Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Summertime Smells: Encapsulating the Crawl Space - Keizer, OR

This homeowner called John's Waterproofing after experiencing bad smells in the crawl space during the Summertime. They explained that when their AC would run, the smells would only worsen and they couldn't find the root to the problem. When John's came in to do an inspection, it was discovered that the crawl space was in bad shape due to high humidity levels and moisture damage. These issues were what was causing the bad smells in their home. We informed the homeowner the best long-term solution to this problem would be to encapsulate the crawl space so the humidity could be controlled and the space would be sealed off from the outside elements. To begin, we had to remove all the damaged insulation and vapor barrier. Then, we installed a drainage system by laying a perforated pipe along the interior perimeter of the space and connecting it to a SmartDrain. This way any water that tries to intrude will have a safe passageway to flow through and exit the space before it can evaporate into the air and raise the humidity. Then, TerraBlock is installed along the crawl space floor to seal the earth off and insulate the space. A CleanSpace vapor barrier goes on top of the TerraBlock, up the foundation walls, and between the footing and wooden posts to isolate and protect against water damage. The most important step for this home was to install the SaniDry dehumidifier. This promotes healthier air quality by pulling out excess moisture particles from the air. This also keeps the relative humidity at around 55% year round so that mold and mildew can't grow. The last step is applying Spray Foam to the foundation walls to air seal and further insulate the home. Now, the homeowner can enjoy the benefits of a dry and healthy crawl space, including eliminating the bad smells.