Crawl Space Insulation: What You Should Know

Crawl spaces use is only beneficial if they’re kept clean, ventilated, and insulated.

Crawl spaces affect the energy-efficiency and temperature of the rest of your house. Moreover, if a crawl space has condensation issues, you might start seeing mold buildup elsewhere too. Similarly, insulated crawl spaces prevent air from escaping from other parts of the house.

Having established how important they are, here’s all that you need to know about crawl space insulation:

Insulation promotes good air quality

It’s very easy for crawl spaces to attract pests, mold, and mildew because of how dark and damp they are.

This also makes crawl spaces a very favorable breeding ground for allergens. Most allergens and irritants enter your home through crawl spaces, putting your health at risk. Crawl space insulation is particularly important if the atmosphere outside has high pollen content.

If the crawl space is well-insulated, you need not worry about these allergens making their way to other parts of the house. To keep the air quality cleaner, pair insulation with a strong crawl space ventilation system.

 

Insulation keeps your floor warm

Nothing is more annoying than your floor feeling extra warm in the summers and extra cold in winters. If this is a problem you face, crawl space insulation might be the solution that you’re looking for.

If the crawl space is cold, the entire house will be cold. By insulating your crawl space, you’ll be sealing off all air leaks. This way, warm air can’t escape and cold air can’t spread to the rest of the house.

This also means that your heating and cooling appliances will have to work less—resulting in fewer utility expenses.

How to insulate the crawl space?

The first step is to seal all holes and cracks. This will make sure that outside air doesn’t make its way inside. Use a foam sealant for this purpose.

The insulation material that you use should be mold-resistant and waterproof. This is an important step to keep mold away. We recommend using cellulose instead of fiberglass for this purpose.

Always focus on insulating the foundation walls and the floor. Use rigid foam insulation board and stick it to the walls with the help of durable adhesive. In the end, seal the seams with the help of waterproof tape.

No matter what insulation methodology you choose, make sure you pair it up with a vapor barrier. The purpose of insulation shouldn’t be confined to air leaks only. Vapor barriers prevent moisture from soil; entering your crawl spaces.

Get in touch with Crawl Space Door Store for equipment that will make your crawl spaces humidity and moisture-free. Take a look at our FEMA-compliant collection online.