Water Damage in Your Crawl Space | SERVPRO® of East Mecklenburg/Matthews

4/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Mecklenburg/Matthews has the tools and team to help your home or business recover from any water damage.

Your crawl space is one of the most critical areas of your property as it acts as a protective layer underneath the home. When the many different elements of your crawl space are subject to conditions that allow moisture and water to enter in and overstay its welcome, problems can arise such as molding, warping of your flooring and, in the worst cases, structural foundation issues.

It’s essential as a property owner to ensure that your crawl space is protected from moisture and prevent costly, yet preventable, damage.

When your crawl space is exposed to excessive moisture it results in three major issues:

Mold and Musty Odors

Regardless of the source of moisture in your crawl space, whether it is a leaking pipe or foundation flaws that enable rain water to enter, moisture is never a desirable element in your crawl space. As the water attempts to leave, the vapor rises and can cause condensation on the floor beams and insulation just above the crawl space.

Puddles can develop on the liner if it doesn’t have a vapor barrier. In fact, this is the primary reason behind musty smells and mildew in a home.

Sagging Floors

If your crawl space is prone to flooding, the soil under and around your house may become compromised leading to sagging, or uneven, floors. It’s as if a chain reaction occurs: When the soil weakens as a result of excessive and persistent moisture, the existing floor columns sink or settle deeper into the soil, producing a gap between the top of that column and the bottom of the flooring it supports.

When a column settles and creates that gap, it naturally causes the flooring to sag as well.

Foundation Damage

Excessive moisture in your crawl space can provide the ideal environment for concrete fractures to develop, causing your foundation to move and shift. Allowing this scenario to persist increases the likelihood that your foundation, and other areas of your home, will need expensive repairs.

SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover and be protected from water damage. We are available ²⁴⁄₇ so when water damage makes a mess in your life, we’re always here to help.