Winter Is Coming...

Alright, it's that time of the year.  Grab your coats and put on your boots because winter is coming to Michigan once again.  Michigan's winters can be a trying time for us, as well as our houses.  Rapid changes in the environment can result in damages to your house and your energy bills.  Let's try to prepare for this by upgrading your crawl space and some key components. 

Let's start with the main issue that we can feel...ventilation.  Some crawl spaces rely on ventilation to keep humidity at bay.  The issue with venting is that it lets in the cold as well.  This cold can affect both our well-being and our energy bill.  One way to help fix this issue is by seperating the house from the ground.  

We commonly use a vapor barrier called CleanSpace combined with SilverGlo insulation that allows the crawl space to be protected from humidy that can cause problems that can even affect our health.  Humidity can help cause mold to grow as well allow a liveable condition for dust mites to live with us.  That's not very healthy.  Now that we have a seperated barrier from the ground, we can close up the vents using CleanSpace Covers that provides a seal to keep cold air out and allows you to start saving some money! 

Next step is to install a dehumidifier such as our high capacity SaniDry Sedona into the crawl space to really sort out any humidity that might still be in place.  One of the best features of the SaniDry Sedona is that it automatically drains when hooked up to a sump pump discharge line so you don't have to constantly empty it.  Now that the air is warm, and there is less humidity; It's time to check for any water leaks. 

Some crawl spaces have issues with water leaking through the walls and through cracks.  If this is a problem you are having, it's good to install a sump pump that will displace the water outside.  During the winter, these discharge lines have chances of freezing and can cause problems.  We recommend using a product called IceGuard; it attaches to the discharge lines of the sump pump and dehumidifier to prevent any ice build up that could cause water to back up and flood into your crawl space.

With all of these new upgrades and additions to your home, you can start saving money on your energy bill as well as fix any crawl space issues that could negatively affect your health and wallet!