Crawl Space Fan vs Dehumidifier Before/After | Do Crawl Space Fans Dry better than Dehumidifiers

[@GHOSTMAATVs]

I just want to say thank you for all the education you have provided me. We went from owning a stick built house with a regular basement to a mobile home out in the country. When I built the skirting for the crawl space i added 6 mil poly to the ground as per the recommendation of the building inspector. I also fully insulated the skirting walls to R14 and vapour barriered them from the inside, to keep the house from getting too cold underneath in our brutal winters. Looks like I got those things right! Here's where I went wrong. I opened up all my vents this summer and turned on the heavy duty fan (our first summer here), its been very humid and i wake up the last couple days and humidity levels have soared to 99% under the home. I have a wireless temp and humidity sensor under the house so I can monitor readings easily. Off to KZbin I go to figure out what I can do! I watched your videos for hours last night. This morning I put a dehumidifier underneath the home, closed up the vents (insulated as well) and started dehumidifying and to my pleasant surprise I've dropped 10% in just a half hour and still dropping. Thank you so much for posting all these videos online, you literally protect peoples homes and personal health by providing this service. cheers!

[@681419]

Do you mind if ask for info on dehumidifier you used? Starting to tackle my issues now...

[@DriverDude100]

Good work guys. It is amazing how many builders don’t take crawl space air quality seriously. Out of sight, out of mind until the homeowner or inspector finds mold. Glad to see you guys sharing your expertise on how to manage these spaces.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

OzoneEditions Thank you so much !

[@gregbutler7568]

I know a builder whose own one-story house (that he built) had excess moisture in his crawl space. He had a crawl space dehumidifier installed, much like in your videos, and after several months, his wood flooring became warped and squeaky. He said his sub flooring, etc got too dry. He disconnected the dehumidifier, replaced all his flooring and installed a couple of foundation vent fans. Location is Lebanon, TN. I love your videos, but correct solutions to crawl space moisture seem so house-specific. Hard to judge what to do.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Absolutely, if you get a dehumidifier that does not have a humididstat then you could be in trouble. We prefer to keep the crawl space humidity level around 50%. If you start getting below 40%, you'll risk wood beginning to crack. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@patrickk5370]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja you guys are doing a great service to the public.

[@chief5981]

Haven’t watched yet but... I just moved from Boise to Knoxville a month ago. Put an offer on a house in Lexington KY. I’m stoked. Inspection shows that I need to add moisture barrier and fans. I am surprised and GRATEFUL that there is a crawl space ninja in existence. You hav me my attention

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Congrats on the house! and welcome to the area!!

[@andreaberryman5354]

Thanks! Fortunately, my vented and unsealed crawl is nice and dry, but Spokane has the wet season in spring, and we get dry heat. Winter is dry cold. One thing: Guys...just do NOT insulate your crawl cieling/home floor. Wood breathes and can dry-so long as you don't put something all over it to trap moisture! So the only insulation I have is in the crawlspace vents and door, but it is held in place by anything, so air can get around and under it. It gets decently wet in spring, but dries quickly and I have zero mold, zero rot down there. Inspector approved. Again-we get hot and dry from July-October, so the home has time to warm and dry. I am looking at encapsulating it due to this part of the country having super high levels. Otherwise I would leave it alone.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Interesting, thanks for sharing! That's definitely different from what we experience here in the Southeast.

[@butterflies1957]

i might not know anything ... but the way you explained everything it seems that i understand you pretty well...

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Thank you so much!

[@JohnSmith-4U]

This channel is the best. I was completely oblivious as to how much science there is to crawl spaces!!!!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Happy to help, John. Have a happy and blessed day.

[@rochamusicx]

Question: what about Radon how do you control that? put an exhaust fan blowing to outside, wouldn't that mess with air pressure? I have 1400 square feet basement.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Good question, it would not affect the pressure. We use the lomanco fans to regulate any soil gases.

[@smokinwithskruggs]

I just recently found your channel by googling how to make a crawlspace door. When my house was built 27 years ago I was told by the County Inspector after having them come out because of standing water under the house and was told by them to install a fan at the door and it would dry it out. 27 years later Im having to replace 7 joist and add a dehumidifier, demold, replace insulation and encapsulate the space. Thanks for all the awesome info and videos.

[@danielkoerner7127]

Another excellent video Micheal! Thanks- Im about 90% done with a DIY encapsulation project in our Washington coast beach house. Using Ninja materials of course! I've got before and after pictures if you want to see them...Thanks for all the good work!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Can't wait to see it

[@sylviabradley7500]

Dan Koerner

[@B_R_I_A_N_108]

There are many who say don’t put plastic on the ground if you have sand??

