If you don't have a basement, then you may have a crawl space underneath your home. The crawl space is usually the area beneath your lowermost floor and above the ground. While you may not initially think it's important, understand that the condition of your crawl space can affect the rest of your home. Here are just a few of the ways that an unmaintained crawl space can impact your home.

Humidity

No one wants to live in a humid home. If your home suffers from intense humidity, not only could an unmaintained crawl space make you uncomfortable, but it can also affect your property's interior. Some furniture can begin falling apart if the area is too humid. If you have a green thumb and enjoy your indoor plants, some of them may begin dying off due to a rise in humidity levels. Don't forget about your interior paint job. Humidity can cause paint to begin to peel or bubble, which will make it look unsightly.

Another problem with humidity is that it can breed mold. If your crawl space is causing humidity levels to rise, it can also create a health hazard by way of mold. According to ComfyLiving, mold only takes around 24 to 48 hours to form after water damage. Mold in your crawl space or inside your home can cause respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and various lung infections.

Higher Energy Bills

If the air in your crawl space is excessively damp or humid, then it can make your HVAC system work overtime. When that space isn't properly insulated, it can also cause your home to lose a significant amount of warm or cool air. As a result, don't be surprised if you see higher energy bills when there's a problem with your crawl space. Your HVAC system will be working overtime to keep your house comfortable. Luckily, crawl space services can be called upon to insulate the space.

Condensation

Another problem with moisture in this space is it can create condensation on your pipes or ductwork. Condensation on exposed pipes may lead to corrosion. If there's a leaky pipe in this area, or if there's groundwater seeping in, then it can create a moist environment that creates such condensation. If the condensation isn't handled, then it could cause the entire space to deteriorate and weaken.

Bad Smells

As smells come up from your home's crawl space, be conscious of whether they're moldy or nasty. When smelling nasty odors from that area, it may be a sign that you have a pest infestation or mold. Unfortunately, vermin such as rodents love to seek out dark, dingy areas to nest, especially in search of food or water. If dirty water is beginning to pool in that space, then it can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can lay as many as 100 eggs at a time in a pool of water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Deteriorating Floor

Has your first floor begun to deteriorate? Look for signs of floor rot, such as soft or spongy wood. You should take floor rot very seriously, as it's a safety hazard. If that floor gives way, anyone can fall through and severely hurt themselves. That rotting floor may often result from a buildup of moisture within your crawl space. In addition to the health hazards that a rotting floor creates, it can also be costly to fix. Preventative crawl space maintenance prevents issues like this in the long term.

Bad Foundation

Be extra cautious about your foundation security. Are you noticing cracks on your walls and floors? If so, those cracks won't go away on their own. You'll have to call a foundation repair service to ensure your home doesn't continue to suffer more damage. Of course, don't forget to call crawl space services to get to the root of the problem so that it won't cause further foundation issues down the line.

As a homeowner, you must pay attention to any issue that jeopardizes the safety of your home. Don't forget to look out for your crawl space. Your crawl space can be easily susceptible to the impacts of water damage, such as humidity, condensation, and mold. Issues with your crawl space can cause other problems in your home, such as foundation problems, air quality issues, pest infestations, and mold. Prevent these problems by investing in crawl space services with BDry Systems of SW Indiana today.