Water Damage in the Crawl Space

Identifying Crawl Space Water Issues on your Own

Why is it important?

Being able to identify water damage in your home as soon as possible is essential in preserving your homes foundation so it will last as long as you and your family lives there. Once water begins flooding in, that's when consequences like rotting wooden posts or mold and mildew growth will actually begin. Getting ahead and checking your crawl space to ensure no moisture is getting in can be difficult if you don't know what you're looking

for. Here are some methods to use when inspecting your crawl space for water damage. 

What to look for?

1. Water Damage on Wood: You can observe that there is water damage on wooden posts and beams by the discoloration from the untouched wood to where water had seeped through. This damage leads to the wood rotting from too much moisture exposure and can warp the coloring. If it gets too deep into the wood, this is when structural damage begins and the posts can no longer support the homes foundation. Inside the house, you'll notice sagging floors, doors that won't close correctly, and splitting in the wood. This is a costly consequence that become necessary to fix in order to keep the home standing.
2. Foundation/Soil Cracks: Another tell if moisture has leaked into the crawl space is from cracks in the foundation walls and the soil. If the foundation walls are cracked that shows they have been trying to hold too much pressure on the outside and begin to bubble in the foundation. Eventually, these bubbles of water add enough pressure and break through causing cracks in the walls. Sometimes the soil will crack from excessive groundwater pushing through and this is what floods the crawl space from the bottom upward.
3. Standing Water: One of the most obvious signs of water damage is standing water. This is when water is pooling in places with no where to drain. Whether it's from a plumbing leak or high groundwater levels, it is never a good sign to see water puddling up. Standing water creates an environment that mold and mildew thrive in and can spread all over your house. It's toxic to breathe in and impacts the living space's air quality. 
4. Musty Odors: Sometimes homeowners will experience a strange smell in their home that they can't pinpoint where it's coming from. No matter how much cleaning you do, you'll have to go beneath your home to get rid of this smell. This musty odor comes from a crawl space with enough water damage that mold has already spread. The only way to save your home from the smell is by being able to control the crawl space environment and having drainage of the water.

How we can stop it?

Now that you know how to identify water damage in your home's crawl space, the best way to fix it is with John's Waterproofing. Our encapsulation process is designed to prevent water damage and save the structural integrity of the home. You might not be able to choose how much rainwater or groundwater wants to seep in, but we can help control where it goes and regulate the humidity levels to help eliminate the risks of rot, mold, and deter pests. 

If you are not comfortable with checking your crawl space, or are looking to have a professional out as well, we do offer free inspections and will be happy to inspect your homes crawl space for you.