High Levels of Humidity in Crawl Space- Portland, OR
Challenge
High levels of humidity in a home are a clear sign of water intrusion in the crawl space. When water enters a crawl space and is left with no where to properly drain, it becomes a bigger issue, causing high humidity, moisture and musty smells that move up into the home and without a permanent solution it could cause further damage to the home and even cause health issues. These homeowners were worried about poor air quality in their home after noticing a strong damp smell, so they decided to schedule a free visit with us. We went out and inspected the crawl space and found signs of water intrusion, no vapor barrier or insulation to offer protection and even rodent activity. After, we met with the homeowners, went over the findings, and created a game plan. We went over the benefits of a full encapsulation and decided that it is the best route to create a dry, healthy and stable home, so they moved forward with the project.
Solution
We started this project by removing any debris that was found. Next, we dig a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space in which we install a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock to create a secure passage for water to drain to the lowest point. Then, at this low point we install our TripleSafe Sump that will collect all of the water that enters and will pump it outside of the home, away from the foundation through a discharge line. We make sure all of the vents are covered and sealed to prevent outside air from entering. We also install our EverLast Door that creates a secure exterior accessway into the crawl space, along with our EverLast Access Well which is made of heavy duty polyethylene that will help hold back soil from the door. It is big enough for the homeowner to crouch down and enter. We then install our TerraBlock system directly onto the dirt floor, creating an insulated barrier between the home and the earth. Over top of the TerraBlock, we install our 20 mil thick liner, CleanSpace. This is anchored into the foundation walls, up to the rim joists and every post is individually lifted to place the CleanSpace liner between the footing and the wooden posts to protect against water damage. It is then sealed with our heavy duty, waterproof tape. To keep the environment controlled, we install our SaniDry Sedona. This dehumidifier will effectively eliminate damp and musty odors by drying and filtering the air while keeping the home at a healthy relative humidity. Lastly, to finish this project we install our SilverGlo which is our wall insulation that gets anchored into the walls over top of the CleanSpace.
