So I was under a house here in the Grand Strand area yesterday at the beckoning of a partner company to look at some insulation that was damaged by a dishwasher leak in the kitchen above. Even though the request was rather specific, my standard protocol while in a crawl space is to take some wood moisture content readings and snap a few photos. A wood moisture meter is called a Protimeter (shown here). It has two pointed metal electrodes designed to slightly penetrate the wood surface. Once activated the device sends a current from one electrode to the other, and since water is an excellent conductor of electricity the faster the circuit completes the higher the moisture content of the wood. And the higher the moisture content - typically in excess of 20% - the greater the likelihood of mold/fungus growth, termite infestation and related issues. Well, when I stuck my Protimeter into the pictured joist I heard a crunching noise and felt no resistance as the electrodes easily and fully buried themselves into the wood. One good whack with a hammer and that brittle wood would have splintered before my eyes, yet this joist - and I'm sure it was not the only one in such condition - is a component of the structure that supports the home above!
This is not an uncommon condition to our region's crawl spaces due to the humid climate, high water table and heavy rainfalls that provide so many opportunities for excessive moisture intrusion, but when it gets to this point the resulting costs to salvage the structure can be debilitating - a ton of cure that could have easily been avoided by a few ounces of prevention. If you and/or a relative/friend/neighbor have a crawl space, for the love of the home's longevity and the health of its indoor air environment find out what - if anything - is going on down there. And in all cases, "if you see something...or smell something...SAY SOMETHING!"
Don't let this happen to your home.
This is not an uncommon condition to our region's crawl spaces due to the humid climate, high water table and heavy rainfalls that provide so many opportunities for excessive moisture intrusion, but when it gets to this point the resulting costs to salvage the structure can be debilitating - a ton of cure that could have easily been avoided by a few ounces of prevention. If you and/or a relative/friend/neighbor have a crawl space, for the love of the home's longevity and the health of its indoor air environment find out what - if anything - is going on down there. And in all cases, "if you see something...or smell something...SAY SOMETHING!"
Don't let this happen to your home.
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