Will a Wet Crawl Space Cause Water Damage?
5/20/2020 (Permalink)
If you have spotted water in your home's crawl space, you may worry that it will cause water damage to the living area. While a wet crawl space shouldn't necessarily cause alarm, it can sometimes cause a flood. Knowing what caused the water will help you determine the best course of action.
What Can Cause Crawl Space Water?
Cracks that develop in the floor, walls, or joints
Condensation or sweating of the walls
Burst or leaky pipe
Flooding of surface water
Gutter and downspout issues
When Should You Worry About a Wet Crawl Space?
The first important step is to determine whether or not there is standing water in the space. If you see a pooling of water, this could indicate a serious problem. Call a water damage restoration service right away to inspect the entire area. A professional will be able to determine the source of the water.
If there is no standing water, an excessive amount of moisture could still cause problems later on.
Inspect the walls and pipes of the crawl space for moisture. Wet walls or pipes can indicate a leak somewhere, which should be inspected as soon as possible by a professional.
Check the gutters and downspouts on the outside of the home. If you find any broken or faulty drainage tubing, have it replaced.
Check any wood in the crawl space to see if it is wet or covered with fuzz. This indicates that mold is present.
If you smell an odd or unpleasant odor, you likely have mold.
Whenever mold is suspected, you must call a professional as soon as possible. He or she will be able to pinpoint the cause and help to remediate the mold problem safely and effectively.
If you are worried about your home's wet crawl space in Terrace Park, OH, your best strategy is to have an expert inspect it right away.