What is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Crawl space encapsulation is the process of completely sealing your crawl space from moisture, water vapors, mold, and bacteria. This process also helps reduce energy costs. Encapsulation not only improves your health but your home’s structural integrity while improving the energy efficiency
Carolina Air Care/ Advanced Environmental Services has partnered with Crawl Space Repair, a premier supplier of the best available products and equipment for crawlspaces. These products included reinforced moisture barriers which have a 25-year warranty, as well as the energy efficient April Air Dehumidifiers that carry the best 5-year warranty in the industry. Carolina Air Care installers are factory trained by Crawl Space Repair, LLC. For the best installers and the industry’s best supplies- contact us today.
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation reduces energy costs in the home by making the HVAC system more efficient than using insulation. Encapsulation keeps moisture in the crawlspace low and reduces mold allergens and lower humidity level also reduces dust mites down. Over the years, we have seen that insulation absorbs and traps moisture, mold, and bacteria like a sponge. Since up to half of the air on the first floor of your home comes from the crawl space, toxins trapped in your insulation can cause odors and poor indoor air quality.
The earth in a crawlspace will breathe up to 10 gallons of water for every 1,000 sqft each day into your home. If you are not controlling the moisture and humidity by keeping the humidity to less than 60% then the high humidity causes mold and mildew in the crawlspace and then into the air of your home.
How does the encapsulation process work?
The first thing we do is clean and sanitize all the wood in your crawl space. This is important because without proper cleansing and sanitation, toxic mold and mildew can continue to seep into the wood causing structural damage down the road.
Next, the wall curtain is attached to both the walls and support piers.
The vapor barrier is then added. Our moisture barrier is both tear and puncture resistant, waterproof, fire resistant, and tough enough to walk, crawl or work on. Additionally, the vapor barrier is antimicrobial which reduces the likelihood of the crawl space developing any mold or mildew growth.
The wall curtain and the vapor barrier both overlap each other by at least six inches. They are sealed together using industrial seam specific tape.
The final step is adding a dehumidifier to the crawl space. Reducing the humidity in the crawl space inhibits moisture from causing mold, mold spores, and other odors.
We recommend annual inspections on both the barrier and the dehumidifier.
