Why Do I Need to Protect My Crawl Space from Water Damage?

As noted, your crawl space is an especially delicate part of your home. If it starts to show signs of strain related to hydrostatic pressure or other forces at work in your lawn, the whole of your home may face a structural risk. Protecting your crawl space, in turn, means not only preventing that kind of structural damage but also preserving your home’s value and protecting your family’s health.  

• Water Damage and Your Home’s Market Value  

The moisture that makes its way into your home comprises the overall integrity not only of your crawl space but of any exposed supports therein—not to mention your foundation. The stack effect, as mentioned, both makes your home less pleasant to stay in and can damage many of the supports in your home’s upper levels, too.  

If you want to put your home on the market at some point soon, you will want to make sure you’ve done as much as you can to keep that unwanted moisture out of your crawl space. If you let water damage spread over an extended period, you risk losing up to 30 percent of your home’s market value.  

• Water Damage and Your Family’s Health  

That same moisture, be it the work of hydrostatic pressure or the stack effect, can put your family’s health at risk. Moisture, even when it does not beget mold or other negative forces within your space, can aggravate some parties’ preexisting conditions. You and your family may find yourself contending with unexpected allergic reactions or respiratory issues. Even family members without preexisting conditions can start to develop allergies or related conditions if exposed to crawl space moisture for an extended period.  

If any mold spores manage to take root in your home, you may find yourself facing health problems that are even more serious than those posed by moisture alone. Most types of mold, if allowed to flourish in your home, can cause health problems ranging from a persistent cough to long-term lung damage.