Tuesday, March 10th, 2020
With spring on the way, it’s time to start working on your list of “honey-dos.” Alongside the usual chores, though, it may be time for you to clean out your crawl space. Why? Because your crawl space, while easily forgotten, has significant influence over the health of your home.
The benefits of cleaning your crawl space include but are not limited to:
- Improve Your Storage Space: Would you be surprised to know there’s another area of your home that you can use for storage? It’s your crawl space. But a dirty crawl space is going to make it more difficult for you to safely store your belongings while also limiting the amount of room you have to work with. If you take the time to clean out your space, it’ll be much easier for you to put away seasonal decorations, family heirlooms and other belongings that you only want to bring out every once in a while.
- Prevent Foundation Damage: On a more serious note, a dirty crawl space can threaten the stability of your home’s foundation. If, in forgetting to clean your crawl space, you let a leak grow too large, that water can travel down to your foundation. When your foundation is exposed to too much hydrostatic pressure as a result of ever-present rainwater, it can crack. That’ll mean more water in your home and more expenses in the long run.
- Delay or Circumvent Flooding: There’s nothing worse than trying to get something out of your crawl space and finding the entire space flooded. If you clean your crawl space, you’ll be able to protect your belongings and eliminate the cracks that eventually lead to flooding.
- Eliminate Mold Growths: Mold loves a dark and damp place to grow. If you neglect your crawl space, you’ll be giving the mold particles native to Raleigh, NC, a perfect place to spawn.
- Stop Infestations: The cracks that let water get into your home will also help animals and insects get into your home. If you want to prevent an infestation as well as a leak, you’ll need to clean your crawl space regularly and work with local contractors to repair any minor structural damage.
- Improve the Cleanliness of Your Home: Does your home have an off, mildewy smell you just can’t get rid of? If you’ve tried everything, it’s time to check your crawl space. Smells from your crawl space travel upward. If you haven’t cleaned the space in a while, you’ll likely find the course of your home’s unpleasant smell down below.
- Fluff Your Insulation: You may be using your insulation as a waterproofing measure as well as a thermal barrier. If you are, you’re going to need to keep an eye on it. If you neglect to clean your crawl space, your insulation may become damaged and transform from a protective barrier to the perfect nesting place for a bunch of little critters. Not only that, but damp and damaged insulation is a hive for mold particles. It’s best, then, to clean your crawl space regularly and keep an eye on your insulation, replacing it every three to five years or when the damage becomes substantial.
- Preserve Your Repairs Fund: Everyone has a repair fund tucked away, but no one likes to use it. If you’re looking for ways to save money in the future, or if you just want to reallocate some of your funds, give your crawl space a once-over. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to catch any leaks before they get larger, saving yourself some money in the process.
- Keep Your Home Valuable: It’s not impossible to sell a home that has a dirty or leaking crawl space. When you try to do so, though, you’ll find that the value of your home may drop by up to 30 percent. Cleaning your crawl space won’t seem like such a chore if you’re able to get back that much value on your home.
- Cut Electric, Heat and Water Costs: When your crawl space grows damp, it gets harder for your heater or air conditioner to keep your home at a consistent temperature. Cleaning your crawl space, then, can save you money on your energy bill. That’s not all, though. If a leak is left unattended for too long, it can cause your pipes to leak and the wires running through that part of your home to suffer damage. If you’re noticing an uptick in your water, heating and electric bills, it’s time to ask yourself: when’s the last time you cleaned the crawl space?
Don’t let your crawl space get away from you this spring. If you need help handling a leak amidst your spring cleaning, reach out to your local Raleigh, NC, contractors for assistance including a free inspection and repair estimate.
