Crawl Space Vent
Your Crawl Space Can Attract Termites
No one wants a termite infestation to hit their home, but if you are not careful you might actually be attracting the pests. If you have a crawl space to allow for access to your home's foundation, you could have an environment that's ideal for termite colonies to live in and thrive. Luckily, this is a problem that can be easily taken care of once you realize the aspects of your crawl space that are likely to attract termites. If it's too late and you already have termites under your house, take comfort in the fact that you've found them while they are still in the crawl space and not after they have moved up into walls or other parts of the house.
The reason that termites are attracted to your crawl space is that in most cases a crawl space provides an ideal environment for them. Think about what your crawl space looks like. Does it have poor ventilation, lots of exposed wood, and plenty of scattered bits of wood on the dirt itself that has dried out over the years? The poor ventilation will result in the crawl space having higher humidity than the air outside, which is needed by termites to live. They will be initially attracted by this excess moisture, and then realize that there is a large amount of cellulose and wood material for them to eat. Even though you obviously did not want it to be, your crawl space could appear to them like an all-you-can-eat buffet in paradise.
Assessing Your Crawl Space
Chances are that you do not spend much time in your crawl space. It's dark, cramped, and the air is probably a bit musty. Unfortunately, if you are going to check for termites (and to check whether the conditions in your crawl space are likely to attract termites) then you are going to have to head under the house. Be sure to watch out for other insects and animals under there as well; while some of these, such as spiders, can be helpful and will actually kill and eat termites that might be in your crawl space, this doesn't mean that you want them in your hair or face. Take the necessary precautions to avoid bites before going under your house.
Once there, see if the air is musty or smells like mildew. This will indicate that there is excessive moisture in the air, which is one of the key elements that will attract termites. Much preferable is for the air to smell dry or dusty, though in this case you will need to check and make sure that any wood in the support of your house isn't becoming overly dry. While under the house, you should also take the time to look at the wood and house supports themselves for any indications of termite activity. See if there is any wood or plant material on the ground, especially next to the walls of the house where it might draw in termites from outside.
Preventing Termite Infestations
After you have evaluated how much moisture and loose plant material are under your house, it's time to do something about it. One of the first steps that you can take is to hire waterproofing experts to come in and seal all of the walls of your crawl space and provide complete cover so that there isn't just open dirt under your house. This will close off most of the access points for termites, and will greatly reduce additional moisture from getting in. Many waterproofing experts will also clean up any loose debris in the process to further prevent termites from being attracted to your home.
You can choose to have the crawl space completely sealed so as to prevent airflow as well, though a more common solution is to make sure that your crawl space has enough ventilation so that excess moisture doesn't build up in the air. Just remember that any vents in your crawl space need to be sufficiently above the ground so that water won't enter them when it rains, and you should avoid having any plants or plant material blocking them or touching them because that is a good way for termites to find their way in.
Treating Termite Outbreaks
Should you find that you already have termites in your crawl space, you should call your preferred pest control expert or exterminator immediately. They can spray the outer perimeter of your house in order to prevent additional termites from coming in as well as using foggers or other sprays to kill all of the termites that have already made it into your crawl space. While at your home, they will also evaluate it to make sure that your termite problems have not spread elsewhere.
November 12th, 2011 at 12:25 am
Should I close the vent for my crawl space for the winter?
I have a 900 sq.st. home in the cold midwest. All the duct work and piping are in the crawl.
Their is only 1 vent.
This the outside air vent in the foundation of the house. Their is only 1 vent. like this.
November 12th, 2011 at 12:46 am
Is it bad to vent a gas dryer in a crawl space?
I live in a condo(all one floor) and just moved in a bit ago, I figured out they have the dryer vented into the crawl space. Is this bad? I keep the lint trap clean, clean it off after every load. The dryer and washer is in sort of a tight closet(standard sized, not stackable). I live alone so its not the like the dryer is runnning 24/7 or everyday for that matter.
November 12th, 2011 at 2:02 am
Crawl Space Vent Covers?
I live in the SouthEast (NC). We have an 11 yr old house. In the last 2 winters we have lived here we have had very high heating bills. A neighbor suggested that we cover up all but 2-3 vents to the crawl space right before first frost in November.
Does this work? Is it a good idea? What are the consequences? I would appreciate any practical insight you could give me. Thanks
November 12th, 2011 at 2:54 am
I agree with the other responses. I will add that in cold months the warm air will attract bugs and other critters to that area.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Open in the summer, closed in the winter (sealed tight). It would also help to insulate the exterior walls of the crawl space , including the rim joist, down to a foot below ground level.
November 12th, 2011 at 11:50 am
crawl space vents?
We have a crawl space under our house, with air vents around the house.. The vents are fitted with an aluminum frame with chicken wire, which prevent animals from getting into the crawl space.
