Crawl space ventilation is essential to avoid moisture damage in modern, energy efficient homes. There are two types of homes that may or may not require ventilation.

1. The older model homes that use center blocks or some type of cement, with an open dirt ground or pad resting in the center, typically need the vents or shafts that will allow air to flow in and out of those shafts.  This will assist in the removal of moisture seeping up from the ground into that space.

2. New homes or ones that have been modified, use vapor barriers between the home and ground, keeping the moisture from penetrating.  This allows for homes with this feature to be built without vents or shafts.

The purpose of those vents is to allow moisture and damp air to flow out of those small spaces.  Failing to let moisture out, eventually leads to rot, mildew, and rust.

Tips on Ventilating Crawl Spaces

The creation of  energy efficient homes over the past 20 years, has also created moisture problems we never really had before. This is also true of crawl space ventilation.

Homeowners and remodelers have known for years that crawl spaces, especially in moist climates, need to be ventilated.  Excessive moisture causes hardwood floors over damp spaces to cup and warp.

If you have vents that allow you to open and close them; what should you do? Homes in colder climates benefit by having the vents closed in winter. This would help keep the room over the crawl space warmer. If you live in a warm climate try keeping the vents open year-round.

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A professional home inspection is an examination of the current condition of a house. It is not an appraisal. We go to the doctor for physical exams and we have our cars checked up. There is no reason why we would not have our houses or homes checked also for upkeep and maintenance. A home inspection gives us an assessment of the condition of the house, its structural soundness, and the condition of its mechanical as well as electrical systems. The reports will guide us through the aspects of the house which may require expensive repairs, as well as those areas which may pose as fire, safety, and health hazards.

If we are buying a house, a clean bill of health helps us make that proper decision and gives us confidence that the money we shall be spending will be worth it. As a seller, the reports shall inform us in advance any problems that need to be resolved before closing the sale. We would not want our buyers to be asking for costly fixes or concessions. They should also feel good about their purchase too.

By keeping records of house inspections, we can fix problems on our terms for far less the cost compared with what we will likely spend if we will wait for major problems to erupt. This will also keep our house valuable.

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