Dirt Floors
Insects and critters of all kinds love damp environments and wet materials. Rot and decay occur in damp environments causing structural damage.
Outside Air
Most dirt crawl spaces are vented to get the moisture out. The problem is that the vents let warm humid air in during the summer. This adds moisture to the crawl space, and makes the house harder to air condition as all this moisture needs to be wrung out of the air. In the winter, the vents let in cold air, which causes very cold, uncomfortable floors upstairs and higher heating coast.
Mold & Structural Damage
Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range and moisture
Condensation
Because of the high humidity level in a dirt crawl space, cool surfaces such as the earth at 55 degrees, concrete and metal surfaces will sweat with water vapor condensing out of the air. This causes rot, smells, and is a water source for critters.
