Crawl spaces are some of the most popular types of foundations in the Dakotas, Minnesota, eastern Montana, and western Wisconsin.
They are cheaper to build than basements and are a great solution for constructing a home on expansive soil.
While crawl space have several benefits, they also come with considerable draw backs.
One of the major challenges lies in their humid environment. High humidity is a magnet for various pests to fester.
Innovative Basement Systems can help– we’ll outline eight foolproof methods to prevent crawl space pests from infiltrating your home for the long haul.
Besides nasty odors that come from urine and droppings, pests can cause serious structural damage to your home. Namely, depending on their kind, they’ll eat wooden elements, wiring, and harm utility lines. But apart from that, pests like rats and mice carry infectious diseases that can harm your family’s health. To make sure none of this happens, you should employ the following eight steps that will make your home pest-free once more.
Stop Crawl Space Pests
Tip #1: Keep Food Away from Your Crawl Space
Unlike basements, crawl spaces don’t allow homeowners to store food and drinks inside them. Even if they’re dark and cold, their main purpose isn’t food storage. This is because any food stores in this below-grade area will attract pests.
At the same time, you should be careful while disposing trash. While you certainly won’t throw trash down into your crawl space, improperly sealed bags with your leftovers in a trash can near your home can attract pests that eventually make their way into your crawl space. Raccoons and various insects like cockroaches would love to swarm your trash. Once they’re done with it, they’ll move on to your crawl space.
Tip #2: Lower Humidity and Remove Stagnant Water
Most pests thrive in the damp nature of a crawl space. Hence, the logical solution to this situation is to lower the humidity levels and remove any stagnant water. The best way to do so is to install drainage, a high-quality dehumidifier and a crawl space sump pump.
A dehumidifier lowers humidity and is an integral element of any clean and safe crawl space. On the other hand, a drain and sump pump will eliminate any water that seeps inside your crawl area by directing it far from your foundation.
Looking to get started, contact the professionals at IBA.
Tip #3: Seal Cracks and Possible Entry Points
Pests won’t use a door to come inside your home, they’re simply sneakier. Most homes will have cracks and holes in their foundations, and they serve as primary entry points for rodents and insects. They can squeeze through even the smallest of gaps. But aside from these entry points, pests use crawl space vents too.
At one time it was advised that homeowners leave their vents open to keep the air in the crawl space fresh and constantly flowing. However, this only allows both pests and humidity to enter your home and wreak all sorts of havoc. We suggest that you inspect your foundation walls and contact professional help in case you find any entry points for pests to squeeze through.
Tip #4: Install a Vapor Barrier
The most common type of crawl space is a dirt one. This means there’s no concrete floor beneath your home. There’s just dirt down there. Unfortunately, dirt crawl spaces are bad for several reasons such as high humidity and pests that come from the ground. The best way to make it more difficult for pests to get inside and create an inhospitable environment for them is by having a crawl space professional install a quality vapor barrier.
Tip #5: Get Extermination Assistance
While you might be able to set traps and apply pesticides yourself, these tasks could actually endanger your health and that of your family. Rather than entering your crawl space to place traps or apply any type of chemicals, it’s best to seek assistance from extermination professionals who will be able to safely and effectively address the problem.
Tip #6: Trim Overgrown Bushes Nearby
Another tip that can make a world of difference is trimming nearby bushes. Most pests will hide in the foliage near your home from where they’ll go into your crawl space. This will expose your crawl space area to both moisture and pests.
Tip #7: Remove Wet Insulation
Over time, your insulation, depending on what kind of material it is, can become wet and attract pests. This is especially true if you have fiberglass insulation in the crawl space. You should contact professional help to replace the insulation with damage-proof materials. Also, check for damp or rotten beams that rodents can chew.
Tip #8: Encapsulate Your Crawl Space
Our last tip is probably the most important of all. Encapsulation is practically a necessity for any homeowner with a crawl space. Encapsulation entails closing the area under your floors with a thick 20-mil plastic barrier as well as vent covers. It will reduce humidity levels and can lower your energy bills by up to 18%.
Innovative Basement Authority: Your Crawl Space Expert
If you’re looking to stop pests and encapsulate your crawl space, look no further than Innovative Basement Authority. You can contact us for your free inspection and have our team address any issues in no time. With them on your side, your crawl space and home will be safe and secure from all kinds of pests.
