Crawl Space Fan vs Dehumidifier Before/After | Do Crawl Space Fans Dry better than Dehumidifiers
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2017
- 🏠 Curious about the best way to keep your crawl space dry? Explore the ultimate showdown in our video, "Crawl Space Fan vs Dehumidifier Before/After | Do Crawl Space Fans Dry Better than Dehumidifiers"! 🌀🔥
Join us as we compare the effectiveness of crawl space fans and dehumidifiers in reducing moisture levels and improving air quality. 💧💨 Discover real-life before-and-after scenarios to see which solution reigns supreme in the battle against crawl space dampness. 🏆🌿
Learn about the pros and cons of each method, from installation and maintenance to energy efficiency and long-term performance. 💡⚙️ Gain valuable insights into optimizing your crawl space environment for maximum comfort and protection against mold and moisture-related issues. 🛡️🏡
Whether you're considering investing in a crawl space fan or a dehumidifier, our video provides invaluable information to help you make an informed decision and safeguard your home's health and value. 🛠️😌
Don't let crawl space moisture ruin your home - click now to watch the video and discover which solution is right for you! 🎥✨ Don't forget to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below - let's learn from each other's experiences and create better homes together! 💬🌀 #CrawlSpaceVentilation #DehumidifierVsFan #HomeMoistureControl #DIYHomeImprovement 🌿💨
📚 Exciting News from Crawl Space Ninja! 🕵️♂️ Michael's latest book, "Crawl Space Repair Myths-Busted," is now available on Amazon! Grab your copy and dive into essential insights for a healthier home: amzn.to/3llnB1m
Products Mentioned in this Video:
Mold Test Kit: diy.crawlspaceninja.com/mold-...
Moisture Meter: diy.crawlspaceninja.com/pinle...
Humidity and Temperature Meter: diy.crawlspaceninja.com/tempe...
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📌 Stay Informed:
- Essential Guides to Crawl Space Encapsulation, Waterproofing, and Wood Rot Fungus: crawlspaceninja.com/tag/essen...
📺 Top Crawl Space Ninja Playlists:
1. Crawl Space Ninja Myths:
• Crawl Space Myth #1 - Critters in the...
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🔍 Explore Crawl Space Ninja Education Pages:
- Crawl Space Encapsulation: crawlspaceninja.com/crawl-spa...
- Crawl Space Vapor Barrier: crawlspaceninja.com/crawl-spa...
- Crawl Space Humidity: crawlspaceninja.com/crawl-spa...
- Crawl Space Mold Removal: crawlspaceninja.com/crawl-spa...
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Dang Michael, Great video. Wished you were in the Pacific Northwest. Working on getting my garage
dried out, I was gonna add an exhaust fan, but now I see it's all about using a dehumidifier.
I just want to say thank you for all the education you have provided me. We went from owning a stick built house with a regular basement to a mobile home out in the country. When I built the skirting for the crawl space i added 6 mil poly to the ground as per the recommendation of the building inspector. I also fully insulated the skirting walls to R14 and vapour barriered them from the inside, to keep the house from getting too cold underneath in our brutal winters. Looks like I got those things right! Here's where I went wrong. I opened up all my vents this summer and turned on the heavy duty fan (our first summer here), its been very humid and i wake up the last couple days and humidity levels have soared to 99% under the home. I have a wireless temp and humidity sensor under the house so I can monitor readings easily. Off to UA-cam I go to figure out what I can do! I watched your videos for hours last night. This morning I put a dehumidifier underneath the home, closed up the vents (insulated as well) and started dehumidifying and to my pleasant surprise I've dropped 10% in just a half hour and still dropping. Thank you so much for posting all these videos online, you literally protect peoples homes and personal health by providing this service. cheers!
Do you mind if ask for info on dehumidifier you used? Starting to tackle my issues now...
Good work guys. It is amazing how many builders don’t take crawl space air quality seriously. Out of sight, out of mind until the homeowner or inspector finds mold. Glad to see you guys sharing your expertise on how to manage these spaces.
OzoneEditions Thank you so much !
This channel is the best. I was completely oblivious as to how much science there is to crawl spaces!!!!
Happy to help, John. Have a happy and blessed day.
Haven’t watched yet but... I just moved from Boise to Knoxville a month ago. Put an offer on a house in Lexington KY. I’m stoked. Inspection shows that I need to add moisture barrier and fans. I am surprised and GRATEFUL that there is a crawl space ninja in existence. You hav me my attention
Congrats on the house! and welcome to the area!!
