Upgrading your home’s crawlspace is worthwhile because it can help you prevent unwanted structural and air quality problems that are costly to fix. Upgrading your home’s crawlspace also makes sense in the long run because it can help you use it more efficiently.
1- Clean Your Crawlspace
Over time, debris can collect on your crawlspace’s floors and walls. Cleaning out this debris is worthwhile because it can keep unwanted odors, dust, and pests away from your home.
2- Install Plastic Vapor Barriers on Vents, Walls, and Floors
Plastic vapor barriers offer an affordable way to keep moisture and radon gas out of your home’s crawlspace. They also offer an easy way to create an enclosure that prevents mice, insects, and other pests from damaging your home.
Installing vapor barriers is easy because they are sold in large sheets that are easy to install using a few simple tools that are easily found at specialty stores that sell crawlspace improvement products. As a result, they offer an easy way to quickly upgrade a crawlspace’s functionality.
3- Insulate Your Crawlspace
Insulating a crawlspace is worthwhile because it can help you prevent heat loss that occurs in areas located above crawlspaces such as kitchens, living rooms, and den areas.
Most insulation for crawlspaces is sold in sheets that are easy to install on floors, ceilings, and walls. Higher quality products have an R-value of at least 10. It’s a good idea to use these products because they do a better job of preventing heat loss in the long run.
If you live in an area that’s prone to termite problems, you may also want to consider installing crawlspace insulation products that contain borate. Installing this insulation is worthwhile because it offers an affordable way to protect your home’s floor joists and subflooring against termite damage.
4- Install a Dehumidifier
If you live in a very hot or humid area, it’s a good idea to install a dehumidifier inside your crawlspace because it can help you prevent mold and musty odors from penetrating inside your home’s subflooring and floor joists.
Installing a dehumidifier in your crawlspace isn’t difficult because most high-quality models feature compact designs and optional ducts that are easy to fit inside most crawlspaces. Moreover, it’s a good idea to choose models that have powerful motors because they do a better job of removing moisture and condensation along floors and walls that are located nearest to your home’s flooring.
5- Add LED Lights to Illuminate Your Crawlspace
Most crawlspaces have narrow gaps and oddly shaped walls that are difficult to illuminate safely. An easy way to solve this problem is to install LED lights that are especially designed to fit along a crawlspace’s contours. These lights are a great long-term value because they provide a long-lasting light source that’s an energy-efficient light source and easy to adjust to suit your needs.
Installing these LED lights inside a crawlspace is easy because they are mounted on long chords that are easy to install along walls, ceilings, and floors. For additional safety, you might also want to consider installing the lights near the crawlspace’s entrance and any duct work that’s installed inside.
