DANGERS OF TOO MUCH MOISTURE IN YOUR SOUTH CAROLINA HOME

Do you have a crawl space under your home? If so, it is likely that you've had issues. An unprotected crawl space can lead to many issues, not the least of which is a lack of comfort within your home. An unprotected crawl space often increases humidity levels inside a home. High humidity can make you feel hot and muggy in the summer and chilly in the winter. It can increase your energy costs because it takes more energy to raise and lower the temperature of a humid home. But your lack of comfort is only a warning sign of much more serious issues. Here are a few dangers that are associated with moisture and humidity problems.

Mites

When a home has a moisture problem, it is much more likely that dust mites will establish themselves in the home. Dust mites are the most common indoor source of allergens. The symptoms of dust mites range from mild to severe. In mild cases, they may cause noses to be runny, eyes to water, and occasional sneezing. In severe cases, chronic coughing, congestion, and respiratory issues can occur.

Mold

Exposure to mold can have a big impact on your health. The greatest threat is to those who have asthma problems or a compromised immune system, but anyone can become ill from mold exposure. Ongoing mold issues can lead to allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, asthma, and more. Please keep in mind that we are not physicians or medical researchers. We can't tell you how much of an impact mold will have on your health.

Wood Rot Fungus

When wood begins to rot, it can create many issues, but the rot of the wood on its own is a threat to your home. It can cause subfloor supports to become compromised. It can lead to splintering and splitting. This can have a cascading impact on the structure of your home. Unfortunately, wood rot is rarely a solitary issue. Rotting wood invites wood-destroying organisms.

Pests That Chew Wood

You are probably aware that subterranean termites are a serious threat in South Carolina. But they are far from the only pests that chew on wood. We have wood boring beetles, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, mice, rats, and more. Many pests will take advantage of a home that has rotting wood. Over time, the damage caused by wood-destroying organisms can cost you quite a bit to repair. It is best to be proactive about preventing this damage. If you don't, you could find yourself in a financial nightmare as you enter into your retirement years.

Other Pests

There are many pests that are attracted to moisture. Some will not present a threat to your home but are a big threat to the belongings inside your home. Silverfish are a great example of this. They get inside and chew on wallpaper, photos, garments, documents, and more. When you dry your crawl space, you reduce your chances of getting an infestation of moisture pests.

How To Address Crawl space Moisture 

At Aiken Pest Control, we provide crawl space encapsulations for South Carolina homeowners. 

Our service professionals can:

• Install a 12 Mil Reinforced fiberglass plastic to seal moisture out and create a space that can be conditioned.
• Treat the substructure wood members.
• Remove trash and debris in your crawl space.
• Address any mold or mildew present on the surface of wood members.
• Install a dehumidifier unit to keep the space moisture-free.
• Install other corrective measures.

When you have your crawl space encapsulated, not only do you increase the air quality in your home, reduce allergens, and prevent pest issues, you increase the value of your home. If you ever decide to sell your home, you'll be glad you made this investment.

If you have questions or you'd like to meet with one of our certified and experienced service professionals, contact Aiken Pest Control today. We'll come over and take a look at your issues and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about moisture control. Life has enough unexpected challenges. Don't let an uncontrolled moisture or pest problem be one of them.