That was fun. I have never been under a house before. Thank you for sharing.
Come to south Florida, we have a lot of mold down here, thank you for sharing your videos .
i might not know anything ... but the way you explained everything it seems that i understand you pretty well...
Thank you so much!
It would have been a good idea your drain (when you made it) to see it.
Thank you ,good job.
Very helpful!!!!! Thanks a lot🤩
Your videos are a blessing
Your Support is a blessing!
I know a builder whose own one-story house (that he built) had excess moisture in his crawl space. He had a crawl space dehumidifier installed, much like in your videos, and after several months, his wood flooring became warped and squeaky. He said his sub flooring, etc got too dry. He disconnected the dehumidifier, replaced all his flooring and installed a couple of foundation vent fans. Location is Lebanon, TN. I love your videos, but correct solutions to crawl space moisture seem so house-specific. Hard to judge what to do.
Absolutely, if you get a dehumidifier that does not have a humididstat then you could be in trouble. We prefer to keep the crawl space humidity level around 50%. If you start getting below 40%, you'll risk wood beginning to crack. Thanks for pointing that out.
@@CrawlSpaceNinja you guys are doing a great service to the public.
Great job!
Thanks! Fortunately, my vented and unsealed crawl is nice and dry, but Spokane has the wet season in spring, and we get dry heat. Winter is dry cold. One thing: Guys...just do NOT insulate your crawl cieling/home floor. Wood breathes and can dry-so long as you don't put something all over it to trap moisture! So the only insulation I have is in the crawlspace vents and door, but it is held in place by anything, so air can get around and under it. It gets decently wet in spring, but dries quickly and I have zero mold, zero rot down there. Inspector approved. Again-we get hot and dry from July-October, so the home has time to warm and dry. I am looking at encapsulating it due to this part of the country having super high levels. Otherwise I would leave it alone.
Interesting, thanks for sharing! That's definitely different from what we experience here in the Southeast.
I just recently found your channel by googling how to make a crawlspace door. When my house was built 27 years ago I was told by the County Inspector after having them come out because of standing water under the house and was told by them to install a fan at the door and it would dry it out. 27 years later Im having to replace 7 joist and add a dehumidifier, demold, replace insulation and encapsulate the space. Thanks for all the awesome info and videos.
Wish your company was in Baltimore, Md! That looks nice, very professional and safe lookiing!
Thank you so much for your support! We hope to be in Maryland soon.
Another excellent video Micheal! Thanks- Im about 90% done with a DIY encapsulation project in our Washington coast beach house. Using Ninja materials of course! I've got before and after pictures if you want to see them...Thanks for all the good work!
Can't wait to see it
Dan Koerner
There are many who say don’t put plastic on the ground if you have sand??
Love your videos, they are a real source of knowledge for homeowners that like to educate themselves on home health. I do have a question for you, does it matter where you point the intake and exhaust sides of the dehumidifier? Thanks!!!
+John Dove Great question. We like the dry air coming out of dehumidifier to point towards the back of crawl space.
BLESS YOU MAN, I LIKE YOUR TALK BRO,
Thank you for another informative video.
S & J Property Services Thank you so much !
Very informative! Thank You, i've booked marked your supply store!
Love all your videos and need your help. I have too much moisture in my 1400 sqft crawlspace due to the HVAC. I am sealing the vents and installing a Aprilaire 1820 in my crawlspace. Encapsulating may come later. Where should I put the dehimidifier? The HVAC air handler is in the middle of the space and is so big it blocks air flow past it. I have two vent fans. Should I turn both off and seal them, or just one? Should I add a fan in the space to help move air or not?
Nice job. Do you have a specific tape you prefer to use for the seams in the plastic?
Great video! 👌😉
Thanks for watching!
Good information.
I got my encapsulation done by master dry in 2015. Im bummed I didn’t know about you guys before I had it done. Looks like you guys do a way better job.
Of course he posts his best work. Grain of salt.
Great job
Thank you so much
Great Job! Please come to Canada!
Hopefully in the near future!!
Thanks for the helpful info! how do you attach the foam board to the walls and the vapor barrier to the foam board?
