3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Vent Your Crawl Space 

The debate over whether crawl space vents should be left open or closed has been a topic of discussion among homeowners and building professionals for years.

Crawl spaces are found beneath homes, serving as a foundation and a space for utilities, plumbing, and wiring.

Deciding whether to keep the crawl space vents open or closed can have significant implications for the overall health, safety, and energy efficiency of a home.

While years ago some argued in favor of keeping them open, it’s now a consensus among experts that closing crawl space vents is the better choice.

This article explains the reasons behind this stance and explores the advantages of a closed crawl space.

Are Crawl Space Vents Good? 

The short answer is no. They are not something we’d recommend to any homeowner.

When the temperatures outside soar, you may be doing what everybody does, running your AC to cool down. Open crawl space vents allow moisture-laden air into the space. When this moist air sweeps past cold surfaces, a phenomenon known as condensation occurs. 

The motive behind crawl space vents is noble. But the logic behind it is faulty. At the end of the day, venting instigates moisture and other problems—the very thing we all believed it would address. Sealing vents help lock out moisture and improve the condition inside your crawl space. 

Why You Shouldn’t Vent Your Crawl Space 

Open crawl space vents are harmful for many reasons. Here are the top three issues caused by open vents—reasons why your crawl space shouldn’t have them.

1. Moisture and Humidity

Open vents allow humid outdoor air to enter the crawl space, leading to increased moisture levels. High humidity levels create a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and wood rot, potentially compromising the structural integrity of the home and triggering health issues for inhabitants.

2. Energy Inefficiency

Unconditioned outdoor air entering through open vents can cause the heating and cooling systems to work harder, leading to increased energy consumption and higher utility bills.

3. Pest Infestation

Open vents offer an entry point for pests such as rodents, and insects—which can cause damage to insulation, electrical wires, and wooden structures.

What’s the Way Forward? 

Seal your crawl space vents. There are no two ways about it.

For maximum impact, we also encourage you to encapsulate this area. We use a 20-mil plastic vapor barrier that goes on the walls and to the crawl space floor, leaving roughly two inches for termite inspection. 

From our experience, we can tell you that homes with sealed crawl space vents are much cleaner, energy-efficient, and less moldy than their non-encapsulated counterparts. Best of all, they remain relatively dry throughout the year, especially with crawl space waterproofing methods in place. 

Contact Innovative Basement Authority for Expert Crawl Space Sealing

Want to seal the vents in your crawl space and create a safer and healthier home? Innovative Basement Authority has been inspecting, repairing, and encapsulating crawl spaces for nearly 20 years. Homeowners know they can count on us for excellent customer care and reliable repair solutions backed by comprehensive warranties.

Contact us today to schedule a free crawl space inspection and repair estimate. Our friendly and knowledgeable experts will recommend the best fixes for your crawl space, including encapsulation and waterproofing options.

Leah Leitow

Content Writer

Leah is a Content Writer for Groundworks with more than ten years of experience working in the foundation repair industry. Her experience ranges from working with homeowners to find the right solution to training inspectors and staff. In her background as a Michigan journalist, she gained invaluable insight into people's lives throughout our state. Leah lives in metro Detroit with her husband and two sons.