Water in Crawl Space in Farmington, AR

Challenge

Homeowner Luanne D from Farmington, AR called Crawl Space Solutions of Arkansas due to having standing water in her crawl space. Luanne noticed that after a rainy day she would have 1-2" of water in her crawl space. She was unaware of how the water was getting in and didn't know how to get the water out or the damages that can occur from having this much water in her crawl space. 

Solution

3 things to know about water in your crawl space 

Let’s start with the walls. Think of concrete like a sponge. Many concrete structures, both new and old, are porous, especially basement and crawl space walls and foundation supports. Concrete can also become “soft” as it ages, allowing water to seep into crawl spaces. The water passing through concrete will cause expansion and contraction of the block walls, and eventually lead to cracks. 

Additionally, your foundation supports can be found in your crawl space and if these sit in waterlogged soil for too long, they will warp, twist, turn, and even worse, eventually lose their structural integrity.

Next, think bugs. Nothing attracts pests more than small, dark spaces, but water is their best friend. Standing water will attract pests and small animals and sometimes, even microscopic plant life. Termites are likely to welcome themselves into your home through a damp crawl space, swiftly aiding in the structural damage of your home.

Mold and mildew. Prolonged periods of moisture in a crawl space will promote the growth of mold and dew. The difference between the two is in their intensities, but they are both equally as unsafe if gone unnoticed. Mildew is a surface fungus, while the mold is the sign of a larger infestation of fungi. This will not only damage the wood in your crawl space but also have adverse effects on a person’s health