The SCARY Crawl Space We build crawl spaces because they are
cheaper than basements. But controlling moisture can be a
challenge, depending on the climate zone. Take the test and earn
0.5 CE unit per article. Depending on where you live, critters
from snakes and rodents to spiders, bugs, and armadillos may
have taken up residence in your crawl space. Add a little
water—or even a lot when flooding occurs—and mold and rot create
indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and structural deterioration.
Oh, and did I mention that soil gases like radon or methane can
find their way into your house through the crawl space? Research
has shown that whenever it’s warmer inside your house than
outside, the buoyancy of the rising warm air in the house sucks
air into your home from the crawl space. In heating-dominated
climates, 40% or more of the air you breathe in your home
originated in your crawl space. Definitely scary—and it’s dark
down there. We build crawl spaces because they are cheaper to
build than basements, or because