Property Owners Encouraged to be Aware of Potential Mold Problems in Crawl Spaces

When mold is visibly growing on walls, ceilings or the floor of a home or other type of building it is pretty obvious that there is a moisture problem and a mold issue.  It is also possible for a building to have these same problems that are taking place completely out of sight. Three common areas where mold problems can develop unnoticed include attics, basements and crawl spaces.
 
Crawl spaces are a common form of construction in many parts of the country.  Some property owners with homes constructed on a crawl space may go years without inspecting them for leaks or other types of moisture damage.  These problems can develop quickly and often go unnoticed until they have become a major issue. 
 
When the relative humidity is high in a crawl space it is quite common for mold to begin to grow.  This can often be the case if the crawl space has a bare earth floor as the soil will wick moisture, through capillary action, from moist to dry areas. The relative warmth of a crawl space can dry the soil by evaporation, adding this moisture to the air in the crawl space where it can cause mold growth. When there is a flooding event due to heavy rains or in areas where the water table is high and weather conditions are suitable, ground water may even enter a crawl space.
 
“In addition to naturally occurring water, many crawl spaces also contain water and sewer pipes,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark.  “These can develop leaks over time, have issues related to condensation, and during extreme cold weather they can also freeze and burst causing additional water issues.  This moisture can seep into other areas of a building and create additional mold concerns.  Crawl spaces with HVAC systems or air ducts can also provide an easy mode of transportation for mold from a crawl space to spread throughout the air in the overlying building.”
 
The building science and indoor air quality (IAQ) professionals at Clark Seif Clark provide consulting and testing services to identify these types of problems and develop solutions.  The company recently sponsored an educational video about crawl spaces and hidden mold that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/I574R9YkhBY
 
To learn more about testing for moisture problems and mold in crawl spaces or other areas of a building, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

(1) 6025103179

pcochrane@cochraneassoc.com