Ignoring crawl space issues can not only cause damage to your home, but can lead to unforeseen costs and significant but necessary repairs. Crawlspace maintenance is extremely important and without regular inspections and checkups, your home, health, and finances can be affected. So, what is the cost of ignoring crawl space issues? Keep reading to find out!
Structural Repairs
Excess moisture in your crawlspace can lead to serious dangers, affecting the structural integrity of your home. When water infiltrates your crawlspace, or humidity levels are high, the foundation of your home weakens over time and can struggle to support your home as cracks or shifts occur. You may even notice sagging or bouncy floors as the floor joists deteriorate or rot. If your crawlspace is left unchecked, the structural damage may require extensive repairs. When you catch these foundation issues early-on, they are much easier to handle and prevent you from having to make costly repairs down the road.
Energy Bills
When the insulation under your home begins to get damaged, or air is leaking, you may notice that your home is struggling to stay warm or cool. If your energy bills have sky-rocketed, your HVAC system is wearing down, or the temperature in your home is constantly changing, your crawlspace may need some repairs. This may be a costly issue, especially if your energy bills have been expensive for a while. Your HVAC unit may be overworked and need to be replaced. All of these problems can be avoided with regular crawlspace inspections and maintenance!
Indoor Air Quality
One of the most important things to keep an eye on is the indoor air quality of your home. When the air quality is poor, it can impact your house as well as your family, potentially causing respiratory problems, exacerbating asthma or allergy symptoms, and even posing long-term health risks. When your crawlspace is neglected, mold, mildew, and bacteria can grow and spread throughout your home. Not only does this weaken your home’s structure, but it can be hazardous to you and your loved ones. When left alone, these kinds of issues can be difficult to treat, and the repercussions can be severe. Ensure your crawlspace is thoroughly inspected and maintained at least once a year to keep these problems from expanding.
Pests
Unfortunately, dark, damp places like your crawlspace are the perfect place for pests, bugs, and rodents to live and reproduce. This can pose serious issues to your home. Not only is it uncomfortable to have pests running around under your home, but they could potentially enter your living area and cause an infestation. They could also cause structural damage if they gnaw or chew through the foundation of your house. From here, your home is dangerous and unsafe. Many pests can carry various diseases which can impact the health of your family. Make sure your crawlspace is closed off and sealed to prevent these critters from infiltrating. It is much easier to prevent them from coming in, than getting rid of them once they have made themselves at home!
Avoid Costs By…
With regular inspections, up-to-date encapsulations, insulation, and moisture control, your crawlspace will pose no threat to your home. Sutton Specialty Contractors offers various preventative solutions to give you peace of mind, including vapor barriers, dehumidifiers, push piers, and sump pumps. Or, if the damage is already done, we offer repair services as well to get your crawlspace back on track! Enjoy a free inspection to determine what personalized services will benefit your crawlspace the most. Give us a call today, 252-320-2577.
