Wet Crawl Space Dehumidification Vs. Ventilation

Dehumidification

• The process of removing moisture in the air by mechanical means is dehumidification, which typically involves a dehumidifier that works by blowing the air through a cool radiator, causing the moisture in the air to turn to water through the process of condensation. These devices can be very effective at removing moisture from the environment. The water that is collected must be either emptied everyday or the dehumidifier needs to be properly installed into the waste plumbing system. The other drawback is that they consume a fair amount of energy while operating.

Ventilation

• Ventilation is the process of moving a constant flow of fresh outdoor air through the space and is typically done by providing openings on opposite sides of the crawlspace to allow air to move across the space naturally, removing moisture through constantly changing the air in the space. Ventilation is a very effective method of reducing the built-up moisture if proper airflow is established, and tt also consumes no electricity to work. The drawback is that if the outdoor air is already very humid, it can't remove any additional moisture from the crawlspace, and it also requires some outdoor wind to move the air current through the space.

Reduce Moisture

• One of the best approaches is a combination of either dehumidification or ventilation with the reduction of moisture at the source. In a crawlspace most of the water is drawn up through the dirt floor. By covering the ground with a vapor barrier and gravel on top, you can stop most of the ground moisture from making it into the air.

Conditioned Crawlspace

• Another option is to turn the crawlspace into a conditioned area of the home, which has the added advantage of also creating a more comfortable home by keeping the floor temperature closer to the normal range. A conditioned crawlspace is insulated like the home and is heated and cooled with the buildings HVAC system.