cities in Gasconade County, MO
Bland
Hermann
Morrison
Mount Sterling
Owensville
Rosebud
Boone

Cities in Gentry County, MO
Albany
Darlington
Gentry
King City
Mc Fall
Stanberry

Cities in Grundy County, MO
Galt
Laredo
Spickard
Trenton

Cities in Harrison County, MO
Bethany
Blythedale
Cainsville
Eagleville
Gilman City
Hatfield
Martinsville
New Hampton
Ridgeway

Cities in Henry County, MO
Blairstown
Calhoun
Clinton
Creighton
Deepwater
Montrose
Urich
Windsor

Cities in Howard County, MO
Armstrong
Fayette
Franklin
Glasgow
New Franklin

Cities in Jackson County, MO
Blue Springs
Buckner
Grain Valley
Grandview
Greenwood
Independence
Kansas City
Lees Summit
Lone Jack
Oak Grove
Sibley
Raytown

Cities in Johnson County, MO
Centerview
Chilhowee
Holden
Kingsville
Knob Noster
Leeton
Warrensburg
Whiteman Air Force Base

Cities in Lafayette County, MO
Alma
Bates City
Concordia
Corder
Dover
Higginsville
Lexington
Mayview
Napoleon
Odessa
Waverly
Wellington

Cities in Linn County, MO
Brookfield
Browning
Bucklin
Laclede
Linneus
Marceline
Meadville
New Boston
Purdin

Cities in Livingston County, MO
Chillicothe
Chula
Dawn
Ludlow
Mooresville
Utica
Wheeling

Cities in Macon County, MO
Anabel
Atlanta
Bevier
Callao
Elmer
Ethel
Excello
La Plata
Macon
New Cambria

Cities in Mercer County, MO
Mercer
Princeton

Cities in Moniteau County, MO
California
Clarksburg
Fortuna
High Point
Jamestown
Latham
Tipton

Cities in Montgomery County, MO
Bellflower
High Hill
Jonesburg
Montgomery City
New Florence
Rhineland
Wellsville

Cities in Morgan County, MO
Barnett
Florence
Stover
Syracuse
Versailles

Cities in Osage County, MO
Bonnots Mill
Chamois
Freeburg
Linn
Loose Creek
Westphalia

Cities in Pettis County, MO
Green Ridge
Houstonia
Hughesville
La Monte
Mora
Sedalia
Smithton

Cities in Platte County, MO
Camden Point
Dearborn
Edgerton
Kansas City
Platte City
Riverside
Weston

Cities in Putnam County, MO
Lucerne
Powersville
Unionville

Cities in Randolph County, MO
Cairo
Clark
Clifton Hill
Higbee
Huntsville
Jacksonville
Moberly

Cities in Ray County, MO
Camden
Hardin
Henrietta
Lawson
Orrick
Rayville
Richmond

Cities in Saline County, MO
Blackburn
Gilliam
Malta Bend
Marshall
Miami
Nelson
Slater
Sweet Springs

Cities in Sullivan County, MO
Green Castle
Green City
Harris
Humphreys
Milan
Newtown
Pollock
Winigan

Cities in Worth County, MO
Denver
Grant City
Sheridan
Worth

Cities in Pulaski County, MO
Dixon

Cities in Phelps County, MO
Dillon

Cities in Maries County, MO
Vienna

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