It’s important to note that not all homes have a crawl space. Typically, they are found in homes that lack a basement or a solid cement foundation. Located beneath the floor of your home, access to these enclosed areas is typically found on the outside of your home, near the base. These entrances are small, hence the use of the word “crawl” in the name of Crawl Space Cleaning Aptos.
Once inside, you’ll find quite a bit inside, including plumbing, ventilation, electrical components, and gas hookups. Your crawl space makes these important home elements accessible in case they need to be repaired or replaced.
They also help with the circulation of air in your home as long as they’re well-maintained. The problem is that many homeowners don’t think to care for their crawl space until something goes wrong.
Common problems of a poorly maintained crawl space include:
Below we explain how you can properly clean and maintain this space for a healthy, happy household.
How to Properly Clean Your Crawl Space Cleaning Aptos
You may be surprised to find that there’s a lot of manual labor involved to attain a clean crawl space. This isn’t just a process of wiping down and disinfecting the area. It can be quite a messy business.
As you go through the process, here are some to-do’s you’ll want to cover:
Does it sound more like a construction project than a cleaning project? If so, you’re right. That’s why a lot of people hire a crawl space cleaning service to handle the job.
Things to Avoid When Cleaning Your Crawl Space
With the “to do’s” also come a series of “don’ts” you’ll need to follow.
DON’T Use Spray Foam to Insulate Your Crawl Space
Foam insulation may be your friend inside the house, but your crawl space is a different beast. Because it tends to be a damp place by design, using spray foam insulation can cause moisture to become trapped between the foam and the wall to which it’s attached.
When this happens, the moisture can seep into the foundation, leading to a breeding ground of mold or wood rot. Either of these can have a negative impact on your home, including the structural integrity of your foundation.
Air ducts get damaged from a number of factors such as age, poor design, and rodent damage.
Damaged duct work or air duct leaks affect the indoor environment in two main ways:
Cold air is lost before it effectively cools the indoor space. This makes your HVAC system work harder, using more energy and driving your utility bills up.
Leaks in the duct work introduce contaminants to the circulating air. This includes mold, dust, mites, pollen, bacteria, asbestos and other allergens.