My crawl space has vents to the outside; doesn that let in cold air in the winter and hot/humid air in the summer?
A. Venting crawl spaces is an old idea that has become the standard for the entire country. Unfortunately, venting can actually cause more damage than good. Humidity levels in the summer are extreme and when they enter the crawl space, water will condensate on air conditioning ductwork and cold water lines. This condensation will cause corrosion on the air ducts and expose the wood floors and joists to water. Mold has a much better chance to grow when these conditions exist. Winter months are much drier, but open vents will cause the living areas, particularly tile and wooden floors, to become especially cold. Our recommendation, once a concrete floor has been installed, is to seal off outside venting and open the forced air system of your HVAC heating system. This will provide air flow and drier conditioned air in the summer, and warm air in the winter which will subsequently rise through the floors to provide a warmer living environment. You will save money in the long run from havin
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