Under Tennessee, the ground is areas of special limestone topography called Karst Hazards.
This geology results from the rapid flow of water in underground tunnels.
Chemical rains can degrade the limestone, creating a risk of sinkholes and unstable foundations.
Therefore, most homes here have crawlspaces instead of basements.
The area under your floor can retain too much water in the crawlspace, causing damage to your house. To keep your home and family safe, learn a little about what is under your feet.
What Is A Crawlspace?
Common all over the South, crawlspaces are areas below grade but vented to the outside air.
Read on to learn Why You Should Prioritize Cleanup of Water In Your Nashville Crawlspace.
Some crawlspaces, like a basement, can be full-height, but most are less than three feet of clearance. Therefore, you must crawl on your belly to maneuver.
Builders use crawlspaces for lower-cost accessibility.
By building the floor of a home off of the ground, they can create a space for an HVAC unit, piping, water lines, and sewer lines. Compared to a concrete slab, future repairs, and replacements are easier.
Why Is It Wet?
Most crawlspace problems come from one of three causes:
1. Plumbing Issues
Since most of your pipes are under the floor of your home, any plumbing leaks will spill water into this enclosed space. Plumbing issues, like a burst pipe, resulting in water dripping down into the area.
Even if you have a vapor barrier, the water will sit on the liner until it evaporates.
2. Poor Drainage of Rain Water
Another source is water seepage from the surrounding soil after heavy rain. Surface water that gets into the crawlspace is typically from poor drainage, improper grading, roof drainage, overflowing gutters, or grading issues in the yard.
3. Poor Ventilation and Humidity
Poor ventilation compounds the problem by creating a mix of warm and cool air, causing surface condensation. Humidity condenses on cold surfaces, like metal or plastic ductwork, and drips onto the crawlspace floor.
Signs And Indications of Trouble
Be on the lookout for problems
- Above (hardwood flooring cupping, mold on the baseboards, musty smell)
- Below (wood rot, termites, damage to subfloor materials, visible mold)
Potential Mold Problems?
In a humid climate like Nashville, a small amount of seasonal moisture in your crawlspace can be normal.
Lingering water has to be addressed. Standing water in the crawlspace leads to mold, mildew growth, and eventually rot and structural damage.
An identified mold problem will negatively affect the appraisal value of a home.
If the FHA appraiser finds dangerous amounts of mold, you might be required to remove the mold before getting an FHA loan. So if you don’t get it fixed now, you will pay to get it fixed later when you sell.
Uninvited Guests
Dust mites thrive in humid environments and love a space with a dirt floor.
These microscopic parasites produce droppings that can trigger allergies and asthma.
Since the allergens are airborne, it is really easy for them to float up into your living space.
Termites and spiders often take up accommodations in damp crawlspaces. You might harbor opossums, rabbits, raccoons, snakes, mice, or rats in there.
The signs for each kind of animal are different: webs, droppings, nesting material, and mysterious squeaks. But a common trigger is access to water.
So when our team cleans up the water damage in your crawlspace, the unwanted guests will leave.
When You Find Water in Your Nashville Crawlspace
Tier Restoration has been helping homeowners solve water and moisture issues since 1975. “Experience The Next Level”!
We intend to create a “next level” experience for our clients, our employees, and the company.