If you’re a homeowner, you might not give much thought to your crawl space. Crawl spaces play a significant role in the overall health of your home.
How does crawl space mold form?
Mold loves growing in crawl spaces. This is mainly due to the location of a crawl space, which is underneath the house structure but on top of the ground. Moisture from the ground saturates this space, creating a perfect environment for mold to thrive.
Mold growth can happen at any time because there is a natural presence of these spores in the air. When they find the right conditions with a moisture and food source, mold growth can appear within 24-48 hours. The most common food source is cellulose, which is an organic substance found in building materials and furnishings.
Even if you live in a hot, dry climate like Oklahoma and Texas, it only takes a few rainy days for mold spores to grow. Crawl spaces do not normally have good ventilation and this leads the growth to expand and move to sub-flooring and walls and eventually into your home.
When mold takes hold of a surface, it begins to eat away and eventually causes serious damage to the material. Once mold growth appears, it spreads to new areas and can cause additional damage. Take immediate action to contain and remove it promptly to minimize potential harm to your property and health.
What health problems does mold cause?
Detecting crawl space mold early is critical because the majority of the crawl space air makes up the total airflow in your home. It can easily contaminate your indoor air quality even if you don’t see any mold present.
Mold can create adverse effects on your health such as respiratory illness; persistent cough; headache; runny, itchy eyes; pneumonia; and asthma, even in a very healthy person.
Repeated exposure to mold can increase a person’s sensitivity, causing more severe allergic reactions. Populations at particular risk for this include infants and children, elderly persons, immune-compromised patients, and people with existing respiratory conditions.
How can crawl space encapsulation protect against mold?
Crawl space encapsulation is the process of completely sealing the entire crawl space in white plastic. You will have 100% of the ground covered in the special plastic with all junctions and seams wholly sealed.
The purpose of this is to reduce the moisture levels that are present in the crawl space and turn a damp, dirty, moldy crawl space into a clean, dry space where mold can’t grow.
Ensure the elimination of moisture sources before cleaning up mold to prevent its recurrence. You need a licensed and experienced company like Pierman to remediate all spores, remove the source, and prevent them from returning in the future.
The benefits of encapsulating a crawl space are numerous. The most important is the risk for mold is significantly decreased because you’ve removed the humidity (moisture source) and cellulose (food source) availability. You will realize better air quality in your home, fewer health issues, and even save money on your energy bill!
Your FREE crawl space repair quote from Pierman includes an on-site inspection, professional consultation, and a written, detailed quote. Contact us today to get started or call us at (580) 453-0330.
