8 Reasons Why You Need a Moisture Barrier

Been down in your crawlspace lately? If you’re like most people we know, the answer is, “nope,” especially at this time of year. If it’s been a while since you’ve paid the underneath of your home a visit, then you might be unpleasantly surprised at what you might find.

Unless your crawlspace has a proper moisture barrier system, you’ll likely discover it to be uncomfortably damp and musty smelling, with more than a few cockroaches and maybe even some mice or rat droppings. After all, the area underneath your home this is the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and pests. That’s not all. That moldy smelling air can seep into your home, creating health problems for you and your family.

Still not convinced you need a moisture barrier for your crawlspace? Then check out these eight other benefits of a moisture barrier system.

1. Mold and Odor Prevention: If there is moisture, then there’s a good chance there’s also mold, mildew, and odor, which are not only detrimental to your and your family’s health but can also cause significant damage to your home. A moisture barrier helps prevent mold and mildew from forming and eliminates stale, musty odors from your house.
2. Pest Control: An unsealed crawlspace is like flashing a “vacancy” sign for all sorts of rodents, racoons, and other wildlife. Once these pests decide to make your crawlspace their home, they can quickly wreak havoc on your home. Rodents, for instance, can chew through wood and electrical wires. Even worse, cockroaches, spiders, and other insects can create a home infestation. However, because a moisture barrier completely closes off your crawlspace, it is protected from rodents, insects, and other wildlife.
3. Termite Control: Termites are attracted to moisture and are more likely to infest your home if the soil next to the foundation is consistently moist. A moisture barrier reduces not only evaporation from the soil, but also moisture condensation on joists and subflooring, making it less desirable for termites.
4. Temperature Control: The moisture in your crawlspace affects the temperature in your home. If your home feels too hot, too cold, too stuffy, or too dry, the problem may have less to do with the weather and the season and more to do with your crawlspace. You see, the moisture in your crawlspace can either absorb the warmth from your house or keep it from escaping. A high-quality moisture barrier, however, seals those spaces and keeps the moisture out of your crawlspace, helping to regulate the temperature inside your home.
5. Energy Conservation: As your HVAC unit works harder to maintain a steady temperature, it consumes more electricity. This results in not only higher utility bills, but also additional repair bills, as the added strain on your HVAC system causes it to wear out sooner. Because a moisture barrier acts as a sealant, it controls the moisture levels in your home and eases the strain on your HVAC system. This makes your home more energy efficient and saves you money on your energy bills.
6. Pipe Protection: If you’ve never been in your crawlspace, then it might surprise you to discover all the pipes running just beneath the subflooring of your home. These pipes supply your home with water and power. If moisture in your crawlspace causes the area inside or around these pipes to rot, they could burst or break. With a moisture barrier, your pipes stay dryer, which increases their lifespan and decreases costly repairs.
7. Electrical Hazards: Moisture and electricity are a recipe for all sorts of disasters, including electrical shorts, rusted wires, and even fire. Electrical lines are certain to run through your crawlspace, either through pipes designed for this purpose or lines tacked to the joists and beams. Because a moisture barrier eliminates moisture, your home is kept safer from electrical hazards.
8. Structural Protection: Moisture in your crawlspace can lead to wood rot, which can lead to significant structural damage, which can lead to huge repair bills. Moisture barriers reduce the amount of moisture in your crawlspace, which not only helps prevent wood rot, but also protects the structural integrity of your home.

What to Look for in Moisture Barriers

The bottom line is that a durable, 100% reinforced 15-mil vapor and moisture barrier that is waterproof, anti-microbial, fire-retardant, and puncture resistant – and installed using an adhesive strip – can transform a moist, unhealthy crawl space into a clean, sanitary environment that no longer promotes mold, odors, pests, and even potential infestation. A moisture barrier of this quality will even allow you to use the crawlspace for storage purposes and ultimately fulfill its purpose of promoting healthy air circulation and reducing overall humidity in the house.

At Eco Pest Control, we offer customized moisture barrier solutions because we know that no two homes or situations are alike. We pride ourselves in being able to provide solutions that will meet your needs within your budget. We do everything from replacing your old crawl space door to a complete encapsulation.