Crawlspaces are designed to allow access underneath your home and can be challenging to work on when repairs are needed. Being below grade, water can get inside the crawlspace.
If the vapor barriers installed above the dirt were not installed properly or have been damaged, it could allow moisture into your crawlspace. Water intrusion can also happen due to damage to the insulation, the plumbing, and more inside the home.
When water does get into your crawlspace, it needs to be extracted quickly and professionally to prevent further water damage. Unfortunately, there are several issues with getting into a crawlspace to remove all of the water. For this reason, this water damage restoration job is one that’s better left to the professionals.
These are some of the potential concerns when repairing crawlspace water damage in Springfield Missouri.
Limited Accessibility
A crawlspace is not the same height as a basement area. It’s not designed to walk in, so whoever goes into the crawl space is going to need to crawl to get around. This limited accessibility makes it more difficult to reach all areas of the crawl space to remove the water.
Potential Health Hazards
There are potential health hazards within the crawlspace due to its location. If there is sewage leaking, for instance, there could be biohazards, so protective gear is required when going in the crawlspace. Any water can lead to the growth of mold, which can also be a potential health hazard.
Potential for Animals
Crawlspaces often become home to wildlife. This includes snakes, spiders, raccoons, squirrels, and a variety of other animals. Any animals that are in the crawlspace have the potential to be dangerous if their home is invaded by someone trying to clean and remove water.
Wet Insulation and Pooled Water
In the crawl space, there could be organic debris, wet insulation, and pooled water. The wet insulation and organic debris will need to be removed to prevent further water damage, and any pooling water will need to be extracted. Due to limited accessibility, this can be harder than it looks.
Smells Get Inside the Home
If the water restoration job is not done right, it’s possible for smells to end up getting inside the home. Once there, it can be incredibly hard to remove some of the smells. It’s necessary to make sure the air movement inside the crawlspace is set up properly to help move the moist air out without causing it to enter the home.
Need to Reduce Humidity
Dehumidifiers will need to be used to remove as much moisture from the air as possible. A desiccant dehumidifier is preferred. The air will get drier and flow through the crawlspace, ensuring it is evaporated safely. However, most homeowners do not have one of these available to use.
Crawlspaces are one area where it’s not a good idea to DIY water damage restoration. There’s a lot that could go wrong or be dangerous. Instead, if you ever experience water damage in your crawlspace, call the professionals at PuroClean Certified Restoration. They’ll do the water damage restoration job right.