What to Do About a Flooded Crawl Space

The crawl space of the home is an often overlooked portion of the house that takes shape in two distinct ways. The first type of crawl space is located within the home and represents space in and between the walls. The second type of crawl space is usually located under the home and around the foundation of the home. This type of crawl space is filled with soil and usually covered with plastic to protect it from moisture. When there is heavy rainfall a crawl space can flood. This article will offer some ways for you to alleviate the problem.

Pump the Water Out of the Crawl Space

If you find yourself in a situation where water remains standing in a crawl space; then you have to remove it before it begins to erode the foundation or soil. It is not practical to use the bucket brigade method to remove this water. It is also tough to broom the water out. One recourse is to utilize a pump to remove the water. You would place the machine in a safe area. The pump usually has two hoses attached to it. The first hose is placed inside the crawl space and the second is placed outside. When the pump is turned on it will suction the water from the crawl space and expel it through the second hose.

Wet and Dry Vacuum

When you have a basement then a wet and dry vacuum is a definite must-have piece of equipment. It will come in handy in more occasions than just a flooded crawl space. If the water you are dealing with is minor then this solution will be your best bet when trying to remove the water. Plug the unit in, place the hose and turn it on. The vacuum will suck up the water and place it inside the drum which you then can get rid of in the sink or outside.

Push Broom

Not every situation can be completely cleared with a vacuum. This is when a push broom can be used to get water pushed to the front of the crawl space so you can suction it up. A push broom has a very long handle so you can reach a distance greater than usual. All you have to do then is pull the broom forward and water will be brought with it. It is important to get as much water out of the crawl space prior to drying it out.

Drying the Crawl Space

Because concrete is 5 to 10 degrees cooler than other materials; the moisture can remain much longer. This moisture can cause mildew and mold to grow which makes it important to dry the crawl space out faster rather than allowing it to sit to dry out. The best way to dry out a crawl space is by using a de-humidifier. This device removes moisture from the air which will then dry the area out. Another option is the use of waterproof and outdoor radiant heaters which can burn off the moisture.