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Rather than ease us into it, Mother Nature just flipped the switch on our humid season here at the South Carolina Coast. Vented crawl spaces are now inhaling high dew point outdoor air without opportunity to exhale since they are under a perpetual state of negative pressure due to the Stack Effect (the naturally occurring bottom-to-top flow of air within a structure). As this damp air contacts the cooler surfaces in crawl spaces (joists/trusses, subfloor surfaces, HVAC equipment and ducts, plumbing supply and drain lines, insulation, etc.), condensation occurs and the extended seasonal absorption cycle begins. Moisture content of the structural wood rises to levels that can be highly supportive of mold/fungal activity, fiberglass batts installed beneath the subfloor act like sponges and begin to droop or fall due to the excess weight, and oftentimes a level of saturation is achieved that allows water to literally rain down from the crawl space ceiling. None of this bodes well for the structure as it invites fungal wood rot and termite infestation, and high subfloor moisture content can wreak havoc on the finished flooring surfaces above - particularly hardwoods. Additionally - courtesy of that pesky Stack Effect which results in up to 40% of indoor air originating in the crawl space - mold spores, mycotoxins and excessive moisture infiltrate the living space, potentially triggering adverse respiratory issues in susceptible individuals while also causing the HVAC system to work overtime and very inefficiently as it attempts to condition and dehumidify the continuous flow of damp air from below. Don't let your crawl space, your structure, your electric bills and your health endure another season of moisture-causing woes. And definitely do not neglect your vented crawl space and allow it to devolve to the point of the one pictured here, which is below a beautiful house right here on the Grand Strand! Contact us today for a professional assessment.
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