The Problem
John, a customer in Eugene, reported that he had an issue with standing water in his crawl space, in addition to smelly odors in his house. Prior to our investigation, he was concerned that the plumbing might be leaking.
Harry, our energy consultant, inspected the situation and discovered water was flowing off the nearby hillside and accumulating in the crawl space, which is a particularly serious issue during heavy rainfall. Additionally, the crawl space’s fiberglass insulation was damaged by standing moisture and was falling down. There was also a strong odor that made the old insulation unsalvageable.
Why is Water Accumulation in Crawl Space Not Ideal?
- Property damage due to possible wood rot, structural and foundational issues
- Mold or mildew growth due to built-up moisture
- Odor or moldy smell due to increased dampness and mustiness of environment
- Pest attraction due to moisture and a small, dark environment attracting insects
- Lower energy efficiency due to increased air movement from the crawl spaces
Solution
What Harry Recommended:
- Installing interior drainage: a system that would collect and remove the accumulated water in the crawl space by directing the water to a sump pump
- Installing a sump pump: a device that would collect and remove water accumulated in the sump pit, and pump it out to an area away from the house
- Removing existing fiberglass insulation
- Applying our closed cell spray foam insulation
- Removing existing vapor barrier and applying a new one (prevents moisture from entering)
Results
By installing an interior drainage system and a sump pump device, the water was drained out of the crawl space.
Removing the existing fiberglass insulation and vapor barrier helped solve many issues such as odors, mold growth, and lower energy efficiency.
Applying our closed cell spray foam insulation and a new vapor barrier allowed for a fresh and dry crawl space environment, which improved indoor air quality and the overall energy efficiency and comfort of the home.
Contact Josh Lowe’s Dr Energy Saver today if you have a similar issue with your crawl space or would like a professional to inspect any issues with your home.
BEFORE: The water build-up causing damage to the crawl space's insulation system and vapor barrier.
AFTER: The customer's completed crawl space after draining out water, and replacing the damaged insulation.
