Crawl spaces have a bad reputation –as damp, dark, dirty places made even worse by nasty smells and (in some cases) even insect or rodent pests. It doesn’t have to be that way. Thanks to extensive research in the field of building science, and thousands of crawl space case studies, we know that there’s a better way to build and finish this under-house area.
Today the recommended treatment for crawl spaces is to separate this shallow foundation from exterior conditions through the process of crawl space encapsulation. Put another way: By encapsulating the crawl space, you’re making it part of the “building envelope,” the collection of components that creates a barrier to outside temperature and weather conditions. Also known as crawl space sealing, encapsulation involves different procedures and processes, including waterproofing, insulation, and dehumidification.
Does my crawl space need a dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier is an electrical appliance designed to remove water from the air through the process of condensation. A fan in the dehumidifier blows moist air across metal coils cooled by a refrigerant. When the warm, moist air is cooled by the coils, condensation takes place. The liquid condensate collects in a holding tank or is piped to a drainage outlet.
An astonishing amount of moisture can accumulate in a vented crawl space –one that hasn’t yet been encapsulated. This moisture can come from water that leaks through crawl space walls, through the crawl space floor, or through moist air that enters the crawl space through vent openings. The moisture absorbed by wood framing elements (support posts, joists, beams, and subflooring) attracts mold, which thrives in dark, moist areas where organic material is present. When a crawl space is encapsulated, the moisture sources mentioned above are eliminated, but the moisture remains in the wood and in other porous materials in the crawl space. Running a crawl space dehumidifier is the best way to remove this moisture and keep the crawl space dry enough to discourage mold growth.
All work was done as per job estimate. The work was actually completed a day earlier than expected. The crew was very punctual and neat. Not a bit of dust made its way into my house. Would recommend highly. Waterproofing of entire basement and installation of gravity drain.
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I appreciated the on-time, professional workmanship and quality of the job performed by the B-Dry team. Everything about the job exceeded my expectations. I interviewed multiple contractors and have no regrets with going with B-Dry. Thank you for resolving my crawlspace issue.
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I cannot say enough about how satisfied I am with the consultation, service, installation, follow-up, professionalism.. This has truly been an excellent experience from start to finish. B-Dry is top of the list for Waterproofing Companies out there in our region. Thank You for a job WELL done.
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Gerad and Jacob with BDry®, These guys kicked butt on a Monolithic floor in Evensville, had to carry probably 5 or 6 tons of busted up concrete in buckets up a hill to the trailer and then haul rock and cement back down hill, they were 1 or 2 guys short on the project, So just saying if anybody deserves a bonus or a pay increase it is these two guys. And also I promise you, if there is any way I could get these gentlemen to move to Colorado and work for me, I would make it worth their move $$$$ Thanks so much...
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This is the second time that we have used your service. The team was knowledgeable, hard working and very efficient. Our storage in the basement was protected from dust and everything was cleaned up before they left. A job well done. I can't wait for the rain.
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Did a fine job and was concerned about our being satisfied with the job.
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Very courteous. Nice and timely. Did exactly what we expected. Professional.
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My water issues were not your standard cookie cutter problems and solutions. Everyone involved took time to find solutions and explain exactly what they were going to do through the entire process. The job was done on time and they did exactly what they said they would do. I would recommend them to anyone looking to solve their home water proofing issues.
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The crew did a good job. We had some issues with the rigid sealer and the discharge drain but another technician came out and resolved the issue.
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The guys did a fantastic job! I will definitely refer your company to any of my acquaintances needing this service.
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It’s not practical to run a crawl space dehumidifier if the crawl space hasn’t been properly sealed. If moisture is still leaking into the crawl space –through wall or floor surfaces— it will be difficult or impossible for a dehumidifier to keep the space dry. The same is true if crawl space vents remain open, allowing moist outside air to enter the crawl space. To effectively dry out a crawl space and keep it that way, the crawl space should be sealed (encapsulated), prior to running a crawl space dehumidifier.
