Dunn-Rite Crawlspace

04/10/2023

04/10/2023

Air Sealing

How eliminate the humidity that enters the crawlspace? Completely sealing the vents from within the crawlspace, and installing ( if needed ) a new crawlspace door with a tight seal will help prevent humidity and moisture from entering. No daylight shall be seen from within the crawlspace when air sealing has been done properly.

04/10/2023

Insulation

Whether or not your insulation was installed when your home was built or recently installed by a contractor who did not inform you, that your insulation may need to be removed and replaced. Mold growth on the floor joists, outer band boards, or beams can compromise the insulation. A visible inspection can determine if any growth has reached the subfloor. To ensure the entire affected area has been properly treated, the insulation must be removed prior to treatment.

Insulation that has adsorbed humidity or moisture will start to separate from itself and hang like Spanish Moss.

04/10/2023

Why do I have mold?

Mold has to have three things to survive. Air, Food, and Water.
The food needed to live is any type of organic material, such as wood, paper, leather, (Ect).
Although concrete is not organic, the dust that has settled on the concrete is.
Water needed for growth can be from groundwater, a leaking pipe, condescension from the HVAC, and humidity from outside.
We can not control the Air or Food. We can control the water.

What type of Mold do I have?

Mold testing involves taking an air sample or a surface tape lift.
Air sampling is the most accurate method for determining the type of mold that is present in the air you are breathing..
Tape lifting may accurately determine if mold growth is present on a particular surface. This does not let you know whether that mold growth has affected the air quality

Mold Remediation

A Negative Air System is required prior to any type of mold remediation in a crawl space or attic. This will help eliminate mold spores that you have disturbed from entering the home.
Before mold can be treated, you MUST physically remove the mold. This process for removal can be achieved by sanding, scraping, brushing, HEPA vacuuming, or a combination of all. Mold spores are micro and can settle in cracks and crevices that you may not be able to reach. Once you have removed all the visible mold, you must treat the entire area with an anti-microbial agent. Keep in mind, once the mold removal has been completed, your moisture barrier is now compromised and will need to be removed and replaced.

04/10/2023

Mold


There are three levels on mold. Level 1 is the goal to achieve when remediating mold growth,
Mold is a part of our natural environment and low levels of mold are always present in the air we breathe.

Level 1: (normal mold growth) A indoor environment that may have settled spores, fragments, or traces of actual growth.

Level 2: (settled spores or mold fragments) A indoor environment that is contaminated with settled spores or mold growth

Level 3: ( actual mold growth) A indoor environment that is contaminated with the presence of actual mold growth, spores, and fragments that is active or dormant, visible or hidden.

There are Four types of mold that are common; Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys chatarum.

Black Mold Myth?

Just because you have visible mold and it is black in color, does not mean you have black (toxic) mold. Yes, most mold growth is mostly black, gray, or greenish in color. Mold growth can also be brown, purple, orange, pink, yellow, red, white, or a combination of colors. The color of mold can be influenced by the food source, humidity level, and light.

The smell of mold is usually foul and unpleasant and will grow stronger over time as the mold starts to spread and sporulate. Although at times it could be described as a musky smell. As mold grows it can release a gas known as microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) into the air. The only way to determine what type of mold is present is to have a sample sent to a laboratory for testing.

04/10/2023

What dose a dehumidifier do?

A dehumidifier removes the water v***r from the air in your crawl space until a set level of relative humidity is reached.

How dose a dehumidifier work?

A dehumidifier works to remove humidity from the air by drawing the moist air into the unit with a fan. Once inside the unit. The air is cooled to extract water from the air and then heated back up and expelled from the unit into a condensate pump. The condensate pump, pumps the water out of the crawl space. Once the humidity levels has been reached, the dehumidifier will automatically maintain a stable level without any interference from you.

Do dehumidifiers kill Mold?

Dehumidifiers do not kill mold!
Mold can grow on any organic material. (paper, wood, dust )
When the humidity in the crawl space increases to above 60% or the moisture levels in the foundation framing and sub floor increases above 20% Mold growth can occur. Mold can spread as long as there is a water source. Having a proper sized dehumidifier installed in your crawl space can prevent mold growth by regulate the moisture.

Do I need a Sump Pump ?

Water should never terminate within the crawl space. All drains must exit to daylight, preventing any excess moisture into the crawl space. Sump pumps can reduce or even eliminate the damage from groundwater seepage or busted water lines you didn't know exists. Standing water in the crawl space can lead to mold growth which in addition to being a potential health hazard, it can become the cause of structural damage, especially in flood-prone areas. Although a sump pump has been installed, groundwater within the crawl space may be restricted from reaching the pump pit due to the grade of the ground. Perimeter French drains should be installed to redirect the flow of the groundwater to the sump pump pit.

04/10/2023

Why Do I Need a Barrier?

Without a proper barrier, your crawl space carries humid air that condenses and settles on the pipes, walls, and even the sub-flooring. This moisture provides the ideal environment for fungus, mildew, and pest. Installing a moisture barrier will reduce the moisture in your crawl space. You'll also avoid attracting pests that can spread disease, or cause structural damage.

100% Sealed / Encapsulated

A PROPERLY SEALED CRAWLSPACE does not have any wall vents, or the existing wall vents have been permanently sealed. The ground is 100% covered with a minimum of 12 mil reinforced
v***r-barrier. The walls and piers are also covered with a minimum of 8 mil reinforced v***r-barrier that is mechanically fastened. All of the seams are permanently sealed with caulking and tape. This will prevent outside water, moisture, and humidity from entering the crawlspace.

Moisture Barrier

A moisture barrier is the minimum amount of protection that you should have in your crawl space.
The ground is covered with a minimum of 6 mil Visqueen plastic sheeting. The Visqueen is cut close to the edge of the walls and around the piers.

What does a dehumidifier do?

A dehumidifier removes the water v***r from the air in your crawl space until a set level of relative humidity is reached.

02/20/2023

Moisture levels above 20% in the wood can support mold growth. Moisture levels above 28% can lead to wood decay fungi. Humidity levels should between 40% and 60%, with the goal of 50%-55%. Keeping these levels will deter mold growth, wood rot, and pest. Dunn-rite crawlspace shall take moisture readings during the inspection and at the end of completed project.. Keeping your crawlspace free from moisture can help keep your home sound for years to come.

Most of the air you breath comes from the crawlspace. Most contractors today would agree that the crawl space should be treated as part of the living quarters. The crawl space should be insulated and free of humidity and moisture.