Consider Closing Your Crawl Space

 Wall-vented Crawlspaces are a common feature of North American homes. An estimated 250,000 homes are constructed with crawlspaces every year, while approximately 26 million homes with crawlspaces exist today- chances are good that your home features one of these crawlspaces. Crawlspaces can be used to provide a level foundation for homes built on slopes, and have the added benefit of acting as space to store air conditioning equipment, plumbing and ductwork. Unfortunately, due to their construction, these crawlspaces also become home to moisture problems, mould and mildew. Have you considered closing your crawlspace? Even if you don’t particularly relish the idea of paying a visit, having a green home energy expert take a look can result in great savings and peace of mind.

A recent study co-funded by the U.S. Department of Energy looked at the energy and moisture performance of the crawlspaces of twelve homes in North Carolina- comparing both wall-vented and closed crawlspaces. Of the twelve homes, four homes had the conventional wall-vented crawlspace, while the other six homes were divided into two test groups- each group of three homes had their crawlspaces treated with either floor- or wall-insulating foam.

The results surpassed the expectations of the researchers- in terms of both energy efficiency and moisture content, the closed crawlspaces consistently performed better than their wall-vented counterparts. Over the course of a year, the homes with floor-insulated closed crawlspaces used 15% less energy for heating and cooling the spaces of their home, with the wall-insulated closed crawlspaces saw 18% energy savings. This reduced energy use translates into real savings of approximately $80-$100 per year. The same difference in performance was also witnessed for moisture levels, where the closed crawlspaces had lower dew points and relative humidity levels than their wall-vented counterparts. With humidity levels controlled, the risk of moisture damage and mould is greatly reduced. 

So what does this mean for homeowners? With improved energy efficiency, reduced water damage and health risks, as well as overall increased home performance, it means that if you haven’t considered closing your crawlspace yet, you should!