Fall is a season defined by transformation. It's a time when nature trades its vibrant greens for a palette of fiery reds, brilliant oranges, and luminous golds. The landscape is painted in warm, rich tones with a cozy air that invites reflection.
But Fall is also the perfect opportunity to prepare your home for the upcoming winter. And do you know which part of your home is the most impacted by changes in temperature and humidity?
If you guessed your crawl space, you are right! Having worked with crawl spaces over the years, Restore-It knows how important they are for your home's general health. With more predictable weather and temperatures neither too hot nor too cold, fall is the best time to get encapsulation.
Let's look at the five most common problems with crawl spaces during winter and how encapsulation can help.
1. Problem: Cold Floors Above the Crawl Space
When winter comes to South Arkansas, it does so with a (somewhat sudden) drop in temperature. The air gets really cold, and your crawl space vents become the perfect entry point into your home.
As this frigid air circulates in your crawlspace, it makes your floors very cold, making them very uncomfortable to walk on (especially if you don't wear shoes indoors!).
The Solution: Full encapsulation of a crawl space involves sealing off the vents completely. Isolating the crawl space from the cold outside air lets it stay closer to the temperature of the house above, keeping floors significantly warmer. Additional insulation can be applied to the floor joists as a barrier to reduce heat loss and regulate temperature.
It's worth noting that this cold air intrusion also leads to several extra problems down the line. But don't worry—we will discuss them throughout this article.
2. Problem: High Energy Bills
Did you know that the average American family wastes around $200 to $400 yearly due to drafts, air leaks, and outdated heating and cooling systems? But there is a simple solution! The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) suggests that homeowners can reduce their energy bills by 5% to 30% simply by addressing drafts and air leaks.
As cold air enters your crawl space, it cools the floors and heating ducts running through it. This, in turn, forces your heating system to work overtime to compensate for the heat loss and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, leading to higher energy consumption.
The Solution: All air leaks are sealed in a proper encapsulation project. This not only includes the vents but also insulating the floor joists to prevent heat loss. This effectively creates a thermal boundary, which stops cold air from infiltrating your home, reducing the workload on your HVAC system and lowering heating costs.
Besides, the Department of Energy notes that adding insulation to the crawl space and sealing entry points is "one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste".
3. Problem: Frozen or Bursting Pipes
During winter, water supply pipes that run through your crawl space will be exposed to extremely cold temperatures. If the water inside the pipes freezes, it can expand and cause cracks and bursts. These leaks, with enough time, can cause severe water damage in your home, requiring expensive repairs.
The Solution: Encapsulation seals off cold outside air and insulates the pipes. In addition to regulating the temperature of the crawl space, encapsulation involves taking proactive steps to protect plumbing that runs through this area. All pipes that run through the space will be insulated with foam pipe sleeves or fiberglass insulation wraps, protecting them from freezing.
4. Problem: Pest Infestations
Your crawl space is probably the least inviting area in your entire home. It's difficult to reach, dark, and humid. But what sounds like a terrible place for most people can become prime real estate for all manner of pests. Insects, rodents, and even some reptiles (yuck!) may seek shelter under your home from the elements and freezing temperatures.
A vented crawl space becomes a welcome sign during the changing season, which can easily become an access point into your home. If you find signs of pests in your kitchen and no culprits in sight, they might come from underneath your floors.
The Solution: Encapsulation includes sealing vents, gaps, cracks, and holes in the foundation walls in the crawl space (while making for an access door inside your home). This process physically blocks pests from entering the space. Also, sealing the area creates a clean, dry environment that makes it less attractive for pests.
5. Problem: Drafts and Poor Indoor Air Quality
Besides lowering your home's temperature, the air that infiltrates from the crawl space through your floor can carry with it all sorts of allergens. Mold spores, dust, pest droppings particles, and other contaminants can rise from your crawl space due to the stack effect, negatively impacting indoor air quality.
The Solution: Encapsulation air-seals the crawl space from both the outside and, to a large extent, from the home above (by insulating floor joists). This stops cold drafts originating from the crawl space. Plus, improving the condition in the area leads to more comfort and healthier air.
Get Your Crawl Space Winter-Ready with Restore-It!
As you have seen, winter brings challenges for homeowners, especially for those with an unprotected crawl space. This can lead to significant discomfort, expense, and even damage, from frigid floors to skyrocketing energy bills due to water damage or unwelcome pests. However, taking a proactive approach can nip these problems in the bud!
Crawl space encapsulation is a comprehensive solution that can tackle the root causes of these common winter problems. Starting this home improvement project can save you a lot of trouble later on. Plus, the more predictable fall weather makes the whole process easier for the technicians, making it significantly faster than if they did it during the winter season.
At Restore-It, we transform damp, drafty, and problematic crawl spaces into clean, dry, and energy-efficient foundations for your home. We know how to undertake this project and understand the unique challenges found in South Arkansas. We deliver high-quality, professional, lasting crawl space encapsulation tailored to your home's needs.
Don't wait for cold floors, high bills, or frozen pipes to disrupt your winter. Take proactive steps this fall—contact Restore-It today to schedule an inspection and discover how you can safeguard your home, improve your comfort, and save money for many winters to come.
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