When you think about any type of contaminants getting into your home, the crawl space may be the last place you look. But it should be the first! Soil contaminants and other debris can easily penetrate your crawl space if you’re not taking the proper precautions.
Soil contaminants include any substance that’s found in the soil that poses a risk to human health. As you can imagine, that can include many different types of contaminants, many of which you may not realize are lurking inside your crawl space and seeping into your home.
As we pinpoint what these contaminants are, we’re also going to look at how your crawl space affects the air quality in your home and how crawl space encapsulation from Crawl Space & Basement Technologies can help to prevent soil contaminants from entering.
How Your Crawl Space Affects the Air Quality in Your Home
Did you know that approximately 60% of the air on the first floor of your home enters through the crawl space? This happens by way of voids in your floor and subfloor, small gaps, and leaks in your ductwork.
Also, consider that all of the bacteria and stagnant odors that are under your home are also getting into your living spaces. If that’s not bad enough, the heated and cooled air from your HVAC system is also seeping down into the crawl space. With so many potential contaminants getting into your home, it can result in respiratory problems, skin issues, and allergies due to poor air quality.
Types of Soil Contaminants That May be Lurking in Your Crawl Space
The types of soil contaminants that may be lurking in your crawl space can be pretty alarming and dangerous. This is why you want to be aware of them and take action to prevent them from entering your home.
These are some contaminants you’ll want to be aware of:
Radon
As uranium decays it produces radon, a hazardous radioactive gas. Uranium is found in nearly all types of soil. Radon can be found in crawl spaces with bare-earth floors. The gas is then passed into living spaces.
If you’re living with radon in your home for a long time, it can lead to damaged lung tissue, and lung cancer in some cases.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is used in many construction materials like insulation. It is typically found in rocks and soil. But, asbestos exposure can lead to serious health issues. If the insulation in a crawl space is contaminated with asbestos and is disturbed, the particles can be released into the air. When this happens, it can lead to lung damage and mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer. If you have asbestos in your home, you’ll want to have professional cleanup services take care of it as soon as possible.
Mold
Mold can also be found in crawl spaces with bare-earth floors. Soil holds moisture that evaporates in the crawl space’s high humidity. This provides the perfect environment for crawl space mold to grow. When this happens the airborne mold spores can pass through cracks in the floor and contaminate your home. Some mold spores are toxic and when inhaled they can lead to rashes, runny noses, and other symptoms.
If you have mold in your crawl space, it requires remediation. The experienced team at Crawl Space & Basement Technologies offers mold remediation services so that you can feel good about the air quality in your home once again.
Bacteria
Many types of benign and pathogenic organisms may be living in soil, including actinomycetes. This is a bacterium with harmful effects on people who have a weakened immune system. This bacteria can produce symptoms that are similar to mold exposure and needs to be removed as soon as possible to prevent any health hazards to people inside your home.
Pesticides
Pesticides are often used on lawns to kill bugs, but they can be dangerous to your health. While the pesticide DDT is no longer available, there are still some pretty toxic pesticides out there that are dangerous and pose health hazards.
If your home happens to be built over farmland, there is also a good chance that pesticides are still in the soil and can get into your crawl space.
Petroleum Products
Petroleum products are another soil contaminant that may be lurking around your home without your knowledge. If there was petroleum dumped on your property at any time, it may still be in the soil and pose a danger to your home.
How to Prevent Contaminant Exposure with Crawl Space Encapsulation
The best way to prevent contaminants from getting into your crawl space is to encapsulate it. Crawl space encapsulation can eliminate moisture under your home and the problems that come along with it. Any outdoor liquid saturates the soil around your home’s foundation. This moisture in the soil evaporates into your crawlspace, leading to air quality issues.
These moisture sources create a breeding ground for soil contaminants to enter your home. Besides contaminant issues, not sealing off your crawl space can also attract pests and lead to buckled or rotted wooden floors.
When you seal your crawl space, it prevents moisture from evaporating under your home. Warm, humid air can no longer seep through cracks and voids in your foundation. This keeps the space clean and dry and protects the air quality in your home.
Trust Crawl Space & Basement Technologies for Crawl Space Encapsulation Services
If you’re looking to protect your Raleigh home from soil contaminants penetrating your crawl space, call Crawl Space & Basement Technologies for crawl space encapsulation services. Our team has the experience you want to protect your home. We are committed to customer satisfaction and offer a lifetime warranty on our services.
Call us today at [phone] or fill out our online form to schedule an estimate. A trained specialist will visit your home and guide you through the best solutions for your home.