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Crawl Space Ventilation in Ohio
How Crawl Space Vents Affect Crawl Space Humidity... And Why
Crawl space vents can usually keep out mice and rodents, but what about termites, carpenter ants, and other insects?
Crawl Space ventilation is the answer that contractors have historically given to the issue of crawl space humidity in homes.
Generally, this involves installing vented openings in a cross-sectional area equal to 1/150 of the floor area served.
These crawl space vents are usually fitted with a covering -- usually a wooden/metal grating, or a mesh covering.
The covering is installed to prevent infestations from rodents and animals, but they cannot prevent insects such as termites and carpenter ants.
Crawl space ventilation moves outside air through the house. This affects utility bills and, when that air holds mold spores, your health.
The Theory Behind Vented Crawl Spaces
Crawl space ventilation was meant to keep a constant supply of fresh air circulating throughout the crawl space environment.
It was thought that this would help to purge the space of the heavy, damp air in the house that settles in the lower levels.
Additionally, some contractors claim that damp, humid air is heavier than dry air, causing all the moisture in the home to sink down into the crawl space.
This belief had become so widespread that crawl space vents were actually written into the International Building Code!
In recent years, however, these codes are quickly changing to reflect improvements in the industry and formal scientific study.
Engineers and building scientists are becoming more and more aware of how crawl space humidity really works in a home, and are taking steps to stop the practice of venting crawl space environments.
What Crawl Space Humidity Research Says
Consider these crawl space humidity facts:
- Isaac Newton discovered in 1717 that wet air is actually lighter than dry air! It makes a lot of sense - if damp air was heavier, what would clouds be made of? And why would crawl space vents, which are at ground level, ever bring dry air into your home?
- If it's rainy, humid, foggy, or snowing outside, you're bringing wet air into your home.
- Advanced Energy reports that crawl space ventilation brings wet air into your home [PDF] when it's wet outside. Water that is pooling around your vents, will also flow into the space.
- Crawl space moisture helps mold, rot, and mildew grow. This means serious damage for your crawl space!
Here's a little more science: Hot air rises, leaving your house through the roof and upper levels. This creates a vacuum below that is filled by air from your crawl space, basement, and from outside. Air in your crawl space eventually enters the rest of your home!
Consider These Two Scenarios:
Winter Air - Frigid air fills your crawlspace, making the floor above cold. It cools your hot water pipes, your water heater, your furnace, and your heating ducts. Your utilities work harder and cost you more to run, and your home is drafty and uncomfortable.
Summer Air - Hot, humid air enters the crawl space, where the earth cools it naturally. According to Builder Magazine [PDF], this humidity will lead to condensation on your pipes, wood, and cool surfaces, leading to mold and rot. Damp air rises upward into your home. Wet air is harder to cool than dry air, and you spend more on utilities. Meanwhile, your crawl space insulation gets wet, loses its insulative value, grows mold, and drips to the floor. Moist, rotting wood is a perfect place for termites, ants, rodents, and other creatures to move in!
When crawl space insulation is saturated with water, it drips off onto the floor.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space ventilation does not work. If your crawl space is rotting and moldy, then you already know this.
To protect your crawl space, follow these steps:
- Eliminate any flooding with a crawl space sump pump system
- Seal your crawl space vents and doors with airtight covers.
- Line your crawl space walls and floors (even if they are concrete) with a thick, durable plastic liner
- Install a self-draining, strong dehumidifier in the crawl space.
This keeps everything you don't want in your crawl space outside- including moisture, cold air, termites, and ants.
Your crawl space will be dry and usable as storage space, and as an added benefit, a crawl space liner will even serve as a passive radon mitigation system!
Superior Basement Systems would like to help you create a dry, healthier crawl space. If you'd like a free, on-site consultation, call or e-mail us today!
We service Ohio, including Alliance, Ashland, Cadiz, Dover, East Liverpool, Hartville, Massillon, Millersburg, New Philadelphia, Salineville, Wooster, Yorkville and nearby areas.
More information about Crawl Space Vapor Barriers
Basement, Foundation, & Crawl Space Contractors in Eastern Ohio.
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Ashland
Hayesville
Jeromesville
Loudonville
Nankin
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Polk
Savannah
Cities in Belmont County, OH
Bridgeport
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Martins Ferry
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Saint Clairsville
Cities in Carroll County, OH
Augusta
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Cities in Columbiana County, OH
East Liverpool
East Rochester
Hanoverton
Homeworth
Kensington
Lisbon
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Salineville
Summitville
Wellsville
Cities in Coshocton County, OH
Fresno
West Lafayette
Cities in Guernsey County, OH
Kimbolton
Cities in Harrison County, OH
Bowerston
Cadiz
Deersville
Freeport
Harrisville
Hopedale
Jewett
New Athens
New Rumley
Scio
Tippecanoe
Cities in Holmes County, OH
Berlin
Big Prairie
Charm
Glenmont
Holmesville
Killbuck
Lakeville
Millersburg
Mount Hope
Nashville
Walnut Creek
Winesburg
Cities in Jefferson County, OH
Adena
Amsterdam
Bergholz
Bloomingdale
Brilliant
Dillonvale
East Springfield
Empire
Hammondsville
Irondale
Mingo Junction
Mount Pleasant
Piney Fork
Rayland
Richmond
Smithfield
Steubenville
Stratton
Tiltonsville
Toronto
Wolf Run
Yorkville
Cities in Mahoning County, OH
Beloit
Sebring
Cities in Stark County, OH
Alliance
Beach City
Brewster
Canal Fulton
Canton
East Canton
East Sparta
Greentown
Hartville
Limaville
Louisville
Magnolia
Massillon
Maximo
Middlebranch
Minerva
Navarre
North Canton
North Lawrence
Paris
Robertsville
Uniontown
Waynesburg
Wilmot
Cities in Summit County, OH
Clinton
Cities in Tuscarawas County, OH
Baltic
Bolivar
Dennison
Dover
Dundee
Gnadenhutten
Midvale
Mineral City
New Philadelphia
Newcomerstown
Port Washington
Sandyville
Somerdale
Stillwater
Stone Creek
Strasburg
Sugarcreek
Tuscarawas
Uhrichsville
Zoar
Cities in Wayne County, OH
Apple Creek
Burbank
Creston
Dalton
Doylestown
Fredericksburg
Kidron
Marshallville
Mount Eaton
Orrville
Rittman
Shreve
Smithville
Sterling
West Salem
Wooster
Cities in Hancock County, WV
New Manchester
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Recent Testimonials
"I was impressed with the professionalism of everyone I dealt with."
Testimonial by Karol L. from Dover, OH
"It's so wonderful to not have to worry about water in the basement anymore. We've had several bad storms since installation, and not one problem!"
Testimonial by Jeff and Janet F. from Sherrodsville, OH
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©2012 Superior Basement Systems
6628 Roy Andrews Road NW
New Philadelphia, OH 44663