Installing a dehumidifier is one of the best ways to improve a crawl space. However, setting up a dehumidification system comes at a cost. Knowing the price and specific ways a dehumidifier benefits your home helps you determine if this is your best approach.
Overall, many factors influence the cost of a crawl space dehumidifier, including the price of the dehumidifier itself, your crawl space’s needs, and what the installer decides to charge you.
Of course, cost is just one of many factors to consider regarding crawl space dehumidification. The rest of this article will highlight other important information about adding one of these systems to your crawl space.
Signs Your Crawl Space Requires Dehumidification
Some crawl spaces need dehumidification more than others. Below is a quick list of some signs that your crawl space requires a new dehumidification system:
- Excessive air moisture: When relative humidity levels get too high in a crawl space, they lead to many issues. Excessive air moisture results in foul odors and the proliferation of mold and mildew. Additionally, moist air creates an unhealthy environment, especially for those with lung issues.
- Standing water: If you have stagnant, pooling water in your crawl space, it is safe to assume you have a water-related issue. Dehumidification can help these scenarios, but seeking other ways to improve your crawl space drainage system is essential.
- Water damage: Whether from excessive air moisture or standing water, water damage reveals a problem with your crawl space. Water damage causes rot, invites pests, and can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your entire home.
How Does a Dehumidifier for a Crawl Space Work?
Now that you understand some signs that your crawl space could use better moisture control let’s consider how a dehumidifier can help resolve this issue. Dehumidifiers are machines that pull moisture out of the air and store it in an internal reservoir. By pulling moisture out of the air, dehumidifiers drastically reduce humidity levels.
Overall, dehumidifiers help you manage and maintain the ideal moisture level for your crawl space. While they cannot resolve all moisture-related problems, they are fantastic for ensuring the air in your crawl space remains relatively dry.
How Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Work?
Dehumidification is often the final step in a more extensive process called crawl space encapsulation. To better understand how this process unfolds and how dehumidification benefits it, the list below describes the main steps that take place during a crawl space encapsulation service:
- Remove existing water: Step one involves removing any standing water in your crawl space. The team can only proceed to the rest of the crawl space encapsulation steps after removing this water.
- Repair or replace damaged structures: Water often causes considerable damage to structures within your crawl space. Since your home depends on these structures for support, they require repair or replacements before encapsulation.
- Enhance drainage systems: Installing, improving, or replacing drainage structures is an essential part of encapsulation because it allows you to manage and convey water away from your home.
- Apply a waterproof seal: The primary step in crawl space encapsulation is to apply a vapor barrier to the interior of your crawl space. This vapor barrier provides a complete seal that prevents moisture and pests from entering.
- Install dehumidification: After completing all other encapsulation steps, the last stage involves installing a dehumidification system. These systems help manage moist air in your crawl space so that it never becomes an issue.
Advantages of Encapsulation and Dehumidification
Encapsulation is an extensive process, but it comes with many benefits. Below is a list of some advantages you can enjoy if you choose to encapsulate your crawl space:
- Moisture control: Encapsulation makes it incredibly difficult for moisture to enter your crawl space. This service also involves drainage improvements that further help manage water.
- Less mold, mildew, and foul odors: By controlling moisture, encapsulation also reduces the odds that mold, mildew, and foul odors will accumulate in your crawl space. These substances can be a nuisance, and they create an unhealthy environment as well.
- Pest prevention: The seal that encapsulation creates also makes it very challenging for pests to find their way into your foundation. Additionally, many pests prefer moist environments. By removing moisture, your crawl space is no longer a viable home for these unwanted critters.
- Increased storage space: An encapsulated crawl space adds to the total storage area in your home. While it’s not best to store precious items here, an encapsulated crawl space becomes the ideal area in which to store tools and other less valuable items.
- Protection for structures and HVAC: Vapor barriers provide a higher level of protection, leading to greater longevity for your structural elements. This protection also allows HVAC units in your crawl space to operate more efficiently. Over the long run, improvements to HVAC efficiency save you money on energy costs.
Do You Need to Add a Dehumidifier to Your Crawl Space?
The best way to know if your crawl space requires encapsulation, dehumidification, or any other service is to seek the advice of an experienced professional. For anyone living in the Triangle, Triad, or Eastern North Carolina area, Regional Foundation & Crawl Space Repair is the best company you can choose for all crawl space needs. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