Peter Gilman Thank you so much ! You can use tap con screws at box store. Christmas tree fasteners work for plastic to board and foundation walls. Have you seen this video? ua-cam.com/video/GIKRIzF_eO0/v-deo.html
I've watched a couple of your videos, really appreciate the straight forward information no BS. I have a large 25×25×2ft high and another small 6x12x2 both exiting into a conditioned 5 1/2 ft tall 12x35 basement area. My question is if I encapsulate both and create airflow going in an out of each into the basement area. Can I just dehumidify the central basement area with a normal dehumidifier in turn reducing humidity levels in the crawlspace areas? I can't wrap my head or wallet around a 1500 dehumidifier! Thanks
Yes, you can use one dehumidifier as long as there is good air flow, but make sure your dehumidifier is sized properly for the space, otherwise it may run nonstop trying to keep the three areas at the humidity level you have set. Keep in mind that if you're creating air flow between the three areas, you will end up pushing the conditioned air from the basement as well, and end up paying to condition two spaces you won't be spending much time in. The Aprilaire dehumidifiers we sell will run more efficiently and less often than your typical box store dehumidifier.
Great video! I'm in a scary situation in Kentucky. I'm wondering what a job like this would cost? It appears your quality is top shelf, which should bring up the price which I understand. Anyways, even an average cost by professionals and even diy cost would be great info, thank you! Awesome video!
Hello! I'm sorry to hear you're in a tough situation. We did a video awhile back on average costs that you can see here: ua-cam.com/video/wYodoah2q_k/v-deo.html. We also have a DIY Store where you can purchase bundles of encapsulation products based on your square footage needs. We have a DIY Specialist available to answer questions about products that you can contact through the website: diy.crawlspaceninja.com/.
Come to NW FL! I could use you sir!
Thank you for sharing this great information. After watching several of your videos I’ve realized I need a professional crawl space contractor. Can you recommend someone in the Memphis area?
Glad we can help in some way! unfortunately we do not know anyone in the Memphis area that we could recommend
Nice job.
Thanks for the love
Great coverage of issues. What does a homeowner do if your crawl space "floor" is in flood zone AE where open vents are required per FEMA? The building floor itself is well elevated above the required base elevation, but the crawl space is enclosed, thus requiring the open vents.
Hi Richard, we don't have much experience working in flood zones, but you could try looking at the flood vents offered by Crawl Space Doors www.crawlspacedoors.com/store/flood-vents/state-certified-flood-vent/
Insulation would be good to keep house cool and warm.
Has anyone ever installed crawl space ventilation fans without a dehumidifier in a wet humid crawl space and the fans dry out the crawl space? If so, please share your experience and conditions and your climate. Thanks.😀
The only time I have seen this work is if the fan is used to draw conditioned air down out of the living envelope and through the crawlspace. If using fans to just draw air from outside you just end up with the fans running constantly and it pretty much raining in the crawlspace from spring throughout the summer due to the high outdoor relative humidity in the Ohio Valley.
I have a crawl space over dirt that is only about 14” above the dirt. I am ordering a crawl space dehumidifier. This is in Pennsylvania. I hope this helps I am getting mold
@@benjaminwood6632 what would you recommend for ohio? I fixed the source of my moisture. Horrible down spouts. New house 3 years old. Shotty builder
Thank god! for fast forward!!!!
Grateful for your video!!
I am a renter in Pennsylvania with two sections of damp crawl spaces with mostly sandstone foundation.
Plus, half basement is open with mostly dirt floor.
No insulation in the rafters.
They gave me a dehumidifier
and feel that is good.
Any Recommendations that I can do on my own??
Totally addressing with property management...with video and pictures. There are issues with clogged gutters and Water going toward foundation...
One Glorious Day at a Time ✝️
Hey Teresa, We have a crawl space encapsulation DIY playlist with multiple videos for our DIY customers. You can find it here,
ua-cam.com/play/PLxsYiAum9ovwiPzybIsq74y38wuazIwAQ.html
Thanks for watching and have a blessed day
Hi Michael, we're just closing on a house on April 2nd. and I knew nothing about crawl space until the house inspector said we should look into having it sealed. I came across your videos when doing some research and, oh boy, you blew my mind. It seems so overwhelming. We're doing some renovation, flooring, and painting. My question to you is: Should we do the crawl space first or last? Thank you in advance.
Hi! We're so glad our channel has been helpful to you. If you're dealing with high humidity and mold in the crawl space it would be better to address your crawl space first so that all the improvements inside the home you make are not wasted. Humidity in the crawl space can cause new flooring to warp and mold can cause structural damage over time.
Great Video. I am having a house built, and they contractor is doing a sealed crawlspace with dehumidifier. Anything I should specifically ask for regarding this? What about access to the space. Is it possible to enter from in the house; such as a trap door? pros vs cons.
superpac1966 Thank you so much ! Yes many homes here enter from house, although I'd prefer outside. Just make sure they air seal the door good and follow your local building code.
