Foundation Recovery Systems

Many homeowners don’t realize it, but most older homes are subjected to outside elements; mold, mildew, moisture, water, decay and propagate rot. These elements also tend to attract and host various insects and rodents. An encapsulation system is intended to help control the moisture from the infiltration by pests.

Elements of Encapsulation

As several studies have shown, humidity and excess moisture can form mold and mildew, and exposure to such growths can be very unhealthy to adults and children—especially those with breathing conditions and/or asthma.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends encapsulation to recondition the crawl space and better control moisture throughout the space.

Reconditioning: The materials and process used for encapsulation tend to vary from contractor to contractor; but the basic procedure is to seal all openings on the sidewalls. This includes all doors, windows and vents leading to the exterior of the home or building.

The process intends stopping outside air from entering the space. This is done through insulating the walls and openings leading to the exterior. Once this has been completed, the heat transfer has been minimized from the inside of the crawl space, as well as from the outside.

Moisture Control: By sealing the ground with a protective vapor barrier, the crawl space encapsulation also prevents moisture from contaminating the space. Now all that’s left is to connect a sump pump to the floor drain and re-route it to the outdoors.

What’s so bad about moisture? Well, moisture can pave the way for serious damages. From mold development, foundation damage, and the musty smells—moisture has a bad reputation as a troublemaker.

Better Indoor Air Quality

According to reports provided by the EPA, there’s a difference in the air pressure between a crawl space and a living area that can force air and other contaminants into the home. This pressure causes the stack effect. As warm air rises and the air from the bottom of the home escapes through the top of the home, it’s very important that the crawl space air be of good quality. It’s been estimated that 50% of the air being breathed on the first floor is from the crawl space. So, if there’s mold and other problems in the crawl space, then you can expect to be breathing that in on the upper levels. What’s in the crawl space doesn’t always stay in the crawl space.

The EPA has also spoken out about the importance of healthy indoor air quality. Unfortunately, indoor air quality is one of the top concerns around the globe, because indoor air can actually be 2-5 times worse than outdoor air. In some cases indoor air has been even 100 times worse than outdoor air!

So, it’s very important to encapsulate your crawl space and reduce the moisture. Once this happens, you can almost be certain that the air quality in your home will improve. Whether the smell or the allergic response—the crawl space is a very important aspect for a healthy home.

Overall Benefits:

Encapsulation helps improve the air dramatically by eliminating odors, pollutants and other fumes that may work their way into the dwelling or crawl space. This also helps prevent water vapors and condensation from entering the crawl space, overall reducing the risk of mold and mildew that may cause some adults and children with asthma various, serious health risks or conditions.

An encapsulated crawl space effectively seals warm air, preventing it from entering the crawl space through doors, vents, walls and other small openings. This process is designed to effectively eliminate condensation from cool water vapors from building up.

Finally, this process keeps dry conditioned air from escaping. After this process is completed, many homeowners realize and see a huge monthly savings on their cooling and heating bills.
Contact Foundation Recovery Systems today for a free estimate for crawl space encapsulation in MO. They are your locally trusted and experienced crawl space repair, foundation repair, and basement waterproofing experts.