[@AddicynsMom]

You mentioned that having vent fans wouldn’t make much of a difference because it is pulling humid air into the crawl space and then back out. That makes a lot of sense. If I do not have the budget to install new barrier/sump pump/dehumidifier system, is there a way to make the vent fans more effective? Possibly having the vent fans ALL moving the air out of the space rather than through? Our house is pretty humid in the summer, and although the crawl space doesn’t look too bad, I know that allowing it to continue in this humidity until I am able to fix it properly could cause even bigger problems. Any temporary quick fixes you can recommend?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

In this particular crawl space, the BEFORE pictures showed the vent fans that flow THROUGH the crawl space. We recommend the Lomanco vent fans that give negative pressure, pulling the air out only. There are not any fast fix it recommendations. The standing water will not be able to escape without trenches and a sump pump. The moisture and condensation will occur unless you have a dehu and vent fan.

[@PaulWRogers]

Dang Michael, Great video. Wished you were in the Pacific Northwest. Working on getting my garage dried out, I was gonna add an exhaust fan, but now I see it's all about using a dehumidifier.

[@mattbelill3375]

Do you have a video on how you installed the trench pipe and sump pump ??

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aprGYqaclJ5knZo here is a video to show the install of the sump pump, which includes the trench piping

[@shanndalton]

Great videos!! Liked for the KZbin numbers. I have a question you touched on, I was thinking of conditioning the space and adding an exhaust fan to minimize stacking as well as dangerous gases. Space is encapsulated and maintains 55% RH with dehumidifier. My thought was to make the space even better. Would love your thoughts Thanks again!!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Lets dive deeper! Submit this form and we can discuss - crawlspaceninja.com/crawl-space-help-faq/

[@jaimealbarran6719]

Come to south Florida, we have a lot of mold down here, thank you for sharing your videos .

[@lithfix]

Hello Sir, I am a home inspector in Ga. Why isn't the vapor barrier not taped to the block? You said the block is insulated but it doesn't look sealed at the top?

[@jeffminus4714]

2100 sq. foot crawlspace encapsulated in Southern Illinois where we get the extreme of all 4 seasons (sometimes all in one day!) If I have a crawl space ventilation fan pulling 240 CFM (thus creating a negative pressure in the crawlspace) am I better served with the dehumidifier in the house since that is largely where the crawl space make up air would come from or in the crawlspace itself or both? I feel my humidity levels are typically a bit high in the house as well so my logic is to make that comfortable then pull that dehumidified air into the crawl.

[@angelataf]

Hi Michael, we're just closing on a house on April 2nd. and I knew nothing about crawl space until the house inspector said we should look into having it sealed. I came across your videos when doing some research and, oh boy, you blew my mind. It seems so overwhelming. We're doing some renovation, flooring, and painting. My question to you is: Should we do the crawl space first or last? Thank you in advance.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hi! We're so glad our channel has been helpful to you. If you're dealing with high humidity and mold in the crawl space it would be better to address your crawl space first so that all the improvements inside the home you make are not wasted. Humidity in the crawl space can cause new flooring to warp and mold can cause structural damage over time.

[@GeorgeMinton-jb8ky]

What determines whether you trench inside or outside the wall for water drainage issues? Do you drill weep holes in the concrete block to drain the block to the french drain? I saw that on a hydro armour video.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Great question. Usually cost is the determination. Easier and less expensive most of the time to do it from the inside. Weep holes are useful when you have a lot of water filling the block and it is coming in faster than it can drain out.

[@37south14]

Crawl Space Ninja what if we did trenching all around the outside of the home to help? Would weep holes still be necessary?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

@@37south14 It would be up to you. We choose to not do weep holes in order to make sure water does not come into the crawl space too quickly for the drainage system to handle and cause the plastic to float. If your exterior drainage is taking care of the majority of the water it is likely you won't need weep holes.

[@gdavis8588]

Do you always add a sump pump as a precaution or only if there is water actually getting in?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

You only need a sump pump if there is standing water. Thank you for asking and for your interest. Happy Friday!

[@PortlandOregonHomes]

What is your recommendation for Oregon. We have low humidity summers, high humidity winters. We typically don't condition our crawl spaces. What I've seen done (and would like your advice): closing crawlspace in winter and if you have heated ducts they will condition crawlspace during high humidity/wet months. Does that sound logical?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

+spleujo great question. I have taken water damage training and in crawls they taught us to heat up crawl space after flooding. But there had to be a way to capture the humid air (dehumidifier). If there is a place for that moist air to go after you heat up the materials it should work good but unfortunately I am not familiar with your climate. Sorry, I hope that helps.

[@berthull9333]

Spleujo, are you talking about "humidity" or "relative humidity"?

