If your home has a crawl space, you typically don’t deal with it unless you need access to plumbing, electrical, or ductwork systems. However, this underground area can have a significant impact on your overall energy usage.
Encapsulating your crawl space can lead to significant energy savings. Encapsulation is worth considering as a way to lower energy costs and improve the overall comfort of your home.
What Is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
When initially built, crawl spaces have a dirt floor and little, if any, insulation. Crawl space encapsulation is the specific term for waterproofing and sealing your crawl space.
During the encapsulation process, a professional basement waterproofing contractor uses thick plastic sheeting secured with specialized tape to create an impermeable moisture barrier around your crawl space. This barrier seals the exposed earth, keeping out unwanted underground moisture.
In some cases, your contractor may also install a dehumidifier, particularly if you live in a humid environment or a location prone to excess water accumulation. They will also seal vents to prevent moisture from entering the crawl space from outside.
Humidity Levels and Energy Costs
While moisture and humidity levels can vary with the seasons, the bare-earth nature of an unsealed crawl space means that moisture is always a concern. Without encapsulation, moisture naturally enters a crawl space through the exposed earth of the crawl space floor, as well as through ventilation points to the outside.
Air from your crawl space rises through the first floor of your home and into your living space. If your crawl space is unencapsulated, that air will contain water vapor from underground moisture.
Warm Weather Energy Costs
In warm weather, this extra humidity inhibits our ability to cool off by means of sweat evaporation. If there’s too much moisture in the air, the air feels warmer and more dense, which makes us feel warmer too. When we feel too warm, we tend to turn down the temperature, using additional energy to feel comfortable indoors.
Cool Weather Energy Costs
In cooler weather, the inverse is true. Extra water vapor in the air makes the air seem colder, and it can feel difficult to stay warm. To mitigate this, we turn the heat up, again using more energy to keep our homes at a pleasant temperature.
Crawl Space Encapsulation and Energy Savings
Encapsulating your crawl space means that you virtually eliminate excess water vapor coming from beneath your home. Without that extra moisture, the outdoor temperature is mainly what determines how warm or cool it feels inside.
Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature will still mean running your heating and cooling systems. Still, the overall decrease in humidity means that you won’t have to adjust your thermostat further to counteract its impact. Over time, this can lead to significant energy savings and increased indoor comfort throughout your home.
If you’re interested in crawl space encapsulation in Rochester or the region, call BelowDry Basement Waterproofing today. With over 15 years of experience providing local residents with comprehensive basement and crawl space waterproofing solutions, we are your go-to team for crawl space encapsulation. When you work with BelowDry Basement Waterproofing, you’ll receive outstanding customer service as well as industry-leading waterproofing expertise. We’re fully licensed and insured for your peace of mind, and we provide both regular appointments and 24/7 emergency service whenever you need us. BelowDry Basement Waterproofing—Solving Your Wet Basement Problem For Good!