If your house has a crawl space, you have probably noticed the foundation vents on the outside of your home. The original purpose of these vents was to circulate and replace the air in the crawl space with fresh air from the outside. For many years, this system appeared to work very well.

Now we know better… New scientific studies have shown that conventionally vented crawl spaces may not only cost us more energy dollars, but may also cause serious threats to our indoor air quality. Here’s how…

Many older homes were built without central air conditioning. Cooling was achieved by putting fans in the windows. For most people today, air conditioning is a necessity instead of a luxury. Ductwork is now installed in the crawl space where the ducts can connect to all the rooms easily and without complication.

This has changed how our homes “breathe.” Air comes into the crawl space through the foundation vents and connects with surfaces which have been cooled by the cold air in the ducts. The hot, moist air meets the cooler surfaces; the dew point is reached and condensation occurs. When condensation forms on the components of your crawl space, mold is on the way.

Even without warm, moist air entering through the foundation vents, or by condensation, moisture will still impact your home through the natural moisture vapors which rise from the ground below your home. What can be done, you may ask, to remedy the multiple sources of moisture in our crawl spaces?

With CrawlSpace Care, you can expect to spend as much as 18% less on heating and cooling your home. That translates into big savings! With CrawlSpace Care, your home will be less susceptible to infestations by termites, powder post beetles, wood borers and even carpenter ants. The air in the crawl space will be cleaner thus creating a positive impact on the air quality in the living areas of your home. Even the ductwork in your crawl space will be less likely to rust or need replacement. With CrawlSpace Care, you will be able to easily monitor the conditions in your crawl space right from your living room or kitchen.

Conclusion:
Average savings in energy usage is significant by
properly closing the crawl space.

Source: Advanced Energy
 

Conclusion:
Relative humidity is significantly reduced. (blue line)

Source: Advanced Energy
 

Conclusion:
With a closed crawl space, the dew point is regulated
to more favorable levels.

Source: Advanced Energy
 

Conclusion:
Crawl space temperatures in a home with a closed crawl space are more consistent over a year than those inside a home without one. This means less contrast between living area temperatures, resulting in less energy need to heat and cool your home.

Source: Advanced Energy