Getting Ready for Moisture Season

Moisture season comes to the Triangle every year, and it often arrives faster than homeowners expect. Our humid climate creates all kinds of problems in the crawl space. Increased insect activity is usually the first thing people notice, but that's just a nuisance — the real problem is the moisture accumulating under the home.

That moisture evaporates and starts to collect in the insulation and on the floor joists. When condensation is allowed to sit on structural woodwork in the crawl space through these humid months, it can cause real problems over time with the structural integrity of your home.

Signs Your Crawl Space Insulation Is Failing

The first thing you'll usually notice is insulation getting heavy and sagging down in the crawl space. At that point, the R-value has weakened and the insulation is no longer performing at its intended rating.

Sagging, waterlogged insulation and condensation on the floor joists are early warning signs worth acting on before moisture season peaks. Encapsulating the crawl space with a proper vapor barrier and controlling humidity with a dehumidifier are the two most effective ways to keep it from happening again.