The #1 Enemy of your Crawl Space is ...

How can I have mold in my crawl space? I know I don't have a water problem down there. 

This is a common response from homeowners when told that they have a mold problem. Visible standing water is one obvious sign of wet crawl space. But the most common enemy of the crawl space is less visible and less obvious: High Humidity. 

High humidity causes significant problems in your crawl space.
90% (pictured here) is extremely high.

If you live in the South and you have a crawl space, you need to be aware of the humidity situation in your crawl space. Humid outdoor air, poor air circulation, and the presence of other water sources often create an environment in which the humidity in the crawl space is higher than the humidity outdoors!

Our rule of thumb is that you want your humidity level to be below 60%. High humidity levels can cause the following:

• Elevated Wood Moisture Levels: levels above 16% can lead to mold growth, wood rot, and structural damage.
• Mold Growth: Mold thrives in humid environments.
• Insulation Failure: Insulation absorbs moisture like a sponge. Wet insulation decreases in R value and eventually becomes so weighted down with excess water that it falls to the floor.
• Pest Activity: Like mold, rodents and insects enjoy dark, humid environments.

  

  High humidity leads to high wood moisture levels.
  This wood is at 17% and has visible fungal growth.

• Poor Indoor Air Quality: 40%-50% of the air you breathe on your first floor originates in your crawl space. 
• Musty Smells: If you aren't sure what that smell is, there's a good chance it is coming from your crawl space. 

The good news is that humidity in your crawl space can be controlled! Visit our website to learn more about solution options or to schedule a free inspection from our experts. 

You Choose the Title!

How NOT to install a sump pump

When installed improperly a sump pump can be a source of humidity, foul odors, and mold rather than a solution. Here are three ways that this sump pump is installed improperly.

1. No lid. A proper sump basin has a lid which serves multiple purposes. 1) A lid prevents the basin water from evaporating back into your crawl space and eventually being absorbed by your insulation and floor joist. 2) A lid helps ensure a clean environment for the sump pump. Notice the dirtiness of the water and the inside of the green basin. 3) A lid is also a safety mechanism to prevent Barky or Meow from falling in. Sadly, while performing a routine inspection, one of our technicians found a customer's puppy that had been missing for months. 
2. Five-gallon bucket, rather than a proper sump pump basin. There are several models that will get the job done, but the typical basin is about twice the depth and four times the volume of this five-gallon bucket. 
3. No holes to allow ground water to enter basin. In a crawl space environment it is most effective to drill holes around the basin to allow ground water to enter the basin and then be pumped out. The only water entering this basin is being pumped through tubes (black 1" tube above) from a dehumidifier. Notice the ground surrounding this sump basin is wet and muddy because the ground water has no way of entering the basin. 

Visit our website to learn more about sump pumps, crawl space waterproofing, and basement waterproofing. Or contact us to schedule a free inspection of your home. 

What is that smell?

I used to think that houses smelled musty because they were old, or because they had old things in them. Now I know that smell is often a symptom of something worse. The most common cause of a musty smelling house is the crawl space. Due to the stack effect, approximately 40% of the air you breath in your home originates in your crawl space. If your crawl space is moldy then the air in your home will be moldy. So I was partially right when I used to think that houses smelled musty because they were old.

The truth is that many homes in North Carolina built prior to 2004 are not properly waterproofed. Therefore many of them have a moisture issue in the crawl space which can lead to a mold issue in the crawl space. And when you have a mold issue in the crawl space you often have a musty smell in the home. 

So if the air in your home seems stale or smells musty, take a peek in your crawl space. Better yet, contact Green Frog Waterproofing for a free inspection. It could literally lead to a breath of fresh air.

5 Winter Tips for a Healthy Home

There are a few winter tips that (almost) everyone knows, such as opening your blinds when the sun is shining, closing your front door, and not leaving the fridge open ... but we won't mention those here. Here are some lesser known tips that might end up saving you a lot of money and headache this winter.

1. Don't leave it out in the cold. 

If your hot water heater is in your attic or garage, it is a good idea to wrap it with insulation to not lose heat.

2. Open or closed?

It is usually best to open your crawl space vents during the dry winter months to help dry out your crawl space. The one exception is when it is so cold that your pipes could freeze. But that is unlikely in the Carolinas. The geothermal heat rising from the ground under your house is usually enough to keep your crawl space above freezing, and if you have a gas furnace it will also give off enough radiant heat to keep your crawl space above 32 F. 

3. Did you know?  

Condensation (which can lead to mold) is usually thought of as a summer problem. But condensation can happen in your crawl space wherever warm and cold air mix. It can happen in the winter if your crawl space is warm and cold air is being sucked in through the vents. 

4. Who turned out the light? 

Check your crawl space regularly to ensure that bulk water is not present. Aside from causing other problems such as mold and structural damage, water can extinguish your furnace’s pilot light which can lead to carbon monoxide being leaked into your home.

5. I feel a draft!  

If you feel a draft on your first floor, there is a good chance it is coming from the crawl space. Draftiness or cold patches are often due to missing insulation or utility penetrations created in the sub floor during construction. Other than leaving your front door open, the crawl space is the easiest (and most often overlooked) way for cold air to sneak in. The best way to keep this from happening is to seal or encapsulate your crawl space. By sealing out all the outside air and insulating the walls, a sealed crawl space drastically improves the indoor air quality and energy efficiency or your home.