2100 sq. foot crawlspace encapsulated in Southern Illinois where we get the extreme of all 4 seasons (sometimes all in one day!) If I have a crawl space ventilation fan pulling 240 CFM (thus creating a negative pressure in the crawlspace) am I better served with the dehumidifier in the house since that is largely where the crawl space make up air would come from or in the crawlspace itself or both? I feel my humidity levels are typically a bit high in the house as well so my logic is to make that comfortable then pull that dehumidified air into the crawl.
From 2004-2007, I worked in Charlotte for a regional pest control company (5 states, yellow trucks) . We had just begun to add 3 mil plastic to the ground but the state geniuses said to leave it two feet from the walls. I would see crawlspaces that really didn't have much trouble EXCEPT where the fan was pulling air in from an unencapsulated crawl space and from one end to the other was MOLD !!!
Wow! Yes, we recommend dehumidifiers over fans all day long. Thanks for sharing!
OMG ! I feel sick ! Lol ! You guys are unbelievable and I can’t imagine doing that job ! That came out beautiful ! Can you travel to Upstate New York ? It looks brand spanking new down in that crawl space ! They want $4,500 to spray foam my crawl space and after seeing your videos I learned plenty of info to scratch the spray foam ! Your quality job is the right way to go ! Can you say what that would cost for that job ? Was it like $20,000 bucks ? Just curious ! I’m glad I found you on You Tube ! It’s gonna be hard to do mine because once you see the Best Way A Job Should Be Done Then anything less ain’t worth it to me ! Thanks guys !!!
Clyde - thank you so much for watching and the kind words. Every encapsulation project will cost different due to the level of work being performed and the options that are being installed. On average, crawl space encapsulation projects come in around $7,500, but you can see some projects quoted as high as $40,000. It all depends on the contractor and quality of materials being used. We're not in upstate New York yet, but Crawl Space Ninja is always expanding - so, who knows? We hope this answers your question. Have a happy and blessed day!
Good stuff 🤠👍
Thank you.
I really love your videos and how well everything gets explained. I'm very tempted to tackle my crawlspace myself, except I know for a fact that will never ever fully complete it. By any chance, will the company ever expand up into the eastern portion of North Dakota? :D
Hello! we are glad our videos have helped you out a bit!! in regards to being in North Dakota, at this time we are not planning on it. But if you know someone might want to open a franchise? franchise.crawlspaceninja.com
@@CrawlSpaceNinja How about in Richmond ,Va.?
@@aparks8244 We do not have anyone in Richmond at this time, but we are opening new franchises quickly so our service area changes all the time. Keep an eye out!
@@CrawlSpaceNinja by any chance around Toledo Ohio area?
@@lenahali5444 same answer. Look out for new stores
Crawl Space Ninja is a blessing
Thank you!
How long did this project take you?
Wow. So cool. God bless your business!
Amen, thank you!
Do you come to the Greenville SC Area??
Hi Mike....I've been enjoying your examples of crawlspace humidity control. Thanks for posting them.
I have an interesting applicatio
I have an interesting application...I had a house built in which I was trying to control crawlspace humidity by pouring a slab floor in the crawlspace...and then coating the floor with some concrete sealer. The block walls of the crawlspace and bond have been sprayed with 2" of foam. It is not a conditioned space (yet) and I still observe humidity levels near 60% in the summer (a good 20% higher than in the conditioned space in the house). From this, I see some minor buckling of my hardwood floor.
I live in a high water table area, so a humidity source is always present around and under the house. Due to my proximity to a river, I am required to maintain flood vents (that can open during times of flooding) instead of a normal vent. With my electronic humidity meter, I find that my opening in the block wall for the flood vents, and the flood vents themselves, are a large source of humidity entering the crawlspace, hence I'd like to 1. seal the block wall cavities that are open...and 2. create a removable seal/insulator for the flood vents.
I'm thinking I can spray foam the block wall cavities to close them off....but I was thinking of using some 4" thick closed cell foam to create a removable insert to seal the flood vent.
I plan to have my HVAC guy extend furnace ducting into the crawlspace with a cold air return to make this space "conditioned".
I would appreciate your comments...especially your thoughts on a removable feature to seal the flood vents.
Thank you !
Hello Sir,
I am a home inspector in Ga. Why isn't the vapor barrier not taped to the block? You said the block is insulated but it doesn't look sealed at the top?
