Should I Open or Close My Crawl Space Vents? Crawlspace Vents or Foundation Vents

A crawl area that is closed and conditioned is more beneficial to a Virginia Beach, VA, homeowner than one that is vented or exposed to the weather.

Many homes in Virginia Beach, Virginia, have crawl space vents. They've been advertised for years as a means to improve air circulation in the crawl space. Homeowners would open their vents to enable fresh outside air to flow and cool their subterranean spaces.

To prevent moisture accumulation and limit the damage within the area, local laws and common wisdom require subterranean spaces to be vented from the outside. Our crawl space vents, on the other hand, truly a smart idea? We'll look into this for you and help you determine what's best for you.

What Are the Local Codes Saying?

For starters, according to construction standards, leaving the vents open is a smart idea. However, they also state that you have the option of closing them. As a result, they're providing homeowners and builders the option of creating an enclosed or open system. However, you must still satisfy or meet specific requirements in both situations. We highly advise you to plug the vents because there is no way to manage humidity in an open crawl space.

How Effective Are Crawl Space Vents?

Assume you live in a house where the temperature outdoors may reach 90 degrees. You've turned on your air conditioner, which has lowered the indoor temperature to 65 degrees. Then you open the windows and let in some fresh air. So, what happens next? Condensation will be triggered by warmer air, which will raise interior temperatures. When you have a ventilated crawl area, this is exactly what happens.

Despite the fact that crawl space vents are required in many locations and the goal behind them is admirable, the reasoning behind vented crawl spaces is flawed. Venting, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. Covering the vents will make your house safer and healthier.

The best option is to seal the space and manage the ventilation. You're still ventilating, but you're regulating the humidity using a dehumidifier.

The Drawbacks of a Crawl Space That Is Open

According to several studies, ventilated subterranean areas cause more harm than good to your property. During humid and wet weather, vents allow extra moisture to enter. As a result, humidity levels might rise, causing a variety of issues. Even if vapor barriers are installed, they will not keep the crawl area dry enough to prevent mold development.

Condensation, which occurs when heated outside air comes into touch with colder crawl space air, should be your primary concern. Mold development, which can range from faint spotting to extensive staining, as well as wood rot, disintegration, and rust, can all be triggered by condensation. Condensation on the crawl space floor might lead to water pools over time.

Passive humid air infiltration through vents can also lead to a weakened support structure. The residence above will be unable to sustain the decaying and rotting timber. This can result in possibly costly repairs.

The crawl area provides more than half of the interior air. A 1,000-square-foot crawl area may create up to 10 gallons of moisture each day, which can rise into your home and cause a variety of problems in addition to making your HVAC work harder.

Another issue is that venting might have an impact on the quality of the air within the house. Mold spores, dust, pollutants, and allergies can all be carried by upward flowing air. All of these things can make the air inside your home unbreathable. Anyone with respiratory issues, such as asthma, will be severely impacted. More hospital visits and coughing may result as a result.

Outside air not only raises moisture levels, but it also raises house heating expenses. A stack effect is created by upward flowing air. To balance the climate in your living area and the crawl space, you'll find yourself operating the air conditioner for longer periods of time.

Know more about return air grille

For a healthier home, close the vents.

In terms of structural health, air quality, mold resistance, and energy efficiency, homes with closed crawl spaces outperform those with crawl spaces vent in the United States. For most of the hot and humid summer months, closed crawl spaces are much drier than wall vented crawl spaces, with relative humidity levels staying below 60%.

Do you want to keep the moisture in your crawl space under control and create a healthy environment? Seal all vents and make sure your crawl space is properly ventilated. Crawl space encapsulation and dehumidification are JES Foundation Repair's specialties. They can provide a long-term and successful solution for crawl space moisture control that also allows for fresh air circulation. A free crawl space examination and quotation can help you get started on your remodeling.

Vents in the crawlspace: Foundation vent

I'd want to replace the worn-out crawlspace vents beneath my house. What are the best types of replacement vents?

It's great to have alternatives at the hardware store, but when there are too many, it may be overwhelming. Crawlspace vents are the 8-inch tall, 16-inch wide apertures located around the perimeter of typical North Carolina foundation walls. They're designed to air the crawlspace and reduce moisture levels under the house by preventing the build-up of hazardous gases like radon.

I'd want to replace the worn-out crawlspace vents beneath my house. What are the best types of replacement vents?

