Many homes only have a crawl space. Just as in ordinary cellars, can obviously moisture problems arise that carry negative consequences. Are you suffering from moisture or water in your crawl space? Find out here the possible causes and why it is best to solve this moisture problem as soon as possible.
How does water get into the crawl space?
Moisture or water in the crawl space is usually caused by groundwater that seeps into the crawl space through the walls or through the floor. Especially in autumn and winter, the ground becomes very moist, increasing the pressure of groundwater. If your crawl space is not sufficiently waterproof, the groundwater can simply wend its way in and you will obtain a layer of water in the crawl space.
But that's not all. Leaking or broken pipes can also cause water to enter your crawl space. In addition, poor or lack of ventilation amplifies moisture problems in your crawl space.
Is water in the crawl space bad?
Many basements and crawlspaces are sometimes flooded or have high humidity. This high humidity causes a large difference in vapour pressure between the crawl space and the living area. Through open connections such as shutters, meter boxes with pipe penetrations or connections between floors and walls, the moist air can enter the house. This can happen in three different ways:
- Vapour diffusion: water vapour moves from areas of high vapour concentration to areas of lower water vapour concentration.
- Capillary moisture transport: capillary pores are continuous, interconnected pores in, for example, cement brick with a size between about 10 and 1000 nm. In construction, capillary action occurs when water is soaked up by bricks (rising damp, rising damp).
- Air transport: an air flow from the crawl space to the house can occur if the crawl space has an open connection to the outside air, if there are air leaks between the crawl space and the house, or if there is a large pressure difference between the crawl space and the house.
As moisture seeps into the home, it can lead to a variety of negative consequences. Common consequences include:
- A musty smell in the house
- Mould
- Pests in the home
- Health problems, including shortness of breath, colds or (chronic) bronchitis
- Damage to your walls or floors, up to damage to the building structure
So it does matter if you are struggling with moisture or water in your crawl space. We strongly recommend having water in the crawl space thoroughly repaired treat.
What to do if there is moisture or water in the crawl space
There is no general solution for water in the crawl space. The best moisture solution to be implemented depends very much on the cause of the moisture problem. So always have a expert visit, as this person can accurately identify the cause of the water in the crawl space.
Usually, there are several options to combat dampness in the crawl space. To fix the problem permanently, it is highly recommended to hire a moisture expert. This will guarantee the best execution.
1. Ventilation
A damp crawl space should first of all be fitted with proper ventilation grilles so that condensation in the room has no chance.
Air leaks between the crawl space and the house should also be sealed if moisture problems appear. These air leaks exist due to several reasons:
- Routing pipes from basement to house
- Crawlspace hatches or cellar doors
- The capillary action of the house floor itself
Pressure differences between the basement area and the house must then be addressed. Vapour pressure differences can be created by three factors: the 'chimney effect' in winter (due to the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors), a mechanical extraction system that is not properly adjusted or wind pressure that creates underpressures and overpressures.
The basis is always: air that flows in through negative pressure must somehow also be able to flow back out. If the pressure difference cannot recover naturally, it must be balanced manually with the installation of, for example, a ventilation system.
2. Basement drainage
Is there significant groundwater pressure or significant amounts of water entering the crawl space? If so, you may want to consider draining the groundwater through a basement drainage. This involves pumping water out of the crawl space.
3. Basements
You can also choose to completely waterproof your crawl space by using a basement. This gives the walls and floor of the crawl space a waterproof layer, in several stages.
Are you suffering from moisture or water in your crawl space? Then take contact with Aquaconsult and our specialists will visit for a free moisture assessment, everywhere in Flanders.
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