You mentioned that having vent fans wouldn’t make much of a difference because it is pulling humid air into the crawl space and then back out. That makes a lot of sense. If I do not have the budget to install new barrier/sump pump/dehumidifier system, is there a way to make the vent fans more effective? Possibly having the vent fans ALL moving the air out of the space rather than through? Our house is pretty humid in the summer, and although the crawl space doesn’t look too bad, I know that allowing it to continue in this humidity until I am able to fix it properly could cause even bigger problems. Any temporary quick fixes you can recommend?
In this particular crawl space, the BEFORE pictures showed the vent fans that flow THROUGH the crawl space. We recommend the Lomanco vent fans that give negative pressure, pulling the air out only. There are not any fast fix it recommendations. The standing water will not be able to escape without trenches and a sump pump. The moisture and condensation will occur unless you have a dehu and vent fan.
Very nice job!! I live in western NC so not in your service area but I am considering closing off my crawl space which is currently vented. It is 1,920 SF and it is all one large space, not divided like this house. My furnace is located in the crawl space also which is electric w/ a propane backup once the temp drops below 35 degrees outside. Average crawl space height is between 32" to 40" from ground to floor joists. Can you give me any idea how much it might cost to close off my crawl space? Just something in the ball park?
Visit diy.crawlspaceninja.com or Call our office at 865-659-0390 and speak with Mary Beth, she can help you with the pricing of the products you will need
Would you apply a water sealer to the block walls before covering them with the vapor barrier?
+Davy Crockett Great question and no we don't use any paint on sealers. Seen too many fail and grow mold.
Do you have a video on how you installed the trench pipe and sump pump ??
ua-cam.com/video/4ic1sf_91g8/v-deo.html here is a video to show the install of the sump pump, which includes the trench piping
Do you Service South Carolina?
I just listened to the last 5 minutes with all that stuff you put in and I’m thinking today it’s probably closer to $40,000 bucks ! 🤪 lol
Hello Mr. Ninja :)
My crawl space use to flood for many years. I resolved the problem by adding gutters and an outside drainage system. I'm in waycross GA about 1 hour away from FL. I removed the old vapor barrier with plans of replacing it. I'm now getting an old wood/musty smell when the AC is off. The crawl space is well vented but no fan at vent window. I have sprayed under the subfloor with RMR86 cleaner and RMR 141 mold killer. With all that info. Can you suggest my next best step to alleviate the musty smells that comes in the house.
Thanks a bunch!
Unity, the next step you probably should think about is getting your crawl space completely encapsulated. The musty smells and mold issues should disappear once the crawl space is fully encapsulated. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks for watching. Have a happy and blessed day.
Hi from Canada. I've been struggling with the butyl tape as it doesn't seem to adhere properly even after cleaning the foundation with a wire brush. I know you frown upon adhesives, but are there any alternatives or suggestions rather than the butyl tape? Also, with the weather in Canada I'm finding the idea of ventilation a tough one. My HVAC guy didn't recommend it for obvious reasons. I also am unable to access from outside and the crawlspace is just over a foot deep. Will I be okay with just a dehumidifier? Thanks great videos!
you can use christmastree fasteners diy.crawlspaceninja.com/product/christmas-tree-fasteners/
Are you going to put back some insulation back?
Is this a dirt floor Crawl space? great video . Do you think its really necessary to have vents on an area of about 1200 SF of space. COuld You drain a dehumidifier into exterior drain tile such as ezdrain tiles?
we recommend draining to a sump pump to avoid any back up of water. we normally seal vents because we insulate walls, you might want to local at local code to insure vents are needed.
I have a 15x30 crawl space with 2 vents to outside no insulation in floor. I have good plastic coverage on ground. Should I close vents and insulate the block walls?
Leave the at least 2 vents open, with vent fans to circulate the air and pul;l the bad air from the crawl space, and insulation is always a plus.
Do you guys use check valves on the sump pumps ? Might be a good idea use to work for a Pump company.
Yes, we install all of our sump pumps with check valves.
Great video; would you please give a ball park estimate for a typical job cost?
Thank you Jef! an estimate would be hard to give without being able to asses your crawl space
I am about to start my incapsulating journey. My crawl is almost exactly like this. I have four compartments.
I am going to start the perimeter drain this weekend. Did you have four separate discharge lines for the sumps? I was thinking running them together with check valves.
I have two compartments that only the short outside walls need a drain. What do you think of an I pattern To save digging?
Thanks for the information you provide us. You help a lot of people I’m sure.
Wish you all were here in North Carolina .
