How to Insulate a Vented Crawl Space
9 out of 10 homes are under insulated in the USA, according to Energy Star.
This issue is especially common in crawl spaces, which leads to significant financial losses over time. By insulating your vented crawl space, you can save money in the long run and ensure your home is in good condition, ultimately keeping your home investment appreciating.
Insulating your crawl space is essential for protecting your home. Below, we’ll explain what a vented crawl space is and why insulation is so important, followed by the steps taken to properly insulate it.
What is a vented crawl space?
A vented crawl space has openings in the foundation walls that let air flow in and out. There are fewer benefits to having this system in your home. Having a vented crawl space often comes with these disadvantages and issues:
Vented crawl space
- Temperature Regulation Vented crawl spaces can expose your home to extremes in outdoor temperatures. During summer months, the vents allow warm air to flow freely into the crawl space, which can then effect the floors above. This heat forces your AC system to work harder to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, leading to increased cooling costs. Also, in the winter, cold air entering through vents can cool the floors above, making higher heating settings necessary. These temperatures not only strain your AC system but also results in noticeably higher energy bills all year.
- Moisture Management The ventilation in crawl spaces was initially intended to prevent moisture buildup. Instead, most vents can let in excess humidity from the surrounding environment. This humidity can permeate the crawl space and your home, causing dampness and ideal conditions for mold growth and mildew.
- Pest Control Open vents make it easy for pests such as rodents, insects, and other critters to get into your crawl space and may infiltrate other areas of your home. Pests can cause extensive damage to insulation, wiring, and wooden structural elements. This puts the structure of your home at risk and adds costly pest control measures to mitigate the infestation and repair any resultant damage.
- Foundation Integrity The effects of temperature fluctuations, humidity levels, and pest infestations can damage home's foundation. Excess moisture from humidity or leaks can weaken foundational materials, leading to cracks, settling, and structural failure over time. Pest activity in the crawl space can damage wooden supports and insulation. Preventing foundation failure is something to act on today.
Overall, while vented crawl spaces were designed with good intentions, they often result in increased heating and cooling costs, susceptibility to moisture-related issues, pest infestations, and damage to your home's foundation.
How do we fix these vented crawl space problems?
- Keep extreme temperatures out of your home
- Reduce extreme humidity levels inside your home
- Create an environment that's less inviting to pests
We choose to not just insulate your crawl space, but also encapsulate. Encapsulation ensures longevity and extra protection for your home. Our encapsulation includes a vapor barrier, sump pump, dehumidifier and thermal insulation for your vented crawl space.
By properly insulating and encapsulating your vented crawl space, your energy bills and structure of your home stay protected. You eliminate the problems solved by a vented or unprotected crawl space.
How we insulate and encapsulate a vented crawl space
- Inspection We start with a comprehensive inspection of your crawl space. This assessment evaluates moisture levels, air quality, foundation integrity, and identifies any existing issues such as mold or pest infestations. Based on these findings, we tailor our encapsulation strategy to address specific needs and ensure long-term effectiveness.
- Addressing Water Issues If groundwater issues are present, we install a robust sump pump system. This involves excavating a 22-inch diameter sump pit in the lowest section of the crawl space floor. We carefully adjust the soil gradient to ensure proper drainage towards the sump pit, where a durable cast-iron sump pump is installed. This system efficiently collects and redirects water away from your home's foundation, getting rid of water damage risks.
- Installing Vapor Barrier and Insulation We install a high-performance vapor barrier to prevent moisture from entering the crawl space. Insulation: At Thrasher, we use SilverGlo™ Crawl Space Wall Insulation panels. Alongside the vapor barrier, SilverGlo™ panels also provide insulation benefits. They incorporate tiny graphite particles that reflect heat and lower conductivity, enhancing energy efficiency. This dual-functionality helps maintain stable indoor temperatures and reduce heating and cooling costs year-round.
- Final Precautions There are some final steps we take to make sure your crawl space is working at its best. A tightly sealed crawl space is crucial for optimal energy efficiency so we seal all vents, gaps, and penetrations using advanced sealing materials like WallCap and specialized sealants. This step prevents unconditioned air from entering the crawl space, reducing heating and cooling costs while maintaining consistent indoor temperatures. We also control the humidity levels using a dehumidifier if necessary. Even with a vapor barrier and sealed air leaks, managing humidity levels is essential for maintaining a healthy crawl space environment. At Thrasher, we install a specialized crawl space dehumidifier designed to effectively control moisture levels year-round. Our dehumidifiers are equipped with advanced features to ensure optimal performance. They are specifically engineered for crawl spaces, capable of maintaining humidity levels below 55%. This prevents mold growth, wood decay, and other moisture-related issues, promoting a clean and healthy environment. Additionally, our dehumidifiers are energy-efficient, helping to reduce overall energy consumption while maintaining superior moisture control. They operate quietly and are designed for long-term reliability, ensuring peace of mind for homeowners.
- Annual Checkups Ensuring your crawl space is properly insulated and encapsulated is essential for maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home. That's why we perform annual inspections on our installations. These regular check-ups allow us to detect any issues early, ensuring everything continues to function effectively. By staying proactive, we help protect your home from potential problems and maintain its overall efficiency and comfort.
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