[@timothyriley6691]

OMG ! I feel sick ! Lol ! You guys are unbelievable and I can’t imagine doing that job ! That came out beautiful ! Can you travel to Upstate New York ? It looks brand spanking new down in that crawl space ! They want $4,500 to spray foam my crawl space and after seeing your videos I learned plenty of info to scratch the spray foam ! Your quality job is the right way to go ! Can you say what that would cost for that job ? Was it like $20,000 bucks ? Just curious ! I’m glad I found you on You Tube ! It’s gonna be hard to do mine because once you see the Best Way A Job Should Be Done Then anything less ain’t worth it to me ! Thanks guys !!!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Clyde - thank you so much for watching and the kind words. Every encapsulation project will cost different due to the level of work being performed and the options that are being installed. On average, crawl space encapsulation projects come in around $7,500, but you can see some projects quoted as high as $40,000. It all depends on the contractor and quality of materials being used. We're not in upstate New York yet, but Crawl Space Ninja is always expanding - so, who knows? We hope this answers your question. Have a happy and blessed day!

[@thetruthchannel4634]

From 2004-2007, I worked in Charlotte for a regional pest control company (5 states, yellow trucks) . We had just begun to add 3 mil plastic to the ground but the state geniuses said to leave it two feet from the walls. I would see crawlspaces that really didn't have much trouble EXCEPT where the fan was pulling air in from an unencapsulated crawl space and from one end to the other was MOLD !!!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Wow! Yes, we recommend dehumidifiers over fans all day long. Thanks for sharing!

[@BrownfamTV]

I have a 15x30 crawl space with 2 vents to outside no insulation in floor. I have good plastic coverage on ground. Should I close vents and insulate the block walls?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Leave the at least 2 vents open, with vent fans to circulate the air and pul;l the bad air from the crawl space, and insulation is always a plus.

[@keithcook4537]

That one reason why I just hired crawl space ninja to do my crawl space after I received four different companies and ninja went far to explain all details.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Thank you so much!

[@bsheets1861]

Did you block all vents off?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

You block all except 1 vent, you leave 1 open all year round, at all times, for circulation. Thank you for asking!

[@troydawes3916]

What would an installation like this normally run without the dehumidifier unit? I live in SC and before purchasing a house here there was work done in the crawlspace for moisture such as a french drains along the exterior walls inside the crawlspace that drain to a "home Depot" bucket where they put a float driven pump. And then out. Looking at this video the quality of work is much higher than what was done in my crawlspace three months ago.l, and I do not believe that they fixed the problem. Looking for a frame of reference outside the area I live for comparison. Thank you.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We can't really give a price, there are so many factors that play in the price area. And we do not know of anyone to recommend

[@1365Cobra]

At about the 4:50 mark, you are discussing the moisture that is permeating the foundation. I have almost the exact same situation. No standing water that I can see but blocks are very wet. What is the best way to mitigate this? French drain outside or inside and what would be the different decision points in that? Or would a Dehu take care of this?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

A dehu will take care of moisture and condensation for sure!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Has anyone ever installed crawl space ventilation fans without a dehumidifier in a wet humid crawl space and the fans dry out the crawl space? If so, please share your experience and conditions and your climate. Thanks.😀

[@benjaminwood6632]

The only time I have seen this work is if the fan is used to draw conditioned air down out of the living envelope and through the crawlspace. If using fans to just draw air from outside you just end up with the fans running constantly and it pretty much raining in the crawlspace from spring throughout the summer due to the high outdoor relative humidity in the Ohio Valley.

[@charlesweaver9297]

I have a crawl space over dirt that is only about 14” above the dirt. I am ordering a crawl space dehumidifier. This is in Pennsylvania. I hope this helps I am getting mold

[@patrickk5370]

@@benjaminwood6632 what would you recommend for ohio? I fixed the source of my moisture. Horrible down spouts. New house 3 years old. Shotty builder

[@dennisreynolds6915]

Im wanting to encapsulate my crawl space. There is a crappy black barrier on the raw dirt already so im wanting to install over that. My question is how do I go around pipes on the walls?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

+Stinky Potatoes Great question. Here is a video we just release showing our Ninjas during a crawl space encapsulation. It is not a "How To" video exactly but you can see them working around pipes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJXJaYOmh7ubo9E I hope that helps.

[@jamesahr2634]

Is it a good idea to put peR gravel on top of the vapor barrier. Jim

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

No, it would be hard to go in and out if you need any work done. in fact there are times when there is gravel we have to either install an underlayment or double up on the vapor barrier to make sure it doesn't get punctured.

[@davycrockett9891]

Would you apply a water sealer to the block walls before covering them with the vapor barrier?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

+Davy Crockett Great question and no we don't use any paint on sealers. Seen too many fail and grow mold.

[@shootmovecommunicate3322]

Do you guys use check valves on the sump pumps ? Might be a good idea use to work for a Pump company.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Yes, we install all of our sump pumps with check valves.

[@Indigosound78]

I got my encapsulation done by master dry in 2015. Im bummed I didn’t know about you guys before I had it done. Looks like you guys do a way better job.

[@josiahutah3712]

Of course he posts his best work. Grain of salt.

