Entrance to the crawlspace, inside the basement
The decision was made to put the SaniDry CX and sump pump in the basement. Sump pumps should always be in the lowest spot, so it was a wise choice. Also, since it is next to the water heater it will alert the homeowner of any leaks that could develop. The SaniDry CX dehumidifier can easily handle the space of this 1/2 basement and 1/2 crawlspace. It is available with a duct kit, in the event that the house is very long. The duct kit is a nice way to move air farther in a longer home.
Filthy and wet conditions in the crawlspace
Even though the basement in this crawlspace stayed relatively dry, the crawlspace in anything but. The dirt floor is soaked and the humidity is running very high.
Perfect environment for bugs and mold growth
A damp and dirty crawlspace is great for growing mold and housing all sorts of bugs and critters. DryZone has a long line of products and services that are designed to get rid of the moisture. Mold can't grow unless the humidity is high, so we lower it to a reasonable level. Bugs and other critters need water to live, so it just makes sense to dry out your crawlspace.
Even slugs are happy in a wet environment
Bare dirt and wet conditions are perfect for nasty little slugs. Drying out the air and installing a high quality vapor barrier will greatly improve the crawlspace conditions.
Old 6 mil liner does nothing to correct the moisture problems
6 mil liner is the thin plastic stuff that is usually installed when a home is built. It is very thin and does almost nothing to prevent high humidity in the crawlspace. It is not taped and continuous so the water vapor can just leak around through the gaps.
Nasty old insulation in the crawlspace
Moisture in the crawlspace will destroy fiberglass insulation. This kind of crawlspace insulation only works when it is 100% dry. Any moisture will make it heavy and it will sag. Once air gets between the insulation and the floor, it makes the insulation value (R value) all the way down to zero.
Beautiful and clean crawlspace
The vents are blocked and sealed to keep the humid air out. The heavy CleanSpace liner is overlapped and taped to make it as effective as one huge piece. The seams are so tight that they are often very hard to find.
Getting rid of the nasty crawlspace insulation
Once the insulation is ruined, the only good option is to pull it out. The paper on the back will act as a mold farm, so removal is the best choice. An added bonus is that there will be nothing stopping the clean and dry air from coming up into the house. The wood in the floors will start to dry out, and the home will feel much better.
SaniDry CX air machine (dehumidifier) and SuperSump sump pump system
This is up close on the SaniDry and SuperSump. You can see how the dehumidifier drains directly into the sump. This is great for anyone who absolutely hates dumping the bucket on other dehumidifiers.