You may rarely see your crawl space, but it’s still vital to clean it, especially if you want to live in a clean, healthy home.
The hardest part about crawl space cleaning is that you rarely see it, which is why you’re less likely to know how dirty it is. The problem is that, over time, dust, dirt, water, and debris can make their way into your crawl space. If you’re unlucky, raw sewage can also get stuck in your crawl space.
If you rarely clean your crawl space or have never cleaned it, it’s time to understand why you need to do so. To help you, this article covers the dangers of a dirty crawl space and why you need to keep it clean.
Risks of a dirty crawl space
Infestation
Rats, termites, mice, and many types of insects, such as cockroaches and wasps, can infest your crawl space when it’s not kept tidy. Since it’s dark, damp, and quiet down there, it can be the perfect environment for them to feel at home.
Vermin and other pests can damage your home’s ductwork, structures, insulation, and wiring. Furthermore, it can also make the crawlspace dirtier with the waste and debris from the pests. Not only is infestation bad for your crawl space, but the infestation can also get into your home.
So, if you don’t want pests in your home, keep your crawl space clean.
Mold
Mold isn’t just disgusting; it’s also bad for your health. If you have allergies or respiratory problems, mold can make the situation worse by causing congestion, itchiness, rashes, and wheezing.
If you don’t know how to detect mold, you might have it if you can smell a musty and damp smell in your home, especially in areas near the crawl space. But, if you can’t just smell but also see mold, it’s probably a big infestation already.
It’s vital to keep your crawl space dry and clean to prevent mold because it usually grows when you have poor ventilation and high humidity due to leaks and flooding. If it worsens, mold can also rot your home’s structure. To prevent mold as much as possible, try to make your crawl space waterproof.
Structural damage
Cleaning is relatively cheap. Fixing structural damage in your home is expensive. It’s why you want to clean your home to avoid extra expenses.
One of the most common causes of damage is due to moisture, which is usually from plumbing leaks, uncovered soil, rotting structural wood, and holes in the foundation walls and vents.
Furthermore, an infestation can also cause structural damage, especially when your crawl space gets infested with termites. Once termites attack, they can damage your home in a short time. To top it off, they are also hard to find without looking for them.
In the US, homeowners spend approximately $5 billion/year on termite control and damage repair. By keeping your crawl space clean, you can avoid adding up to these numbers because you can keep termites away.
Insulation
Insulation is essential to having an efficient home with comfortable temperature levels. A dirty crawl space can cause your insulation to fail and fall off. It can also be caused by pest infestation or moisture in the crawl space.
Damaged insulation can cause your utility bills to rise, which adds up if you don’t notice it early. So, it’s vital to keep your insulation healthy by keeping your crawl space clean.
Air quality
Generally, if something smells a bit off, especially when you think it’s coming from the crawl space, it’s probably dirty down there. Not only does it smell bad, it can also lead to allergic reactions and other health problems.
When to clean your crawl space
- When you look at your crawl space and can already see mold and mildew infesting the area, it’s vital to clean your crawl space as soon as possible. Also, even if you can’t see mold and mildew, they have a very distinct smell that you’ll recognize once you’re in its vicinity. To prevent the infestation from going to the rest of your home, make sure to have your crawl space rid of the infestation.
- If your crawl space is full of bugs, rodents, rats, and other pests, you need to clean it up. It’s because pests can infest your crawl space and leave a mess of waste and droppings. Furthermore, some pests can also destroy some of your houses, such as your wirings and insulation. It can also reach a point where they can make their way into your home.
- Another big sign that you definitely have to have your crawl space cleaned is when raw sewage has leaked into it or if it’s flooded. It can cause a bad smell and be a good environment for things like mold and mildew to grow in, which can be bad for your health and damage your home.
- If your utility bills are rising, it may be time to check your insulation. If it’s damaged or loose, it may be because pests or moisture are destroying your insulation. Furthermore, it causes even more dirt in the crawl space as the insulation falls away.
Cleaning a crawl space isn’t just hard work; it can be dangerous, too. You never know what you’re going to have to deal with down there, which is why you need to consider getting professional help from crawl space cleaners in Virginia.
