Home ownership can be a lot of work and decision-making. A lot of them are costly and many of us don’t know the right answers to the many questions that come up during home maintenance. Depending on the climate you live in, you may or may not need to encapsulate your crawl space. For some time now, the general trend has been to recommend encapsulating the crawl space, however if you live in a very dry climate, this might not be a necessity for you. To decide on whether it is the right option for your home, you might need to consult an expert since you may not be able to measure all of the factors on your own. Here are some things that you might want to consider.
Is there any moisture building up?
If your crawl space is completely dry then encapsulating it might not be necessary at all. However, you won’t know this until you let an expert take a look and let you know the moisture levels that the crawl space is experiencing. Any moisture build up can have a negative effect on your home, both in terms of structure and finances.
Is the climate you live in dry or not?
Normally, if you live in a very dry climate, then an open or vented crawl space won’t be an issue. But let’s face it, few of us have this luxury. If your location is rainy and humid, then it is definitely a necessity to encapsulate your crawl space to prevent moisture from building up in the future.
Is your home energy efficient?
One of the reasons
why encapsulating your crawl space can be so important is because it can save you money and make your home greener. Moisture in the crawl space affects air quality and the amount of energy a home needs to consume – so by knowing whether your home is energy efficient or not, can help you make the decision regarding whether you need to encapsulate your crawl space or not.
The cost versus the benefits
If the climate you live in is truly dry, then you may not need to
encapsulate the crawl space in your home. You should, in either case, consult an expert and get their opinion since this will give you a better perspective on your options. Normally, if there is a benefit to encapsulating, the advice will be to do it. However, if you will see no change, then you won’t need to worry about
encapsulating your crawl space. Compare the costs and benefits and that should lead you to the right decision.
Whichever decision you make, it should be based on real facts and an analysis performed by someone who has expertise on the issue. While sometimes it will take an initial investment to complete work around the house, it is true that in the long-run it can save you a lot of cash. Additionally, remember that moisture can lead to health issues, so understanding how leaving your crawl space intact will affect the air quality is essential.
