What Does An Ideal Crawl Space Look Like - And What Are The Benefits?

Why should you care about your crawl space, and improving the conditions inside an area of your home that you might rarely access? 

The answer comes down to one word: moisture.

The Problem With Most Crawl Spaces

Moisture is the enemy of a healthy, stable home, but, unfortunately, many homes have dirt crawl spaces or very thin, flimsy liners in their crawl spaces. 

Without a proper encapsulation, the moisture retained by the earth beneath the home can create a humid environment — causing mold, wood rot, dust mites, insects, and critters to thrive. But other problems can be caused without a great encapsulation system, too. 

So, what does an ideal crawl space really look like? Let's break it down. 

Everything An Ideal Crawl Space Needs

Full Perimeter Drainage System

To drain moisture and water from your crawl space, you need a reliable way to draw in groundwater across all areas of the crawl space. We do this by installing our StarPipe© drainage system around the full perimeter of the crawl space. It not only collects groundwater, but it does so without clogging thanks to its filter mesh and unique star-shaped design. This system brings groundwater to the sump pump, which will then remove the water from the crawl space.

Powerful, Reliable Sump Pump

To remove water from the crawl space, you need a pumping system that'll keep up in times of hard rain, or even in emergency situations where the power might go out. That's where our TripleSafe© comes in. It's not only able to pump up to 6,200 gallons of water per hour out of your crawl space, but it even has a DC operated pump that'll activate in the event of a power outage. 

Heavy, Thick Plastic Liner

To protect the home from water vapor and moisture, you need a heavy, thick vapor barrier to be permanently sealed across every edge and pipe penetration in your crawl space. We recommend our CleanSpace© liner. At 20 mil thick, it's over twice as thick as industry standard liners and is manufactured in seven layers for optimal puncture resistance, brute tear resistance, and flexibility. We permanently seal all seams, edges, and pipe penetrations, and it comes with a 25-year warranty against any rips or tears. 

Well-Designed Discharge Line

To send discharged water away from your foundation, you need a discharge line that allows water to escape even if the pipes freeze or clog for any reason. That's why we recommend our IceGuard discharge system, which allows the water to escape without flooding your crawl space - no matter what. 

Insulation That Will Never Rot

To save money on your energy bills, you need to insulate the crawl space walls and flooring. We recommend our SilverGlo© crawl space wall insulation and TerraBlock© crawl space floor insulation. SilverGlo© is a 2" foamboard panel infused with graphite with an R-11 value, and has a radiant barrier that reflects heat back into the home. TerraBlock© is a 3/4" flexible foamboard that has a vapor barrier on both sides, and ensures your encapsulation is not only more durable, but also retains more heat, making your energy bills more affordable. 

If you'd like to get an estimate for your perfect crawl space, contact us today! We'll help you set up an appointment with a System Design Specialist, and create a crawl space that'll make your home healthier, safer, more comfortable, and cheaper to own.