Inspecting a Crawl Space: Why It’s Necessary
When it comes to maintaining your home, inspecting it for damage or potential problems is an important responsibility. Homeowners should keep an eye on all spaces but one that’s commonly missed is the crawl space.
Why should you inspect the space? Here a few reasons to consider.
Maintaining a Safe Foundation
As a homeowner, the condition of your foundations may not be of immediate concern but are critical to the integrity of your property. By having a qualified professional inspect a crawl space, you will detect and prevent potential problems that may be affecting your home’s structural foundation. A professional can help you identify displacements and cracks, also areas in in your home’s foundation that are at risk of deteriorating in the long-term. For a newer home, a foundation may take time to settle, thus an inspection by a professional is recommended to ensure that the foundations were properly installed.
Water and Mold Damage
Humidity and moisture commonly finds its way into most crawl spaces, creating an ideal habitat for unwanted mold and fungi. Mold can easily spread through your HVAC system and contaminate the air that you breathe. Water and moisture can also damage your home’s foundations and general supporting framework. By inspecting your space, you will mitigate any problems associated with moisture and humidity.
Monitoring for Pests
When it comes to bugs, it’s no surprise that they can significantly damage your home. Crawl spaces are usually at the bottom of the house making it easier for pests to find their way inside. If the wood under your home is damp, wet, or rotting, it is a major attractant to various species of termites and other wood-eating insects. Termites and other wood-boring insects can damage the essential supports in the house.
HVAC Problems
If you are having problems with any of these home systems, the cause may be found in the crawl space under your home. The humidity and dampness of your crawl space will contribute to the deterioration and underperformance heating and cooling systems. As mentioned above, pests may invade your HVAC system and contaminate the air that you breathe.
Address Amateur Repairs
If you’re buying a home or recently purchased one, you should always have it inspected by a qualified professional. Although there are many potential problems that may exist within a crawl space, previous repairs that were done poorly most often go overlooked. Be sure to reach to a qualified and experienced professional.
When Should I Schedule an Inspection?
It’s always a good idea to have a crawl space inspected before purchase a home, this is a task that nearly always goes overlooked. Inspecting a home’s crawl space before purchasing will give a better idea of its true valuation. If you are currently a homeowner, and have never had your crawl space inspected, the time to do it is NOW. If the space has a sump pump, you may need more frequent checks. These are just a few of the many reasons why scheduling an inspection should be a priority. With good care, you’ll be able to address any areas of concern before they become a major problem to your home’s structural integrity.
Crawl Space work is definitely not a do-it-yourself project, so it makes good sense to get a licensed contractors to give you a detailed proposal along with an assessment of your issues. If your crawl space needs inspection, call us today at 1-800-980-3570 and get a free estimate on our services. We service Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside County, Ventura County, and all surrounding Southern California areas.
