Keeping your basement dry is essential if you want to maintain a clean and healthy home. But how to keep your crawl space dry? Here are three tips on how to keep your crawl space moisture free, and three tips on what to do if your crawl space is already wet.
If Your Crawl Space is Dry
1. Use Sandbags
Sandbags are an excellent way to assist with basement waterproofing for your home. Placing sandbags within your crawl space drain system area will help absorb any moisture that might occur and it will help keep your crawl space dry.
2. Water Carefully
Keeping your basement system dry by preventing water begins by preventing water from seeping into your crawl space drain system from the outside. Do this by making sure that you try to keep the exterior foundation of your home as dry as possible. Don’t have plants any closer to the foundation than about 2 feet, and when you water the plants, make sure to keep the water away from the foundation and try to direct it as close to the soil and the plants as possible.
3. French Drain
Having a French drain as the crawl space drain system in your basement is an excellent idea. This is a piping system filled with pebbles that will redirect any water that goes into your basement crawl space area immediately to the outside.
If Your Crawl Space is Already Wet
1. Inspect the Drain System
If your basement crawl space is wet, the first thing you have to do is inspect your basement crawl space drain system. Check and be sure that there is nothing clogging the drain system. Using a sump pump is an excellent idea to assist with this process and with overall moisture removal.
2. Use Fans
Fans are an incredibly effective way to dry out an area that has condensation and moisture. Using fans in your crawl space drain system will help dry out the area thoroughly and quickly, and will help prevent the growth of mold. Afterward, be sure and have a dehumidifier in place to keep the area dry. Sandbags are also a great way to help dry out a basement that is below ground level.
3. Check Sealant Materials
Check the sealant materials in your crawl space drainage system if your basement has been waterproofed. Sealant materials need to be checked periodically for upkeep. If you do not already have a waterproof basement, is an idea that you will probably want to look into after the first time you have water in your crawl space drainage system. The waterproofing involves installing drains and some sump pumps, and then the application of sealant materials.
Naturally, everybody wants to keep their crawl space dry. And there are ways to do that, as we have seen above. But, sometimes things happen and your crawl space will get moist, damp or even wet. If that happens, these three tips above will also help you eliminate the moisture and get it back to being as dry as possible. That way, your crawl space will be healthy and your home will be as clean as possible.
