Crawl Space Encapsulation in Ocean Twp
Challenge
The homeowner of this Ocean Township residence was faced with a common problem throughout New Jersey, exacerbated by our significant annual rainfall and high water table: A crack in the crawl space block resulted in a large amount of ground water to leak into the crawl space. With stagnant water pooling on the crawl space floor, mold growth inevitably followed.
Solution
We successfully treated the mold with our MoldExterm™ system and our patented sealant. However, to resolve the problem long-term and prevent mold from returning, we recommended crawl space encapsulation and the installation of a dehumidifier. Encapsulation, which is completely sealing the crawl space from outdoor elements, avoids a host of problems, and is considered by building scientists to be far superior than traditionally vented crawl spaces. Encapsulation not only prevents water seepage and hot, humid air from entering the crawl space, but also acts as a barrier for insects and nuisance wildlife from taking up residence in your home. Also, encapsulation, when supplemented by dehumidification, inhibits dangerous mold growth and other allergens, providing clean, healthy air in the living spaces above. While good air quality is important for everyone, it is especially important for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems or compromised immune systems.
After cleaning the mold and sealing the crawl space block, we installed a thick, tear-resistant vapor barrier liner that prevents moisture from passing through the floors and concrete walls of traditional crawl space structures. High relative humidity levels, which is common in crawl spaces, is more than enough to trigger mold growth. it is a common misconception that mold growth can only occur in crawl spaces if there has been flooding or some other water intrusion. In addition to the vapor barrier, installation of a dehumidifier is the most important long-term preventative measure for controlling dangerous crawl space moisture. Specifically, we install a commercial-grade dehumidifier that has been specially designed for cold basements and crawl spaces. These powerful maintenance-free dehumidifiers turn on and off automatically based on a built-in hygrometer that measures indoor relative humidity. These machines don’t have a water tray; rather, they connect directly into the drainage system. How easy is that!
The customer was extremely happy with the results. According to the customer, he was dealing with crawl space issues for years. While he knew that there were water and intrusion issues, he did not realize that these issues were causing a potentially worse problem: dangerous mold growth. The customer breathed a “healthier” sigh of relief knowing that our encapsulation and dehumidification system would resolve his crawl space problems once and for all!