A: Having alternatives at the hardware shop is helpful, but having too many options may be perplexing. Crawlspace vents are the 8-inch tall, 16-inch wide apertures located around the perimeter of typical North Carolina foundation walls. They're designed to air the crawlspace and reduce moisture levels under the house by preventing the build-up of hazardous gases like radon.

Trim trees and plants 18 inches away from the outside of your property. To keep pests and water out, plug and seal any holes and gaps in the foundation walls. Ensure that your gutters are free of debris and that your downspouts are directing water away from your property. Moist foundations can cause structural issues, promote fungal development, and attract a variety of pests.

Look within your crawlspace to make sure there aren't any pools of water that might attract cockroaches and other pests. It is extremely simple for them to stroll into the kitchen for a splendid supper of crumbs or proceed to the bathroom for some wonderful toothpaste residue once they are under your home.

Vent Crawlspaces that are sealed

Creating a closed crawlspace is an alternative to keeping a vented crawlspace. More than just shutting the vents and installing a dehumidifier is required. It entails a number of components that operate together as a system, as well as making safe decisions about any gas appliances that may be there. Crawlspaces.org has further information, or you may contact (919) 857-9000.

Crawlspaces with vents are typical in North Carolina houses. They have already functioned successfully and may continue to do so in the future. However, because each property and its location are unique, if your vented crawlspace is moist, musty, and refuses to dry out, a properly closed crawlspace may be a far better alternative than your existing vented crawlspace. Crawlspaces.org's North Carolina study findings will tell you more.

Should I close or leave Crawl Space Vents open?

Some homeowners keep their crawlspace vents closed all year to prevent termites in the summer, heat loss in the winter, and moisture buildup that can lead to mold growth, while others open and shut them according to the seasons. Is there such a thing as a correct or incorrect response here? Experts have various viewpoints.

Sealing crawl space vents are a popular choice.

Jesse Waltz, a foundation engineer, votes to completely shut down crawl space vents. "Part of the answer is properly sealing the crawl space and eliminating moisture from the ground and air, which leads to a mold- and insect-free environment, which leads to a more energy-efficient and healthier house," Waltz adds. "A crawlspace should be entirely sealed and separated from the earth and the humid outside air to minimize moisture's harmful effects. A good crawlspace vapor barrier system, which has been tried and developed across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, is an excellent technique of lowering crawl space humidity "He keeps going.

"On the dirt floor that is extended and connected to the walls, a 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with polyester-cord reinforcement is installed." Under the crawlspace liner, this extra-heavy reinforced lining is coated with an antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold and mildew growth. It is durable enough for service personnel to crawl on while still being safe for storage. A high-performance dehumidifier air filtering device is sometimes installed in the crawl space to keep humidity levels below 50%. Always check with your HVAC contractor to ensure proper subterranean ventilation.

Vote on whether to open and close crawlspace vents on a seasonal basis.

Tom Silva, co-owner of Silva Brothers' Construction, voted to open and close crawlspace vents periodically in a recent story published by This Old House Magazine.

Working vents in the crawlspace are required by most building regulations in the summer to enable outside air to flow under the floor and avoid moisture buildup, which causes wood decay through mildew and mold. The vents are closed in the winter, when the air is dryer, to prevent the pipes in the crawlspace from freezing. As a result, rather than opting to block up the crawl space vent entirely, we recommend that you open and close the vent in your crawlspace on a yearly basis.

Crawlspaces and their science

As air rises in a house, it brings the air that was previously trapped in the crawl space with it. This includes dampness, mold spores, and everything else that may be in the air down there. Replacement air is pulled through the vents when this air rises in the house. Unconditioned outside air enters through vents and other leaks to make up this replacement air. The "stack effect," which is similar to how a chimney works, is the natural upward airflow.

As a result, whatever is in the air at your home's lowest point ultimately rises into the living spaces. The crawl area provides about half of the air we breathe on the first level of our house. A dirt crawl space with open crawl space vents covers provides an endless supply of moisture. Even though the ground appears to be dry on the surface, digging a few inches deeper exposes wet earth. The moisture in the crawl space is continually discharged.

Mold development, musty odors, and eventually structural damage are all caused by moisture, not to mention that insects and animals prefer damp surroundings. Furthermore, energy expenses have increased. Moisture wreaks havoc on homes by providing a breeding ground for mold and another fungus, as well as insects that wreak havoc on wood structures. The dampness in the crawl area, as well as the mold and mildew that flourish there, affects not just the floor system directly above it, but also the entire home. Water (moisture or high relative humidity), heat, and ultra-violet radiation are three things that degrade organic materials like wood or insulation. Water is by far the most harmful of them.