[@jamiehurst6228]

Thoughts on adding --> Liberty Pumps SJ10 SumpJet Water Powered Back-Up Pump instead of battery back up for power outages ?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

I have not used that product but is has good reviews on Amazon - amzn.to/3RF4VYF

[@bptraveler6608]

Love all your videos and need your help. I have too much moisture in my 1400 sqft crawlspace due to the HVAC. I am sealing the vents and installing a Aprilaire 1820 in my crawlspace. Encapsulating may come later. Where should I put the dehimidifier? The HVAC air handler is in the middle of the space and is so big it blocks air flow past it. I have two vent fans. Should I turn both off and seal them, or just one? Should I add a fan in the space to help move air or not?

[@neilbarschefski583]

Thank you for sharing this great information. After watching several of your videos I’ve realized I need a professional crawl space contractor. Can you recommend someone in the Memphis area?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Glad we can help in some way! unfortunately we do not know anyone in the Memphis area that we could recommend

[@21gonza21]

Could you do a step by step on how to do it yourself for the people with a budget??

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Thanks for watching our video, we have multiple videos that show the steps we take when it comes to encapsulation and our dehumidifier installations. I would suggest looking at our play list section so you can get a full view of all our videos.

[@stangssoftwash]

What would be the reason you would have a pump for the dehumidifier instead of just running the drain line outside? Thanks!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Not all crawl spaces are set up well for a gravity drain. The condensate pump ensures the water is effectively discharged from the crawl space in those situations.

[@davejackson3869]

for a 2,000 sf home, how much does installing a dehumidifier cost? rough estimate only? just want a ballpark figure

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We cannot give an estimated price, there are sooooo many things to consider in an estimate. It depends on your crawl space and the company that inspects. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[@teresapogozelec2520]

Grateful for your video!! I am a renter in Pennsylvania with two sections of damp crawl spaces with mostly sandstone foundation. Plus, half basement is open with mostly dirt floor. No insulation in the rafters. They gave me a dehumidifier and feel that is good. Any Recommendations that I can do on my own?? Totally addressing with property management...with video and pictures. There are issues with clogged gutters and Water going toward foundation... One Glorious Day at a Time ✝️

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hey Teresa, We have a crawl space encapsulation DIY playlist with multiple videos for our DIY customers. You can find it here, kzbin.info/aero/PLxsYiAum9ovwiPzybIsq74y38wuazIwAQ Thanks for watching and have a blessed day

[@jeffculbertson2077]

Is this a dirt floor Crawl space? great video . Do you think its really necessary to have vents on an area of about 1200 SF of space. COuld You drain a dehumidifier into exterior drain tile such as ezdrain tiles?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

we recommend draining to a sump pump to avoid any back up of water. we normally seal vents because we insulate walls, you might want to local at local code to insure vents are needed.

[@BreakNiche]

What is the "termite gap"? A space between the ground and the insulation bottom so you can still spray for them and occasionally trench treat? If so, do you have to peel back\down the vapor barrier on the walls? Thanks!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hi Break Niche, here is a video we did a while back explaining in greater detail what a termite gap is. Hope it is helpful! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqOyZnmlh7p7qM0

[@timlist4173]

Just moved into a house with a crawl space. The house inspector recommended a vapor barrier be installed. Who does this kind of work? What kind of busness does this? Thanks in advance.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Crawl space waterproofers, sometimes pest control. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.

[@1Godscreations123]

Wish your company was in Baltimore, Md! That looks nice, very professional and safe lookiing!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Thank you so much for your support! We hope to be in Maryland soon.

[@sandys2672]

Why did you not insulate the rim joists around the outer wall?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Rim joist insulation is an add-on service that this customer did not want. You can see how we do it in this video if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXSpiaunZtJmoqc

[@stevendamron1967]

Are you going to put back some insulation back?

[@cassie0858]

Do you Service South Carolina?

[@kentburr9973]

Do you come to the Greenville SC Area??

[@kenterry9396]

What kind of material can you use to help soak up water such as sand or crushed run product ?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Not sure on that one. We are redirecting the water out vs soaking it up. If you find something that works, please let us know. Thanks for watching.

[@rickprusak9326]

In northern Wisconsin, we use Wall vents. Open in spring, close in late fall. My crawlspace is very good and clean.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Great! During colder months you can seal the vents back up since lower temps mean lower humidity usually

[@rickprusak9326]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja I certainly do seal up the vents, and I close off the water bibs from a separate water pipe system.

[@YEHTHRO]

Hello Mr. Ninja :) My crawl space use to flood for many years. I resolved the problem by adding gutters and an outside drainage system. I'm in waycross GA about 1 hour away from FL. I removed the old vapor barrier with plans of replacing it. I'm now getting an old wood/musty smell when the AC is off. The crawl space is well vented but no fan at vent window. I have sprayed under the subfloor with RMR86 cleaner and RMR 141 mold killer. With all that info. Can you suggest my next best step to alleviate the musty smells that comes in the house. Thanks a bunch!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Unity, the next step you probably should think about is getting your crawl space completely encapsulated. The musty smells and mold issues should disappear once the crawl space is fully encapsulated. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks for watching. Have a happy and blessed day.

