Isle of Wight County is located in Virginia and it borders the James River, just on the other side from Newport News. Many people who own a home in Isle of Wight County are familiar with the effects of water on the crawlspace. What can be done?
When crawlspace problems arise, or even before they become a large issue, you can call on AMC911 to handle the situation. We offer crawl space repair and encapsulation services to our neighbors in Isle of Wight County.
Every job is unique and they all start with a call to AMC911. We can inspect the crawl space to see what type of repair is needed and provide you with a reasonable expectation of both the cost and the scope of work to get things fixed.
Common Signs Of Crawl Space Problems In Isle of Wight, VA
When a crawl space is experiencing problems, it rarely does so without leaving behind some signs. Some of those signs may not seem like they have anything to do with the crawlspace, but that is where they originate from.
The following are some clear signs you are having crawlspace problems:
Furniture That Shakes When You Walk by
As the floor joists and the foundation posts begin to deteriorate, the floor may move as you walk across it. This is often seen in the way furniture shakes as you are walking across the floor.
Efflorescence on Crawl Space Walls
You will see this when the concrete walls in the crawlspace get wet and the water evaporates, leaving behind a white, salty residue. That is a sign of excessive moisture. Crawl space encapsulation resolves the issue.
Cold Floors
A cold crawl space can show itself in many ways. One way is by radiating the cold temperatures through the floor. If you like to walk around in your bare feet, you might notice the difference.
Musty or Damp Smells
Air exchanges from the crawl space into the living space constantly. If there are strong musty or damp smells under our home in the crawl space, you will eventually smell them in the living area.
Rusty Appliances
Rust forms as a chemical reaction with water, iron, and oxygen. If you have appliances in the crawl space, the increased moisture in the air can accelerate the rusting process.
Visible Mold in the Crawl Space
Do you see mold growth on the walls, ceiling or floor of the crawl space? This is a big problem that can impact the health and comfort of your family.
Why Your Crawl Space Problems Shouldn’t Be Ignored
If you suspect crawl space problems or if they are evident, you should not put off the repair and encapsulating process. The problem will not get better on its own and will worsen, leaving you with a bigger problem and often, a bigger bill to have things fixed.
Ignoring crawl space problems can result in the following:
Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew may be growing in unseen spaces for a long time before it shows up in more easily seen spaces. Mold in the crawl space can also invade the living area, resulting in a host of additional problems.
Moist Air
Air moves from the crawl space to the living space all day, every day. When the air is moist below the home, it can create a moist environment in the living space, resulting in health problems and more.
Insect Infestation
An unencapsulated crawl space is the perfect living environment for bugs. The problem is, those bugs will not be content to live under the home. You will soon start seeing those bugs in the rest of the home.
Stack Effect
The stack effect occurs all day and night as warm air rises, eventually reaching the attic and exiting through vents. As air leaves the home, it must be replaced, so it is pulled in from the crawl space.
Higher Repair Costs
Having the crawl space repaired and encapsulated when you first notice the problem will save you money. When you wait and the problem gets worse, it is going to be more expensive to repair.
High Energy Bills
Have you noticed that your energy bills are getting higher and higher? This isn’t only because of a raise in rates, an unencapsulated crawl space can make it harder to keep your home comfortable at any time of year.
Common Methods For Crawl Space Repair
Every crawl space repair is different. Here are a few ways that we repair that part of the home before we begin the encapsulation process.
Water Removal
If you have standing water in the crawl space, it must be removed. We will do this and then determine why the water was there so it can be avoided in the future.
Insulation Replacement
Old insulation in the crawl space can be a huge problem. We will remove all of the old insulation and replace it with something suitable for that part of the home.
Drain Tile
Before we start with a crawl space encapsulation project, we will have to keep the area dry. This sometimes requires a drain tile to be installed. It involves putting a perforated pipe in place and surrounding it with rock so the water filters into the pipe and is carried successfully from the home.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
The process of crawl space encapsulation is relatively straightforward. A thick vapor barrier is installed to cover the floor and walls. We will then install a dehumidifier that is large enough to handle the entire crawl space.
This process will protect your crawl space from water, pests, and other problems. You will be left with a crawl space that is clean and dry. You can even use the space for storage!
Free Crawl space Inspection and Estimate in Isle of Wight, VA
Do you still have questions? Are you wondering if a crawl space encapsulation will work for you? All you have to do is contact AMC911 for a free crawl space inspection and estimate.
AMC911 has been around for decades and we have a real passion for helping people with their homes. Call us today and we will take care of what you need.
