The primary purpose of venting is to allow air quality to flow through the house in unoccupied areas such as the raised foundation, and attic, if the house did not breath, stale air will cause the air quality to be offensive mostly doing the winter months.
At any point you open the crawl space vents or slide them open you possibly will allow animals to enter the attic or enter the raised foundation area some animals find crawl space electrical wiring insulation very tasty! and if you have a floor furnace, that is a very warm spot for the critters!
Animal relief "piles" are very toxic, some cats built up a "pile" under one customers bedroom area under the house over the years and the occupants that was sleeping over that floor space where these "piles" was and got very sick from the emitting odor, as a result the flooring had to be removed and the "piles" cleaned up and removed and the foundation area treated.
The wife ended up in the hospital with respitory failure and other health problems. Make sure keep screens on your House vents!
Fred Sweezer Sr
http://www.TheLongBeachHomeInspector.Com
1-562-234-2689
fredsweezersr@verizon.net
Comments(5)