How to Drain Water from Crawl Space

Nobody's idea of a good time is discovering water in the crawl space of their home. It is possible for it to ruin anything you have stored down there and cause serious issues with rot and mildew.

How is it that water is getting into my basement crawl space?

The majority of the time, water in the crawl space is caused by one of these three things: a leak in the plumbing, seepage of water from the soil into the surrounding area, typically after a storm or condensation. On cold surfaces, such as ducts, moisture forms condensation, which then drips down onto the floor of the crawl space.

Will the water in the crawl space dry up?

The simple response to the question at hand is "No." This means that if you do not change your behavior, the water that is currently present in your crawl space will not move to another location under any circumstances. Moisture can enter a crawl space through broken or leaking pipes, cracks in the walls of your foundation, or even just from the ground itself.

In crawl spaces, how exactly should flood vents be utilized?

The installation of flood vents in crawl spaces. It is constructed to allow water to freely pass through the area so that it does not become trapped and create pressure that could potentially damage your walls and foundation. These vents may be required or recommended by local, national, or international building codes, government agencies, or your homeowner's insurance company if your home is constructed on a flood plain.

How can you prevent water from getting into your crawl space?

There are different ways to remove water from your crawl space. Get your hands on a submersible pump, use a wet/dry vacuum to remove standing water, dehumidify the space, remove contaminated items, decontaminate sewage spills, and then hire a professional to put everything back together. Your home's floor plan and overall design will determine the best locations for flood vents as well as the size of vents that should be installed in those locations. The dimensions of a typical crawl space flood vent are 16 1/4 inches by 8 1/4 inches, which is the same size as a typical cinder block. In most cases, two vents of this size are all that is required to adequately ventilate an area of less than 250 square feet.

How to remove the water and dry out a flooded crawl space?

When all of the standing water has been removed, you can then start drying out the area in a more thorough manner. This requires drying out the wood framing, the subflooring above the crawl space, as well as the floor of the crawl space itself. Before you get started, you need to make sure that all of the mold and moldy materials have been removed, that there are no lingering puddles, and that there is no water still entering the crawl space. After this has been completed, you should clean the surfaces inside the crawl space to prevent the spread of mold, which can contaminate both the air in your home and your dehumidifier. Examine the wall outlets located in or close to the crawl space for any signs of tampered wiring or any other problems that could render their use hazardous. You need to fix these things before you bring in any electrical equipment to help with the drying. After that, bring a portable dehumidifier inside. A large room dehumidifier is sufficient for a small crawl space, but for a larger crawl space, you may need to rent a model that is designed for commercial use. After allowing the dehumidifier to run for a few hours while it is set at a percentage ranging from 30 to 45 percent, check the environment. Drying out a damp crawl space could take up to ten hours' worth of time in total. Warm air that is moving can more easily pick up moisture from its surroundings.