Is Crawl Space Ventilation Better Than Encapsulation?

It’s easy to forget about your crawl space. This isn’t an area of your home that you visit regularly – if at all – so it falls into the “out of sight, out of mind” category. However, the condition of your crawl space is going to play a notable role in the condition of your home as a whole, so it’s wise to remember to care for it over the years.

A wet crawl space can lead to mold growth and other dangerous issues. As experts in mold prevention, we always encourage homeowners to consider finding a solution to keep water out and avoid problems down the line. So, which is better for moisture prevention – ventilation or encapsulation? Let’s take a look in the article below.

A Fundamental Difference

While each of these approaches aims to keep your crawl space dry and free from problems like mold growth, they go about it in opposite ways. On the one hand, crawl space ventilation ensures that the space under your home is able to breathe freely, allowing air to move in and out. This tactic can help to dry out a crawl space that has gotten damp for one reason or another, as the moisture can be carried away on the air that cycles out of the space.

Crawl space encapsulation, on the other hand, is designed to keep the space completely contained and all to itself. There won’t be any ventilation, by definition, because the space will be totally sealed off from the outside. This is an ideal solution for a crawl space, as there isn’t going to be any moisture to worry about letting dry out at different times of the year. The crawl space will be isolated, and it will stay in the same condition that it is in currently for many years into the future. 

Encapsulation Has to Be Done Right

We’ve established that encapsulation is better than ventilation for a crawl space – sealing this area off is the foolproof method that is going to give you the peace of mind that you need and deserve. Nothing will be growing in your crawl space, and you can get back to mostly ignoring this part of your home.

The big caveat here is that it is vital to have the encapsulation work done correctly the first time. Working with a proven, experienced contractor like AdvantaClean is the only way you can be sure that the results will be trustworthy. When a quality team is brought in to do the work, no holes or gaps will be left, and the crawl space will truly be encapsulated. Taking your chances on a lesser contractor simply isn’t worth the risk.

As Greensboro crawl space encapsulation contractors, AdvantaClean should be your first call when this kind of project is on your agenda. Proper encapsulation will not only keep your crawl space dry for years to come, but it will also help with things like odor removal as no mold will be growing below your home. Take a moment today to reach out to our team to learn more!