[@peachpink4900]

Hello How can we install a fan or make a window in crawl space I feel humidty smell inside the house

[@annlee4174]

Michael, some termite companies dislike insulation on the walls. what do you think about just putting your 12 ml on the walls and floors? we do want to dehumidify.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

You can still use batt insulation instead of insulating the walls if you choose to. Your crawl space does need insulation though, it is required by building code.

[@annlee4174]

Was wanting to put no insulation on walls just 12 no barrier with vents sealed with insulation and add dehumidifier 1820 or 1830. Will that work? Of course 12 mil on floor sealed with your tape to barrier on Wall. Just thinking of not insulating concert block walls. Is that ok? Will put barrier on pillars.

[@annlee4174]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja so your saying since we removed floor insulation we need to add wall insulation. Currently our floor insulation is dripping wet in many areas so we are removing it. Going to order dehumidifier this week!!!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

@@annlee4174 In a closed crawl space you can have either insulation on the walls or insulation in the subfloor, you do not have to have both but you do have to have 1 or the other according to building code. Closing the crawl space vents gives you the opportunity to insulate the walls instead of the subfloor, but you can choose to still insulate the subfloor instead. It is up to you.

[@miketyler7616]

So which is better. A low profile condensate pump or a deep one?. Seems a low profile will run non stop, but will that also keep nasty water moving out faster?. Thanks

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Exactly, it is possible that both will run non-stop in summer or high humidity areas. We use the low profile because it has a 5 year warranty when purchased with our dehumidifier from Aprilaire.

[@miketyler7616]

@CrawlSpaceNinja I bought an April air 1830 and haven't installed it yet. I have both styles of condensate pumps. Just didn't know which one to use. I'm in Ohio and my crawl is closed off. Not encapsulated, but plastic is down. I figure at only 1064 square feet, that will keep the moisture down real good. I also bought a remote unit so I can control things and see the humidity without going under. I assume the condensate pumps have a hookup to the de humidifier to shut off incase of a problem?

[@vicentevillacorta101]

It would have been a good idea your drain (when you made it) to see it. Thank you ,good job.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

Is the liner one piece ? How do you attach it to the wall and pillars?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Depending on how large your crawl space is, it will most likely need to have multiple pieces. Here is a video on how we attach it to the walls: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGGzgnafbdiAncU and two videos on how to attach it to pillars: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHrVe4CmdsZqnrM kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYOsfX2gqp6Ld6s

[@mikesparks3398]

how do you get rid of the musty smell once you solve these problems?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Great question! We offer the anaFresh odor eliminator by Anabec on our website at diy.crawlspaceninja.com

[@blblawhoo4338]

i have a question about craw space dehumidifier, ours seem like it is between at 63 and 65 percent, the dehumidifier fan is set to auto, my question is should we turn fan to on to keep moving area to get rid of the moisture? not sure why it isnt going lower then 62 percent. thanks so much

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Usually when the relative humidity isn't going down, it's either due to improper insulation or the dehumidifier coils not functioning properly. Without a thorough inspection, we can't really give you an honest or accurate answer. We hope this may point you in the right direction though. Thanks for watching! Have a happy and blessed day.

[@datona1]

I've got a long road to fixing my crawlspace after a really bad flood due to a riverbank giving way. My crawlspace (1200 s/f) has one small vent. It had crappy 1 inch foam board on the wall and a cheap poli on the floor. Nothing sealed. I will encapsulate it properly and close up the vent. My question is.....Can the dehumidifier be in one end of the crawlspace and not centered in the middle?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hey Scott, Michael goes over this around the 1:50 mark in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqjPhaZjnbllh7M You can also use ducting as mentioned in this video to help get the air to harder to reach areas in your crawl space: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omGVaZ1npr1lnbs Hope this helps!

[@toddolson4614]

How did you seal the crawl space encapsulation to the sump pump? Normally the sump pump seal tape is applied to the basin. Do you still do that then lay in the encapsulation over the edge and screw it down? Do you need another seal tape for the lid to the encapsulation?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

As long as it goes into the basin it's okay. We do not tape the lid.

[@roymerritt9912]

I have the same type of crawl. I am bout to put a drain in. What are your thoughts about an I pattern for the center compartment. And a u pattern for the ends. Basically, do I need to put drains on the interior walls?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

You should install a water management system anywhere there is water intrusion. I hope this helps!

[@roymerritt9912]

Crawl Space Ninja thanks!!

[@drago987]

Sure, encapsulation with dehumidifier is the best option. But if you’re going to have an open/vented crawl space is it beneficial to add a vent fan or is it better just to have it naturally venting without a fan?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

That is a great question and I think it depends on your outside environment. If you add a vent fan in an extremely humid environment you're just drawing more humidity in at a faster rate.

[@Iamsam526]

@@CrawlSpaceNinjaCan crawlspace fans be set to run only when outside humidity is at a certain level?

