Dirt Crawl Space in Ohio and the Toledo Area

Whether you have a concrete or dirt crawl space, if it is damp or musty, Toledo Basement Systems can help.  As the only authorized Basement Systems in the greater Toledo area, we’re fully authorized to install the Click here to learn if CleanSpace is the right solution for you!

When moisture makes its way into your crawl space area, it causes problems.  There are three natural forces that can destroy organic materials in general and wood (which makes up the floor, ceiling, and possibly walls of your crawl space) in particular.  These three things are water, heat, and ultraviolet radiation.  Out of these, the only one we can effectively control is water.

Why Remove Crawl Space Moisture?

Crawl spaces with dirt walls or floors, vented crawlspaces, and unconditioned crawlspaces of all types underneath a home are a very bad idea. And through the seasons, the greater Toledo area suffers big swings in temperature and humidity. The earth's soil has very high humidity, and as it moves easily into your crawlspace and upwards into the house environment, a number of problems are created.

Crawl Space Mold, Musty Odor, and Home Healthiness

A damp environment such as the one in an unconditioned crawlspace creates an unhealthy and destructive environment where mold can thrive and spread.  Termites, pests, rodents, snakes, and animals of all kids will go there to live and die.  The costs of heating and cooling in your entire house will rise, especially if you have a vented dirt crawlspace.  As the moisture permeates the wood in your crawlspace, rot and decay will spread and deepen their hold, causing structural damage to the organic building materials that a house is made out of.
To make matters worse, as warm air rises in the home and exits through the attic and upper levels, it creates a vacuum in the bottom levels.  Dust mites release their fecal material in the air.  Moist, smelly, dust mite feces laden, mold-filled air from the crawlspace is sucked up into the living areas of the home.  Humidity enters the house, making a damp area that’s harder to cool in the summer, and rodents and insects spread from the crawlspace into the home.   Many people who are allergic to mold spores and dust mite feces will experience a host of heath problems, sometimes without ever realizing that their crawlspace is the cause.  We’ve heard a great many stories of people who felt poorly in their home when their crawl space was unconditioned and found themselves feeling better when they left.

Is Waterproofing a Crawl Space Enough?

Unfortunately not.  It’s not necessary for crawl spaces to be flooding or wet to be extremely unhealthy.

How to Solve a Crawl Space Moisture Problem

Once you’ve removed the standing water, the problems of moisture and high levels of humidity in the crawl space can be addressed.  If your home has a damp or wet crawlspace, installing a vapor barrier (or crawl space encapsulation system) is a strong first step.  In some cases, it’s the only step needed!  In most cases, however, you will need to take additional measures.  The SaniDry CSB crawl space dehumidifier and air system, dries the crawlspace, filters the air of particles, and lowers the relative humidity of the entire house!

Warranty for the CleanSpace Liner

The following is only an example and does not imply or act as a warranty.

Toledo Basement Systems of Williams, Defiance, Lucas, Ottawa, Seneca, and Erie’s CleanSpace warranty maintains that the liner of the crawl space will be free of holes and tears as well as groundwater on top of the liner for 25 years.  Otherwise, we will repair it at no charge to the homeowner.  Our CleanSpace crawl space vapor barrier is also warranted to reduce the humidity in the crawlspace it lines.  The warranty does not include damage sustained from abuse or moisture from condensation.  If you have any questions, your System Design Specialist is prepared to help you!