Photo Album: The Permanent Solution to a Water Problem in Crawl Space of 125 Year Old Home in Blue Ridge Summit, PA

  A homeowner of a 125-year-old home contacted our office to help solve a water and high humidity problem they were having in their crawl space. A free estimate appointment was scheduled for Liberty Basement Systems Crawl Space Repair Inspector, Robert W. to complete the inspection. The crawl space had previously been encapsulated, but the encapsulation was not installed properly. The insulation in the crawl space was wet, moldy, and falling down and needed to be replaced. Due to wet conditions in this crawl space, and an improper installation of a vapor barrier, wet insulation covered the existing vapor barrier as well as dirt, and other debris. The ground was uneven causing water to puddle in the center of the crawl space with nowhere to go. In addition to a pre-existing vapor barrier, a sump pump was installed. Because the ground was not level, the pooled water could not effectively drain to the sump pump to safely be pumped away from the home through an already installed discharge line. This crawl space was very damp, dirty, and had high levels of humidity, but Robert had the permanent solution that would solve their crawl space problems for good!  For the best results, Robert recommended installing a vapor barrier, a crawl space dehumidifier, and a sump pump system with an additional discharge line to permanently stop water intrusion, prevent moisture seepage, and condition the air to a healthy state. Without hesitation, the homeowner quickly agreed to Robert's recommendation.      First, Liberty Basement Systems production crew carefully removed and disposed of all existing materials in the crawl space. These materials included wet, soggy, and moldy insulation, a ripped-up vapor barrier, and removal of remaining debris. Next, all new insulation was installed around the rim joists and ceiling of the crawl space to seal any outside air to prevent moisture and air quality issues. The crawl space walls were insulated with SilverGlo to reflect heat back into the crawl space. SilverGlo not only makes your crawl space warmer, but the floors above it too! To create a drainage space and thermal break, Drainage Matting was installed on the crawl space floor so water could easily flow to the Sump System. A new sump hole had to be dug to install the new SuperSump Pump System, allowing any water drained into the sump pit, to be pumped out of the home through the attached Exterior Discharge Line. The Discharge Line will carry the water from the SuperSump, through the line, and remove it from the home at a safe distance.  Moisture enters your crawl space through the ground and walls so it's important that a vapor barrier is installed to prevent that from happening. To finish encapsulating the crawl space, CleanSpace Vapor Barrier was installed throughout the crawl space. CleanSpace is a heavy-duty, reinforced polymer liner that not only stops water vapor from entering your crawl space but helps prevent mold growth, wood rot, pest infestations in your crawl space too! CleanSpace is permanently installed by using spikes and vapor barrier tape to ensure all pieces are closed off. When installed as part of a complete crawl space encapsulation system like this crawl space, CleanSpace provides a dry, healthy crawl space that can be safely used for storage.  Lastly, Liberty Basement Systems SaniDry XP Crawl Space Dehumidifier was installed to ensure that humidity levels remain low. Any water the XP collects will drain into the SuperSump Pump, through the Exterior Discharge Line and away from the home.    The homeowners were very pleased with the outcome of their Crawl Space Encapsulation System!