Hi Elizabeth! What part of North Carolina are you in? We have locations that serve the majority of the state. You can check out our service area here: crawlspaceninja.com/service-area/
Great video of encapsulation but title of video was humidifier vs fan. Video was not much of comparison of humidifier vs fan. I had hoped to see comparison post encapsulation.
What is your recommendation for Oregon. We have low humidity summers, high humidity winters. We typically don't condition our crawl spaces. What I've seen done (and would like your advice): closing crawlspace in winter and if you have heated ducts they will condition crawlspace during high humidity/wet months. Does that sound logical?
+spleujo great question. I have taken water damage training and in crawls they taught us to heat up crawl space after flooding. But there had to be a way to capture the humid air (dehumidifier). If there is a place for that moist air to go after you heat up the materials it should work good but unfortunately I am not familiar with your climate. Sorry, I hope that helps.
Spleujo, are you talking about "humidity" or "relative humidity"?
I can't even imagine what that jobs cost!!! If there was standing water down there, why did you not dig around the outside of the walls? It had to have been a bear digging down there. My son has a similar situation in Georgia, but his crawl is deep enough that he can stand up in it and it has a full size door. Did you block off all of the vents? Thanks.
Hey! I just discovered your page when doing research on different types of crawl space installation. I am a contractor in the Jacksonville, Florida area. One of my clients lives right on the river and during hurricane Irma the flood waters rose and entered into his crawlspace. It actually caused a short in the wiring and there was a small fire. I have been looking into options to present to them but I am curious if the encapsulation is the best method for them. When I crawled back to asses the fire damage - I noticed some mold spots and installation "pulling" down in some spots. Thank you for your help!
Hello. If they are wanting to control humidity and standing water I prefer encapsulation.
Funny enough I'm in Jacksonville. Did you encapsulate the crawl space and what was the outcome?
I am in Jacksonville too looking at homes in riverside. They all seem to have moisture problems in the crawl spaces but not necessarily standing water. Did you encapsulate and did it work?
Do you guys operate as far away as Huntsville, AL? If so is there a premium? I've contacted a few local places but not sure of their quality though I've heard good things about AFS.
I am so sorry I just seen this comment. But.......Yes we sure do! Please call 865-659-0390, we are more than happy to schedule your free estimate!
When are you coming to North Carolina Gastonia area.
We are exploring expansion areas!
At about the 4:50 mark, you are discussing the moisture that is permeating the foundation. I have almost the exact same situation. No standing water that I can see but blocks are very wet. What is the best way to mitigate this? French drain outside or inside and what would be the different decision points in that? Or would a Dehu take care of this?
A dehu will take care of moisture and condensation for sure!
Hi, do you have any recommendations for SOUTH FLORIDA location ? Like a company that works in this area. Thank you
Hey Katrina, unfortunately as of 3/30/23 we do not know of anyone in your area. However, we have made several videos to help you learn how to choose a good contractor if we're too far away. Here are some links if you're interested in checking them out. We also have our online DIY Store available if you decide you'd like to tackle the project yourself.
How To Choose The Best Crawl Space Contractor ua-cam.com/video/pBSOBByvgtY/v-deo.html
PART 1 | Questions to Ask Your Crawl Space Contractor Before Hiring Them ua-cam.com/video/9NAYRL3FgoQ/v-deo.html
DIY Store diy.crawlspaceninja.com/
Hello
How can we install a fan or make a window in crawl space
I feel humidty smell inside the house
Guess I missed it but when you encapsulate a crawl space do you also close ALL the old vents or do you leave one or two open for some kind of ventilation . Id think to close it up tight . Looks like you guys do a great job . Im thinking bout using foam board on the ground under my vapor barrier along with the R- 10 foam board along the outside walls . WOuld that be overkill to do that
Love the idea of the de humidifier & sump pump
We install a ventilation fan blowing out in 1 vent and seal the rest. For the foam board, make sure that it is rated for ground contact!
Thanks much . I'm planning on doing this to my home before I sell it . Cant be leaving the stalactites hanging down cause I know how bad I hate being under there with them . You are the first company I've seen on youtube that seems to know what you're doing . Thanks for your help !!!
What determines whether you trench inside or outside the wall for water drainage issues? Do you drill weep holes in the concrete block to drain the block to the french drain? I saw that on a hydro armour video.
Great question. Usually cost is the determination. Easier and less expensive most of the time to do it from the inside. Weep holes are useful when you have a lot of water filling the block and it is coming in faster than it can drain out.
