Most homeowners never go into their crawl spaces. In homeowners’ minds, crawl spaces are of little use to them personally, and is usually only visited by plumbers and the HVAC company for their annual maintenance. But the reality is, if the crawl space gets consitently wet, it can cause some major issues to the equipment ductwork, and insulation under there along with being condusive to mold growth. As soon as it’s discovered that you have water in your crawl space, you should think about the ways of preventing the crawl spaces from flooding.
Susceptibility of Flooding
Ground water, plumbing leaks, and rainwater are the chief sources of water flooding in a crawl space. Gutters and downspouts are installed to take rain and stormwater away, but if they are not working properly, water can flood into crawl spaces under the foundation. The water accumulation under your home from any of these sources increases many problems. Mainly, It can damage the structure foundation, which can weaken the structure over time as cracks in the foundation walls supporting the whole weight of your home will spread. Also, it can become a source of mold growth that can not only deteriate the wood, but can cause health issues for your family. The crawl space encapsulation experts at Elite Moisture Solutions recommends a couple different remedies that can help eliminate this issue:
Install a sump pump
Sump pumps are commonly used to prevent basement floods, and they work exceptionally well in crawl spaces too. Specifically, if you experience regular flooding in your crawl space, it is suggested that you must have an adequate sump pump installed to take this water out.They work by catching water that accumulates in your crawl space and then safely pumps this water away from the house. As a result, these pumps directly block water’s accumulation into the crawl spaces.
Hiring a professional who is an expert in the type of pump, correct placement, and its unit size is recommended. Installing sump pumps aren’t cheap, so it’s vital to make sure they are working when installed. A backup power source like a generator should be arranged for its operation, and occasionally tests should be done to make sure it’s working as it should.
Install a French Drain
Other than a sump pump, the other standard and most significant way to prevent your crawlspace from flooding is the installation of a French drain. A French drain can be created by digging a narrow trench, placing a water pipe inside the trench, and filling the channel with gravel. This drain will route water away from your your home and can be used in conjuction with a sump pump. In this way, these drains prevent water from accumulating in the crawl space, and avoids leakage into the ground by controlling saturation.
Bottom Line
If you want to prevent your crawlspace from flooding, ensure that all gutters are correctly installed and functioning well by diverting water entirely away without any leakage under your home, and when excess water is discovered, a sump pump and French drain should be considered to divert water away in case of excessive flooding.
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