Is My Crawl Space Making Me Sick?
If you're suffering from an allergy flare-up or find yourself experiencing certain symptoms of illness without explanation, the culprit could be a space in your home that you probably never think about.
Your crawl space could be to blame. While the crawl space serves an important function in supporting the foundations of your home, it is also a common vector for growths and pests.
If you live, eat, and sleep close to your crawl space, it could be causing your health problems. Here's why your crawl space could be making you ill, and what to do about it.
A Crawl Space is a Mold Paradise
One of the main reasons that crawl spaces can cause health problems is because they are gathering points for moisture. Especially if you have a dirt crawl space that is directly exposed to the soil, it is likely that yours is a very humid place indeed.
This makes it perfect for mold, fungi, and other spores to grow in abundance, which can cause a huge range of illness, ranging from mild to potentially fatal. Some of the most common symptoms of mold allergies include fatigue, respiratory problems, irritation of the throat and eyes, and skin rashes.
This is why it is crucial to take steps to dehumidify your crawl space, such as with crawl space encapsulation to cut-off the sources of excess moisture.
The Perfect Place for Pests
Dirty crawl spaces are quiet, dark, moist, and often filled with debris. Can you think of any better spot for pests to fester? Dust mites are the most common type of crawl space pests.
These can cause a number of allergic reactions, including nasal congestion and asthma attacks.
However, untreated crawl spaces can host much more serious pests, such as mice, rats, cockroaches, and ground pests such as millipedes and worms. All of these post health risks to yourself and especially to any pets you might have.
For this reason, you should always call pest control before beginning any crawl space repairs that might make it harder for pests to settle there in the future.
Allergens Galore
Living creatures aren't the only things you have to worry about in your crawl space.
Due to where the crawl space is located, and the fact that crawl spaces are often undisturbed for years at a time, it is very common for allergens to build up there. Pollen from nearby plants could settle there, as can pet dander from your own or from neighbors' animals.
If you have any allergies to pollen or to pets, your crawl space could very well be making you sick. Keeping your crawl space clean and encapsulated can go a long way towards reducing this risk.
Neutralize Your Crawl Space We're Here to Help
While your crawl space could very well be making you sick, it doesn't have to be this way. With one phone call, you can eliminate any harmful materials or pests in your crawl space, and get the peace of mind you deserve.
For this, we are here to help. If you suspect pests in your crawl space, do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly and professional team to find out how we can help you.
We serve households across Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia, and we can nip any problem in your crawl space in the bud quickly and effectively.