Crawl Space Ninja what if we did trenching all around the outside of the home to help? Would weep holes still be necessary?
@@37south14 It would be up to you. We choose to not do weep holes in order to make sure water does not come into the crawl space too quickly for the drainage system to handle and cause the plastic to float. If your exterior drainage is taking care of the majority of the water it is likely you won't need weep holes.
What would an installation like this normally run without the dehumidifier unit? I live in SC and before purchasing a house here there was work done in the crawlspace for moisture such as a french drains along the exterior walls inside the crawlspace that drain to a "home Depot" bucket where they put a float driven pump. And then out. Looking at this video the quality of work is much higher than what was done in my crawlspace three months ago.l, and I do not believe that they fixed the problem. Looking for a frame of reference outside the area I live for comparison. Thank you.
We can't really give a price, there are so many factors that play in the price area. And we do not know of anyone to recommend
What about Blairsville GA? Do you service that area?
We are expanding slowly and carefully
Question: what about Radon how do you control that? put an exhaust fan blowing to outside, wouldn't that mess with air pressure? I have 1400 square feet basement.
Good question, it would not affect the pressure. We use the lomanco fans to regulate any soil gases.
Is there a system that monitors humidity outside as well as inside, then vents with outside air when humidity is low outside and alternately seals the vents and dehumidifies the crawlspace with a dehumidifier as needed?
Do you always add a sump pump as a precaution or only if there is water actually getting in?
You only need a sump pump if there is standing water. Thank you for asking and for your interest. Happy Friday!
Great video! Question. I noticed the insulation on the walls stopped short of going all the way up still showing several inches of the block at the top. why is the insulation not run all the way to the top of the block foundation? I only ask Because I’m going to attempt to do my own. I only have a slight humidity issue in the summer. I’m hoping this will decrease that issue?I don’t think you come to Illinois? 🤔
We dont come to illinois sadly!
we stop 3 inches below to allow for termite inspection, that will depend on your local building code what you can do. Insulating walls will help but to truly decrease humidity you would need a dehumidifier. Hope this helps!
Crawl Space Ninja Thank you sir!
Could you do a step by step on how to do it yourself for the people with a budget??
Thanks for watching our video, we have multiple videos that show the steps we take when it comes to encapsulation and our dehumidifier installations. I would suggest looking at our play list section so you can get a full view of all our videos.
What kind of material can you use to help soak up water such as sand or crushed run product ?
Not sure on that one. We are redirecting the water out vs soaking it up. If you find something that works, please let us know. Thanks for watching.
Do u work in the area of Humphreys county it’s about a hour west of Nashville tn
Hey Terry, our Nashville location might be able to still help. You can call them at (615) 580-7744 and they will be able to let you know if they're able to help. crawlspaceninja.com/tennessee/nashville-tn/
Hello and what an excellent & helpful video!
I am looking to dehumdify and ventilate our 1930’s 600 sq ft lake cottage that was updated to 1600 sq ft. 3.5 years ago.
I live in albion, indiana so we will have to correspond thru email. I have some questions for you as to how to go about this.
I appreciate your kind & helpful spirit and the clear & concise communication in your videos!
please let me know how i can contact you for more details.
Abundant blessings from albion, in,
Hey! Contact us at DIY@crawlspaceninja.com
What would be the reason you would have a pump for the dehumidifier instead of just running the drain line outside? Thanks!
Not all crawl spaces are set up well for a gravity drain. The condensate pump ensures the water is effectively discharged from the crawl space in those situations.
How did you seal the crawl space encapsulation to the sump pump? Normally the sump pump seal tape is applied to the basin. Do you still do that then lay in the encapsulation over the edge and screw it down? Do you need another seal tape for the lid to the encapsulation?
As long as it goes into the basin it's okay. We do not tape the lid.
Is the vapor barrier held in place in the dirt with pins or something to keep movement down? Thx
It is mechanically attached to the walls and all seams are overlapped and taped. We do our best to not puncture the vapor barrier at all so it is a solid barrier.
Thoughts on adding --> Liberty Pumps SJ10 SumpJet Water Powered Back-Up Pump instead of battery back up for power outages ?
I have not used that product but is has good reviews on Amazon - amzn.to/3RF4VYF
What is the "termite gap"? A space between the ground and the insulation bottom so you can still spray for them and occasionally trench treat? If so, do you have to peel back\down the vapor barrier on the walls? Thanks!
