Crawl Space Tips

In the United States, 15% of homes have crawl spaces. This means that almost two out of every ten houses will have a crawl space installed. They have advantages and disadvantages compared to slab or basement foundations.

If you have a crawl space in your home, you will need to consider a few things before getting your home inspected. Home inspectors will get into the crawl space and check for a variety of issues that may signal more significant problems with the house.

EXCESSIVE MOISTURE

If your crawl space is extremely wet or has standing water, there’s a good chance the house will have significant problems. If a crawl space is not protected correctly, the water that is trapped inside will not be able to escape.

Standing water is the worst, as it can cause damage to the structure of your home. If your crawl space starts to rot, that represents a very significant threat to the integrity of your floor. Damage to the floor could manifest as uneven floors or a slope in the rooms above the crawl space.

DEBRIS AND VENTILATION

A home inspector is going to want to make sure that the crawl space is well ventilated. Ventilation is important because it helps to evaporate the water that naturally collects in a crawlspace. Debris in a crawl space can be dangerous. Flammable debris can cause fires to start underneath the house.

Unusual odors and mustiness can be a sign of greater issues. If your crawl space has an unusual odor coming from it, you should get it looked at. Proper ventilation can help prevent everything from mold to rot. It can also lower the moisture level and deter some pests.

MOLD IS A PROBLEM

Home inspectors don’t like to see mold developing in a crawl space. The potential hassle of mold removal will chase away potential buyers for your home. Mold can lower air quality and can even represent a threat to human health. Any health risk will need to be dealt with.

PAST ACTIVITY SUCH AS RENOVATIONS

Homeowners don’t go into crawl spaces often. This is because there is no need for you to go into your crawl space most of the time. A crawl space can be a time capsule into the history of your home. Past renovations and home improvement projects will often leave traces in the crawl space.

The crawl space will also reveal the age of many vital parts of the home. Pipes and wires may be visible in your crawl space, and a professional home inspector will be able to tell when these things were installed and their relative condition.

ANIMAL HABITATION

While crawl spaces aren’t designed for humans to use them frequently, they are the perfect place for animals. They are dark, often have moisture that insects and animals like and are between the ground and the house.

Stray animals, such as cats, are among the most common offenders here. Cats will use your crawl space not just as a place to live. It could also become their bathroom. Other animals that may find their way into your crawl space are armadillos, possums, and raccoons.

Having wild animals living between your foundation and floor isn’t an optimal situation to be in. A home inspector is likely to note not only that they are there, but how they got in.