I Have a Vent Cover, So Why Is There Still Mold in My Crawl Space?

In the past, it was believed that crawl space vents were necessary to help with airflow and prevent humidity. Now that we know that open crawl space vents actually increase crawl space humidity, homeowners are rushing to get vent covers. If you have a vent to your crawl space covered up but are still experiencing mold and humidity issues, you might be wondering if the vent cover is helping at all or if you were sold a false bill of goods. There’s a simple reason why there’s still mold in your crawl space despite the vent cover. While a vent cover does lower the humidity levels in a crawl space considerably, you need other waterproofing solutions for a crawl space because they are not built to withstand their naturally humid conditions.

If you live in a wet state like North Carolina, your crawl space is surrounded by saturated soil year-round. The water vapor is able to permeate through and humidify the space, which is what causes the mold. During the summer, when precipitation is high and crawl spaces are likely to get flooded, vent covers can’t stop the water from flowing in if there’s a separate opening or crack you’re not aware of. If the rainwater manages to stay in the crawl space and you don’t have any kind of sump pump to drain it out, no matter what kind of vent cover you have, there will always be mold in the crawl space. Speaking of the kind of vent cover you have, it’s also possible that the vent cover is ill-fitted or the material does not do a good job in stopping water from getting into the crawl space.

In order to truly stop the mold and dampness issues, you need better waterproofing solutions from your local foundation experts. Our Tar Heel Basement Systems crawl space vent covers can be custom-fitted to perfection so that it covers up the vents completely. The material is made of a sturdy, durable plastic that completely stops water from getting into the crawl space. Our reliable interior drainage system collects leaking water, our sump pump systems will automatically drain out any water that gets into the space, and our vapor barrier will help further block the intrusion of water and vapor. Finally, to make sure there is never enough moisture in the air for mold to grow, a dehumidifier can be installed to keep the air in the crawl space dry and fresh.