Home Environment
Healthy
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Healthy Home Environment inspect your home's crawl space for signs of damaging moisture, mold, mildew, and fungus.
System Specialist:
Tim Sellers
336-376-0081 (office)
336-516-1591 (mobile)
Located in
Graham, North Carolina
Why does the relative humidity in my home stay above 60%, even in drier weather?
Question #1:
High humidity in the living space of your home is probably an indication that the humidity beneath the house is even higher, possibly as high as 90%, providing an environment inside and beneath the house that is hospitable to mold, fungi, dust mites, wood rot, termites, roaches, other wood-destroying insects, and allergens.
Answer:
Should I open or close the vents in my crawl space?
Question #2:
Venting a crawl space may actually increase the moisture beneath a house during the summer. Venting during the winter may decrease the humidity in a house so much that the hardwood floors develop gaps and windows and doors warp. In addition, venting may increase energy loads, resulting in higher cooling and heating costs. That is why it is important to control the environment beneath the house as you do your living space.
Answer:
How does a closed crawl space system protect my home, health, and investment?
Question #3:
By sealing out moisture and gaining control over the environment beneath the house, wood destroying fungi and insects cannot live, thus the sources of allergens are prevented from growing. Temperature and humidity in the house fluctuates less, enabling the utilities to run less often and work more efficiently. Insulation, floor joists and sub-flooring, heating and air conditioning units, ductwork, and other utilities located in the crawl space last longer, as well as hardwood floors, carpets, furniture, and clothing in the house above the crawl space.
Answer:
How soon after sealing the crawl space should I see results?
Question #4:
Humidity levels usually begin to fall before the job is done (as soon as the polyethylene sheeting is put in place). The humidity levels drop significantly within the first 24 hours of completing the job. By the end of the first week, humidity levels are usually down to less than 70%. By the end of the second week, the humidity in the crawl space is often below 60%. The rate of desiccation (drying out) is dependent upon how much moisture the sub-flooring, foundation, and any under-floor insulation held prior to sealing. Also, many clients report that they notice a big difference in the living space environment above the crawl space within days of job completion!
Answer:
