How Does A Crawl Space Without Insulation Impact Me?

Unprotected crawl spaces cause several uncomfortable problems for residents. Crawl spaces without insulation are known to cause problems due to a phenomenon called the stack effect.  

• The Stack Effect  

 The stack effect is when the air temperature inside the house is different from that outside the house. The differing air buoyancy between these two temperatures causes exterior air to be drawn inside through the crawl space.  

To explain, warm air rises and cold air drops. In summer, the warm, humid air outside the home is drawn in through the crawl space. Once inside, the warmer air rises and forces the cooler air down. In winter, the colder air outside invades the crawl space and forces the warm interior air toward the ceiling.  

This is the stack effect, where the different air temperatures stack on top of each other inside a living space. It may not sound like a problem, but the stack effect does trigger a few issues within the home.  

• Higher Energy Bills  

The Fargo, Bismarck, St. Paul, and Minneapolis areas see a drastic change in temperature throughout the year. Winters are cold and summers are hot. During these seasons, you will more than likely be using heating or cooling solutions, like furnaces and air conditioners.  

The thing is, when your crawl space isn’t insulated or encapsulated properly, this temperature-controlled air gets pushed out of your living space. Cold air in summer is pushed down into the crawl space, and warm air in winter is pushed into the ceiling. To compensate for this, you burn more fuel and energy to keep the indoor temperature at comfortable levels.  

What this results in is a much higher energy bill. From month to month, this can add up to hundreds of dollars added to your energy bills throughout the year.  

• Polluted Indoor Air Quality  

A significant percentage of the air in your home passes through the crawl space. Crawl spaces that are not protected from water and humidity rapidly develop problems with mold, mildew, and pests. These organisms thrive in damp conditions, and warm, dank crawl spaces are an ideal home for them.  

Cockroaches are known for infesting unprotected crawl spaces.  

What these organisms do is release spores and allergens into the air. These particles contaminate the air you and your family breathe, causing allergic reactions and triggering hay fever. Severe reactions, or heavy contaminations, can even spark headaches, breathing difficulties, or irritation of the eyes, mouth, nose, and throat.  

These are just two ways that a crawl space without insulation can impact your home. Protecting your family from such contaminants means having your crawl space insulated and encapsulated.