Flooding Through Foundation Vents - Arlington, WA

When water enters a crawl space, it can cause several serious issues. It can rot the wood posts that stabilize your home and create a breeding ground for mold. Some people think what is in their crawl space doesn't matter and won't affect them in their home, but what is under can find its way back up. Wood rot can create bouncy floors and sticking doors, while mold affects the air you breathe and can cause several health issues. For this home, the biggest culprit was the foundation vents, which were allowing water to enter directly into the crawl space, along with outside air and rodents. The home needed to be saved right away. Our John's Waterproofing team worked with the homeowners to craft an optimal plan to stop the flooding at its source, prevent water from entering through the vents, and protect both their health and home.

The project started when our crew went down into the crawl space and removed all debris left behind by the flooding. Then, a trench was dug along the interior perimeter, and a Perf Pipe was placed to catch groundwater and redirect it to the sump pump. Next, a SuperSump Plus sump pump was installed, which collects water and pumps it out of the crawl space using a discharge line. With the water redirected, the pesky exterior vents that had been letting water flood into the crawl space needed to be closed off for good. Durable, heavy-duty plastic Vent Covers were installed to ensure that no rodents, water, or air could get inside. Back in the crawl space, TerraBlock, a thick foam insulation, was laid along the dirt floor to reflect heat up into the space, all the while trapping moisture underneath. On top, a CleanSpace vapor barrier was attached and overlapped. CleanSpace is our 20-mil polyethylene liner that prevents moisture, outside air, and rodents from entering the crawl space. After that, a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier was installed to keep humidity levels at the perfect percentage, preventing mold growth. The last step of the project was our team applying Spray Foam along the walls, which gets in every crack and every hole, completely sealing the space off from the unwanted elements. Put this all together, and we've created the ultimate solution to encapsulating the crawl space, stopping the flooding that once occurred, optimizing energy efficiency, keeping the crawl space dry; saving the homeowners' health and protecting the home for years to come.