We need to replace since animals broke into this. I went to home depot and could not find the aluminum frame, only a roll of chicken wire. How do we replace the vent coverings?
November 12th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
What if I stick the vent coming from the dryer in my crawl space?
I wonder if it’s correct to put the hot air vent to the crawl space since the dryer is in the middle of the house and there is no other way to get the vent outside.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
How easy/difficult is it to install new crawl space vents?
I have 13 vents to replace around my foundation. I know I can buy them at Home Depot. Just wondering how difficult the job may be so I can figure out how long it will take me to complete. I also don’t know how they are installed and if I can do it from the outside rather than getting in the crawl space.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Go to the Contractors Desk (usually in the far right front corner when facing the store) and ask them if they carry them or if they can order them.
Also, check with Lowe’s (if you have one nearby).
Replacing them with chicken wire will be a real nuisance (due to attachment reasons), and will not do the same thing as the original vents.
The vents are to keep moisture from building up in the crawl space as well as keeping Radon from building up there. Chicken wire will allow for ventilation, but will allow too much ventilation, actually allowing moisture to accumulate under your house causing further problems. It will also allow cold air in which will decrease the efficiency of your heating system.
November 12th, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Is it safe to vent clothes dryer directly to the crawl space??
My clothes dryer is toward the center of the house with outside wall almost 22 feet away. I just wanted to know if I could vent the clothes dryer directly into the crawl space. Thanks
November 13th, 2011 at 1:28 am
Close Crawl Space Vents In Winter-Atlanta?
I own an Atlanta home built in the 1940′s and was wondering if it was ok to cover up the crawl space vents during the winter months to keep out the cold air? If so, what should I use to cover the vents?
November 13th, 2011 at 3:32 am
I’ve moved to the Nashville, TN area. My new house has crawl space vents, do I close them up for the winter?
I don’t want burst water pipes in the crawl space due to freezing temps. On the other hand, I don’t want excessive moisture build up- I’ve received advice both ways, what’s right?
November 13th, 2011 at 5:40 am
Crawl Space vents as a way to control moisture in the crawl space are a fallacy.
During the summer months, the vents that allow outside air into the crawl space, allow also moisture from the outside air to get in. The crawl space is usually many degrees cooler than the outside.
As the air cools inside the crawl space, the relative humidity in the air raises at the rate of 2.2% per degree cooled. So if you have a 80F , 75% RH air on a hot summer day, in a 66F crawl space, the air will gain 42% relative humidity on top of the 75%.
You will have way over 100% humidity and since the air can’t hold all that moisture, it will condensate all over the surfaces, wood will soak it up, grow mold and rot.
During the winter, there is no moisture concern but the cold drafts make your home harder to heat and if you have ducts running in the crawl space, energy losses can be as high as 50%.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America best building practices recommend that you encapsulate the crawl space. Crawl space encapsulation consists in sealing all the vents, lining the whole space with a thick vapor barrier, sealing it air tight and then conditioning the space with a crawl space conditioning system or a dehumidifier.
I am adding a few links with information on this matter
November 13th, 2011 at 8:04 am
It all depends on whether the vents are installed in block or wood. You’ll either have too unscrew and pull them out or cut them out is they’re held on by a type of adhesive. Take a day to figure the first one out and, from there, you can work out a system on how to do this fast but right. Make sure to fill any holes with foam sealant.
November 13th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
If you cover the vents, you can get condensation.
They’re there for a reason.
If they were origionally sized for summer heat relief,
( a possiblility in Atlanta), you might restrict them
somewhat in winter, but complete blocking is not
advisable.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Board them up, then remove the boards in the spring.
November 13th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
No, it’s not correct. There is another way to get it outside where it belongs, it just takes more exhaust pipe to get it there. There is ALWAYS a way to do it, no exceptions.
Al
November 13th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
There is a device you can buy – a smaller size plastic box, which you put water in and then attach your dryer vent hose too. It enables people to keep their dryer hose inside. My sister used to use one in her apartment and it worked fine for her. The water in the box catches all the lint.
I would check at your local Home Depot type store and ask someone there.
Good luck!!!
November 13th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
how do crawl space vents work?
Should be open during the summer or winter seasons?
November 13th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
cover up North side crawl space vent to keep house warmer ??
someone told me to cover up North side crawl space vent that I can keep my house warmer in the winter.
He said he did and the house temperature rised few degrees.
Will this work and save energy bill?
Of cause, it may increase crawl space moisture, the cover should be removed when weather gets warm.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
They are used to vent hot air fromt he attic or other enclosed spaces duting the sommer. You should close them up in winter to preserve heat in the house.
November 13th, 2011 at 11:37 pm
Keeping the crawl space air tight..should keep your floors & house warmer this winter…but be certain to remove the covers in the spring..to keep dampness from accumulating.