Traditional Ventilated vs. Insulated & Non-Vented Crawlspace

[Phant]

What are the pros, cons, cost differences, and potential problems of each? Any reccomendations on which would be the better choice in general? And more specifically, in Georgia.

Thanks for a response.

[richard]

Phant,

Traditional vented crawl spaces ruin houses. In the summer they allow damp, uncondtioned air into the crawl space, which can cause mold problems, rot and structural damage, attract insects, and increase air conditioning costs. In the winter they let in cold air increasing heating costs.

Encapsulating your crawl space will pay for itself for all of the above reasons. For more info, visit the crawlspace (http://www.basementsystems.com/crawlspace/) section of our Web site or set up a Free Inspection & Estimate with a Basement Systems dealer and they'll give you a free copy of Crawl Space Science (avaialble at Amazon.com), a 104-page full-color book, that will explain this is much better detail.

Call 1-800-638-7048 or contact us online (http://www.basementsystems.com/forms/contact.php).

-Richard

[Inspector]

I urge you not to read that book out of context. In the book, that is referred to above, it speaks of the foundation vents in a crawl space causing more problems than good. If the encapsulation system is not installed prior to closing off your vents. You will have a huge problem on your hands! Especailly if you live in the Northwest and do not have vapor barrier on the ground below your home.

I have seen firsthand the difference of having vents, and not having vents in the Northwest. All of the homes including new construction that I have personally observed over the past 10 years with high humidity/moisture problems in a crawl space, has been a direct result of poor ventilation. The humidity levels were dropped by 1/2 or better by simply clearing or installing vent openings. If you're in the Northwest I highly recommend that you do not try closing off your ventilation openings thinking it will save you money on heating and/or closing of the vents and installing your own sump pump. Unless of course you're trying to grow a mold farm. The system they are talking about is much differnt than a sump pump with supplied flex hose and laundry basket you can pickup and the home improvement store. It is well designed and professionally installed.

[admin]

Yes, Inspector is correct, you should not seal the vents without encapsulating the crawl space. In most states it is against building code to close a crawl space vent (http://www.basementsystems.com/crawlspace/crawlspace_products/crawlspace_vent.php) without first encapsulating the crawl space.

Information on the sump pump (http://www.basementsystems.com/sump_pump/) systems that Inspector is referring to are available on our Web site.

Thanks for the input Inspector!

-Richard