Calendar Sunday, May 20, 2012
Crawl Space Encapsulation Is More than Pest Prevention
By Bob McGuire

 In many areas of the pest management industry today,

exterminators are following up on their work by encapsulating
the crawl space to prevent href="http://crawl-space-crawlspacemoisture.com/mold-in-crawl-sp
aces/">crawl space mold. Encapsulating a crawl space
involves sealing all crawl space vents and doors with airtight
covers, covering the crawl space walls and floors with a durable
plastic for href="http://crawl-space-crawlspacemoisture.com/crawl-space-stru
ctural-repairs/">water crawl space liner, and, in the case
of block foundation walls, adding a plastic covering over the
open cavities of the blocks to keep humidity from filtering
upwards through the crevice. In some cases, the contractor may
complete the job with a href="http://crawl-space-crawlspacemoisture.com/">crawl
spaces dehumidifier to remove residual humidity, or a crawl
space sump pump if there's been a history of flooding.

Why are pest management professionals encapsulating crawl
spaces? By sealing off the crawl space vents and doors, they
prevent those from serving as access points for infestations of
insects and animals that could reenter the space, causing
problems in the area. And lining the crawl space walls and
floor with a polyethylene liner will also help to deter pests,
such as subterranean termites, beetles, and carpenter ants, from
entering the space through the foundation or floor.

A crawl space moisture barrier, in combination with a crawl
space sump pump and dehumidifier when needed, will create a dry,
healthier crawl space. By removing humidity, the environment
can become inhospitable to mold, dust mites, rot, and certain
pests, such as the American Cockroach. Foul, mildewy smells are
reduced, and the smells of the animals, that live, create waste,
and die in the area will be gone.

Crawl space encapsulation of a dirt or concrete crawl space-
especially a vented one- will make the space much more
energy-efficient. By sealing off the vents, winter cold and
summer heat are kept out of the space. Cold winter air on
furnaces, hot water pipes, and heating ducts located in the
crawl space forces them to work harder just to maintain status
quo, and a cold crawl space means a cold floor above. In the
summer, heat and humidity enter the space, where the humid air
condensates on the wood and metal or travels upwards into the
home. Humid air is much harder to cool than dry air, and
therefore more expensive to condition.

From the waterproofing web site crawl space
moisture


Water Damage - Small Leaks Can Turn Into Mold Monsters

By Aydan Corkern

 A water leak does not have to be big to do damage. It can be a tiny little leak that can ruin parts of your home. You can have a leak anywhere there are water pipes and connections. They can be hidden in walls, floors, ceilings, or under the house and sometimes you may not even see it until it sets in and starts to show. It is good to check out your house every so often to see if there is a problem like a leak somewhere. Look in crawl spaces, all the pipes, under the house, look at the roof to see what condition it is in, check appliance that use water, and look for any weak or warm spots in the floor. If your water pressure is low and not pushing out a lot, that is a sign of a water leak somewhere either in the house, under the house, or even in the ground.


A small leak is a constant drip or small spray that you might not see or hear. When it does this, the water will keep soaking in and cause water damage, rotting, and weakness. When water damage sets in, it will cause mold growth, which can grow up the walls, on and in the carpet, and cause dangerous toxins to go through the house and this toxic mold can also do damage your health. Did you know that mold can cause mushrooms to grow on the carpet? Water will soak into anything like drywall, wood, concrete, etc. You may not see the damage on the outside of the house, but after a while, you will start seeing it in the inside.

As the water damage contaminates, it will cause moisture to set in and this moisture can do damage to anything in your house. A water leak can start at one end of the house and spread to the other side of the house, and every room in the house can be damaged. Depending on how big or small the leak is may depend on how long it will take before it ruins your house. But when it sets in, it will be serious and it can cause your house to be torn down because it is a health hazard if it is utterly contaminated with mold.

You can also tell when or if you have water damage because it can stain the walls, it can cause weak spots, it can cause paint to peel or chip away, and it causes wallpaper to have mold or mildew and come loose. Also, you can see signs of bowing, warping, or cracks in the floors or foundation. When that happens, it can cause leaning and more damage. Home insurance is very important to have because it can help you make any serious repairs that might be needed because of neglected water leaks.

Visit Aydan Corkern's
water damage delaware and
water damage colorado sites for fast help.
 
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