CleanSpace: A Green Solution for your WI and MN Crawl Space

Crawl space vents are the cause of a epidemic in housing that has spread across Duluth, and Superior and across Northern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. Since the first day that crawl space vents were installed, crawl spaces have become well known as rotting, moldy, and energy-inefficient spaces. However, this is not a necessary evil, and crawl spaces need not be a drain in your home.  Basement System's international network of professional crawl space waterproofers has a long-lasting and environmentally sensible solution that will save you maintenance and money for many years to come.

A Wisconsin and Minnesota Crawl Space's Worst Enemies

At the heart of the problems plaguing traditional crawl space construction in Balsam Lake, Barron, Grantsburg, Hayward, Ladysmith, Rice Lake, Shell Lake, and other parts of WI are the crawl space vents. Vented crawl spaces were designed with the assumption that they create a crosswind in the space, which causes the air inside to circulate, naturally keeping the space free of rot and humidity. However, due to the natural upwards movement home air (due to the "stack effect"), crawl space air does not run horizontally from from one vent to the other.  This makes a lot of sense.  If the vents worked the way they were designed to, then crawl spaces couldn't be the rotting, humid places they are, right?

Cold winter air also circulates through a home in Aitkin, Baxter, Bemidji, Brainerd, Chisholm, Cloquet, Milaca, and Silver Bay, MN through crawl space vents. The cold air pulled in has an effect on everything in the space, including water heaters, hot water pipes, furnaces, and heating ducts. Heating and cooling utilities will be forced to work harder to maintain normal status quo, and the added cool air chills the ceiling (also known as the floor above) making an uncomfortable surface to walk on.

During the humidity and heat of a summer in Eveleth, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Mora, Mountain Iron, Two Harbors, and many other areas of MN and WI, the problem is even worse. Instead of drying the space, outside air flowing into the crawl space adds high amounts of humidity to the air. As this humid air enters the space, its temperature drops to about 50 degrees, and its relative humidity rises. This leads to condensation throughout the crawl space, including on wood, support beams, metal, and floorboards. As this condensation builds and saturates the area, it will lead to rot, mold, and higher risk of infestations of termites, beetles, rodents, ants, and other pests. And as this humid air enters the home, it creates a drain on air conditioners in the space, as humid air is much more difficult to condition than dry air.

Crawl space rot in Minnesota and Wisconsin soon results in sagging floors, a compromised structure, foul odors, and mold allergens in the home. If the crawl space is allowed to decay to the point where the materials need to be replaced, the homeowner will be forced to find a contractor who is willing to repair it. Crawl space repair entails entering a disgusting, unhealthy, cramped, and rotting crawl space, ripping out the old rotting boards, and replacing them with new ones. Finding a contractor to do this - at a good price - is no easy task. The process is expensive, wasteful, and clearly not the best option.

Environmentally Friendly Crawl Spaces in MN and WI

With the current building practices, we now know that crawl spaces with vents in MN and WI will rot, grow mold, and continuously drain your utility bills. However, this does not need to be the way things are in your house. By sealing the crawl space in Minnesota or Wisconsin, you can ensure a less humid, longer-lasting, and more energy-efficient space.

Encapsulate the crawlspace with airtight crawl space doors, sealed the vents, and line the walls with a tough, durable crawl space vapor barrier for an effective upgrade for your crawl space. The moisture barrier keeps outside air and humidity away while providing a passive plastic barrier that will help keep out rodents, insects, and other unwelcome guests.

The CleanSpace crawl space vapor barrier provided by Northern States Basement Systems of Duluth, MN, Superior, WI, and the surrounding areas includes a 20-mil thick polyethylene moisture barrier that blocks moisture from entering the crawl space. With a 25-year warranty included, you can be sure of a dependable, long life for the product. The liner features a white visible facing that takes advantage of available lighting, and it's durable enough for the homeowner and servicemen to use without rips or tears in the liner. An UltraFresh antimicrobial additive used when designing CleanSpace helps to keep the liner free of mold, and once installed, the CleanSpace encapsulation system even makes the crawl space a usable storage area!

To make the most out of your crawl space encapsulation in MN and WI, it's important to include an energy-efficient dehumidifier. This will help remove any moisture and humidity present in the air, wood, or other materials and provides long-term protection for humidity in the space.

To help with your crawl space dehumidification, Northern States Basement Systems of Grantsburg, Hayward, Ladysmith, Rice Lake, Shell Lake, and the surrounding areas in MN and WI provides the SaniDry crawl space dehumidifier. This fantastic machine combines the twin forces of Energy Star-rated dehumidification with the drying power of eight home models sold at hardware stores. This crawl space and basement dehumidifier includes a special air filter that will remove particles as small as 2 microns- small enough to take pollen, mold spores, and dust mite waste from the air. With a convenient self-draining design, it requires very little upkeep or maintenance.

If you'd like to learn more about installing a green crawl space encapsulation in Minnesota and Wisconsin, call Northern States Basement Systems of Duluth, Superior, and the surrounding areas today. We can encapsulate your crawl space quickly and effectively- usually in less than a day. The end result will save you money, make your home more comfortable, add storage space, and help you avoid expensive repairs in the future. For a free estimate on a crawl space vapor barrier installation in the areas of Bemidji, Duluth, Milaca, Silver Bay, MN or Grantsburg, Hayward, and Ladysmith, WI, call or contact us today!