This post was originally published on 4/24/2020 and updated on 4/27/2021 for accuracy and a larger scope of information.
It is a rather commonly known fact that standing water has the potential to harbor and promote the growth of many types of matter we don’t want to grow in near our living spaces. These include bacteria and mold growth, as well as parasites. Perhaps you take regular precautions to keep water from pooling up both inside and outside your home, but have you ever thought of the water that might be accumulating underneath your home?
If your home has an unencapsulated crawl space, it may be at risk of moisture damage that can occur from a lack of proper waterproofing measures. Large amounts of water can collect there and create the conditions for some major problems to happen. Not only can the exposed wooden structure of your home incur some damage, but your family could also deal with the ramifications of mold growth and other bacteria coming into contact with them through the air from the crawl space.
This happens when the air that naturally comes up through the floorboards of your home when the crawl space is not properly sealed off from the rest of the home. Insects and other critters also like to dwell in water collecting in dark, sheltered places. Don’t forget that, although they do not spread the Coronavirus, mosquitoes thrive in standing water and can spread disease and viruses as well.
It Is Important To Schedule A Crawl Space Evaluation
Sadly, water can enter the house to the owners without the owner’s knowledge. If it exists in unused spaces, it can stay weeks, months, even years, giving the owner a false sense of security about the state of the house. If you have a perpetual standing water problem, it will take time before you notice the damage to the foundation.
Before you start seeing rots or cracks or growths, be sure that the water has been standing long enough to cause those effects. Otherwise, if it were a properly drained and ventilated space, the water wouldn’t get any chance to accumulate to such dangerous levels. Some crawl spaces are useful to access electric wiring, drain pipes, ductwork, and plumbing, but in most other cases, crawl spaces rarely receive any traffic.
Many owners will notice any water damage when it comes time to prepare for the selling of their home due to a false security that things are okay up until the point of having to scope things out. Even though you may dislike being on your hands and knees, doing a crawlspace inspection has the potential to help you avoid having to repair your foundation, or entire structure, in the future. Making these inspections a routine, a lot like how you might check your attic, gutters, or roof, makes sure that the curse of an old, neglected crawl space does not haunt you.
A neglected crawl space can be a source of eventual major structural pain. When you start having issues with air quality, increased utility bills, a mold problem, or inefficient heating, the culprit just might be standing in your crawl space, standing water that is. From here, it’s obvious you have to take fix it if you care about your house.
Without further explanation, it is important to eliminate standing water from under your home. Water can enter the crawl space from under the foundation footing, through foundation walls, or through the soils due to a high-water table. Utilizing one of the several following methods, Barrier Waterproofing Systems can help you achieve this feat while increasing the health of your home.
Interior Drainage System
Standing water in your crawl space can be controlled with the Barrier Interior Drainage System. This is a full perimeter interior water management system that is widely accepted as a standard repair option for many crawl spaces issues. If an adequate slope exists away from the home, a gravity drain may be used instead of a sump pump system.
Sump Pumps
Sump Pumps function well in effectively managing moisture levels and serves great as the last line of defense against flooding. They are designed to expel the water collected from the drain tiles in the deep-set basin before reaching your basement or crawl space floor level. When the water reaches the critical level, it is pumped outside through an underground pipe leading away from your foundation.
Battery Backup Pump Systems
No one wants to deal with the inconveniences of time-consuming cleanup caused by flooding. As most flooding problems occur following severe weather episodes, sump pump systems have been developed with reliable auxiliary power accessories, ensuring continued operation during power failures. These battery backups and extended auxiliary power sources prevent thousands of dollars in financial material losses and structural damages.
Positive & Gravity Drains
A positive drain or gravity drain allows water to naturally drain out of the crawl space. There is no power required to remove water with this technique. This discharge style works when water travels to the lowest area within the crawl space, as this indicates there is a slope. This water collection area is identified and caught by a drain that is installed to let it flow to an even lower level outside the foundation. If there is an inadequate slope, then a positive drain cannot be used, and a sump pump will be needed. Sometimes a sump pump system is opted for because it costs less and is easier to install.
Encapsulation
Crawlspace encapsulation is the process of forming a barrier of protection from the underneath of your home from your actual living space. When this process is completed correctly, the air that exists in your crawl space is prevented from passing up into your living space, which creates a more healthy living condition for your family.
If your crawl space is harboring standing water, and you live in the Nashville area, give Barrier Waterproofing Systems a call today at (615) 257-1060 | (931) 536-1168. BWS has developed and refined common sense crawl space drainage services to keep your home dry and healthy. Each crawl space is inspected for the sources of water. Once the source is identified, you will be able to select the most common-sense approach that will meet your requirements with the help of our highly trained and certified specialists.
