Crawl Space Problems Often Originate From High Above

When there are moisture problems below the house, the problem usually originates from higher above. Proper preventative maintenance can save the homeowner many thousands of dollars of repairs later on.

Prolonged moisture in the crawl space provides ideal conditions for the growth of mold and the deterioration of wood.

Mold and wood damage can also cause the home seller to lose thousands or tens of thousands of dollars of home value.

 Common sources of water intrusion to the crawl space include;

• Damaged gutters or improperly installed gutters causing water to spill out of the gutters to the ground near the foundation.
• Damaged downspouts or improperly installed downspouts causing water to be discharged too close to the home and the foundation.
• Poor grading funnelling water towards the foundation and the crawl space instead of expelling the water far from the home.
• Sidewalks or concrete pad slanted toward the home, thereby causing water intrusion.
• Air conditioning condensation lines discharging water into the crawl space instead of directing it away from the home.

All these problems can be prevented or fixed by periodically checking for moisture and for sources of moisture. Something as simple as a ten dollar downspout extender can save the homeowner five thousand dollars of damage from ever occurring.