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Dealing With Crawl Space Mold In Louisiana

Here at DryMax, we receive a lot of questions about crawl space mold & how to prevent it in Louisiana homes. Our crawl spaces are often easily overlooked, due to the fact that it is not a common living space. Preventing crawl space mold can be as simple as taking a few minutes out of your day to check your foundation for any damage, and check the insulation to ensure that everything is in good condition. Much like any other area of the home, consistent maintenance & moisture control are essential when it comes to preventing crawl space mold. Consistently keeping an eye on & maintaining your home’s crawl space is the best way to prevent mold, or at least catch mold in its early stages if it does develop. 

Crawl Space Mold Prevention

Many homeowners are intimidated by the concept of preventing crawl space mold. This is an area that doesn’t usually get a lot of attention in the first place, so getting started seems overwhelming. Truthfully, just a few simple adjustments to your crawl space maintenance routine can make a huge difference when it comes to preventing crawl space mold. Let’s take a closer look at some tips for how to get started: 


Foundation Maintenance: Keep a close eye out for any cracks or gaps in your foundation walls, both inside and outside. Small cracks can be deceiving, as you may think it is not a big deal. These cracks can lead to severe water damage, water intrusion & slow leaks causing major, widespread damage overtime. In order to prevent crawl space mold, be sure you are keeping water away from the foundation of your home as much as possible. 


Gutter & Downspout Maintenance: As mentioned in the previous point, it is essential when preventing crawl space mold that you keep water from pooling around the foundation of your home. This is where gutters & downspouts come into play. Ensure that your gutters & downspouts are clear & free of debris so that water is able to flow properly. The main purpose of your home’s downspouts is to direct water away from the foundation of your home. Downspouts need to be long enough & properly positioned in order to fulfill this duty. Gutters & downspouts keep water from pooling around your home’s foundation, directly relating to crawl space mold prevention. 


Check For Leaks: While this may seem like common sense, the crawl space is an area that often gets overlooked. Crawl spaces are small areas that are often inconvenient to get into, but it is important to ensure that there is no leakage going on in this area. If you are not aware, leaks in your crawl space could persist for an extended period of time. Check both the foundation walls & the floor joists for any signs of leakage or water damage. Repair any leaks that you find as soon as possible. Mold can develop in as little as 24 to 48 hours under the right conditions, so you want to act as quickly as possible. If you suspect that a leak has taken place, contact a local professional mold inspection company in your Acadiana area to assess the damage. 


Minimize Moisture: Crawl spaces, similarly to attics, tend to be a stuffy area of the home that can be susceptible to a lot of excess moisture. Installing proper ventilation in your crawl space can help get some air circulation flowing through the area in order to minimize moisture. In addition to ventilation methods, if your crawl space is especially humid, you may need to employ the use of a dehumidifier in the crawl space to further help with minimizing moisture. Ideal humidity levels in your crawl space should stay between 35% and 50%. Additionally, you may want to install a vapor barrier in your crawl space to prevent ground moisture from evaporating & becoming humidity that is trapped in the space. All of these methods in conjunction with each other can make a huge difference when it comes to minimizing moisture in your crawl space. 

Dealing With Crawl Space Mold In Acadiana Properties

In a perfect world, you will be doing everything you possibly can to prevent crawl space mold in your Louisiana home. These tips can make a huge difference in the condition of your crawl space & the ability to prevent mold from developing in this area. However, there are some things beyond our control. Accidents happen, and that’s okay. Maybe there was a flood, or a leak that went unnoticed. Regardless of what the situation is, it’s important that you understand that preventing mold is a time sensitive operation. As previously mentioned, mold can develop in as little as 24 to 48 hours, so time is of the essence. Early intervention is always the best way to prevent further structural damage to your home. When it comes to crawl space mold, prevention & early intervention are the two best ways to keep your home in good condition. 

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