Crawlspace water damage can negatively affect your home without you even knowing it. While water is the worst offender, even moisture can ultimately lead to devastating consequences.
So, what problems are we talking about? What can moisture or water damage do to your home? And how do you fix it once you’re aware of it?
Why is moisture harmful?
It might not seem like that big of a deal, but lingering or ever-present moisture in the air can cause mold damage. It can also lead to termites, carpenter ants, and insects–all of which can damage your home. If the water is deep enough, rats and raccoons will find their way in, and that’s the last thing you want!
What does water do?
Moisture can cause plenty of problems on its own, but water is even worse. Standing water will rot through the structural members of your home. As wooden beams and joists begin to rot, mold will start to grow since it thrives in dark, damp places. The resulting decay and crawlspace water damage can be very challenging to fix. It’s not cheap to repair your foundation.
Humidity is an issue, too.
Did you know water vapor can rise from the ground and cause crawlspace water damage? It sure can, and it’s harder to detect. Mildew and mold are the only signs you’ll find that humidity is causing issues in your crawlspace. Thankfully, this kind of damage is cheaper to repair.
I’ve found water in my crawlspace – what do I do?
The sooner you catch water damage, the better. We urge you to address the problem immediately. The longer you wait, the more damage will be done to your home and the more expensive it will be to fix.
An excellent first step is to determine where the water is coming from–from the ground outside (groundwater) or from inside your home (above-grade water). Groundwater seeps in from the ground and is common during rainy seasons.
If you notice water in your crawlspace after weeks of heavy rain, you’re likely dealing with groundwater. Above-grade water comes from leaks in plumbing or pipes. You probably have above-grade water in your crawlspace if you haven’t recently had rain, but you have standing water.
One drip at a time can quickly add up. If you have a leak, fixing it is the next step. But then you still need to repair the crawlspace water damage.
Restoremasters
While you might be tempted to repair your crawlspace water damage on your own, it’s not a good idea. There are health risks and hazards that come with your crawlspace. Instead, we highly recommend hiring professionals who are trained and know how to handle and mitigate risks as they go.
The professionals we have here at Restoremasters have over 100 years of combined experience. We handle mold, water problems, and more, so if your crawlspace is teeming with both, you’re in good hands. Contact us today to get started on your crawlspace repair.
