A chilly floor right above your foundation can make your living room feel like an icebox during a Spearfish winter. That problem usually starts down in the crawl space. Here in the Black Hills, our weather swings from brutal sub-zero freezes to sudden spring thaws, putting a lot of stress on your home's lower levels. If you have already invested in Crawl Space Insulation for your property, you need a solid maintenance routine to protect it.
Extending the life of your Crawl Space Insulation comes down to managing moisture. Spearfish soils can hold onto moisture from melting snow and spring rains, creating a damp environment beneath your floors. If you want your materials to last, make sure your heavy vapor barrier stays intact and is not punctured by stored items or foot traffic. Paradise Insulation Inc often sees encapsulation systems fail prematurely simply because people treat the crawl space like a cheap storage attic. Keep it clear, keep it dry, and let the materials do their job.
Regular maintenance does not take a massive time commitment, but you should check on things a couple of times a year. Here is what you ought to look for:
- Grab a flashlight and inspect the perimeter walls to make sure rigid foam boards or spray foam have not pulled away from the foundation.
- Check your digital hygrometer to confirm the humidity stays safely below 60 percent.
- Walk around the outside of your Spearfish home to make sure downspouts are not dumping water right next to the foundation wall.
Warning signs will pop up if moisture or pests get the upper hand. If you spot sagging fiberglass batts hanging from your floor joists, white powdery mold on the wood, or a musty smell drifting up through your floor vents, you have got trouble. High humidity combined with our local freeze-thaw cycles will quickly turn damp wood into rotting joists if you ignore these red flags. Pests like mice also love nesting in neglected Crawl Space Insulation when the weather turns cold, tearing up the thermal envelope.
Some jobs you can handle with a flashlight and a pair of work gloves, but other times you need to call in a professional. If you find standing water, structural wood rot, or widespread mold growth, it is time to bring in crew members from Paradise Insulation Inc to sort it out. Fixing a failing thermal barrier before winter hits saves your HVAC system from working overtime and keeps your entire house comfortable. For homes and businesses in Spearfish, Paradise Insulation Inc provides Crawl Space Insulation services.