Top Five Reasons to Repair Your Crawl Space . . . Now
Homeowners often find excuses for ignoring crawl space issues with comments such as “Well, I’m never in it” or “I don’t go there so what’s the point?” perhaps forgetting that this space is central to the effective workings of the house as a whole, that is, your house system. Dealing with those issues sooner rather than later helps to achieve the best results. Consider these five important reasons to repair your crawl space:
1. Save on energy bills. Lock out the enemy: moisture. Uninsulated and dirt-floor crawl spaces create moisture and damp air not only in the space but throughout your house. That moisture and damp air are more difficult to heat and cool, force your HVAC systems to work harder and longer (and not last as many years), waste energy and, as a result, your dollars. A repaired, well-maintained crawl space increases energy efficiency.
2. Reduce health risks. Dark, damp, musty environments such as those in crawl spaces are ideal conditions for the silent growth of mold and mildew. The resulting mold spores feed on dirt, dust, dry leaves and other materials; as they mix with the natural bottom-to-top air flow in your house, they are, in fact, in the air family members breathe. This negative impact on air quality can lead to a range of unhealthy symptoms and conditions including allergies, respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion, and irritations of the skin, eyes, and throat. This same dark and damp environment is also cause for contamination concerns. Pests, termites, rodents thrive in such conditions and can quickly become not only a nuisance but also a health risk.
3. Improve home safety. The walls enclosing your crawl space constitute your home’s foundation, the very base on which your house stands. Prolonged wet, damp conditions can compromise the foundation walls and cause structural damage, making your house unsafe for your family. Home inspection problems could also result. And it may not only be the foundation that is damaged; moisture can also buckle hardwood floors, adding to safety hazards.
4. Increase home value. A dry, clean, safe crawl space speaks volumes; it’s an investment in the future. It shows that homeowners care about maintaining all spaces in the house whether or not those spaces are seen on a daily basis. That’s reassuring to potential homebuyers and becomes a strong selling feature. It also means that future expenses for buyers will be avoided because moisture issues have already been resolved.
5. Enhance livability. A repaired crawl space improves overall living conditions in two important ways. First, it increases the comfort of your home: in the winter you’ll notice that floors won’t feel as cold and in the summer the house won’t feel as muggy. Second, you’ll gain more storage area from the extra square footage of your newly-repaired crawl space. Improving your family’s lifestyle without major additions and remodeling is surely worth considering.
Gain peace of mind. Reap the benefits of a newly-repaired crawl space. And be confident that your house system is properly working from the ground up.
Superior Basement Systems specializes in quality crawl space repair in Ohio. Visit them online for a free crawl space repair estimate in Alliance, Ashland, Canton, Massillon, Wooster and other surrounding areas.
