Troubleshooting Your Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

If you have a crawl space vapor barrier in your home, then you will need to know what to do if it ever develops any problems. The crawl space vapor barrier is an essential tool in keeping your home dry, and preventing moisture from penetrating your rooms through the space beneath the house. Most homeowners think that once the barriers are installed they are free of problems, however, you may find that you get a lot of difficulties. Fixing these problems can sometimes seem like a daunting task, but once you have uncovered the reason why you have problems with your crawl space vapor barrier, you should be able to fix them quickly.

Mold Forms on Flooring

If you have covered your crawl space with a wooden floor, then you may find that mold starts to grow in between the joins in the floor. This can be caused by two different problems. The first problem is that the vapor barrier has not been properly sealed, and needs to be fixed quickly in order to ensure that you do not get moisture build up around the entire crawl space. The second problem might be that there is dirt on the surface of your crawl space. This dirt could easily contain mold spores, which will grow happily in the darkness of your crawl space. The best way to solve this problem is to clean your flooring thoroughly and then add a layer of mold killer to ensure that there is no re-growth.

Moisture Forms on Vapor Barrier

You may have started to notice small puddles of water on the surface of the vapor barrier, particularly during cold weather. This moisture is probably being formed from damp air conditions. Water in the air is warmed through the use of central heating units, and this then falls to the lowest point in the room. Your central heating may run along the floors of the room above your crawl space, and this can cause the moisture to form on the surface. Fix this problem by better insulating your central heating pipework, and keeping the crawl space atmosphere suitably dry.

Vapor Barrier Not Working

Problems like the one described above can mean that you sometimes think that your vapor barrier is not working properly. Fixing the problem could make the vapor barrier work again. However, if you have a definite problem with your vapor barrier, then check the fitting around the edges of the crawl space, and look for tears or holes. The vapor barrier can sometimes move away from the wall over time, and you will need to add extra nails to the sides to keep holes to a minimum. Remember to caulk around the edges to ensure that you get a good seal. Holes in the middle can be fixed by applying a layer of tape to the top of the hole. Duct tape or plumbers tape should allow you to fix the hole without needing to repair the tape every few months.