What Is Crawlspace Encapsulation?

You may have heard of crawl space encapsulation, but how it protects your home is not common knowledge. In this article, we'll address how to identify crawlspace issues and other questions such as, "What is crawlspace encapsulation?"

What Is Crawlspace Encapsulation or Crawl Space Care?

Crawlspace encapsulation refers to the process of installing a moisture barrier around the entire crawl space, as well as taking steps to ensure moisture control in the future by installing a dehumidifier. Encapsulation also requires selling off any vents and openings that may allow moisture into the area.

The materials and technology used in the process as key to the protection of your foundation and home. At A-1 Pest Control, our crawl space encapsulation teams use a reinforced polyethylene liner to cover the floor and foundation; this premium-grade liner is ideal for keeping moisture out and is designed to stand up to the elements unlike some vapor barriers used by other companies. 

Identifying Crawlspace Problems 

We summarized some of the issues that can arise if your crawl space hasn’t had proper maintenance, but identifying those problems means having a little bit of knowledge on the warning signs that you have a problem in the first place.

Insects Indoors

When it comes to insects, one telltale indicator is the presence of any type of insect, like ants, cockroaches, or even crickets. This also goes for mice and rats; if you’re seeing an uptick in mouse or rat activity in your home, there’s a chance a dirty or moist crawl space could be to blame. 

Indoor Air Quality

Aside from insects and rodents, air quality issues or unusual/uncomfortable amounts of humidity in your home can also be a signal that your crawl space is an issue.

Mold & Mildew

Trouble breathing is an alarming sign that can be caused by mold build-up that frequently occurs in crawl spaces because of mold-inducing conditions like high levels of moisture and humidity and a relatively small, confined space.

Inhaling mold can become a serious health concern, so if you’ve noticed or others who live in your home have noted difficulty breathing while in the house it’s important that you look into the possibility of mold presence as soon as possible. 

Indoor Humidity Levels

A less concerning (at least on its face) sign of crawl space issues is an excessive amount of humidity in your home. One of the primary reasons crawl spaces are included in home construction in the first place is to improve overall air circulation, and in particularly humid climates like the ones we experience in North Carolina, this should help cut down on humidity levels in your home. If conditions in your home are excessively humid, you might have a compromise in your crawl space. 

What to Do if You Have Issues with Your Crawl Space

If you're noticing high humidity levels that are not originating from your air conditioning unit, or if you see rodents and bugs indoors while you have professional pest control services, there could be an issue with your crawl space! The first thing you'll need to do is contact a professional crawlspace encapsulation company for them to inspect your home. Choose a trusted company to perform your crawlspace inspection, as identifying the openings and weak points is an important step in this process.

You can also opt to perform your own crawlspace inspection and learn how to encapsulate a crawlspace yourself - however, we have seen many DIY encapsulation jobs that didn't work out. We always recommend hiring a professional for crawl space care.

Getting Crawl Space Encapsulation Services

A-1 Pest Control doesn’t just offer treatments for pest elimination; we also have services for all things pest-related, from pest prevention to infestation mitigation. As a part of that, we offer our own crawl space encapsulation services created with the most effective and modern tools and methods available. 

To ensure our services stay effective, we use only premium-grade moisture-blocking products and materials designed and tested to last long-term. We use commercial-grade Santa Fe dehumidifiers which will keep your crawl space moisture-free. That means a large reduction in the chances that your crawl space will attract pests or begin growing dangerous levels of mold. 

Contact a Professional Crawl Space Care Service in North Carolina

What is crawlspace encapsulation: your home's crawl space is an important part of the foundation that, when taken care of properly, can sustain the health and durability of your home. Make sure you take care of your home with professional crawlspace care services. Our team can provide quality crawlspace care and pest control services for your property. Contact us at  828-481-9140 or fill out the form below to learn about our crawl space encapsulation services in North Carolina!