It’s a food handlers card texascommon misconception that your crawl food handlers card texasspace needs to breathe. In the past, it was believed that food handlers card texasfoundation vents were the best way to get food handlers card texas rid of crawl space food handlers card texas moisture.
However, food handlers card texas we now know that installing foundation vents to air out your food handlers card texas crawl space actually creates greater moisture food handlers card texas problems.
In addition, an food handlers card texas found that crawl spaces with open foundation vents stay above 70% food handlers card texas relative humidity – well above the healthy humidity level food handlers card texas of 50%. If there were open vents – even if a vapor barrier was food handlers card texas installed – high humidity continued to be a food handlers card texas problem.
Foundation food handlers card texas Vents Let Moisture In!
Open foundation vents food handlers card texas let outside air into your crawl space, which creates food handlers card texas moisture problems.
Moreover, the air in your food handlers card texas crawl space is typically cooler than the outside temperatures – with some food handlers card texas exceptions. As the warmer outside air combines food handlers card texas with the cooler crawl space air, humidity food handlers card texas is created.
Here’s how it works: Let’s say that food handlers card texas your crawl space is 65°F, coupled with the outside air at food handlers card texas 95°F (with a relative humidity of 70%). Notably, that’s a food handlers card texas temperature difference of 30°F. For every degree that the air food handlers card texas cools, the relative humidity goes up food handlers card texas by 2.2%.
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food handlers card texas degree that the air cools, the relative humidity goes up by 2.2%
So, in this example, food handlers card texas when the different temperatures are combined, the crawl space humidity will increase by 66%. food handlers card texas Specifically, air can only food handlers card texas hold up to 100% humidity, after which it will need to release the food handlers card texas excess moisture in some fashion.
With the increase in humidity of food handlers card texas 66% added to the 70% humidity of the outside air, the food handlers card texastotal humidity is 136%. To clarify, the air cannot hold this food handlers card texasmuch moisture and, as a result, you’ll end up with crawl space condensation or sweat.
As you can imagine, all of that food handlers card texasextra moisture will create issues in your crawl space. In the event that you come across this problem, it’s best to contact an expert right away.
Foundation Vents = food handlers card texasMoisture: Your Crawl Space’s #1 Enemy!
Unless you’re planning food handlers card texason turning your crawl space into a food handlers card texassteam room, moisture and humidity should be food handlers card texas removed. By all means, the build-up of food handlers card texas moisture in your crawl space can become food handlers card texas a devastating issue.
Mold, wood rot and mildew all thrive in food handlers card texas environments that have over 50% humidity and a food source, food handlers card texas like wood floor joists. Sound like your crawl space?
And this is just the food handlers card texas beginning…
If you happen to have mold or food handlers card texas wood rot in your crawl space, chances are good that insects will food handlers card texas be in your crawl space as well. Not only do insects love to eat food handlers card texas mold, but also mildew and rotted wood. After all, these pests are food handlers card texas just following the easiest food source.
Equally important: what eats insects? Rodents. food handlers card texas Consequently, if you have open food handlers card texas foundation vents, mice can easily find their way into your food handlers card texas crawl space to chow down on the bugs.
As a result, you can see that a food handlers card texas moisture problem can end up leading to a serious pest infestation. However, food handlers card texas plenty can be done to resolve the issue before or food handlers card texas during the infestation.
Foundation Vents, food handlers card texas the Stack Effect, and your Crawl Space
As air warms, it rises. food handlers card texas The same can be said for the air in your crawl space as well. In other words, this effect is known as the food handlers card texas, or Chimney Effect.
In detail, the air in y food handlers card texas our crawl space warms and will rise food handlers card texas through your home, up through the floor joists and boards, food handlers card texas and into your living spaces. Furthermore, anything that’s food handlers card texas light enough to travel with the air, like humidity or mold, food handlers card texas will also travel into the living areas food handlers card texas of your home.
So, like it or not, you end up breathing food handlers card texas the air – and other stuff – that’s in your crawl space. Gross!
Above all, the best way to stop this food handlers card texascycle is to encapsulate or seal your crawl space. Thus, sealing food handlers card texas your crawl space from the outside elements. This process involves installing a thick crawl space vapor barrier over the floor and walls. Additionally, the food handlers card texas barrier seals up the foundation vents and door. Also, installing a dehumidifier will greatly reduce moisture.
Want to learn more? Give one of our food handlers card texas experts a call at food handlers card texas to request your free crawl space moisture control inspection.
We’re Here To Help You food handlers card texas Find The Best Solutions For Your Crawl Space…
We will work with you every step of food handlers card texas the way to make sure that you feel comfortable with your food handlers card texas home’s crawl space solution – from inspection and planning to installation and project completion.
Not to mention, requesting your food handlers card texas free inspection takes 60 seconds, and you can download your food handlers card texas Free Homeowner’s Guide to Crawl Space Repair immediately!
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