Mold Signs In Your Crawl Space
Since your crawl space isnt an area you frequent commonly, one of the first signs of mold you notice is a moldy, musty smell coming from your crawl space. This is a good sign to get under your home and evaluate the situation. Other signs youll notice before going to the crawl space include increased allergies or sagging floors.
Once inside the crawl space, look for signs of visible mold. Mold can range from looking like black spots to white fluffy patches on crawl space walls or wood. Warping or uneven wood is another indication of mold.
Remember mold can be dangerous to your health, so wear proper protective gear and contact a mold remediation company to remove the mold.
You Can Eradicate Mold In Your Crawl Space With The Help Of An Expert
The best way to make sure youre able to get rid of mold in your crawl space entirely is to talk to an expert about it. After all, you want to make sure youre getting rid of any mold you have and ensure more mold doesnt grow in the future.To do that, youll need to talk to a crawl space repair expert. There are local options that should have your issues resolved swiftly.
Dry Out Your Crawl Space
Next, dry your crawl space. The water may have evaporated, but foundation walls, studs and joists will still be soaked. This can cause them to weaken over time, and lead to mold.
High-volume fans or structural drying dehumidifiers will speed up drying times. These devices are used to dry your crawl space following a flood or leak. While house fans can work, they may take longer to dry your crawl space and cause more damage.
If crawl spaces have dirt floors, the fans can be left on for several days more to dry the dirt. This may seem redundant, but wet dirt can cause more problems.
Water expands when it freezes and can crack your foundation in winter. Your crawl space can get very humid in the summer. This can lead to mold and unpleasant odors.
Read Also: Shower Ceiling Mold Removal
How To Get Rid Of Mold
There are many types of mold that can be found in homes and some are very dangerous to your health. This is why its important to hire professionals for mold remediation. Our experts have years of experience in mold cleanup that includes finding and identifying the types of mold in your home and using the most effective ways to remove it. In addition to visible mold, there is often mold hiding in air ducts, hvac systems, crawl spaces, and many other areas of your home. We use topnotch equipment to kill the mold and test and improve your air quality.
The Top Google Search For Crawl Space Mold Is Killing Mold In Crawl Space
The number one thing homeowners think when they find out there is mold in their crawl space.kill it! Crawl Space Brothers takes that a step further by killing it, then also ensuring it does not come back! The only way to do this is by creating an environment where mold and mildew cannot grow.
This means controlling the relative humidity. Mold and mildew cannot grow when the relative air humidity in the crawl space generally stays at or below 50%. Homeowners invest in killing the mold then wonder why it comes back in 6 months. The reason is that there were no preventative measures taken to keep the humidity low. Preventative measures consist of a dehumidifier and often an encapsulation. Guess what the most expensive home improvement you can do is? The one you do more than once! Avoid the cycle and kill the mold right the first time!
You May Like: How To Prevent Mold On Bathroom Ceiling
How To Clean Mold In Crawl Space
Now that we have identified the warning signs of mold in a crawl space, we can discuss how to remove it. Cleaning mold on your own is always an option, but its best to be done by a professional when youre dealing with a small area like a crawl space. They will be able to set up their equipment and fix the problem in a matter of hours.
Fight Mold With Ventilation
Once fungal growth takes hold, it thrives in the wet, stale atmosphere under your home. Ventilating the crawl space circulates fresh air through the area and holds down humidity. That reduces the concentration of air-borne spores, making it harder for mold to spread.
Power Tip: Make sure the clothes dryer vent terminates outside the crawl space.
Don’t Miss: Mold Or Mildew On Bathroom Ceiling
Preventing Mold In Crawl Spaces
Whether you have dealt with mold in your crawl space before or not, implementing measures to prevent mold growth is essential. There are several things you can do to reduce moisture buildup under your home, which is the primary cause of mold.
First, you should seal or waterproof any cracks in your foundation. Sealing gaps will prevent water from seeping in after rainfall or from other runoff.
Another great way to reduce the amount of water that gets into your crawl space is to implement adequate drainage outside your home.
A sound drainage system includes gutters, downspouts, and gutter extensions to move problematic rainwater away from your foundation wall, as well as a French drain system that can move runoff to a safe area of your property.
Next, you should install a vapor barrier in your crawl space if you dont already have one. This kind of crawl space encapsulation gets installed on the walls and floor of your crawl space and helps keep moisture out.
If your crawl space is vented, you may want to consider having it sealed to prevent moisture from the outside from getting in.
The sealing process is best left to professionals, as crawl space vents and any openings need to be fully adequately sealed to be effective.
Lastly, a sump pump and dehumidifier can work to remove standing water and water vapor from your crawl space, respectively. These should be your last line of defense but can keep your crawl space air well-conditioned and dry to prevent mold from forming.
