Water in Crawl Space: Causes and Lasting Solutions

Water can be a powerful and destructive force, especially if it is allowed to thrive undetected and unrepaired. While crawl space water is a common problem, it is not normal or safe for your home or family.

Water in crawl space areas doesn’t have to spell doom for your home. This guide explains what causes this hazard and what you can do to effectively address it.

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Signs of Crawl Space Water

Your crawl space may not be often visited, but these symptoms suggest you have standing water in crawl space:

Persistent musty odors
Mold growth
Increased allergies or asthma symptoms
Pest infestations

Sagging floors
Elevated indoor humidity
High energy bills
Pooling water around the foundation

Why Is There Water In Crawl Space?

Crawl space water accumulation can occur for many reasons, including:

Open Crawl Space Vents

Building practice between the 1960s and the 1990s emphasized that crawl spaces required vents to improve air circulation. However, this belief was debunked with time, exposing crawl space vents as a significant culprit to crawl space moisture problems. Consequently, any opening in a crawl space exposes the area to outdoor elements. If your home has unsealed or broken crawl space doors or vents, encountering issues like mold, pests, and a flooded crawl space is likely.

Damaged Gutters and Downspouts

Maintaining the functionality of your home’s gutters is vital, especially in regions like the eastern seaboard, where rainfall is frequent throughout the year. When gutters accumulate leaves, mud, or debris, it obstructs the downspouts and hinders proper drainage. This obstruction may result in water finding alternative pathways, leading to gutter overflow. Without effective exterior drainage, your home is vulnerable to water in crawl space after heavy rain.

Negative Yard Grading

Yard grading may significantly impact your foundation, whether positively or negatively. A positive yard grade implies the landscape around your home slopes away from the foundation, allowing natural drainage when it rains. A negative grade means the landscape slopes toward your home, leading rainwater to collect around the foundation and saturate the soil. Negative yard grading and inadequate moisture management result in standing water in crawl space areas.

Foundation Cracks

Foundation cracks are an entry point for external elements, like water. These cracks, caused by various factors, are primarily associated with North Carolina’s expansive clay soil. As this soil type expands with rainwater saturation, it exerts hydrostatic pressure, leading to cracks or bowing in the structures beneath your home. When the soil dries out, it shrinks, promoting foundation settlement.

Broken Sump Pump

Despite taking precautionary measures, you might still encounter a flooded crawl space, often due to faulty or broken equipment like a sump pump. This vulnerability becomes more apparent during severe weather events, such as heavy storms or hurricanes, which can disrupt power. Without a backup for your drainage system, it may fail when you need it the most.

7 Ways To Fix Crawl Space Water Problems

If you have water in crawl space, swift action is crucial to address existing issues and prevent further damage. Here are the top 7 ways to ensure your home’s dryness and safety:

1. Install Proper Water Management

Solutions like traditional French drains installed outside your home have their limitations. The best way to address active leaks is with interior crawl space drains and a quality sump pump. These systems work together to collect crawl space water and effectively remove it from your home.

2. Address Foundation Cracks

Prevent water from seeping inside cracks and gaps with proper sealant or wall repair methods. Our experts can advise what’s best for your home’s crawl space.

3. Seal Crawl Space Vents

Block crawl space vents to prevent air, water, and pest intrusion. Our team custom-fits sections of our insulation panels to the interior openings, ensuring an airtight fit. Exterior vent covers are available upon request.

installing insulation panels on crawl space walls

4. Insulate Crawl Space Walls

Soft fiberglass insulation is a magnet for water and mold, but our insulation panels are perfect for crawl space walls, ensuring the area maintains a consistent temperature and avoids moisture. These panels are also termite and mold-resistant.

encapsulating the crawl space with a vapor barrier

5. Encapsulate the Crawl Space

Sealing your crawl space from outside nuisances involves fully encapsulating it with a vapor barrier. This thick and durable plastic sheeting covers the crawl space walls and floor to lock out moisture. It’s also compatible with our water management systems.

6. Dehumidify the Crawl Space

Address any excess moisture with a dehumidifier specifically designed for crawl space environments. Our energy-efficient unit cleans and filters the air, reduces odors, and improves your home’s indoor air quality.

7. Ensure Proper Exterior Drainage and Grading

Prevent exterior water intrusion with properly functioning gutters and downspouts. Ensure they are free of damage and debris and that they are angled to allow effective drainage. Similarly, check or regrade your yard to have a positive grade.

Trust Tar Heel Basement Systems to Address Your Water in Crawl Space Problems!

Tar Heel Basement Systems inspector meeting with homeowners

A flooded crawl space can be a silent but deadly hazard. Don’t let crawl space water continue to accumulate and endanger what matters the most to you. Protect your home’s health and safety with trusted crawl space waterproofing and encapsulation solutions from Tar Heel Basement Systems.

Safeguard your home and family today! Contact us to schedule a free crawl space inspection and obtain a no-obligation estimate. After a thorough evaluation, we’ll recommend custom-fit solutions to meet your unique repair needs, ensuring lasting protection from crawl space water’s wrath.

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Water in Crawl Space FAQs

Is it normal to have standing water in the crawl space after heavy rain?

While heavy rainfall may result in water accumulation in the crawl space, it should promptly drain. Persistent standing water is a concern that warrants investigation into its cause, as it can lead to potential structural and moisture-related crawl space issues.

Will a crawl space dry out on its own?

A crawl space will not dry out on its own and requires active intervention. Without proper moisture control and potentially professional drying services, a damp crawl space can lead to mold, wood rot, and structural damage.

Does homeowner’s insurance cover water in a crawl space?

Homeowner’s insurance typically covers water damage in a crawl space if the water intrusion is sudden and accidental, such as from a burst pipe. However, damage from gradual issues like poor drainage or long-term moisture problems is usually not covered. Contact your provider to review exactly what your policy includes.

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Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.