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-   -   Crawl space (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=37690)

  • Oct 17, 2006, 04:17 PM
    bigbadd
    Crawl space
    Hello there...
    I've recently came upon a problem with condensation within the home (mini home). Each morning all the windows are really wet and the window sill is soaked! After going under the house I've noticed that things are pretty wet there too. Is there something you can get to rid of condensation under the house to prevent it in side or am I way off base??
    Thanks
  • Oct 17, 2006, 05:18 PM
    labman
    At one time water stood in my crawl space. I have put a lot of work into it, and it is now dry and warm in the winter. My floors are warm.

    Start with checking the grading around the house. You should have at least one block above ground, and the ground sloping away from the house. Cut a swale if you have to. Then carefully seal the walls and floor above. Caulk the joints between the foundation and plate, and the plate and band joist, the band joist and floor above, and around all the pipes and wires. That includes ones going up through the floor. Warm, moist air can follow them into the house and clear up to the attic. Patch all cracks in the foundation. I coated mine with a cement based paint.

    You may want to smooth up the floor so it all slopes to one corner. That way if you eventually have to add a drain, you can. Then cover the floor with plastic running it up the walls and sealing it to the wall. That should keep your crawl space dry and what moisture does get in, won't get up into the house. Leave the vents closed all year. They only let warm, moist air in in the summer to condense. That is not the conventional wisdom. It works very well for me. My pipes don't collect condensation in the summer.

    You may want to improve your windows too. Well sealed windows or storms keep moisture from collecting on the windows allowing a healthful higher level of moisture in the house.
  • Oct 28, 2006, 12:38 PM
    scri8e
    I agree with Labman. The area under and around
    Your home is the source of the problem. He gives good advise. Hard to do though crawling around on your belly. There are several products for sealing the inside walls under your home. Do a search for basement moisture/water proofing/ or various related terms. I would first check around the exterior of your home. I have a basement in my 2 story home. I found when I moved in if I left the sprinklers on to long that the water seeped through the earth and came up in my basement
    Forming a "creek" of water running west to east and thankfully down and out a floor drain installed for that purpose. Might want to check the crawl space after/during watering the yard?
    I reduced the time length of the automatic sprinklers I had installed end of water problem in the basement.

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