What Causes Mold To Grow In Crawl Spaces
Mold grows easily in crawl spaces because there is usually a higher level of humidity and moisture in this location. Since crawl spaces are right up against the ground, moisture is always nearby and ready to invade the area, which is an invitation for mold to begin. These areas must stay dry to keep mold away.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Mold Spots On Bathroom Ceiling
How Can You Find Mold Before It Becomes A Bigger Problem
The first thing you need to think about is uncovering mold problems in your home. Heres how to find the mold when its just a small concern.
- Keep an Eye Out for Warning Signs
First off, you need to make sure youre keeping an eye out for concerns related to crawl space mold. Crawl space mold doesnt exist in a vacuum youll end up seeing a variety of other warning signs. Pay attention if any of these crawl space concerns show up for you:
- High indoor humidity
- Condensation
- Warped door and window frames
If youre noticing any of these problems, at the very least, you know you have a crawl space concern. It may not be mold, but theres a crawl space problem happening that you need to address as soon as possible. These warning signs are important to pay attention to, regardless of whether they indicate mold in your crawl space or not.
- Get a Professional Inspection Every Year
A professional inspection is a great way to make sure your crawl space is as healthy as possible. In every crawl space, there are several areas of potential concern. Its key to consider the crawl space as important to your homes health as any other area.If youre considering skipping your professional inspection because you believe you dont need it, you should certainly think again. A professional inspection is extremely important and you need it whether or not you have a serious problem. With a yearly professional inspection, youll be able to note whether any crawl space concerns may need fixing.
Preventing Mold Caused By Basement Condensation Issues
There are two methods to prevent mold growth in your basement caused by moisture and condensation.
Try anti-mildew paint in your basement
Re-paint your concrete foundation where youre experiencing surface mold growth with an antifungal paint such as KILZ . These types of paints advertise that they prevent mold growth on the surface of the paint. In my experience, they dont always work, though.
Insulate your foundation to prevent condensation
The second thing you can do would be to insulate your concrete foundation walls. There are many different options: Styrofoam, spray-foam, or finishing the basement. Insulated walls would prevent that difference in temperature that causes condensation and mold growth.
Don’t Miss: How Do I Get Rid Of Mold In My Basement
Reader Question About Mold In Dirt Crawl Space
Hi I have attached a few pics of the mold growth on my dirt crawl space each pic is isolated and no further spread is seen anywhere else.
I was actually shocked to see this strange looking growth. I do keep the crawl vents open but there is no forced air movement at all. Please assist as to how to safely remove.
The house sustained a fire in may of 2014 and the ac system has been off since. There are fans running in house though.
The only power to crawl space is to the sump pumps that discharge any water to the outside via pipes which none of the pics of the mold spores / mushrooms are even close to the sump liners of perimeter pipe in perimeter ditch.
There is no black plastic liner on dirt floor and no floor joist insulation, I removed all several years back when I dug my perimeter ditch and sump pits with the plastic liners. Thanks for any guidance! â G.E. 9/8/2014
Leave Your Crawl Space To The Jes Experts
When youre trying to make sure you have a healthy crawl space, its important that you fix problems as soon as possible. You also want to make sure the problems are fixed for good.
If youre trying to find out who to call for water in your crawl space, look no further than JES. You can request a free inspection, so you know whats going on with your crawl space. Then a JES expert will walk you through the current problems and help you understand what you can do next.
CHOOSE THE EXPERTS HERE TO HELP YOU
Recommended Reading: Best Way To Clean Mold Off Ceiling
Dont Let Mold In Your Crawl Space Get You Down
If you think you might have mold in your crawl space, theres no reason to panic! Our experts know exactly what to look for and how to get rid of the problems we find. Contact us today or complete our online request form to schedule your crawl space cleaning consultation.
Contact Crawl Pros today for a crawl space mold removal estimate.
Our professional estimators can see you in as little as a day.
Give us a call today at 866-673-9626
Contact Crawl Pros today for a crawl space mold removal estimate.
Our professional estimators can see you in as little as a day.
Give us a call today at 866-673-9626
Introduction Crawl Space Cleaning
Mold in crawl spaces is very common and can often be corrected with a little patience and hard work. We have been saying for years that there is no such thing as a crawl space with no mold growth in it. While this is probably an exaggeration, it certainly isnt far from the truth. It is a very common problem that, while oftentimes not a health issue, is a growing resale issue that requires attention prior to listing a home for sale.
The cost of cleaning up crawl spaces can be very expensive. Indiana Mold Remediation has always sought to find the best solution to mold problems that meet both remediation needs as well as account for the available resources of the homeowner. While we have worked hard to provide a high value for our cleaning services in crawl spaces, this guide is designed as an instruction manual for the do-it-yourselfers trying to address this hidden problem themselves and save the cost of hiring a professional. Keep in mind, cleaning up mold in a crawlspace can be very labor-intensive and quite messy, it isnt for the faint-hearted! Understanding your own abilities is an important first step before taking on a project of this size and scope.