Hi Break Niche, here is a video we did a while back explaining in greater detail what a termite gap is. Hope it is helpful! ua-cam.com/video/drO5FoRUHrk/v-deo.html
Can the Lomanco fan be throttled with a generic fan speed controller? The code here in CA only requires 1 cfm for each 50 sq ft of encapsulated crawl space. I am encapsulating a 400 sq ft space, so need less than 10 cfm. If not, any recommendations? Thnx!
we normally just leave the lomanco on
Would you come up to Sneedville, TN?
Hi John, I believe you're a little out of our service area. You can still fill out a form to request service and they may be able to come out: crawlspaceninja.com/free-assessment/
Im wanting to encapsulate my crawl space. There is a crappy black barrier on the raw dirt already so im wanting to install over that. My question is how do I go around pipes on the walls?
+Stinky Potatoes Great question. Here is a video we just release showing our Ninjas during a crawl space encapsulation. It is not a "How To" video exactly but you can see them working around pipes. ua-cam.com/video/Rdf8PpRVhmo/v-deo.html I hope that helps.
Can't afford to do a a French drain at this time. what can I do in meantime to keep things ok for now I have 3 vents along one wall n just one opening on right of vents. Should I but a vent or dehumidifier should I close any vents. Hoping I can do french drain in a year or so
We usually recommend a dehumidifier, it is the quicquest way to get an area dry. Just keep in mind that leaving open vents will have an impact on the humidity.
My crawlspace is dry 9 months of the year in Anchorage, AK. During July, August and September it is about 70% humidity. There is a fan mounted to the rim joist which pulls air from the house, not the outside, and exhausts the air outside during those months, but the humidity does not decrease very much. The rim joist is not ventilated and no outside air flows into the crawlspace except from the house. Any suggestions?
Is your crawl space encapsulated? We would recommend a dehumidifier to continuously control the humidity year round and an encapsulation would help make sure the dehumidifier is not overworked. It is possible that your living space air is humid and shouldn't be going into the crawl either, but you won't know for sure without a humidity monitor.
I've got a long road to fixing my crawlspace after a really bad flood due to a riverbank giving way. My crawlspace (1200 s/f) has one small vent. It had crappy 1 inch foam board on the wall and a cheap poli on the floor. Nothing sealed. I will encapsulate it properly and close up the vent. My question is.....Can the dehumidifier be in one end of the crawlspace and not centered in the middle?
Hey Scott, Michael goes over this around the 1:50 mark in this video: ua-cam.com/video/dwlTs-hT2QQ/v-deo.html You can also use ducting as mentioned in this video to help get the air to harder to reach areas in your crawl space: ua-cam.com/video/l028j1qX2gY/v-deo.html Hope this helps!
Thanks so much, but I have a question or need some advice. I'm near Richmond, Va where it's hot and humid in summer. I have a crawlspace that is about 3.5 feet tall, is already 85% encapsulated with a nice 12mil barrier. I'm getting a new HVAC air handler and the humidity is about 80-90% in summer in the crawl. The space is about 1800-1900 square feet. Is an Aprilaire 1850 model too much or are there great advantages over say an 1830 unit? Also, can I dehumidify the crawl and also tie it into the HVAC or is it okay to keep it separate if the crawl is my main goal? Lastly, should the entire crawl vents be closed all year?
The 1830 unit should be sufficient for your size crawl space. It will take several weeks for the crawl space to completely dry out. We recommend having the dehumidifier just for the crawl space but it does come with ducting collars if you choose to duct it to your HVAC. Yes, we recommend sealing vents and installing a vent fan but check with the local code enforcement office in your area as the requirements may be more or less strict concerning radon.
Thank you, brother. I appreciate your response. All great advice and things for me to consider. I had what was essentially a computer fan pulling the air (or so I thought) out one vent while all others are closed. It hasn't done anything and may have made it worse. Going to get an Aprilaire 1830 soon to see what difference it can make. I'm hoping a big deal. God Bless You, Michael!
I figured I'd return to the expert (you) on this one. Can the model 1830 and 1850 (not 1850F) be used as a standalone dehumidifier or do the regular 1830 and 1850 require ducting? I am getting mixed messages online and it's hard to tell from photos and some descriptions I read. I don't want to buy the 1850F because it may be oversized and also doesn't look like it can be converted easily later if I want to go ahead and make the Aprilaire system inline with my HVAC. Thanks again for your guidance.
They can be stand-alone units. That is how we typically install the dehumidifiers. Check out some of our testimonials and before and after videos to learn more.
Crawl Space Ninja - Thank you again. I'll check them out. Glad to hear I can do it as a standalone unit.