[@booostedtc]

Should you keep your crawlspace vents open or shut when above freezing around the house

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Shut. You do not want hot muggy air coming into the crawl space and you do not want freezing air coming in and freezing your pipes and/or dehumidifier

[@johnwhite2576]

Ninja- you don’t use Zoeller sump pumps ??

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We do not. We have had a great experience using the Flotec pumps. We've been using them in all of our crawl spaces for years and even sell them online! diy.crawlspaceninja.com/flotec-sump-pump-model-e50vlt/

[@katrinazaoral3533]

Hi, do you have any recommendations for SOUTH FLORIDA location ? Like a company that works in this area. Thank you

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hey Katrina, unfortunately as of 3/30/23 we do not know of anyone in your area. However, we have made several videos to help you learn how to choose a good contractor if we're too far away. Here are some links if you're interested in checking them out. We also have our online DIY Store available if you decide you'd like to tackle the project yourself. How To Choose The Best Crawl Space Contractor kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnO2gHV4rtuaqrs PART 1 | Questions to Ask Your Crawl Space Contractor Before Hiring Them kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3-kioWCaKuapbM DIY Store diy.crawlspaceninja.com/

[@melissameyer6726]

Do you have a vapor barrier that also blocks radon gas? My crawl space has large white rocks covering the floor. Would the rocks puncture the vapor barrier?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

No we do not have a vapor barrier that can block radon, we do have underlayment to protect from rocks. diy.crawlspaceninja.com/?s=underlayment

[@kodak_jack]

I can't even imagine what that jobs cost!!! If there was standing water down there, why did you not dig around the outside of the walls? It had to have been a bear digging down there. My son has a similar situation in Georgia, but his crawl is deep enough that he can stand up in it and it has a full size door. Did you block off all of the vents? Thanks.

[@skitmaster25]

Thanks for the helpful info! how do you attach the foam board to the walls and the vapor barrier to the foam board?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Peter Gilman Thank you so much ! You can use tap con screws at box store. Christmas tree fasteners work for plastic to board and foundation walls. Have you seen this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXqug3ywe8SYhZI

[@RoxyB777]

Should the dehumidifier be near the center of the crawl space or does it matter?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

If you have a larger crawl space, that is ideal. If it's not possible, you can position the dehumidifier to blow the dehumidified air towards the center/back of the crawl space or use ducting to direct the dehumidified air to where it needs to go.

[@reinaldoromero25]

Can't afford to do a a French drain at this time. what can I do in meantime to keep things ok for now I have 3 vents along one wall n just one opening on right of vents. Should I but a vent or dehumidifier should I close any vents. Hoping I can do french drain in a year or so

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We usually recommend a dehumidifier, it is the quicquest way to get an area dry. Just keep in mind that leaving open vents will have an impact on the humidity.

[@RickGentle]

When are you coming to North Carolina Gastonia area.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We are exploring expansion areas!

[@jodycox1474]

What about Blairsville GA? Do you service that area?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We are expanding slowly and carefully

[@EPHONIC]

Thanks so much, but I have a question or need some advice. I'm near Richmond, Va where it's hot and humid in summer. I have a crawlspace that is about 3.5 feet tall, is already 85% encapsulated with a nice 12mil barrier. I'm getting a new HVAC air handler and the humidity is about 80-90% in summer in the crawl. The space is about 1800-1900 square feet. Is an Aprilaire 1850 model too much or are there great advantages over say an 1830 unit? Also, can I dehumidify the crawl and also tie it into the HVAC or is it okay to keep it separate if the crawl is my main goal? Lastly, should the entire crawl vents be closed all year?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

The 1830 unit should be sufficient for your size crawl space. It will take several weeks for the crawl space to completely dry out. We recommend having the dehumidifier just for the crawl space but it does come with ducting collars if you choose to duct it to your HVAC. Yes, we recommend sealing vents and installing a vent fan but check with the local code enforcement office in your area as the requirements may be more or less strict concerning radon.

[@EPHONIC]

Thank you, brother. I appreciate your response. All great advice and things for me to consider. I had what was essentially a computer fan pulling the air (or so I thought) out one vent while all others are closed. It hasn't done anything and may have made it worse. Going to get an Aprilaire 1830 soon to see what difference it can make. I'm hoping a big deal. God Bless You, Michael!

[@EPHONIC]

I figured I'd return to the expert (you) on this one. Can the model 1830 and 1850 (not 1850F) be used as a standalone dehumidifier or do the regular 1830 and 1850 require ducting? I am getting mixed messages online and it's hard to tell from photos and some descriptions I read. I don't want to buy the 1850F because it may be oversized and also doesn't look like it can be converted easily later if I want to go ahead and make the Aprilaire system inline with my HVAC. Thanks again for your guidance.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

They can be stand-alone units. That is how we typically install the dehumidifiers. Check out some of our testimonials and before and after videos to learn more.

[@EPHONIC]

Crawl Space Ninja - Thank you again. I'll check them out. Glad to hear I can do it as a standalone unit.