Some items that you will need for your cleaning include:
Possible Cleaners:
Oxiclean
Bleach
Soap
Borax
Botanical/Natural Cleaners
Personal Protection Equipment
- Coveralls
- Eye Protection
Pump Sprayer or other Spray Equipment
Soft Bristle Brush
High-Pressure Fan or several low-pressure fans
Extension Cord
Recommended Reading: Mold Spores On Bathroom Ceiling
How Do I Remove It
If youre wondering how to get rid of white mold in your crawl space, youll need to assess the size of the problem. With a small emerging issue, you might be able to take care of it yourself, but you should not attempt anything over 30 square feet.
Use Personal Protective Equipment , even for small jobs. Youll need an N95 mask, gloves, and googles as a minimum since mold in the air can be as much as 10 to 1,000 times higher during removal/cleaning.
If the mold is on soil, and only a few square feet, you can dig down an inch to remove the affected area. After removal of the dirt, consider the installation of a plastic vapor barrier to help prevent reoccurrence.
Bleach may kill the mold but it doesnt prevent the spores from being airborne and you dont want to use bleach on porous materials. This action starves the mold of its food source.
Dont Risk Your Health
As sure as you are of your DIY talents, dont risk taking on a job thats too big or too dangerous. We strongly recommend calling in a mold remediation service if:
- Affected areas include damaged or rotted wood.
- Mold covers multiple areas larger than 3 square feet.
- You or any family members deal with allergies or respiratory problems.
Bringing in a mold remediation specialist also addresses issues like identifying and eliminating mold sources and repairing and replacing affected materials.
Also Check: How To Clean Mold Off Bathroom Walls And Ceiling
Discoloration On Walls & Insulations
One of the easiest ways to identify a mold problem in the attic is by looking out for discolorations on insulations and walls. Mold growth mostly appears black or grey.
Whatever the color, youll notice a patch or discoloration which wasnt there before. When such is noticed, a closer inspection will be necessary before treatment commences.
What Causes Moisture In Crawl Space
Different sources could contribute to moisture in the crawl space. Lets take a look at some of the more common reasons below.
Condensation One of the biggest contributors to condensation in the crawl space is because of venting. Venting allows the outside air to enter the crawl space and come in contact with the inside air. Most often during the summer months, the crawl space becomes a breeding ground for mold and other harmful bacteria. The best way to combat condensation is to seal any vents or loose doors to prevent the outside air from being able to get in.
Water Seepage After heavy rainfall or when the snow begins to melt, all of that water-saturated in the soil will begin to seep up through the ground and come up into the crawl space. The best way to stop this from happening is to lay strips of heavy-duty plastic over the ground to act as a barrier, better known as crawl space encapsulation.
Gutters and Downspouts One of the biggest causes for a damp crawl space is one that could have easily been prevented, and that is by making sure that the gutters are clean and clear of debris and that the downspouts are properly directing water away from the foundation.
Leaking Pipes Plumbing pipes under your crawl space are another culprit that tends to get overlooked. Keep an eye on your utility bill and make sure there are no sudden spikes in usage.
Read Also: How To Get Mildew Off Bathroom Ceiling
How To Get Rid Of Mold On Floor Joists In Crawl Space
Mold can grow anywhere where the conditions are right, and it is common to find them on floor joists in crawl spaces. Mold remediation costs for such spaces are less expensive than basements and are sometimes used as an alternative to allow access to the bottom of a home, especially in places where the weather tends to stay dry. However, a crawl space can all too easily collect moisture and become a breeding ground for mold.
Can Mold In Crawl Space Get Into Space
If you’ve gotten mold in your crawl space, theres a good chance that its also unfold to different areas of your house. If it spreads into your HVAC machine, it might probably trip in the course of the air ducts right through the rest of your home. Mold in your HVAC is extraordinarily tricky to mitigate and calls for the help of a educated professional.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Mold Off Of Bathroom Ceiling
What Chemicals And Tools Will Clean Mold In A Crawl Space
We have seen several genuinely confused people about what chemicals and tools will work the best to clean mold from a crawl space. Before we go through the exact steps needed to clean your crawl space of all mold thoroughly, we need to look at the exact tools you will need.
We always recommend that people have these at hand before entering the crawl space, as it can be a bother to go in only to find you are missing a tool. We have seen several people be surprised just how strong the normal chemicals found around the home are.
- Bleach: The most effective household item that you can use to fight any type of mold will always be bleach. As a chemical, bleach is one of the most dangerous things you can have in your home and will be effective in killing any mold that may be growing or even spreading.
- Ammonia: Ammonia has the same effect as bleach on mold, killing it instantly, but will usually work better on surfaces where bleach may be absorbed. We recommend never using the two together, choosing to use only one chemical each time when you enter the crawl space.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: When both bleach and ammonia are just simply failing their job, we recommend that you use hydrogen peroxide. This is an acid and will kill everything it touches, including your hands, and cause rust on anything metal, but it will completely eradicate all types of mold.
