The last thing any property owner wants is a sudden high energy bill. If you’ve seen an increase in your energy costs but haven’t made any changes to your routine or purchased any new items to blame, it’s time to get concerned.
What Causes High Energy Bills
Crawl Space Humidity
If you have problems with moisture in your crawl space over and over again, your energy bills will go up. Because moisture makes it harder for a heater or air conditioner to heat or cool the air as well as they could. Instead, you may find that you have to run the air conditioner or heater at a higher temperature than normal. You should never ignore sudden dampness. It could be caused by something as simple as a crawl space vent that isn’t covered, or it could be a sign of something more serious, like foundation damage.
Open Crawl Space Vents
People constructed vented crawl spaces for a long time because they felt that doing so would air out the crawl space, so reducing the amount of moisture in the space and eliminating that musty smell. However, many have come to know over the course of time that it really makes the moisture problems in the crawl space worse. It allows air from the outside to enter, which can undo the hard work that your HVAC unit is doing and cause it to work overtime. If you ignore the issue and keep the vents in your crawl area open, it will cause the relative humidity in your home to rise significantly while also driving up the temperature.
Faltering Structure
You may have structural issues that make it difficult for the treated air in your home to stay inside. Your home should retain all your treated air inside, but if you have structural issues, such as holes between your windows and window frames, the outside air will rush in as quickly as it can. An increase in dampness and humidity throughout a house is one of the most typical adverse effects of foundation deterioration. Your energy bills will be affected in the long run because of this. If you’ve already checked with an electrician and they say everything is fine, you should consult a crawl space expert.
FAQs
Insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve energy efficiency in your property by preserving and maintaining the heat or cold generated by your HVAC system. Encapsulating your crawl space is a good approach to lower your energy bills because moisture adds directly to an increase in energy usage and costs (and prevent avoidable damage to your property). Professional crawl space encapsulation is a very adaptable method that may be adjusted to your property’s specific requirements and existing state.
Dampness and humidity can affect your home and life. Home damage and health issues are the most visible side effects. Dampness can boost energy expenditures, something most people don’t know. Humid air is harder to condition and regulate in a consistent manner than arid air. Remember that wetness and humidity can significantly increase your energy costs. Damaged appliances, such as leaking water heaters or a faulty sump pump can increase dampness and humidity in your home and drain energy. This would raise energy costs.
Professionals are better equipped to deal with the structural repairs and restorations that are often needed in crawl spaces that have problems caused by being exposed to the elements. By taking care of these problems, you will be able to waterproof your crawl space and stop any more damage that could have been avoided safely and fully. In the same way, professionals have access to the best materials and products, some of which might not be easy to find in a regular hardware store. This is because they have access to professional supplies and can, when necessary, buy straight from the manufacturer.
Explore Solutions
We have a number of options for making your home and crawl area more comfortable and preventing excessive moisture from entering. Installing a crawl space dehumidifier or adding thermal insulation can help your crawl space gather less moisture and prevent it from spreading throughout the house. The solutions can also help lower the costs of your energy bill.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier is a type of crawl space encapsulation material that specifically protects your crawl space and other areas of your property from water and moisture.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Thermal Insulation
Although thermal insulation doesn’t directly protect your crawl space from flooding, it can keep the walls, and subsequently your foundation, from cracking.
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Crawl Space Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is a system that can keep your crawl space dry. Since it’s designed to remove moisture that’s present in the air, your property is spared from encountering water damage all year round. However, you need to find the right dehumidifier that fits your crawl space and budget.
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Crawl Space Vent Covers
To prevent moisture buildup, you need to improve water-prone areas, like your crawl space, with several upgrades. One example would be equipping your crawl space with a vent cover.
Call Us for A Free Inspection
There is a lot of humidity where we do business at Mount Valley Foundation Services in Charleston, Columbia, and Savannah. Get in contact with us if you suspect that your home has a crawl space problem that is affecting your energy bills. Homeowners can take advantage of our no-obligation, free inspections, which ensure that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Angi’s Super Service Award and Home Advisor’s Elite Service Award provide you with confidence in our abilities. Your problem will be resolved the first time since we never leave a project half-finished.