[@MrBrianDuga]

Nice job. Do you have a specific tape you prefer to use for the seams in the plastic?

[@blackmoses5235]

What's the price tag on a job like this?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

+Black Moses - Great question but it depends on size and scope of work but most companies would charge more than $5,000.

[@richardpatton4197]

Great coverage of issues. What does a homeowner do if your crawl space "floor" is in flood zone AE where open vents are required per FEMA? The building floor itself is well elevated above the required base elevation, but the crawl space is enclosed, thus requiring the open vents.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hi Richard, we don't have much experience working in flood zones, but you could try looking at the flood vents offered by Crawl Space Doors www.crawlspacedoors.com/store/flood-vents/state-certified-flood-vent/

[@danielbergey3358]

WITH SEALING ALL EXTERIOR VENTS HOW DO YOU COMPLY WITH THE CODE FOR VENTATION RATES

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

You will have to check with your local codes, because every place is different. In some areas we work in, the municipality requires we leave one vent open in addition to the ventilation fan to meet requirements, but other areas do not require that. It just depends on your location and what your local codes department requires.

[@monkeynipzlova]

Hey! I just discovered your page when doing research on different types of crawl space installation. I am a contractor in the Jacksonville, Florida area. One of my clients lives right on the river and during hurricane Irma the flood waters rose and entered into his crawlspace. It actually caused a short in the wiring and there was a small fire. I have been looking into options to present to them but I am curious if the encapsulation is the best method for them. When I crawled back to asses the fire damage - I noticed some mold spots and installation "pulling" down in some spots. Thank you for your help!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hello. If they are wanting to control humidity and standing water I prefer encapsulation.

[@jiggityjett]

Funny enough I'm in Jacksonville. Did you encapsulate the crawl space and what was the outcome?

[@peterryanhouse]

I am in Jacksonville too looking at homes in riverside. They all seem to have moisture problems in the crawl spaces but not necessarily standing water. Did you encapsulate and did it work?

[@larryherrett4644]

So I put a crawlspace dehumidifier in after I used all your components to encapsulate the crawl space. The encapsulation worked great but I just wanted that little bit more of humidity reduction. Problem I have now is that the unit is mounted on a bracket from the floor joists and the thing vibrates the floor upstairs (master bedroom) significantly. We had to turn it off. I would think we have to decouple it from the floor above to keep this vibration away, what products have you used to put the whole house units on the floor of the crawl instead I have searched for platforms of some kind but so far not coming up with much.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Larry, Michael actually did a video on this very subject: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5m9ZXRtqreBntU We hope this answers your question. Please let us know if you need anything else. Have a happy and blessed day.

[@larryherrett4644]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja thank you for the reply and the link to the other video. I have used a combination of the methods in that video plus some other platform work and mine is now quiet as a mouse! Keep up the good work.

[@jesseday6090]

So I have a just installed a dehumidifier under my house and sealed the vents. I've also heard to put a couple of fans in the corners to love air around. Can you recommend a small fan?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hi Jesse, we recommend an active ventilation van to be installed in one of the vents blowing out of the crawl space at all times. We recommend the Lomanco PCV-1 for this. You can also use a Panasonic Whisper fan and use ducting to help move air around the crawl space as well.

[@jesseday6090]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja thank you !

[@superpac1966]

Great Video. I am having a house built, and they contractor is doing a sealed crawlspace with dehumidifier. Anything I should specifically ask for regarding this? What about access to the space. Is it possible to enter from in the house; such as a trap door? pros vs cons.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

superpac1966 Thank you so much ! Yes many homes here enter from house, although I'd prefer outside. Just make sure they air seal the door good and follow your local building code.

[@21gonza21]

What’s the life span on that 10mil vapor barrier??

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

It will depend on the traffic your crawl space receives. You can always add underlayment to high traffic areas to extend the life of the vapor barrier.

[@jeffmarandi8600]

Great video; would you please give a ball park estimate for a typical job cost?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Thank you Jef! an estimate would be hard to give without being able to asses your crawl space

[@franka6680]

Recommendation for living in nc? I just bought a newly renovated hosue with the crawlspace redone. Been down there and it's cold. Left a pumpkin outside and two days later it had mold. Any ideas,

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We don't recommend leaving any organic material in the crawl space even if it's been encapsulated. When you say redone, are you meaning completely sealed and encapsulated with a dehumidifier? If not, that is what we would recommend for your crawl space if you are dealing with humidity issues. If the cold is all you're worried about and the foundation walls are insulated already, you can always add extra batt insulation back between the joists in the subfloor.

[@franka6680]

@@CrawlSpaceNinja well there was new plastic laid on the floors with new insulation and new vents but no dehumidifier

[@vram1974]

So what's the typical cost of a job like that? Do you offer financing?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We do offer financing. The cost of the job is dependent on the size of the crawl space and the amount of work needed. You can learn more on our website: crawlspaceninja.com/financing/

[@DanPonjican]

What about the cost? How much did that job cost.

