The Top 5 Benefits of Crawlspace Encapsulation
Crawlspace encapsulation involves sealing your basement’s crawlspace area with heavy-duty polyethylene and installing physical barriers to keep it sealed. Why do homeowners opt to seal their crawlspaces in this manner?
Think of it like sealing the inside of a swimming pool to guard against leaks and contamination. Up to half the air you breathe in your home comes in through the crawlspace! The top benefits of crawlspace encapsulation are good for both the integrity of your home and the health of the people living in it. Learn about them below.
Reduces Excess Moisture
Sealing your crawlspace’s floor, walls, and ceiling eliminates many opportunities for moisture to invite mold into your home. Fungi grow most readily in dark, damp, poorly ventilated spaces that don’t get much attention. Encapsulation greatly reduces the amount of moisture that can make its way into your crawlspace.
Keeps Pests Out
Installing a crawlspace barrier is an easy, cost-effective way to shield your home against pests like termites and mice. Don’t give critters from the outside any opportunities to sneak into your house. Nip pest problems in the bud by thoroughly sealing your crawlspace.
Improves Air Quality
Since we’re talking about things that can creep into your home through the crawlspace, let’s discuss radon as well. Radon gas is a natural by-product of the breakdown of uranium and other radioactive materials in the ground. The most common way radon gets into homes is through the concrete foundation, so sealing that up with a non-porous solution will reduce your indoor radon levels.
Increases Energy Efficiency
If a drafty crawlspace invites pests, moisture, and radon into your home, it’s probably also letting heated or cooled air out of your house through tiny cracks. Encapsulating your crawlspace will prevent that air from escaping, so you’ll be able to enjoy your HVAC system without wasting any energy.
Prevents Structural Damage
Your crawlspace is an essential part of your home’s foundational level. Letting it succumb to mold and wood rot could lead to structural problems for the whole house. Installing crawlspace encapsulation materials helps keep excess moisture and pests out, encouraging lasting stability in your foundation.
The top benefits of crawlspace encapsulation don’t begin and end with radon mitigation, though that’s certainly a crucial upside! Sealing your crawlspace with barriers and encapsulation materials also protects your home from other structural concerns, such as mold and termite infestation. If you want to invest in your home’s long-term stability and safety, consider encapsulating your crawlspace with materials from Festa Radon.