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Most homeowners are unaware of the potential unhealthy conditions in an unbalanced crawlspace. These environmental conditions, such as poor ventilation/high humidity, condensation/plumbing & HVAC leaks, and water intrusion, create a perfect storm where molds, fungi, and wood rot can flourish. Once established, mold and fungus can relentlessly work to destroy your home, silently leading to an unhealthy condition and damage to the structure.
In nature, molds and fungi work tirelessly to decompose organic matter, such as leaves, trees, and branches that have fallen to the moist ground. This is a beneficial natural cycle of mold growth and decomposition of organic matter. The problem arises because nature can’t discern the woods from our homes built with organic material; they do what nature has designed and are very good at. Mold and fungus spores are ever present in the world around us; they exist everywhere, thriving outside and inside your home when conditions permit. They have four primary requirements to exist:
When they find their way into areas of your home, such as your crawlspace, damp, dark, and wet conditions support growth and reproduction that can be disastrous. Like a machine, it will do what nature programmed it to do.
WMC readings of 12% to 16% are standard for new construction, lumber, and existing healthy residential substructures. This is the ideal WMC range for a crawlspace wood substructure and healthy home. WMC readings of 16% to 20% indicate that conditions in the crawlspace are at an elevated state. At this point, the source and root cause of moisture infiltration in the crawlspace should be corrected. WMC readings of 20% to 28% are at the beginning levels of decay and rot in a crawlspace substructure. Mold and fungus can develop and grow at this level and must be corrected immediately. WMC Readings above 28% in a crawlspace can result in wood substructures such as floor joists/subflooring/and sills often showing signs of rot and decay. Attention is recommended immediately; if left uncorrected, structural repair is often required and could be extensive.
High humidity in the crawlspace is a significant cause of crawlspace damage and issues, leading to condensation on structure surfaces and water accumulation and turning your crawlspace into a semi-greenhouse and breeding ground for mold and fungus. Your crawlspace can trap that moisture and humidity for extended periods regardless of the season. RH (Relative humidity), or the measured amount of moisture in the air, directly affects wood. As relative humidity rises, so does the wood moisture content of any wood exposed to that air. For example, wood exposed to 90% RH will reach a WMC of about 20%, and it doesn’t take long.
Studies suggest that elevated RH can raise WMC in building materials in as little as a few weeks. Mold and fungi decay can start at these levels, thrive on the moisture in the wood, and potentially cause unhealthy conditions and damage to the structure. Temperature and humidity in the Lowcountry may fluctuate, rising and falling with the weather and seasons. Still, our crawlspaces can hold these unfavorable conditions and levels for long periods. Most homeowners are completely unaware of the conditions and levels of their crawlspaces, usually reacting to and addressing an issue that has demanded attention. Too often, at this point, the damage from long-term neglect can be extensive and costly.
Leaky plumbing will directly introduce moisture into your crawlspace. One drop of water per second from a failing plumbing line can introduce 4.5 gallons of water over 24 hours, 139.5 gallons per month, and 1642.5 gallons annually. All that pooling water and moisture directly affects your WMC and the environmental condition of the crawlspace.
Air leakage from an unsealed HVAC duct system can introduce cool conditioned air into the crawlspace or, worse, undesirable air from the crawlspace into the system’s return and your home. As cool air is introduced into your crawlspace from a leak, the fluctuation of RH and temperature causes condensation and moisture to form. Faulty dryer vents entering the crawlspace introduce moist air from the drying process. As this system cycles, it continuously adds to the WMC and potential for Mold and Fungi growth.
Foundation vents, by design, are installed to allow your crawlspace to aspirate naturally. As the wind blows around your home, positive and negative pressure is created in the crawlspace, transferring air and letting the space breathe. Restricted or dirty foundation vent screens, too few foundation vents, home design, landscaping, and shrubbery restricting natural airflow can contribute to elevated WMC and mold/fungi growth.
Water can enter your crawlspace through foundation walls and soil. Your crawlspace is often below the exterior grade of your home, and water will follow the path of least resistance. Rainfall, roofing designs, downspouts, leaking water fixtures, and hoses can all collect water near foundation walls and work their way into the space. The natural topography and grade can also channel water toward your home, as well as saturated soil from rainfall or poor drainage, exposing your substructure to water-saturated soil and pushing the water up through hydrostatic pressure and pooling in the low areas. This standing water can remain in the crawlspace for extended periods, creating havoc, elevating WMC, and beginning the cycle of decay and damage.
The first step to any mold and fungus investigation is to assess and identify the source and underlying conditions supporting the growth and development of mold and fungus in your crawlspace. At Clean Safe Crawlspace, our highly experienced and trained professionals understand nature and the cycle of mold and fungus. We work to identify mold, fungus, and any underlying conditions supporting that growth. We’ll usually spend about 30 minutes in your crawlspace performing a thorough visual inspection, assessing physical conditions and technical readings, calculating the extent of the contamination, and formulating the underlying conditions supporting mold and fungus growth. Once completed, a detailed inspection report and photos from your inspection and assessment will be provided.
With our detailed mold inspection report information, our mold removal specialists can have an open conversation with you about your crawlspace, answer any questions, discuss options available, and make recommendations. We are not salesmen, and we are not from an out-of-state franchised company; we are local professionals in the industry working to bring the client information and awareness. Our goal is to help clients better decide what’s best when dealing with their mold and moisture issues. Each crawlspace can present various issues, from minor isolated areas with surface mold/fungus to a more advanced state that may require a higher level of remediation. We work to inform the homeowner and formulate the best plan that will meet their needs and budget.
There are three essential things to remember when dealing with mold:
Clean Safe Crawlspace’s mold removal services have successfully completed hundreds of mold treatments, cleaning, and remediation projects for our clients. All mold and fungus services are performed by a trained, certified mold remediation specialist following the IICRC S520 standards for mold remediation. All crawlspace services performed by Clean Safe Crawlspace shall be under negative pressure using high-capacity air units. By design, these units pull fresh air into the crawlspace from the outside and the interior of your home, which can be measured with instrumentation–a standard practice in the industrial and commercial abatement and remediation industry that we have adopted.
We use proven, state-of-the-art methods, specialized equipment, and chemicals from leaders in the industry. We offer various options for dealing with mold and fungus, from spot treatment, chemical treatments, applied surface removal, and soda blasting to complete removal of substructures and replacement. Mold remediation and treatment seems to be a straightforward process: get rid of the mold. Yet, it is surprisingly complex in practice. Mold and fungus are everywhere; your goal cannot be to remove all the mold, as mold naturally finds its way back into space.
Our mission at Clean Safe Crawlspace is to collect data and information, formulate the best option to treat and remove mold and fungus contamination, correct the underlying contributing conditions supporting growth, and provide our clients with a comprehensive moisture management strategy. This formula has successfully assisted our clients with mold and fungus growth, stopping it in its tracks!
Reach out to learn more about our mold remediation services in Charleston and Summerville, SC, and get on the right track toward a healthy home environment.