What is a Crawl Space?

• By Andrew Fox
•
Crawl Space under house with dirt

A crawl space is similar to a basement. While most crawl spaces are between two and three feet high, they aren’t necessarily defined by how tall they are, and could be just as tall as a basement. The primary difference between a crawl space and a basement is that, unlike basements, crawl spaces vent to outside air.

You may have heard that crawl spaces are bad. If you’re wondering why houses have crawl spaces, we’re here to tell you that they both serve an important function and cause problems down the line. Let’s take a look at what purpose they serve and what issues to watch out for. After reading, if you think you need your crawl space inspected, reach out to your Naperville-area home inspectors, BrickKicker, for a cost-effective crawl space inspection

Why Do Houses Have Crawl Spaces? 

Why was your house in Aurora built on top of a crawl space? If your house was built on any kind of slope, it can be incredibly expensive to level the dirt and lay a concrete pad. Building a crawl space is a cost-effective way around this expensive procedure. But what else is a crawl space for? 

Crawl spaces are an excellent, easy-access place to put your HVAC system, piping, and all of those other fundamental systems that often need repair. They also help to consolidate and conceal them so that they don’t take up unnecessary space or disturb the look and feel of your home.

Are Crawl Spaces Bad? 

Now that you know what a crawl space is, how a crawl space differs from a basement, and what purposes it is serves, let’s take a look at some of the issues that can arise from having a crawl space: 

  • Moisture: Crawl spaces are dark, exposed to the outside, and accumulate moisture. With moisture comes the potential for wood rot, termites, and mold. 
  • Floor Failure: If you allow the wood in your crawl space to rot, or don’t address issues caused by termites, your floor could collapse. 
  • Increased Heating/Air Conditioning Bills: If your crawl space isn’t properly insulated, your house will struggle harder to properly circulate the air from your HVAC unit. 

These are just a few of the issues that a crawl space can cause for you and your home. If you’re planning on having your house appraised and selling it, it’s important that you keep your crawl space in good condition. Let BrickKicker inspect your crawl space for you, so you can address any problems before you put it on the market.

How Can BrickKicker Help? 

There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from the problems that crawl spaces can create. If you suspect that your crawl space has rotten wood, or isn’t properly insulated, our home inspectors can identify the specific problems that need to be addressed and put you into contact with a professional who can resolve any issues your crawl space may be vulnerable to. If you have other concerns, take a moment to explore our blog for helpful reads! 

Now that you know why houses have crawl spaces, how crawl spaces differ from basements, and what kind of issues crawl spaces can cause, if you think you need an inspection, call us at 800-821-1820.