Who thinks about the crawl space under your home? Most people do not think of it and certainly don’t want to go under there. However, if you are suffering from allergies, you may want to begin to think about that area. There could be allergens in the crawl space that are quite bad for your health.
In this article, James River Pest Solutions will identify the ways you can get rid of those allergens and the issues causing them once and for all.
What is in the Crawl Space?
If allergens are in the crawl space, what is causing them? What else could be under the house? Well, there are likely more things than you think under there, especially if your space is not encapsulated. Typically, structural components, wires, pipes, and HVAC lines essential to the home’s functions are located under the structure.
Here are a few of the other things you may find in your crawl space:
- Condensation on air conditioning ductwork and unit
- Pipes and condensation on those pipes
- Damp, hanging, and fallen insulation
- Mold and mildew
- Wood rot
- And the occasional critter, too
Pests in the Crawl Space:
The dark and damp space under your home is perfect for all types of insects and critters to nest in. It is protected from the elements, and is an excellent undisturbed hiding place. Then if there are crumbs that leak through the floorboards or holes that the pests can slip through, even better. There they can gain access to the home and take a meal back down with them.
Which pests are down there, you ask? Keep reading to find out.
- Roaches live and feed in areas that incubate dangerous bacteria and excess moisture. Unfortunately, roaches vomit and defecate everywhere they go. YUCK. The diseases they transmit can quickly spread in your crawl space.
- Termites love the warm, humid area under a house. Subterranean and dampwood termites will make their way into the wood beams of your crawl space. Unfortunately, they multiply rapidly until you have an infestation under the house and traveling up the walls of your home.
- Carpenter Ants are an actual threat to the structure and crawl space of a house. They don’t eat the wood but tear at it to make their nests, damaging the floors and beams of your home, including the crawl space.
- Rodents like mice and rats nest in crawl spaces. And where there is one rodent, there are many. They will do significant damage as they chew through wires, pipes, wood, and anything they need to build a home.
But never fear. You will not have to go to that dark and creepy space under the house. James River Pest Solutions will eliminate the pests causing allergens and other issues and repair the crawl space damage for you.
The Allergens in the Crawl Space
Where there are structural components, wires, pipes, and HVAC lines, there are bound to be leaks, holes, moisture, and more. And forty percent of the air on the first floor of your house is coming directly from the crawl space. There, airborne mold and mildew spores are some of the more common allergens.
Mold carries significant risk to homes and their owners. It is known to cause asthma, bronchitis, and even pneumonia.
Moisture Causes Allergens
The moisture build-up from pipes, condensation, leaks, and more can lead to a whole host of issues. Your hired inspector can check for the following conditions that are causing allergens in the crawl space and inside the home:
- Rotting wood
- Rust or corroded metals
- Foul odors
- Pest excrement
- And of course, mold and mildew
All these conditions can flare up asthma and respiratory issues in most anyone. Plus, the insects and rodents living down there come with their own set of diseases and allergens.
Rodent and Insect Allergens
Also, do you know what’s worse than the damage rodents and insects create? It is the disease they carry. Yes, rodents and insects pose a severe danger to crawl spaces, homes, and families.
The majority of pests need moisture to thrive. Dampness makes the crawl space of your home even more attractive to them. Of course, rodents bring in all sorts of ticks, fleas, lice, mites, and other parasites from the outdoors. Each of these can make your family and your pets sick.
Infections like Lyme disease, hantavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, plague, and tularemia can spread to humans and pets through droppings, urine, and saliva.
Roaches also transmit dangerous diseases. In fact, their stomachs harbor up to 33 types of bacteria like salmonella, listeria, and e-Coli. Further, cockroach excrement, skins, and saliva contain numerous allergens. Again, YUCK. The symptoms of cockroach allergies are skin rash, persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, sneezing, nasal congestion, and watery eyes.
How Do You Get Rid of Allergens in the Crawl Space?
Good question. A damp, dirty, moldy crawl space with pest issues can negatively affect you and many parts of your home, not merely your crawl space. Many homes with vented, unsealed crawl spaces suffer from excessive moisture. Suppose the inspector finds evidence of ceiling breaches, leaks, broken pipes, musty odors, and more. In that case, those issues need to be repaired.
Once repairs are complete and pests and critters are gone, your pest control technicians will thoroughly clean the area. Encapsulation or “sealing” your crawl space is often necessary to resolve these issues. In addition, the installation of a dehumidifier may be necessary to cut down on the moisture levels.
How Do You Get Rid of Allergens in the Home?
Outdoor irritants can certainly trigger indoor allergies. But the allergens trapped in your home can prove much more problematic. Therefore, once you have cleaned the crawlspace, get busy removing the allergens from inside the house too.
Here is a list from the experts at Redfin.com of how to get rid of the allergens in your home. Read more about each on the link in this paragraph.
- Keep your carpet and rugs clean as they trap the dirt and dust off your shoes and pets.
- Hire pest control to get pests out and keep them out.
- Consult with a home inspector to inspect for mold and mildew.
- Invest in zip-on dust mite covers for mattresses.
- Install washable window covers rather than particle collecting drapes.
- Vacuum and dust regularly with a quality vacuum.
- Use unscented cleaning products to avoid fragrance allergies.
- Keep your furnace filter clean and change filters regularly.
- Check the air quality outside by using an air quality app.
- Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor allergies and reduce excess indoor moisture.
Inside the house, repairs may be needed to get your family breathing clear again. Suppose the inspector finds evidence of ceiling breaches, leaks, broken pipes, musty odors, and more. In that case, all those issues need to be repaired as soon as possible to avoid respiratory illness.
James River Pest Solutions Clears Allergens in the Crawl Space Out
To stop the allergens from building up under your home, your pest control and crawl space company will perform these tasks:
- Keep humidity levels low by installing a dehumidifier.
- Fix any leaks and broken pipes that encourage mold growth and critters.
- Also, fix wall cracks in the crawl space that can let moisture in.
- Remove all organic materials, such as cardboard, wood, and more.
- Treat for pests and remove rodents and their nests.
- Control crawl space flooding to keep moisture levels low. A sump pump is a good idea.
- Finally, seal the crawl space with a plastic vapor barrier.
When James River Pest Solutions is on the job, we focus on serving you with excellence in customer service and thoroughness. We’ll provide you with a customized, effective, and economical solution for your crawl space that lasts for many years.
Do not delay getting the moisture under control, pests removed, area cleaned out, and repairs made. It will only result in further and more costly damage.
In the case of household allergens, out of sight is not out of mind. James River Pest Solutions will inspect, clean, and repair the crawl space of your home efficiently and effectively. Then you and your family can rest assured you will be breathing clear with fewer allergies in no time.
Contact James River Pest Solutions for allergens in your crawl space and total pest solutions.