Your crawlspace and basement is one of the most underutilized and often overlooked parts of your home or business. There are some realities that you should be aware of and take notice.

Lets face it, Crawl spaces and Basements are a couple of the least visited places on the earth. Why would we want to go down there? Well if you are a homeowner or even a renter it’s a good Idea to go down and check things out. By noticing and addressing some problems, the next time you open up your heating and cooling bill you could realize some real long term savings. Here are a few things to look for.

1: Crawlspaces– That deep dark scary place under your house can be a single source of money flowing out of your pocket without you even knowing. First off when you open that crawl space door, look to see if the entire crawl is nice and dry. Usually your crawl will have a vapor barrier of a thick poly plastic lying flat against the dirt surface. Look to see if the plastic is nice and dry in all areas. If it is not, then your crawl could need some assistance. Moisture on the top of plastic or small pools of water can mean that your foundation drain is not doing its job. Moisture in the crawlspace can promote mold and also long term foundation problems from the influx of hydrostatic pressure of moisture heating up and cooling down against the masonry. Secondly, look up against to see the framing members and whether the insulation is covering the underside of the first floor. The insulation should be nice and dry and hanging/floating in between the floor joists. Ideally there should be a pocket of air between the bottom of your flooring and the top of the insulation. This pocket of air is there to regulate the relative ground temperature and what you are paying in Heating and AC to regulate your home. Any missing insulation areas or insulation that is pressed up against your flooring from underneath is not giving you the most efficient barrier. This area is one of the most overlooked reasons for energy loss, and can mean big money every year. Lastly, a sealed crawl space may be the answer to really get your crawl space in shape. Sealing your crawl basically makes your entire crawl space an air conditioned space. In doing this you are ensuring that your first floor and all the floors in your house are most efficiently regulated for the long haul. The process of sealing your crawlspace can be done after the fact and can mean major savings in your heating and air conditioning over the long run. Sealing of the crawl space will involve an HVAC contractor as well to put a return air and a new duct line into the space. Contact www.Palomoinsulation.com to consult with you on your best option.

The exposed ground under your home gives off water vapor—as much as 19 gallons a day in the average crawl space area. It rises silently and permeates the structure of your home. It goes through wood, brick, insulation and even concrete slabs, making moisture control a serious concern for nearly all homeowners.
In addition to causing extensive structural damage, excessive moisture mildews carpets, furnishings, and clothes, increases heat loss and creates sour odors in the crawl space itself

2. Basements– Basements in the south are not common, however more and more builders are putting them in homes for the added living space. There are a couple of areas that are important to check out for added and sustainable energy efficiency. First, water is your homes worst energy. Check to see if there is any moisture along the bottom edges of your basement walls. If you live in an older home and your basement area walls are made out of masonry block or brick, check to see if the walls are sweating and or have dark spots where moisture from the outside is seeping through. The wall face should be clean and dry. If it isn’t, don’t fear, some simple waterproofing may need to be done on the outside of your basement wall to ensure that water and moisture is properly draining away from your home. Just like crawlspaces water over time can breakdown your footing and foundation and form cracking over time. A clean, moisture free basement will ensure your home is safe and sound into the future.
So just keep in mind that your crawlspaces and basements don’t have to be scary any more. We hope you are now more knowledgeable when it comes to what the ideal spaces should look and feel like. Taking a quick notice of these areas are important towards getting the most energy efficiency from your home. You don’t have to do it alone. Palomo insulation is here for you. Give us a call and we will be happy to give you a free consultation in identifying the problem areas and if there is anything our resources can help you save some real money moving forward.

If you’d like to know how much money you can save by adding more insulation to your home, give us a call at Palomo Insulation. We’ll come to your home for a free home energy evaluation to see just where your home is leaking energy. Call us at (919) 369-3770 or (919) 333-7093.

Carmelo Palomo
Palomo Insulation