Should I Worry About the Water in My Crawlspace?

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

A wet crawl space can lead to mold damage, causing structural issues in your Emporia, VA home.

If your home has a wet crawl space, you could be breeding mold without knowing it. Mold in a crawl space can spread to piers and joists, causing structural issues, and into the home through the ventilation system.

Reasons You Have a Wet Crawl Space

Mold thrives in areas with high moisture. There are several reasons why your crawl space may be wet.

1. Issues With Landscaping

A properly graded landscape will cause water to drain away from your home. A poorly graded landscape may cause water to pool around the crawl space, leading to flooding. You can fix this problem by building up a six to eight-inch slope that extends for the first six to eight feet away from your foundation walls. Check it in the spring to make sure it hasn't shifted or washed away.

2. Broken Water Lines

A water pipe that has broken or has a slow leak can cause water to accumulate in your crawl space. Because water trickles down, even a leak on the upper floor of your home can cause water to pool under your house. If you have noticed wet spots or water stains or your water bill has been going up, call a plumber in Emporia, VA, to inspect your pipes.

3. Problems With Gutters and Downspouts

If your gutters are full of debris or your downspouts don't point in the right direction, water can collect in your crawl space. Clean your gutters regularly or install a guard to keep debris such as leaves, sticks, and birds' nests out of it. Make sure your downspouts are pointed away from your home and have a two-foot splash block at the base to direct water away. If your downspout is pointed towards your house, it can wash away the soil and lead to a flood in your crawl space.

4. Over-Watering Flower Beds

If you forget to turn off your garden hose or over-water your plants, water may pool next to your foundation and seep into the crawl space. If you forget to turn the hose off and the water creates a hole, fill it in. Avoid watering plants more often than you need to. In addition to causing problems for your crawl space, it can damage the health of your plants.

5. Underground Water Issues

If you have sewer or water lines under your house and one break, you may need to contact the city or utility company that owns it to make repairs. Underground water issues can also be caused by foundation walls that form a dam that causes water to seep underground. Sometimes underground drains can become plugged or damaged or may not be sloped correctly. Heavy rain may lead to saturated soil that causes water to pool in your crawl space. Waterproofing your crawl space by gluing a thick sheet of plastic to the ground and walls may help you avoid the need for mold remediation.

Controlling moisture is the key to mold prevention. Avoiding a wet crawl space will help you avoid mold issues that could spread to the rest of your home.