Household Signs of Crawl Space Problems

It can be difficult to know what’s happening in your crawl space since there’s rarely an occasion to go down there. They’re often difficult to access and dark and creepy, so it’s easier to put it out of your mind. But here are some things that could happen in your home that warn of problems below. 

Smells 

A damp crawl space will harbor mold, which produces a musty, dank odor. The degree of smell will depend on how longstanding and severe the problem is, but you’ll always smell something - and people who have experienced it will tell you there’s nothing like it. 

Cold Floors 

Is there a room or part of a room on your first level where the floor is just always cold? That’s because your crawl space needs insulation and cold air is rising up through the floor.  

Soft Spots 

Many houses have that one creaky spot, or the soft spot that everyone knows to side step when crossing the room, but you should deal with it just by avoiding it. These spots usually happen because of a compromised joist in the crawl space. Joists can weaken for a number of reasons, and they leave parts of your home unsupported. 

Mold 

If you find mold upstairs - often in a closet - it likely originated in the crawl space. Mold spores can travel up through the HVAC system and into the house, where they take root and form new colonies. Rooms above the crawl space can often experience similar problems when it comes to humidity, so they become a perfect home for new mold. 

-- 

You don’t have to climb down into your crawl space to know if something is wrong. If your house is too cold, too hot, smelly, or just feels “off,” it’s good to start with the crawl space. And that starts with a call to us to schedule your free inspection.