[@frankreynolds7957]

Is the vapor barrier held in place in the dirt with pins or something to keep movement down? Thx

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

It is mechanically attached to the walls and all seams are overlapped and taped. We do our best to not puncture the vapor barrier at all so it is a solid barrier.

[@SmokeyRidgeRunner]

So odd question with the Dehumidifier installed and all the work is done is a vent fan left connected to create a negative pressure draw on the environment in the crawlspace afterwards or is this really necessary consider there is a Dehumidifier. for some reason this has confused me in my journey ...

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

The vent fan is to move air out... dehumidifier is to reguate humidity

[@kentuckyhills454]

Great video! I'm in a scary situation in Kentucky. I'm wondering what a job like this would cost? It appears your quality is top shelf, which should bring up the price which I understand. Anyways, even an average cost by professionals and even diy cost would be great info, thank you! Awesome video!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hello! I'm sorry to hear you're in a tough situation. We did a video awhile back on average costs that you can see here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYrSlaKXnZeklc0. We also have a DIY Store where you can purchase bundles of encapsulation products based on your square footage needs. We have a DIY Specialist available to answer questions about products that you can contact through the website: diy.crawlspaceninja.com/.

[@pucketts57]

Guess I missed it but when you encapsulate a crawl space do you also close ALL the old vents or do you leave one or two open for some kind of ventilation . Id think to close it up tight . Looks like you guys do a great job . Im thinking bout using foam board on the ground under my vapor barrier along with the R- 10 foam board along the outside walls . WOuld that be overkill to do that Love the idea of the de humidifier & sump pump

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We install a ventilation fan blowing out in 1 vent and seal the rest. For the foam board, make sure that it is rated for ground contact!

[@pucketts57]

Thanks much . I'm planning on doing this to my home before I sell it . Cant be leaving the stalactites hanging down cause I know how bad I hate being under there with them . You are the first company I've seen on youtube that seems to know what you're doing . Thanks for your help !!!

[@mikemcdevitt927]

Great video of encapsulation but title of video was humidifier vs fan. Video was not much of comparison of humidifier vs fan. I had hoped to see comparison post encapsulation.

[@alfredobrown]

Not sure if anyone has asked the question, but could please share the average power consumption of that dehumidifier?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We cover that in this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXvcdJSJmLKeqs0

[@alfredobrown]

Thanks!!

[@rodneyjackson622]

That was fun. I have never been under a house before. Thank you for sharing.

[@whitneydigital]

Can the Lomanco fan be throttled with a generic fan speed controller? The code here in CA only requires 1 cfm for each 50 sq ft of encapsulated crawl space. I am encapsulating a 400 sq ft space, so need less than 10 cfm. If not, any recommendations? Thnx!

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

we normally just leave the lomanco on

[@jessicahyman1381]

Did he keep the fans in addition to the dehumidifier? Would you recommend a fan as long as there is a dehumidifier? Or just the dehumidifier is sufficient? I live in South Carolina so the air is very humid here as well. I’m having issues with high moisture in my crawl space.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

We recommend all vents being sealed but 1, with a ventilation fan in the 1 open one blowing out of the crawl space continuously, and with a dehumidifier. The ventilation fan helps with soil gases.

[@wildchops]

How long did this project take you?

[@jesseguerra8642]

Hello, I have a 1937 construction home. The foundation is composed of standard red brick. It goes up three feet in the front of the house but the entire foundation is only one brick thick (the sole exception is the area in contact with the crawl space access. I mention this to you because I imagine it would be very dangerous to nail insulation to the foundation. Please tell me what problems my foundation would represent. Further point. very thick vines run in my crawl space. Not sure if they are poison ivy or tree roots.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Any advice would just be a estimation, without actually seeing the space it would be hard to tell. But in general with red brick we put some spray foam and add christmas tree fasteners to maintain the integrity of the structure.

[@kerrygrisham1063]

Hello and what an excellent & helpful video! I am looking to dehumdify and ventilate our 1930’s 600 sq ft lake cottage that was updated to 1600 sq ft. 3.5 years ago. I live in albion, indiana so we will have to correspond thru email. I have some questions for you as to how to go about this. I appreciate your kind & helpful spirit and the clear & concise communication in your videos! please let me know how i can contact you for more details. Abundant blessings from albion, in,

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Hey! Contact us at [e-mail]

[@coffeyvid]

Is there a system that monitors humidity outside as well as inside, then vents with outside air when humidity is low outside and alternately seals the vents and dehumidifies the crawlspace with a dehumidifier as needed?

[@jnslzr]

wondering how hard was that job on the narrow part of the crawl and how expensive it could be...

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

The lower the crawl space, the harder it is to encapsulate and the longer it takes. Same goes for very tall crawl spaces (we've done houses on the sides of mountains). As far as costs, here is a video that gives averages of what you can expect: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYrSlaKXnZeklc0